Jan 16th, 2009
Posted by Nahal Zamani, Human Rights Program at 2:22pm	Human Rights, Religion & Belief, Women's Rights

Achieving the Ideal: Celebrating Religious Freedom Day

Every year since 1994, the President of the United States proclaims January 16 as "Religious Freedom Day."

January 16th commemorates the anniversary of the adoption of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, the first legislative enactment in the history of the world to proclaim the fundamental importance of religious freedom. The Statute also played an important underlying role as a precursor to our Bill of Rights' constitutional protections for religious freedom.

Presidential proclamations of "Religious Freedom Day" typically praise not only the eighteenth century founders Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, but twentieth century Americans who promoted religious freedom through international instruments such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Freedom of belief and worship is not just a constitutional right; it is a fundamental human right. The UDHR establishes that religious freedom is a fundamental human right, stating:

[e]veryone 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.

Although the U.S. Constitution and human rights standards guarantee religious freedom to all, religious discrimination is still a problem in the United States. Jeremy Gunn, director of ACLU Program Freedom of Religion and Belief, writes that "[w]hile American laws do not discriminate against particular religions, and while most religious groups are free to practice, there are certain groups disproportionately subjected to unfavorable treatment by society and at times by public officials." One group that falls into this category is Muslim-Americans.

In the last few years, the U.S. has seen many attacks on religious freedom, particularly since the tragic events of 9/11. These attacks on religious freedom have hindered the ability of Muslim-Americans, Sikh-Americans, Arabs, and South Asians to give religiously-obligated charity, be free from discrimination at work, worship without fear, express their religious belief, associate with those who share their faith, and wear religious attire.

In Michigan this November, the ACLU Human Rights Program teamed with the ACLU of Michigan, Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services, and other local organizations to host a workshop on the challenges of keeping one's faith in post-9/11 America due to religious and ethnic discrimination. One of the featured speakers was Jameelah Medina, an ACLU client who was forced to remove her hijab in a San Bernardino County, California jail. Jameelah's story is shared on YouTube and shows us that we have much farther to go in achieving the eighteenth century founders' goal of eliminating religious discrimination and combating intolerance on the grounds of religion or belief.

Please note that by playing this clip You Tube and Google will place a long-term cookie on your computer. Please see You Tube's privacy statement on their website and Google's privacy statement on theirs to learn more. To view the ACLU's privacy statement, click here.

While Religious Freedom Day recognizes America's role as an early world leader on religious freedom, the best way to honor America's contribution to religious freedom, however, is not only to celebrate what has been accomplished but to rededicate ourselves to achieving the ideal the Constitutional framers intended. The Obama administration must end religious discrimination, not perpetuate the wrongs that have tarnished America's reputation as a beacon of religious freedom especially in times of national emergency.

Permalink |	Human Rights, Religion & Belief, Women's Rights

Tags: Human Rights Program

1. austin Says:
   Jan 16th, 2009 at 2:41pm

   I agree one hundred percent. In other recent news, I was disappointed to hear that many Mormons were persecuted for their church's stance on Proposition 8 in California. While I was against Prop 8, I think it is a shame that people vandalized Mormon-owned businesses and called for Mormons to resign from their jobs. There are many religious minorities that face discrimination in America today, and it is my prayer that we can try to include all of them, whether or not we agree with their theology, politics, dress, or whatever.

2. Katie Says:
   Jan 16th, 2009 at 7:52pm

   @ Austin, I totally agree. But thankfully, all of that negative attention towards Mormons was *not* orchestrated by the government and is being treated seriously by the authorities.

3. Louis Says:
   Jan 18th, 2009 at 3:45am

   The most discriminated against group in our country are non-believers. Try running for any political office as an atheist and see how far you get.

4. Dixie Says:
   Jan 20th, 2009 at 3:07am

   There will come a time in America when Christians will be discriminated against. Indeed, I have even heard people on the far left, on the news, call Christians "dangerous right wing extremists". How about that--I'm dangerous!! I, who have never harmed anyone, who hate no one, have been lumped in with Neo-Nazis and Skinheads, as if there is no difference between me and them. Will the ACLU come to my, or other Christians', defense? I seriously doubt it.

5. jimmey Says:
   Jan 21st, 2009 at 1:38pm

   all the religions suck in general, but christians are the worst they are the leeches of the modern society and they are the product of ignorance that in this case speaking in their language they are "shit" making this whole place smell...causing wars and supporting israel to kill innocent kids...where is their god that died for their sins...oh i forgot god is only in the christian side helping them to raise hell!

