religiousfreedom

Inspiration

Freedom of religion is an ancient value.

 

Twenty three centuries ago King Asoka, patron of Buddhism, recommended to his subjects a principle of tolerance that sounds as fresh today as when it was propounded:

Acting thus, we contribute to the progress of our creed by serving others. Acting otherwise, we harm our own faith, bringing discredit upon the others. He who exalts his own belief discrediting all others, does so surely to display his religion with the intention of making a display of it. But behaving thus, he gives it the hardest blow.

(A. Krishnaswami (1960), The Study of Discrimination in the Matter of Religious Rights and Practices, E/CN.4/Rev.1, P.2)

 

The Torah, in the Book of Leviticus (19:33-4), expressed the ideal of actively embracing strangers in the following words:

And if a stranger stays with you in your land, you shall do him no wrong. The stranger that stays with you shall be to you as the homeborn among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.

 

The Torah

 

The Prophet Mohammed, the Messenger of Islam, issued a code of conduct to his followers in Najran in which he said:

To the Christians of Najran and its neighbouring territories, the security of God and the pledge of Mohammed the Prophet, the Messenger of God, are extended for their lives, their religion, their land, their property, to their caravans, their messengers and their images.

(See Ibrahim A. Khairallah (1941), The Law of Inheritance in the Republics of Syria and Lebanon, American Press, Beirut, p.316).

 

The Qu'ran itself states:

Let there be no compulsion in religion (The Qu'ran, Surah 2, verse 256)

The Qu'ran

 

 

Leonard Swidler, in Human Rights and Religious Liberty: From the Past to the Future writes:

One of the most basic of human rights is that of religious liberty, for religion is perhaps the most comprehensive of all human activities…

Note: Quotes and some of the Commentary from Freedom of Religion: A Precious Human Right ed. Jonneke MM Naber

 

Contents / Introduction / Persecution Types / Immunity / Global Case Studies / United Nations / Right&Responsibilities / Hard Questions / Interfaith Initiatives / Summary / Inspiration / Resources