Religious Freedom in Europe Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 139

Religious Freedom in Europe - Essay Example The European law on freedom of religion or belief is guided by the inter-relatedness, interdependence, universality and indivisibility of all human rights whether social, political, civil or cultural rights. Freedom of religion is a fundamental human right that contributes to rule of law, democracy and peace. Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights provides that everyone has a right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion while Article 2 of Protocol No 1 to the convention grants parents the right to ensure the education of their children conforms to their own religious beliefs. Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) grants individuals the freedom of religion and thought including the freedom to adopt or leave a certain religion without any coercion. The freedom of religion is only subject to limitations that are prescribed in law for the purposes of ensuring public safety, order, morals and health or the protection of the fu ndamental rights of others. Article 26 of ICCPR requires non-discrimination on the basis of religion. Article 10 of European Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedom is aligned with the Convention and grants the parents the right to ensure the education of their children conforms to their own philosophical, pedagogical and religious convictions in accordance with the national laws that govern those freedoms. The Convention outlines that freedom of religion cannot be limited to the ‘main’ religions since all religious movements are granted equal protection according to the law. The issue of new religious groups that are sometimes referred as ‘sects’ arose in the case of Federation chretienne des temoins de Jehovah de France v. France, no. 53430/99, ECHR 2001- XI where the court noted that French legislation aimed at strengthening preventive and punitive  measures against sectarian movements thus infringing the fundamental human freedoms.