6. DiviaD Says:
   Jan 24th, 2009 at 4:04pm

   Dixie,

   I so agree with you. I am a teacher
   at a Muslim school where they have
   their religious rights, but I am
   asked to wear a scarf when we take
   the students to prayer (twice a day
   that interrupts their learning process).
   I have to refrain from wearing jewelry
   or nail polish also which is a part
   of their religion. My religious rights
   are also ignored when we are asked to
   attend workshops on the weekends even
   on Sundays - my worship day! Couldn't this be a lawsuit. It interferes with
   my rghts as a woman too, because in
   their religion women are suppressed
   but we are in American and my rights
   as a NON Muslim should not be suppressed! They also do not say
   the pledge of Allegience at this
   school but pray to Allah in the
   morning assembly? And tell students
   it is most honorable to DIE for
   Allah!???

   Any and all comments are welcome!

7. Steve Says:
   Feb 2nd, 2009 at 12:40pm

   The UDHR establishes that religious freedom is a fundamental human right, stating:

   [e]veryone 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.

   But For now, Illinois' Moment of Silence law is out of commission
   A federal judge struck down the law as unconstitutional, saying it crossed the line of separation of church and state. According to the Associated Press, Judge Robert Gettleman sided with the ACLU, who claimed the law was "a thinly disguised effort to bring religion into the schools."
   Last I checked the schools are "public" private institutions. just because they recieve government funding doesn't mean the government owns the school system. My question is:
   Where is this "line" of "seperation of church and state" anyway? Its not a law, its not in the constitution, so what is it? The State is not establising a religion here. They dont own the schools. And whats wrong with religion into the schools? It's everywhere where people are, right? We have religious freedom in this country...or do we really?

8. roald Says:
   Feb 2nd, 2009 at 3:06pm

   Dixie...I seriously believe that should you ever experience discrimination based on being a Christian, especially if that discrimination comes from the government, the ACLU will be there for you. Why would you think otherwise. I exclude any discrimination based on the government stopping you from trampling on the rights of others.

   jimmey...I have found that most Christians, especially those in leadership positions do not follow the teachings of Christ.

   diviaD...May I ask a few questions? What do you expect from a religious school other than teaching that their religion is the one and only? Which of your rights are being abridged? Does wearing a scarf, not wear nail polish, jewelry, interfere with your religious beliefs? If the parents are OK with taking time out for religious activities, who are you to say otherwise? If it makes the kids learn less, the price will be paid when they are unable to get good jobs or otherwise deal with the world as adults.

   Talk to the ACLU. They might be able to provide guidance on how you deal with the problem of workshops interfering with your rights to practice your religion. They might also be able to help if the school is holding you back from promotion because you are a woman.

9. Suzanne Ito, ACLU Says:
   Feb 5th, 2009 at 5:09pm

   Dixie, please see http://www.aclu.org/religion/govtfunding/26526res200608 24.html for a summary of just some of the instances in which the ACLU has protected the rights of Christians.

10. roald Says:
    Feb 6th, 2009 at 2:19pm

    Suzanne Ito - Thank you. I appreciated the summary.

11. sam Says:
    Mar 2nd, 2009 at 7:22pm

    http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/02/28/islamicfina ncing/?refid=0

    "A handful of private banks and lending institutions offer Islamic mortgages in the U.S., but Minnesota Housing is the first state agency to offer such a product. The program is the brainchild of Hussein Samatar, director of the African Development Center in Minneapolis."

    Are taxpayers paying for this? What about separation of religion and state?

12. Earl Says:
    Mar 13th, 2009 at 5:31pm

    Are babies not human? What about the unborn babies? I don't understand how the ACLU can claim to help all these causes, and be all for human rights, but they have no concern for the most helpless of all.

    Go figure.

13. roald Says:
    Apr 9th, 2009 at 3:53pm

    sam - The taxpayers are not out anything for this. According to the article (thanks for the link),
    " The state buys a home and resells it to the buyer at a higher price. The down payment and monthly installments are agreed to up front at current mortgage rates.

    The deal is identical to a thirty-year fixed-rate loan, except there's no additional interest, because the higher up front price factors in payments that would have been made over the life of a traditional mortgage."

    On the other hand, I don't know that the state should be in the home sales business. I didn't find anything in the article about selling houses under other circumstances.

14. Worship the FSM Says:
    Apr 13th, 2009 at 8:01pm

    When is Freedom From Religion Day?

    Too judgemental? I'd even settle for Rational Thought and Reason Day.

    I gues we still have to pacify the masses...

15. Richard Says:
    May 26th, 2009 at 1:07pm

    Organizations such as the United States Government and the ACLU are eating away my religious freedom. If you wish to live an atheistic lifestyle then why are you living in a country whose principles have foundations derived from Christianity and the Holy Bible. duh................ are you stupid or something???

16. roald Says:
    Jun 22nd, 2009 at 9:36pm

    Richard..This country's origins are in people fleeing from religious persecution. Their greatest gift to us was to create a Constitution to prevent their new country from persecuting anyone for their religious beliefs. You want to undermine that vision.

    The principles on which this country was founded are not derived from Christianity and the Holy Bible. Do some research on the neutral fact checking sites.

    You are welcome here as long as you respect my rights to my religion or decision not to follow a religion.

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