Part II | Outline
Category E | Perspectives
Topic 23 | Religious freedom is a canary in the coal mine
Religious freedom is sometimes called “a canary in the coal mine,” to illustrate that when religious freedom is violated, other human rights are also at risk. Coal miners often carried canaries with them in underground mines because the canaries were more sensitive to poisonous gases. A canary that lost consciousness or died was evidence of an unhealthy environment that posed danger to people as well. Similarly, violations of religious freedom are an early warning sign that other important rights and freedoms are also in jeopardy.
Key distinctions
- The right to religious freedom is violated when the government tries to dominate religion (i.e., bans religion, for fear of competing loyalties).
The right to religious freedom is also violated when religion dominates the government (i.e., the imposing of a mandatory state religion).
- Excessive government control over religion involving prohibitions of religion or forced adherence to a religion is generally accompanied by a decline in other fundamental rights locally, nationally, and/or internationally.
Key ideas
- Human rights are interrelated, so violation of one right often violates other rights. Conversely, if a fundamental right is upheld, it facilitates the preservation and enjoyment of other rights. This also means that if a religious conscientious objection is not recognized as a basis for legal accommodations, other exceptions or special situations may not be recognized either.
- Religious intolerance and forced homogeneity imposed by oppressive regimes lead to multiple rights violations.
- When societies promote intellectual and religious freedom, they resist homogeneity, promote progress, and reinforce other rights. Conversely, when societies fail to protect intellectual freedom, their productivity and economic output suffer, leading to the loss of additional rights.
Case studies
- Government dominates religion: China. Early in Mao Zedong’s dictatorship in China, he spoke publicly against religion, even calling it “poison.” This proved a harbinger, as the Chinese people progressively lost religious and other rights during the Cultural Revolution (1966–76). Mao eventually purged the country of all cultural and religious symbols, shut down schools and universities, and sent diplomats to “re-education camps.”
- Religion dominates government: Iran. Women played a significant supporting role in the initial stages of the Iranian Revolution in 1979. However, the revolution eventually included implementation of oppressive religious policies, including a mandatory dress code for women and statements from the future Ayatollah Khomeini that women would have a role to play “within an Islamic framework.” These warnings were not heeded: when Khomeini rose to power, women lost many more rights, which they continue to fight for to this day.