Meaning of freedom of worship (what is it, concept and definition)

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 the faith publicly, without this being the 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 religion is an inalienable right, indicated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948 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 hardly tolerating their existence as long as there are no public or proselytizing demonstrations, and whenever there is submission to the political authorities.

Freedom of religion is guaranteed in most democratic countries, whether these are confessional states or not. As an example of some denominational 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 citizens are obliged to subscribe to the official faith, under pain of jail or even death.

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

Furthermore, the persecution of freedom of worship may also come from non-denominational states such as China or North Korea, for ideological reasons.

Currently, the first religious group to be persecuted is 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.

See also:

• Tolerance, religion.