A judge has ruled that a Scottish government ban on church worship during lockdown was unconstitutional, disproportionate and an interference with human rights.

Twenty-seven church leaders who brought the court challenge say they believe it is the first successful legal case against COVID-19 regulations in the UK.

Their challenge was made in response to restrictions announced by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon on 8 January, which made it a criminal offence for churches to hold in-person services.

Live COVID updates from across the UK and around the world

Following a judicial review at the Court of Session, Judge Lord Baird found that to criminalise communal church worship during the current lockdown “disproportionately infringed” the freedom to express religious beliefs secured in the European Convention on Human Rights.

He also ruled that forcing church closures was unconstitutional.

Responding to the ruling, Rev. Dr William Philip, Senior Minister at the Tron Church in Glasgow, said: “From the outset, we have recognised the serious decisions the Scottish ministers had to take in response to the pandemic.

“However, its approach to banning and criminalising gathered church worship was clearly an over-reach and disproportionate and if this had gone unchallenged it would have set a very dangerous precedent.

“However well-intentioned, criminalising corporate worship has been both damaging and dangerous for Scotland, and must never happen again.”

Subscribe to the All Out Politics podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker

The legal challenge was brought by leaders of the Free Church of Scotland, the Church of Scotland and a number of independent churches.

In a statement, they said the Scottish government’s restriction had been the first attempt to close churches in Scotland since the “persecution of the Presbyterian church, instituted by the Stuart kings, in the 17th century”.

Related posts:

UK records another 110 coronavirus deaths and 5,294 new cases as over 24.8 million have had first vaccine dose Improving women’s safety needs more than ‘headline-grabbing quick fixes’ Two cases of monkeypox virus found in Wales Queen honours Philip’s closest aides to mark day he would have turned 100 England must be ‘really careful’ about 21 June easing Southgate: ‘I don’t want to outstay my welcome’ as England manager Daily lateral flow testing for double-jabbed contacts of COVID cases to start on Tuesday ‘UK’s largest ever’ bird flu outbreak reported in Northern Ireland At least one patient has died with Omicron variant of COVID, PM says ‘One of the biggest days’: £700m contracts for offshore Scottish wind farm projects awarded Man who randomly attacked five people in Manchester shopping centre with knife sentenced Man jailed for 1990 rape of teenager out walking her dog – and victim ‘didn’t know if she would live or die’