The ECtHR judgment of 19 December 2018 in Molla Sali v. Greece, concerns the issue of the application of Muslim religious rules to succession in the state legal order. It is important for the protection of freedom of thought, conscience and religion in European legal systems. In this judgment, the European Court stated that denying members of a religious minority the right to freely choose and exercise state law amounts to discrimination and a violation of the right to free self-identification. This is particularly relevant for those whose status under Sharia law is weaker, namely women and children. The European Court in its judgment recognized the need to define the principles of civil effectiveness of the norms of Sharia law in the state legal order of European countries. The European Court recommends that limits should be placed on the admissibility of recognising the civil effect of Sharia law in State law on account of specific values protected by law such as the guarantees of equal treatment and non-discrimination and the right to make a free, autonomous and informed choice. This judgment assumes significant importance due to the arrival of large Muslim populations to European countries and the significant differences between Sharia law and European legal standards.