E/CN.4/1987/35
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45. In addition to these conflicts involving entire communities more or less
directly in religious struggles, there are also cases that show the decisive
influence in religious circles, of extremist or fanatical elements, who
contribute by their intransigence and their demand for a strict and literal
interpretation of certain religious precepts, to maintain a climate of
intolerance and of rejection of a dialogue either with the followers of other
religions or beliefs, or with coreligionists regarded as less faithful to the
strict interpretation advocated by the extremist elements and accused by them
of deviation and treason. The incidents that brought into conflict, in
several countries, and in the name of several monotheistic religions,
integrationist elements favouring a particular interpretation of religion and
the forces of order, following demonstrations and occurrences such as attacks,
bomb explosions, the sacking or setting on fire of edifices or objects
regarded by the extremist elements as so many symbols of religious or
atheistic values incompatible with the precepts they hold to be sacred are a
case in point.
B.
1.
Infringements of the rights defined in the Declaration
Infringements of the right to have, to manifest and
to practise the religion or belief of one's choice
(arts. 1 and б of the Declaration)
46. Article 1, paragraph 1, of the Declaration describes the right of
everyone to freedom of thought, conscience and relig ion as including "freedom
to have a religion or whatever belief of his choice, and freedom, either
individually or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest
his religion or belief in worship, observance, practice and teaching".
Article 1, paragraph 2, goes on to say that "No one shall be subject to
coercion which would impair his freedom to have a religion or belief of his
choice". Paragraph 3 of the same article restricts the limitations on freedom
to manifest one's religion or belief to cases prescribed by law and
justifiable by the exigencies of public safety, order, health or morals or the
fundamental rights and freedoms of others.
47. Article 6 of the Declaration gives examples of various freedoms which,
inter alia, are included in the right to freedom of thought, conscience,
religion or belief. At this juncture, the Special Rapporteur will, endeavour
to follow the provisions of the Declaration in order to ascertain the extent
to which the rights and freedoms stated therein are respected and implemented
in practice.
48. With regard to the fundamental right to have a religion or belief of
one's choice (Part 1) and the freedom to worship or assemble in connection
with it and maintain places for these purposes (art. 6 (a)), one is compelled
to conclude that they give rise to many infringements throughout the world.
49. On occasion, the very right to have a religion or belief of one's choice
is infringed. Thus, in some countries, several persons have been imprisoned
for converting to a religion of their choice. In another country, every kind
of pressure, including imprisonment and torture, is brought to bear against
those who profess a faith to force them to abjure. In yet another country,
the members of a community considered to be heretical by the religious
majority are forbidden to claim kinship with this majority religion, to which
they consider they belong.