Reflections on Freedom of Religion or Belief and Security

This article explores the relationship between the human right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief (FoRB) and security. It argues that FoRB and security are intricately intertwined and uses the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe’s (OSCE) concept of comprehensive and co-operative security as a theoretical underpinning and ideal-type model from which to assess other approaches to security. Through this lens, it asserts that if sustainable security is an end-goal, and if FoRB helps to ensure it, arbitrary restrictions of this right, or intrusive interference into the lives of religious or belief communities, will ultimately only undermine security and should be avoided.