AL-NASHIF v. BULGARIA JUDGMENT 31 Article 9 of the Convention. He also complained that in violation of Article 13 in conjunction with Article 9, he had not had an effective remedy in that regard. Article 9 provides: “1. Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief, in worship, teaching, practice and observance. 2. Freedom to manifest one's religion or beliefs shall be subject only to such limitations as are prescribed by law and are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of public safety, for the protection of public order, health or morals, or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.” 140. The first applicant submitted that his teaching and all his religious activity had been lawful and had never involved any endorsement of violence or extremist views. The allegation that he endangered national security had been absurd and arbitrary. In reality the authorities had sought to put an end to his religious activities. The aim of the deportation, as admitted by the Government, had been precisely to prevent the first applicant from practising his religion in Bulgaria. There had therefore been an interference with his Article 9 rights. Referring to his arguments under Article 8 of the Convention (see paragraphs 104 and 105 above), the first applicant maintained that that interference had been unlawful and not necessary in a democratic society. 141. The Government stated that there had been no interference with the first applicant's right to teach religion. His deportation had not been a reaction against his religious classes - which had been lawful - but had been based on the assessment that his religious activities had constituted a thread to national security. Furthermore, Mr Al-Nashif had voluntarily abandoned teaching after service of the deportation order and would not be able to restart as new instructions issued by the Chief Mufti Office after his deportation prohibited religious instruction by persons lacking appropriate religious education. The Government further stated that religious freedoms in Bulgaria were guaranteed and that the authorities strictly adhered to the principle of non-intervention in the internal affairs of religious communities and regularly allowed visits by foreigners coming to teach religion. 142. Having found that Mr Al-Nashif's deportation constituted a violation of the right of all the applicants to respect for their family life within the meaning of Article 8 of the Convention and that they did not have an effective remedy in that regard contrary to Article 13 of the Convention, the Court considers that it is not necessary to determine whether the same events contravened Article 9 of the Convention taken alone and in conjunction with Article 13.