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Global Case Studies
Demonstrating
for religious freedom in Vietnam
Although the situation is far worse in some
countries than others, no country can claim a perfect record
where freedom of religion or belief is concerned. (Types
of Persecution showed that these discriminations take
place in a diversity of countries.)
Fire-bombings of synagogues in France, the forcible disbanding
of churches in Vietnam, denial of the rights of citizenship
to Muslims in Burma, violent attacks against Jehovah’s
Witnesses in Georgia, and religiously motivated riots in India
and Nigeria are just some examples. There is good news sometimes
too, for example, initiatives to promote greater tolerance
in Mexico and court cases giving new protections for religious
groups in the United States.
To get further information on all of these situations (and
many more), click on the following link: Global
Issues This link reviews situations of religious discrimination
in different parts of the world in 2002-2003.
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 As
you review these case studies, can you:
*Note any patterns to religious persecution,
by faith group or region?
*Define the crucial factors necessary to ensure
that the right to freedom of religion or belief is
protected (especially for vulnerable groups)?
*Think of reasons why some people might be
threatened by the beliefs of others?
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What does the United Nations say about Religious
Freedom?
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In the preface to Freedom of Religion
and Belief – A World Report, Abdelfattah
Amor, the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion
and Belief, wrote in 1999:
Any examination of freedom of religion
or belief today needs to address the massive religious
revival which is characterising the end of the century.
Should we anticipate in the wake of this revival
an increase in tolerance, enlightenment and freedom,
or are we to be faced with greater intolerance and
discrimination, condemned to a further period of
extremism, darkness and inquisition?
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www.onecountry.org
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There is no question that religion can play
an important role in transforming society in positive ways.
However, as UN Rapporteur, Prof. Amor has also called attention
to the dangers posed by religious extremism and to the ‘exploitation
of religion for political and partisan purposes.’ Of
course, violence often spreads where fundamental freedoms
are not safeguarded. Sometimes governments themselves may
deny these rights and/or there may be tensions within and
between religious groups themselves. For all of these reasons,
it is imperative for everyone to understand the human rights
guarantees that are enshrined in international law.
These rights give everyone the right to freedom
of thought, conscience, and religion. This right is established
in several legal documents, most importantly in Article 18
of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948). In November
1981, the UN’s General Assembly adopted the Declaration
on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and Discrimination
Based on Religion or Belief. It took the UN’s
member states nearly twenty years (from the early 1960s) to
agree to the terms of this declaration and it is considered
a landmark document for setting international standards for
rights to freedom of religion or belief.
Article 1 of the Declaration
states that:
1. Everyone shall have the right to freedom
of thought, conscience and religion. This right shall include
freedom to have a religion or whatever belief of his choice,
and freedom, either individually or in community with others
and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief
in worship, observance, practice and teaching.
2. No one shall be subject to coercion which would impair
his freedom to have a religion or belief of his choice.
3. Freedom to manifest one’s religion or belief may
be subject only to such limitations as are prescribed by law
and are necessary to protect public safety, order, health
or morals or the fundamental rights and freedoms of others.
The full text of the Declaration,
which includes eight articles, can be found at www.un.org
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Study
the articles of the
Declaration on the Elimination
of All Forms of Intolerance and Discrimination Based
on Religion or Belief
*What do you think about these articles? Are
they strong enough? Are there important things that
are not covered?
*Do you think these rights are fully respected
in your country? If so, in what ways? If not, in what
ways?
*If your religious freedom was denied (how could
this happen?), would these articles be helpful to you?
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Finally, a survey of Religious Freedom around the world,
touching on its recognition as a human right and the prevalence
of its denial (given at the 2004 Parliament of the World's
Religions held in Barcelona, Spain, July 7th—13th, by
Kevin Boyle, Professor of Law at Essex University, United
Kingdom, and entitled 'Religious Freedom for All'):
Download here, as Word
format or PDF
format.
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