CEDH · PRESS;GENERAL;ENG — 25 novembre 1999

.s800EAC49 { font-size:12pt } .sFE10DC93 { margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-align:center } .s29100277 { font-family:Arial; font-weight:bold } .sA1D3DA2E { margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-align:justify } .s94935B0F { width:389.85pt; display:inline-block } .sBB9EE52A { font-family:Arial } .sA36B60A1 { font-family:Arial; font-style:italic } .s76CF415B { page-break-before:always; clear:both } .s32563E28 { margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt } .s4DDA3AA3 { font-family:Arial; font-weight:bold; font-style:italic } .sD35C6159 { width:1.54pt; display:inline-block } .s4598CDF { width:70.9pt; display:inline-block } .s38DD6A04 { width:18.2pt; display:inline-block } .sCB27B9E { width:16.66pt; display:inline-block } .sC5412BEF { width:51.05pt; display:inline-block } EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS     663   25.11.1999   Press release issued by the Registrar   HEARING IN THE CASE OF N.F. v. ITALY   Thursday, 25 November 1999 at 9 a.m.     The applicant   The case concerns an application (application no. 37119/97) brought by an Italian national, N.F., who was born in 1942 and lives at Monza (near Milan). He is a member of the judiciary.   Summary of the facts   In 1991 the applicant became a member of the Adriano Lemmi masonic lodge in Milan, which is affiliated to the Grande Oriente d’Italia di Palazzo Giustiniani . In October 1992 he asked to leave the Freemasons following reports in the national press that there were to be inquiries by a number of state prosecutors into the activities of certain lodges affiliated to the Grande Oriente d’Italia di Palazzo Giustiniani . In June 1994 disciplinary proceedings were brought against him in connection with his masonic links and he was reprimanded for having undermined the prestige of the judiciary. He appealed to the Court of Cassation, but his appeal was dismissed on 10 December 1996.   Complaints   The applicant complains that the disciplinary penalty imposed on him amounted to a violation of his right to respect for his private life (Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights), and of his rights to freedom of thought and conscience (Article 9), freedom of expression (Article 10), and freedom of association (Article 11). He also complains of discrimination under Article 14 of the Convention.   Procedure   The application was lodged with the European Commission of Human Rights on 16 May 1997.   Following the entry into force of Protocol No. 11 to the Convention on 1 November 1998, the case was transmitted to the Court.   Composition of the Court   The case will be heard by a Chamber of judges (from the Second Section) composed as follows:   Christos Rozakis (Greek), President , Marc Fischbach (Luxemburger), Benedetto Conforti (Italian), Giovanni Bonello (Maltese), Peer Lorenzen (Danish), Margarita Tsatsa-Nikolovska (FYROMacedonia), András Baka (Hungarian), Judges , Egils Levits (Latvian), Anatoly Kovler (Russian), Substitute Judges ,   and also Erik Fribergh , Section Registrar ,   Representatives of the parties   Government:   Vitaliano Esposito, Co-Agent ,   Teresa Massa, Counsel,   Applicant:   Anton Giulio Lana , Counsel   Andrea Saccucci , Adviser .     ***   After the hearing the Court will begin its deliberations, which are held in private. Judgment will be delivered at a later date.   Registry of the European Court of Human Rights F – 67075 Strasbourg Cedex Contacts:   Roderick Liddell (telephone: (0)3 88 41 24 92)   Emma Hellyer (telephone: (0)3 90 21 42 15) Fax: (0)3 88 41 27 91   The European Court of Human Rights was set up in Strasbourg in 1959 to deal with alleged violations of the 1950 European Convention on Human Rights. On 1 November 1998 a full-time Court was established, replacing the original two-tier system of a part-time Commission and Court.