Places of worship in Scotland will open on 26th March, in time for Easter, Passover and Ramadan, rather than the previously scheduled 4th April.

The announcement was made just days before a landmark court hearing is due to challenge the restrictions.

The new rules will end the blanket ban after almost three months. Authorities in England, on the other hand, have upheld freedom of worship despite their other restrictions this year, whilst managing public health concerns.

Though welcoming the concession, human rights experts affirm that it is necessary for the case to nevertheless proceed, in order to prevent the disproportionate suspension of fundamental freedoms in the future.

“It is important for the Court to decide whether this ban was truly justified – especially as there is a good chance such measures could be repeated in the future”, said Ryan Christopher, Director of ADF UK.

“The government’s own medical advisors conceded in November that there is no robust medical evidence for the closure of churches, which have remained open in most European countries throughout 2021. There is no clear reason why the Scottish government could not find solutions which protect both the vulnerable and those who understand their communal worship to be as essential as food and water”.