Introduction: Freedom of Religion or Belief as a Human Right

Bielefeldt H, Pinto TA, Petersen MJ (2022)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2022

Journal

Review of Faith and International Affairs Council on Faith & International Affairs

Book Volume: 20

Pages Range: 1-12

Journal Issue: 2

DOI: 10.1080/15570274.2022.2065799

Abstract

Human rights remain a contested issue in theory and practice. Several scholars have criticized their theoretical underpinnings, and practitioners struggle to enforce these rights. The right to freedom of religion or belief is an integral part of the international human rights framework and, as such, has been criticized alongside human rights in general. Not only that, the right to freedom of religion or belief has been decried or ignored by some human rights defenders, while it has also been mishandled by groups aiming to undermine other human rights. Put simply, freedom of religion or belief is contentious right within the widely challenged field of human rights. Still, we believe that freedom of religion or belief is an inalienable human right, and in this introductory article we present a summary of a diverse range of actors that have in various ways defended this right in their own capacity, all around the world.

Authors with CRIS profile

Heiner Bielefeldt Lehrstuhl für Menschenrechte und Menschenrechtspolitik

Involved external institutions

University of Oxford GB United Kingdom (GB) Danish Institute for Human Rights DK Denmark (DK)

How to cite

APA:

Bielefeldt, H., Pinto, T.A., & Petersen, M.J. (2022). Introduction: Freedom of Religion or Belief as a Human Right. Review of Faith and International Affairs, 20(2), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1080/15570274.2022.2065799

MLA:

Bielefeldt, Heiner, Thiago Alves Pinto, and Marie Juul Petersen. "Introduction: Freedom of Religion or Belief as a Human Right." Review of Faith and International Affairs 20.2 (2022): 1-12.

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