Au Canada, en Angleterre et aux Etats-Unis, on voit de nombreux groupes religieux prendre des initiatives susceptibles d'influencer les règles qui régissent la société civile. Pour certains, cette instrumentalisation de la religion à des fins politiques ébranle l'exercice des libertés et des droits fondamentaux. Dernièrement, les médias ont beaucoup parlé de la création des tribunaux d'arbitrage musulman appliquant le droit musulman pour régler des litiges d'ordre familial et financier au Canada, l'Angleterre et aux Etats-Unis. En fait, l'idée voulant que les parties privées s'entendent de leur plein gré pour soumettre leurs différends religieux islamique à un arbitre religieux musulman appliquant le droit musulman n'est pas nouvelle. à titre d'exemple, plusieurs communautés juives ont mis en place des tribunaux d'arbitrage rabbinique, chargés de régler les différends d'ordre civil entre particuliers juifs en vertu du droit rabbinique. C’est exactement ce précédent qui a incité des communautés musulmanes à emboîter le pas.Pour mieux comprendre les tenants et aboutissants de ces questions, nous avons choisi d'explorer l'arbitrage du point de vue interne, c’est à dire du point de vue des sources islamiques, pour ensuite l'examiner du point de vue externe, c’est à dire du point de vue de l'ordre juridique étatique dans lequel il est appelé à s'insérer (liberté de religion et le multiculturalisme). Le fonctionnement des tribunaux d'arbitrage musulmans mérite un examen attentif. Il conviendra donc de s’interroger sur le processus d'arbitrage, la reconnaissance et l’exécution des sentences arbitrales islamiques et sur le rôle de l'ordre public en la matière, avec l'idée d'envisager d'un point de vue normatif, un dialogue constructif et inclusif. / In Canada, England and United States, many religious groups have been organizing to implement policies that would influence the manner in which civil society is run. It has been argued that this use of religion for political gain threatens to undermine hard won entitlements to equality and basic human rights. Much media has recently focused on the issue of the formation of arbitration islamic tribunals that would use Islamic Law to settle familiy and financial matters in Canada, England and United States. In fact, the idea of privates parties voluntarily agreeing to have their islamic religious disputes resolved by an muslim arbitrator using the islamic law is not new. For example, other religious groups including several Jewish communities have created Jewish arbitration tribunals in order to resolve civil matters between individuals using Talmudic law, and setting a precedent for Muslim communities to do the same.After having explored arbitration from an internal perspective, in other words from islamic sources, we will examine this from an external perspective, in other words the national legal system into which it must be inserted (Religious Freedom and Multiculturalism). The functioning of islamic arbitration tribunals merits close examination. This therefore raises questions as to the arbitration process, the recognition and enforcement of islamic arbitral awards, and on the role of public policy in this respect, with the idea to envisage from a normative perspective, a constructive and inclusive dialogue

La liberté de religion prend de plus en plus d’importance dans la jurisprudence de la Cour européenne des droits de l’homme. Bien que le centre de gravité historique de ce droit fondamental réside dans sa dimension individuelle, les juges sont fréquemment confrontés à des aspects « institutionnels » ou communautaires de la liberté de religion : des droits revenant aux groupements religieux comme tels. En quête des prémisses de cette liberté, le chapitre 1er retrace les apports spécifiques du christianisme, du judaïsme et de l’islam en la matière. Les principaux instruments de droit international, universels et européens, ainsi que la jurisprudence de la Cour de Justice de l’Union européenne, sont abordés au chapitre 2 du point de vue de la liberté de religion collective et institutionnelle comme la toile de fond nécessaire à l’activité de la Cour de Strasbourg. Le chapitre 3 examine l’article 9 de la CEDH ainsi que d’autres articles protégeant des droits connexes à la liberté de religion avant de se pencher sur la notion de groupement religieux, dont la distinction d’avec les sectes (dangereuses) s’avère souvent problématique. Les deux derniers chapitres sont consacrés à une étude systématique de la jurisprudence de Strasbourg depuis l’admission, en 1979, de la première requête d’une « église requérante ». Le versant procédural, puis les droits substantiels sont successivement abordés. Leurs contenus seront analysés selon un double axe : d’abord, la liberté d’ « existence » du groupement, puis les plus nombreuses facettes de sa liberté d’ « action » ou de son « autonomie ». / Freedom of religion is becoming increasingly important in the case law of the European Court of Human Rights. Although the historical centre of gravity of this fundamental right lies in its individual dimension, judges are frequently confronted with “institutional” or communal aspects of freedom of religion: the rights of religious groups as such. Within the scope of the search for the premises of this freedom, chapter 1 explains the specific contributions of Christianity, Judaism and Islam in this respect. The principal instruments of international law, both universal and European, as well as the case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union are discussed in chapter 2 in terms of collective and institutional religious freedom as the background necessary to the Strasbourg Court’s activities. Chapter 3 examines article 9 of the ECHR as well as other articles protecting any rights related to freedom of religion and subsequently addresses the notion of religious groups, whose distinction from (dangerous) sects is often problematic. The two final chapters are dedicated to a systematic examination of the case law of the Strasbourg Court since the admission in 1979 of the first application by an “applicant church”. The procedural aspect and the substantive rights are discussed successively. Their contents will be analysed on the basis of a double axis: firstly a group’s freedom to “exist”, secondly the more numerous aspects of its freedom to “act” or its “autonomy”.

