The Importance of Freedom of Religion as a Foundamental Human Right

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to present the importance of freedom or religion as a foundamental human right. Freedom of religion is one of the balancing factors in the life of the individuals, it is the most magnificent human identity which aims to achieve the purity of soul. Religion elevates the man to the highest human virtues and moral, helping for the normal functioning of society. This paper analize the fact that freedom of religion and beliefis is a basic right of every human being, it is an universal human right that worth for all persons equally anywhere, regardless of who they are, where they live, age, sex, race or ethnicity and what they believe or do not believe. Freedom of religion or belief is protected by Article 9 of the European Convention of Human Rights and other acts. So clearly religion has been an important source of human rights. Modern human dignity is based on the religious notion of holiness personified of every human being as a right universal human right, so freedom of religion and belief has its defense to respect the diversity because this contributes directly in the democracy, development, rule of law, peace and stability. So belief may not be limited under no circumstances. States should treat all individuals equally, without discrimination based on religion or belief.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n4s3p357