Religious liberty

The right to profess freely a religious belief. “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance” (Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Art. 18). “Practice” includes the liberty to proselytize. United Nations’ General Comment no. 22 also specifies that “Article 18 protects theistic, non-theistic and atheistic beliefs, as well as the right not to profess any religion or belief. The terms ‘belief’ and ‘religion’ are to be broadly construed. Article 18 is not limited in its application to traditional religions or to religions and beliefs with institutional characteristics or practices analogous to those of traditional religions” and protects also religions that are “newly established, or represent religious minorities that may be the subject of hostility on the part of a predominant religious community.”