Freedom of Religion or Belief-A Human Right under Pressure

The article starts by outlining the basic features of the right to freedom of religion or belief. As part of the broader infrastructure of international human rights protection, its interpretation and implementation must be guided by the interrelated principles of normative universalism, freedom and equality. In this context, also the `second order principles' of State neutrality and political secularism are addressed. The article subsequently deals with some of the root causes of abuses in the field of freedom of religion or belief. The last section discusses examples of recent tendencies to blur the contours of freedom of religion or belief, for instance by amalgamating it with policies of protecting the reputation of religions against defamation or by re-interpreting concepts of neutrality and secularism in an anti-liberal, doctrinal way. The author wants to raise awareness that conceptual clarity is needed to defend the normative basis for shaping peaceful coexistence in our religiously and philosophically pluralistic world by institutionalizing equal respect for the dignity and rights of `all members of the human family'.