Culture, Religion, and Freedom of Religion or Belief

Abstract

The relationship between culture and freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) is often seen as a negative one, with freedom of religion often invoked to defend human rights violations. In response, many human rights advocates draw a distinction between culture and religion, and what is insinuated is that culture is the problem, not religion. However, the reality is that in many cases, culture and religion are not so distinct, with cultural practices becoming “religionized” and religious ideas becoming part of the culture. Recognizing this relationship can open up other more positive avenues for the promotion of human rights and FoRB.

Keywords:

• culture
• religion
• FGM
• freedom of religion or belief
• religious justification

Notes

1 The term “religious property” defined as any form of property with religious or spiritual associations: churches, monasteries, shrines, sanctuaries, mosques, synagogues, temples, sacred landscapes, sacred groves, and other landscape features, etc. (ICOMOS 2004, 15).

2 One example is Article 5 of CEDAW, on Sex Roles and Stereotyping calls on states parties to take all appropriate measures:, which stipulates: a) To modify the social and cultural patterns of conduct of men and women, with a view to achieving the elimination of prejudices and customary and all other practices which are based on the idea of the inferiority or the superiority of either of the sexes or on stereotyped roles for men and women. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,

G.A. res. 34/180, 34 U.N. GAOR Supp. (No. 46) at 193, U.N. Doc. A/34/46, entered into force Sept. 3, 1981.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Mariam Rawan Abdulla

Mariam Rawan Abdulla is the researcher and Policy Officer for the Commonwealth Initiative for Freedom of Religion or Belief, based at the University of Birmingham, UK. She holds a LLB Law degree from the London School of Economics and a LLM in Human Rights, Conflict, and Justice from SOAS. She is currently working on her Ph.D. at Birmingham, exploring “Islamic Liberation Theology,” with reference to Catholic Political Thought and pre-nation state Islamic governance.