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Human rights: Freedoms of action to
which every person should be entitled

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Background:

Human rights are often held to include the individual's free access to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It includes equality before the law. Also important are the freedoms of thought and expression -- including religious freedom.

Unfortunately, the term "religious tolerance" has many meanings. On this site, we define it as extending religious freedom to people of all religious traditions, even though their beliefs and/or practices may seem strange and untrue. Tolerance simply indicates respect for the right of persons of all faiths to coexist in peace together without oppression or discrimination.

Religious freedom, religious tolerance and human rights are interrelated. Countries that exhibit religious tolerance will generally extend religious freedom and rights to persons of all faiths.

Topics covered in this section:

This section will mainly deal with human rights with a religious connection. Either:

	A right that directly concerns religious freedom, or
	A human right being opposed by one or more religious groups.

Topics are:

	Introduction
	Past achievements and current status in North America
	Items directly involving religious freedom: Animal sacrifices in the Santeria religion Apostasy  (Irtidad): lack of freedom to convert from Islam to another faith Denial of human rights in the Constitutions of seven U.S. states Hatred of Wicca and discrimination against Wiccans Religious freedom: to freely choose, follow, and promote a religion Religiously-motivated conflict, oppression, discrimination, etc.
	Human rights opposed by one or more religious groups. Boycott of the U.S. Army until it terminates religious freedom Killing innocent humans in Islam Lack of freedom from forced female genital mutilation Lack of rights for homosexuals and bisexuals International declaration on the rights of sexual minorities Lack of rights for transgendered and transsexual persons Lack of rights for women

References used:

The following information sources were used to prepare and update the above essay. The hyperlinks are not necessarily still active today.

1. Paraphrased from Forum 18 at: www.forum18.org.

Copyright © 1995 to 2009 by Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance
Latest update: 2009-FEB-09
Author: B.A. Robinson

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