CCPR/C/123/D/2747/2016
United Nations
International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights
Distr.: General
7 December 2018
Original: English and French
Human Rights Committee
Views adopted by the Committee under article 5 (4) of the Optional
Protocol, concerning communication No. 2747/2016*, **, ***
Submitted by:
Sonia Yaker (represented by counsel, Roger
Kallas)
Alleged victim:
The author
State party:
France
Date of communication:
22 February 2016 (initial submission)
Document references:
Decision on admissibility of 26 July 2017
Date of adoption of Views:
17 July 2018
Subject matters:
Right to freedom of religion; discriminatory
treatment of a religion and of its members
Procedural issues:
Admissibility, other procedure of international
investigation or settlement; exhaustion of
domestic remedies
Substantive issues:
Freedom of religion; non-discrimination
Articles of the Covenant:
18 and 26
Articles of the Optional Protocol:
5 (2) (a) and (b)
1.1
The author of the communication is Sonia Yaker, a French national born in 1974 and
domiciled in Saint-Denis, France. She claims to be a victim of a violation by France of her
rights under articles 18 and 26 of the Covenant. 1 She is represented by counsel, Roger
Kallas.
* Adopted by the Committee at its 123rd session (2–27 July 2018).
** The following members of the Committee participated in the examination of the communication:
Tania María Abdo Rocholl, Yadh Ben Achour, Ilze Brands Kehris, Sarah Cleveland, Ahmed Amin
Fathalla, Christof Heyns, Bamariam Koita, Marcia V.J. Kran, Duncan Laki Muhumuza, Mauro Politi,
José Manuel Santos Pais, Yuval Shany and Margo Waterval. Pursuant to Rule 90 of the Committee’s
rules of procedure, Olivier de Frouville, member of the Committee, did not participate in the
consideration of the communication.
*** The following are annexed to the present report: joint opinion of Committee members Ilze Brands
Kehris, Sarah Cleveland, Christof Heyns, Marcia V.J. Kran and Yuval Shany (concurring); joint
opinion of Committee members Ilze Brands Kehris and Sarah Cleveland (concurring); individual
opinion of Committee member Yadh Ben Achour (dissenting); and individual opinion of Committee
member José Manuel Santos Pais (dissenting).
1 Although she does not invoke it directly, the author also makes reference to article 12 of the Covenant.
GE.18-21160(E)