South African Lawyer May Press Religion Claim At UN Body

In South Africa, Gareth Prince, a Rastafarian lawyer, has been attempting to vindicate his right to use cannabis as a practice that is central to his religious beliefs. Because he had two convictions for possessing cannabis, the Cape Law Society refused to admit him as an attorney unless he would promise never to smoke cannabis again. The South African courts have affirmed this decision. The Mail & Guardian reports today that Prince's lawyers are now considering taking his case to the United Nations Human Rights Commission to claim that the refusal to accommodate Prince's religious practices violates the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. However there are problems with his case since the denial of bar admission to him took place before South Africa signed onto the international agreement.