FREEDOM OF RELIGION OR BELIEF
What is the problem?
Freedom of religion or belief faces unique and growing challenges globally. In Southeast Asia, issues related to freedom of religion or belief include hate speech against religious minorities, persecution and discrimination of minorities, and repressive laws, such as those criminalising blasphemy or restricting the construction of places of worship.
Improved access to the Internet and social media has also created new avenues to harass people of various faiths with little or no consequence, while increasing political polarisation exacerbates the issue further.
What are we doing about it?
APHR is working to ensure that incidences of religious intolerance become outliers, rather than a harmful new normal. MPs play an important role in protecting people’s freedom of religion or belief, and APHR works closely with its members in parliament to prevent the passing of repressive laws or to repeal existing ones, as well as outside of parliament to promote social cohesion among communities.
APHR also works with the International Panel of Parliamentarians for Freedom of Religion or Belief (IPPFoRB) to monitor and provide resources for FORB-related developments in the region. See more on the website for Freedom of Religion or Belief in Southeast Asia.
Relevant Publications
Toolkit for Parliamentarians: Promoting an Inclusive Malaysian Society through the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Process
APHR and IPPFoRB developed a “Toolkit for Parliamentarians to Promote an Inclusive Malaysian Society Through the UPR Process.”
FACT-FINDING MISSION: Protecting Peace and Harmony in Multicultural Malaysia Following the 2022-2023 Election
APHR and IPPFoRB launched the report of the findings from our joint fact-finding mission in Malaysia.
Protecting Peace and Harmony in Multicultural Malaysia: Launch of FFM Report and UPR Toolkit for Parliamentarians
APHR and IPPFoRB are co-organizing the launch of the Final Fact-Finding Mission Report and Toolkit for Parliamentarians to Promote an Inclusive Malaysian Society through the UPR Process on 20 March 2024 at Aloft Kuala Lumpur Sentral, Malaysia.
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