Islamofobi är ett växande problem i Europa som negativt påverkar muslimers förutsättningar och möjligheter i samhället. Samtidigt är religionsfriheten en mänsklig rättighet och en av grundvalarna för ett demokratiskt och pluralistiskt samhälle. Denna uppsats undersöker hur islamofobi påverkar religionsfrihetens implementering i Sverige. Resultatet visar att muslimers rätt att utöva sin religion hotas av islamofobiska praktiker, så som attacker mot moskéer, motstånd mot muslimska organisationer och förbud av slöjan. Studien utforskar även statens förpliktelser och ansvar för att motverka islamofobi och främja muslimers rättigheter och lika möjligheter – för att på så sätt kunna uppnå ett verkligt demokratiskt och pluralistiskt samhälle där utsatta grupper beskyddas. / Islamophobia is an increasing problem in Europe which has a negative effect on Muslims’ conditions and opportunities within the society. At the same time, freedom of religion is a human right and one of the foundations in a democratic and pluralistic society. This thesis examines how islamophobia affects the implementation of freedom of religion in Sweden. The result shows that Muslims’ right to practice their religion is substantially threatened by islamophobic practices, such as attacks against mosques, resistance towards Muslim organizations and banning of the veil. The study also explores the state’s obligations and responsibility to counteract islamophobia and promote Muslims’ rights and equal opportunities – and thus be able to achieve a truly democratic and pluralistic society where vulnerable groups are protected.

In this thesis it is argued that while the concept of freedom of religion or belief itself is opaque and difficult to define, the right to religious freedom must contain certain basic factors – most importantly the right to individual (religious) autonomy. The individual autonomy approach is seen here as providing the necessary rationale for the protection of freedom of religion or belief. This rationale is not cemented in stone in the practice of the Convention and this has caused the Court to lose its focus on individual freedom. It is a dangerous tendency. It allows the focus to be placed on the role of the State and leaves freedom of religion or belief to be heavily affected by politics and fluctuating social attitudes. In this regard, this thesis looks for the meaning and scope of individual and collective religious autonomy and how it is and ought to be represented in the practice of the European Court of Human Rights. It is the aim of the author to contribute to a clearer and more principled understanding of Article 9 of the ECHR. The right to individual autonomy is thought to be able to provide the necessary focus for the European Court of Human Rights in creating a more robust framework for the protection of freedom of religion or belief different from current Court practice which shows inconsistency in its reasoning and theoretical chaos. This lack of clarity has also contributed to freedom of religion or belief being a relatively weak right. It is explored here as to how the principle of autonomy (as developed in this thesis) relates to other principles provided by the Court, namely the principle of State neutrality, pluralism and the effective protection of rights, but also the margin of appreciation and the autonomy of religious communities. The individual autonomy centred theoretical framework in the first part of the thesis will be engaged to analyse the conflict in the triangle of state-individual-community explored in the second part.

Thesis (Doctor of Philosophy)--Miami University, Dept. of Political Science, 2004. / Title from second page of PDF document. Includes bibliographical references (p. 150-158).

Religious freedoms in the countries which were once part of the Soviet Union have gradually been on the decline since the mid 1990s. Reflective of de-democratisation trends in many states, religious market liberalisation has lost momentum. Governments have increasingly used methods to restrict non-traditional religious organizations similar to those used in protecting national industries. These range from subsidies for traditional churches to regulatory barriers and even outright bans on non-traditional groups. This drift towards a restrictive religious playing field has coincided with traditional dominant churches being more vocal in the debate over religious institutional design. In this thesis I examine the motives of traditionally dominant churches in either advocating legal restrictions on non-traditional religious entities or promoting a religious free market. Variation in attitudes and policies across traditional churches suggests explanatory variables are at play. A multi-methodological approach is used to understand policy formulation within the hierarchical establishments of traditional churches on religious liberties and religious pluralism. In addition to utilising path-dependent modelling to account for churches' Soviet existence, assumptions drawn from recent scholarship in applying rational choice methodology to the study of religion is used to conceptualise present-day market features. Findings from three churches suggest that a church'€™s agenda on religious liberalisation and plurality stems from hierarchical perceptions of the direction of change of their church'€™s relative influence in society. That perception is heavily rooted in the intersection of Soviet experience and transitional market place dynamics. This thesis adds a case-study contribution to the growing academic discourse on institutional change in transitional societies. In particular, it identifies the mechanisms by which institutional transformation and the creation of a vibrant civil society can stagnate in transitional societies.

A Igreja Universal do Reino de Deus (IURD) é a principal representante do neopentecostalismo e apresenta um grande crescimento, aparentando incomodar grupos de cristãos históricos e fazendo franco combate a elementos dos cultos brasileiros de origem africana, já tendo, inclusive, ocorrido invasões de terreiros e perseguição a líderes das religiões afro na Bahia e no Rio de Janeiro. Marcas constantemente apontadas como características dessa igreja é o seu sincretismo e sua belicosidade contra as religiões afro. No combate ao Diabo, a igreja identificou-o com as entidades das religiões de matriz africana. Esta dissertação é fruto de pesquisa realizada sobre tal temática, na Catedral da Fé, no Recife, e da análise de obras evangelísticas da instituição. Nosso objetivo foi investigar a demonização, própria do discurso iurdiano, tecido sobre as religiões afro-brasileiras. Na construção do trabalho foi preciso situar historicamente o desenvolvimento e o surgimento da IURD, bem como do Movimento Pentecostal com o qual ela se relaciona. Na análise linguístico-antropológica que fizemos das obras e dos rituais de exorcismo que presenciamos, ficaram patentes a intolerância e o vilipêndio religioso. / The Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (IURD) is main example of New Pentecostalism and it presents a big growth, looking to incommode Historical Christians groups and making open war against Brazilian cults of African origin. Invasions to sacred spaces and persecution to African religions leaders occurred in Bahia and Rio de Janeiro. Syncretism and bellicosity against African religions are marks constantly pointed like peculiar characteristics to this church. In combat against Devil, this church identified it like entities of religions of African matrix. This thesis results from source that was made at Catedral da Fé and also from analysis of publications of this institution. Our purpose was to analyze the specific demonization of IURDs discourse, which is constructed about afro religions. In elaboration of this thesis, we need to situate historically beginning and developing of IURD, and also of Pentecostal Movement, with which IURD is connected. So, we could to go along our analysis with true safety. Religious intolerance and vilipend were clear in our analysis of publications and exorcism rites by us seen.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:29:14Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2011-06-29Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T18:58:49Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 mateo_lr_me_mar.pdf: 1131056 bytes, checksum: 1c5055a521b403ba037d9ac78b6d1f83 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / A religião tem exercido uma influência multidirecional no plano internacional através de movimentos transnacionais e conflitos étnico-nacionais, formatação de identidades e legitimação política que perfazem o ressurgimento do sagrado que caracteriza o século XXI como pós-secular. Diante deste quadro, questiona-se a negligência dirigida ao tema religioso pela disciplina das Relações Internacionais, situando tanto os impasses teóricos como as possibilidades analíticas abertas contemporaneamente. A escolha dos Estados Unidos como estudo de caso se deve ao caráter extremamente devoto da população e sua relevância na construção do “espírito americano”. Os mitos fundacionais protestantes ajudam a entender a celebração da pátria contida na religião civil. De tempos em tempos, momentos de despertar religioso varreram os Estados Unidos, moldando seu dinâmico mercado religioso e o vigor evangélico engajado que caracteriza a atual “igreja americana”. Recentes mudanças no protestantismo trouxeram nova dinâmica para a intersecção entre religião e política, colocando em questão as bases do secularismo institucional dos Estados Unidos. Por muito tempo na história americana, a sociedade religiosa e o governo secular coexistiram e se reforçaram mutuamente. O muro de separação entre Igreja e Estado e a liberdade religiosa são valores fundamentais da república defendidos desde o século XVIII pelos pais fundadores. Na segunda metade do século XX, contudo, grupos religiosos articulados em torno de uma agenda conservadora começaram a influenciar o debate sobre questões morais como aborto e direitos homossexuais, e mobilizar os fiéis para as eleições locais e federais. Nota-se, também, padrões como a “lacuna de frequência religiosa” e a retórica religiosa de líderes políticos, que traduzem a nova investida da religião no espaço público americano. O... / Religion has played a multidirectional influence on the international stage through transnational movements and ethno-national conflicts, formatting and political legitimation of identities that make up the resurgence of the sacred which characterizes the twenty-first century as post-secular. Given this situation, we question the negligence led to the religious theme for the International Relations discipline, closing both the theoretical impasses as the analytical possibilities opened contemporaneously. The choice of the United States as a case study is due to its extremely devout population and its relevance in the construction of the American spirit. Protestant foundational myths help to understand the country celebration contained in the civil religion. From time to time, moments of religious revival swept the United States, casting his dynamic religious marketplace and committed evangelical force that characterizes the current American church. Recent changes in Protestantism brought a new dynamic for the intersection between religion and politics, calling into question the institutional foundations of secularism in the United States. For a long time in American history, religious society and secular government coexisted and mutually reinforced. The wall of separation between church and state and freedom of religion are fundamental valuesof the Republic, defended since the eighteenth century by the founding fathers. In the second half of the twentieth century, however, religious groups structured around a conservative agenda, began to influence the debate on moral issues like abortion and gay rights, and mobilize the faithful to the local and federal elections. We can note, also, patterns such as the “religious attendance gap” and the religious rhetoric of political leaders which reflect the new thrust of religion in American public space. This work’s focus lies in ... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

The interpretation of religious feeedom in European and international decision - making practice This diploma thesis focuses on the system of protection of religious freedoms in European and international legislation and explores its interpretation in the decision-making practice of the European Court of Human Rights and the United Nations Human Rights Committee. In recent years, the protection of religious minorities has become a topical issue, giving rise to numerous international judicial decisions. The core of the thesis provides a comprehensive analysis of some of these decisions. The aim of the thesis is to examine the importance international judicial bodies attribute to the protection of religious freedoms in relation to the system of the protection of fundamental human rights. It also discusses conditions and situations in which the exercise of these fundamental rights can be limited without encroaching upon fundamental freedoms of an individual. The introduction provides a definition of the term religion and describes its interpretation in specialized literature. The second chapter looks at the historical development of the protection of religious freedoms, its individual components and the modern concept of religious freedom laid down by international treaties/conventions on human rights...

Magister Legum - LLM / This mini-thesis is based on the presumption that the Danish cartoons and the anti-Muslim clip posted on YouTube as forms of expression, ridiculed the religious beliefs and practices of Muslims which in turn affected the exercise of religious freedom as it violated the dignity of the bearers of the right to freedom of religion and therefore a conflict between the right to freedom of religion and freedom of expression exists. The above incidence of conflict between the right to freedom of religion and freedom of expression involves infringing the freedom of religion of the Islamic community. Blasphemy in Islam is speech that is insulting to God, but during the course of Muslim history it has become increasingly linked with insult to the Prophet Muhammad. In Islam the depiction of the Prophet Muhammad in any way is strictly forbidden and is considered blasphemous.