scholarly journals LEGAL RESTRICTIONS DUE TO CORONAVIRUS AND RIGHT TO RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

Author(s):  
Gaetano Dammacco ◽  

The current pandemic has created new scenarios and problems regarding religious freedom. To combat the spread of the coronavirus, governments have ordered social distance and total closure of numerous activities including the celebration of sacred rites without consulting religious authorities. Religions have accepted the restrictions with a sense of responsibility, but the sacrifice of religious freedom for the faithful has been great. In addition, the effects of the pandemic together with the negative effects of globalization will continue over time, generating economic and social damage. In addition to prayer, religions have invited the faithful to a social commitment to reduce the critical issues of the crisis and specially to combat poverty. It is therefore necessary to analyze some topics: critical issues relating to the limitation of the right to religious freedom; what problems arise in the relations between powers (civil and religious); what problems arise in relations between state and religions; how the constitutional rights of the faithful and citizens are protected; what are the legal problems internal to the different religions, considering that the judgment on the validity of online rites is different; what is the role of religions in the face of the economic crisis. For the first time since the beginning of the human rights era, there has been a serious conflict between human rights, especially for the greater protection given to the right to health. The right to religious freedom also suffered, but it must be considered that the protection of the right to religious freedom also contributes to the recovery of a „good” economy, which can counteract the negative effects of the pandemic and globalization. We must build a personalist humanism, which the alliance between religions can promote. A humanism that respects the rights and dignity of man, against the logic of profit, and that rewrites the ethical rules of the economy. Looking at the post-pandemic, religions can be the soul of the ethical and moral rules that must guide the „good economy” in society to overcome social and economic differences.

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 48-53
Author(s):  
Kaushik Paul

In recent years, the wearing of Islamic dress in public spaces and elsewhere has generated widespread controversy all over Europe. The wearing of the hijab and other Islamic veils has been the subject of adjudication before the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) on many occasions. The most recent case before the ECtHR as to the prohibition on wearing the hijab is Lachiri v Belgium. In this case, the ECtHR held that a prohibition on wearing the hijab in the courtroom constitutes an infringement of Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), which guarantees the right to freedom of religion or belief. From the perspective of religious freedom, the ruling of the Strasbourg Court in Lachiri is very significant for many reasons. The purpose of this comment is critically to analyse the ECtHR's decision in Lachiri from the standpoint of religious liberty.


Author(s):  
Patrick O’Callaghan ◽  
Bethany Shiner

Abstract This paper examines the right to freedom of thought in the European Convention on Human Rights against the background of technological developments in neuroscience and algorithmic processes. Article 9 echr provides an absolute right to freedom of thought when the integrity of our inner life or forum internum is at stake. In all other cases, where thoughts have been manifested in some way in the forum externum, the right to freedom of thought is treated as a qualified right. While Article 9 echr is a core focus of this paper, we argue that freedom of thought is further supported by Articles 8, 10 and 11 echr. This complex of rights carves out breathing space for the individual’s personal development and therefore supports the enjoyment of freedom of thought in its fullest sense. Charged with ‘maintaining and promoting the ideals and values of a democratic society’ as well as ensuring that individual human rights are given ‘practical and effective protection’, this paper predicts that the ECtHR will make greater use of the right to freedom of thought in the face of the emerging challenges of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.


2013 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lori G. Beaman

Moreover, with the benefit of hindsight, it is easy to identify in the constant central core of Christian faith, despite the inquisition, despite anti-Semitism and despite the crusades, the principles of human dignity, tolerance and freedom, including religious freedom, and therefore, in the last analysis, the foundations of the secular State.A European court should not be called upon to bankrupt centuries of European tradition. No court, certainly not this Court, should rob the Italians of part of their cultural personality.In March, 2011, after five years of working its way through various levels of national and European courts, the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights decided that a crucifix hanging at the front of a classroom did not violate the right to religious freedom under Article 34 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. Specifically, Ms. Soile Lautsi had complained that the presence of the crucifix violated her and her children's right to religious freedom and that its presence amounted to an enforced religious regime. The Grand Chamber, reversing the lower Chamber's decision, held that while admittedly a religious symbol, the crucifix also represented the cultural heritage of Italians.


