Meaning of Freedom of worship (What is, Concept and Definition) - Meanings

Meaning of Freedom of worship

What is Freedom of worship:

Freedom of worship or religious freedom is understood as the right of citizens to choose their belief system, whether religious or not, as well as the right to profess their faith publicly, without this being a cause of discrimination, persecution, intimidation, violence, prison or death.

This right also implies the power of the subject not to profess any religion or spiritual belief. Understood in this way, freedom of worship is an inalienable right, outlined in the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

The consecration of freedom of worship represents an advance with respect to the proclamations of religious tolerance of the regimes of the past, which implies barely tolerating its existence as long as there are no public or proselytizing demonstrations, and as long as there is submission to the political authorities.

 

Freedom of worship is guaranteed in most democratic countries, whether these states are confessional or not. As an example of some confessional States that have freedom of worship, we can point out: Costa Rica, England, Malta, Greece, Iceland, Denmark, and Monaco.

However, not all confessional States tolerate other religions, so that in the citizens are obliged to subscribe to the official faith, under penalty of imprisonment or even death.

Some countries where religious persecution is alarming are Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Maldives, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Syria, Central African Republic, Nigeria, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.

Likewise, the persecution of religious freedom can also come from non-denominational states such as China or North Korea, due to ideological reasons.

Currently, the first religious group to be persecuted are Christians, followed by Muslims who are persecuted even by the most radical factions of Islam. The third place is occupied by the Jews. Hindus, Buddhists, and Sikhs are also victims of persecution, especially in Asian countries.