 The European Convention on Human Rights, adopted in 1953, included sections on religious freedom that in the preliminary discussions, referred specifically to religious ritual slaughter bans.Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights (1953) provides for a right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion which includes the freedom to manifest a religion or belief in, "inter alia", practice and observance, subject only to such restrictions as are "in accordance with law" and "necessary in a democratic society.