Author(s):  
Natalia Verlos

The article covers the topical problem of constitutionalization of digital human rights in the conditions of digital transformation.The study analyzes doctrinal approaches to the definition of digital human rights as a legal category, the monitoring of the positive internationalexperience of constitutionalization of digital rights, which can be borrowed in the process of the constitutional reform inUkraine.In the study, based on the analysis of normative experience of foreign countries, the author proposes to identify two ways ofdomestic regulation of digital rights: first, it is the constitutionalization of digital rights, with changing the text of the constitution toregulate digital rights at the highest constitutional level, and second, it is the digitization of constitutional rights, when the rightsenshrined in the constitution become updated on the basis of constitutional decisions, the case-law of the European Court of HumanRights or in the relevant legislation.It is proposed to distinguish “digital rights”, including the right to access to electronic devices and telecommunications networks(Internet), the right to protection of personal data, the right to information self-identification, the right to anonymity, the right to be forgotten,the right to free transfer and dissemination of information, etc. However, it should be taken into consideration that in the processof reforming and carrying out constitutional and legal modernization, it is necessary to take into account the possibility and necessityof the realization of fundamental human rights, which are already defined in the Constitution of Ukraine, but are being implemented inthe conditions of digitalization.It is emphasized that in the process of development of the constitutional law of Ukraine the potential of digital transformation isnot realized in full today, and perspective tendencies have such priorities as the development of network forms of interaction, communicativetechnologies of control and planning, formation of qualitatively updated model of digital rights development. Also, in order toincrease the effectiveness of the implementation of digital rights, it is necessary to use the legal reception from countries where constitutionaland legal modernization has already taken place taking into account the digital transformation and has a positive experience ofregulation, including at the highest constitutional level. It should be borne in mind that in addition to ensuring and implementing digitalhuman rights, it is necessary to develop a concept of digital duties and responsibilities for the violation of these rights in order to preventnegative risks and abuse.


2012 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanus P. Pretorius

The right to religious freedom is generally believed to be the solution to religious intolerance and discrimination and to ensure world peace amongst world citizens. On an international level, the United Nations, through the appointment of a special rapporteur for freedom of religion and belief, has introduced a tool to monitor violations of this right. This tool is known as �the framework of communications� and is focused mainly on the relationship between governments and religions. Unfortunately, religion is not excluded from the violation of human rights within its own ranks. This article pointed out that however pure the intention of freedom of religion, no real measures are in place to address violations of human rights in minority religions. Therefore, a tool is needed to investigate and address alleged violations within minority religions.


2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-21
Author(s):  
Edi Gunawan

This paper examines religious and state relations of Islamic thought perspective. This study aims to describe how the relationship between religion and state in the view of Islam. The method used in obtaining data is descriptive method through literature study. The results of the study show that among Muslim figures or thinkers such as Nurcholish Madjid and Abdur Rahman Wahid agree that there is a constructive relationship between state and religion which by revivalists separates it. Some of the indicators are: (1) Islam gives the principles of the formation of a state with the concept of khalīfah ,dawlah, or hukūmah, (2) Islam emphasizes the democratic values of truth and justice, and (3) Islam upholds Human Rights by stating that the basic rights that human beings bring ever since they are born are the right of religious freedom. Therefore, Islam essentially emphasizes the importance of human rights to be upheld in a state, because human rights are rights that should not be disturbed and deprived from the person who has the right.


Prismet ◽  
1970 ◽  
pp. 273-287
Author(s):  
Rune Øystese

This article discusses whether there is a tension between granting children freedom of religion and giving the parents the right to decide over the upbringing of their children. It presents what Norwegian law, which has incorporated several UN Human Rights conventions, has to say about this. It also discusses whether the interpretation presented can be in the best interest of the child. The last part addresses how parents can give their children a sound religious upbringing and still give them the freedom to choose their own faith.Keywords: Rights of children and parents, Religious freedom, Religious upbringingNøkkelord: Barn og foreldres rettigheter, religiøs frihet, religiøs oppdragelse,


Author(s):  
Frans Viljoen

The African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights is the newest of the three regional human rights courts. This brief analysis provides an overview of the most salient aspects of the Court’s 2018 case-law with respect to jurisdiction, provisional measures, admissibility, merits decisions, and reparations orders. Continuing its trajectory of increasing productivity, the Court in 2018 handed down the highest number of merits decisions in its brief history. As in previous years, most of these were fair-trial-related cases against Tanzania. The Court’s 2018 case-law contains a number of firsts. In Gombert v. Côte d’Ivoire, the Court for the first time ruled as inadmissible a case previously settled by an African subregional court, the Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States. In Anudo v. Tanzania, dealing with the right to nationality, the Court for the first time found a violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, on the basis that the Declaration has attained the status of customary international law. In Makungu v. Tanzania, it for the first time ordered the applicant’s release as an appropriate remedy for serious fair trial violations. The Court’s most significant decision of 2018 is the Mali Marriage case, in which it held aspects of the 2011 Malian Family Code to be in violation not only of human rights treaties emanating from the African Union, but also the UN Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women.


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