At the Church of Scientology’s British headquaters in West Sussex, Leisa Goodman, Human Rights Director of the Church of Scientology International, announces the start of the European Journey.
ven though religiously diverse, Britain is still far from having religious equality. The European Journey for Religious Freedom began in Britain so as to reiterate the message of the UDHR that all religions are entitled to equal treatment.
The British government has indicated the need for objective and balanced information concerning religious minorities. The European Convention on Human Rights has been incorporated into English law, adding muscle to religious freedom guarantees in a country with no written constitution and no effective legislative means to protect individuals from religious discrimination.
While these are positive developments, religious minorities have experienced continuing hostility, caricaturing and negative stereotyping in the media. Discrimination against Muslims, who number approximately 1 million, was described as blatant by the Action Committee on Islamic Affairs as recently as 1993.
Under English law, blasphemous libel is defined as any writing which exposes Christianity, its beliefs and practices to vilification, but no comparable protection has existed against denigration of non-Christian religions. With the incorporation of the European Convention on Human Rights into domestic law, making discrimination on the grounds of religious belief illegal, human rights advocates have called for Parliament to repeal the blasphemy law.
| Previous | Glossary | Contents | Next |
| Your View | Related Sites | Bookstore | Home Page |
© 1999-2004 Church of Scientology International. All Rights Reserved.
For Trademark Information on Scientology Services.
