Asean MPs group call on govts to defend freedom of religion

The Asean Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) has demanded that Southeast Asian governments take firm steps to address the urgent and critical issues surrounding Freedom of Religion or Belief (FORB).

Despite the region's rich religious diversity, APHR highlighted ongoing challenges such as repressive laws, hate speech, and discrimination against minorities, including the Rohingya in Myanmar, Christians in Vietnam, and the Ahmadiyya in Indonesia and Malaysia.

“Blasphemy laws remain embedded in the legal systems of several Southeast Asian countries, and they have been used to penalise freedom of expression and cause the rise of intolerance and hate speech, which fuel discrimination, persecution, and undermine the fabric of our societies.

“The ongoing politicisation of religion for political gain deepens divisions and threatens our democracies, and leaves unresolved persistent issues facing religious and ethnic minorities,” APHR said in a statement.

The right group stressed that governments must tackle these challenges to safeguard individual freedoms, which are crucial for maintaining peace and social cohesion.

They pointed out that FORB is enshrined in the constitutions of Southeast Asian nations and protected under Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 22 of the Asean Human Rights Declaration.

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Five critical actions

To meet their human rights obligations and protect FORB, APHR proposed five critical actions for governments:

• Repeal repressive and discriminatory laws at all levels, from national to local, that threaten the right to freedom of religion or belief.

• Take decisive action against those who commit religious-based hate crimes, discrimination, and violence against minority groups.

• