Pichon and Sajous v. France, dec., No. 49853/99, ECtHR (Third Section), 2 October 2001

Conscientious objection to sell contraceptive pills motivated by the pharmacists' religious beliefs.

Art. 9 ECHR 

1. Art. 9 ECHR does not always guarantee the right to behave according to one’s religious beliefs. The word “practice”, ex Art. 9, para 1, does not denote every act or form of behavior motivated or inspired by a religion or belief.

2. There is no interference with the freedoms guaranteed by Art. 9 ECHR, when it is possible to manifest religious beliefs in many ways, outside the professional sphere.
(In the instant case two pharmacists, owners of a pharmacy, refused to sell contraceptive pills because of their religious beliefs)