In an interconnected and diverse world, the protection of freedom of religion and belief has emerged as a critical concern. The issue is being discussed at both the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva and the UN General Assembly in New York, and includes human rights violations related to freedom of religion and belief.
Freedom of religion or belief, or FoRB, as it has come to be known in human rights discourse, protects the right to believe or not and to act in accordance with one's conscience in matters of religion or belief. This right is just as important for atheists and people who want to leave or change their religion as it is for devout members of any religion. FoRB is about people, not religion itself. people have rights. It is not a religion or ideological system. Observance of her FoRB around the world shows that there is a clear correlation between the implementation of this right and the general human rights situation in any country.
Even a cursory survey will reveal that under repressive regimes, FoRBs are usually not visibly present. Between 2007 and 2017, government restrictions on religion (including laws, policies, and actions that suppress religious beliefs and practices) increased rapidly around the world.
Findings from the Washington-based Pew Research Center reveal an increase in instances of religious-related social hostility, including violence and harassment by public and private organizations and groups. Alarmingly, a total of 52 governments have imposed “high” or “very high” levels of restrictions on religion, a significant increase from the 40 governments recorded in 2007.
Furthermore, the number of countries experiencing the highest levels of social hostility related to religion increased from 39 to 56 countries during the study period. It is also worth noting the increasing pressures faced by non-believers in the context of some clearly polarized societies.
Ireland's commitment to the promotion and protection of the FoRB is evidenced by its active engagement with this right on the international stage, particularly at the United Nations. The historical repercussions of religious intolerance on the island have helped Ireland focus on the issue.
We Irish people have had experience with ForB violations and deeply understand how essential a right it is to human well-being and the establishment of justice in society.
The Tánaiste and Foreign Secretary Michael Martin, in their recent responses to questions in the Dáil, clarified Ireland's policy and approach to freedom of religion and belief, and confirmed Ireland's commitment to the relevant resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly and Human Rights Council. He emphasized his support. These are welcome statements at a time of increasing pressure on religious and other minorities.
Despite efforts to protect these fundamental rights, many minorities continue to face relentless brutality. The experience of Iran's Baha'i community, long considered a litmus test for human rights in the country, is a good example.
Since the launch of the Women, Life, Freedom movement in 2022, women, minorities, and religious groups, including Christians, Sunnis, and Baha'is, have faced further persecution. Last year's jailing of ailing 90-year-old Baha'i Jamaluddin Khanjani sparked an international outcry. It is clear that this old man was not a threat to the nation, and his arrest can only be considered cruel punishment for his beliefs.
Mr Khanjani's arrest has been accompanied by increased persecution, arrests and imprisonment of hundreds of other Baha'is and non-Baha'is.
More than 170 countries, including Iran, have ratified the United Nations' international agreement guaranteeing the right to believe or not. Unfortunately, the gap between signing international agreements and implementing them on the ground is widening.
One of the vital mechanisms to monitor and address these challenges is the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief. This role is guided by the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief, whose insights help bridge the gap between principles and practical application.
Ireland continues to be active in many debates in the Human Rights Council and the UN General Assembly condemning human rights violations, including the debate on the FoRB.
To increase the influence Ireland can have internationally in support of this fundamental human right, it may be time to also establish a dedicated Irish parliamentary or governmental structure to foster the FoRB. We Irish people have had experience with ForB violations and deeply understand how essential a right it is to human well-being and the establishment of justice in society.
Achieving this right and protecting those deprived of this freedom requires the collective efforts of governments, organizations and individuals. The ForB journey continues in the hope that lessons from the past will lead to a future where diversity of beliefs is celebrated and respected.
Brendan McNamara is a former member of the Foreign Office Human Rights Commission and lectures in the Department of Religious Studies at University College Cork. He is also active in human rights advocacy for the Baha'i community in Ireland.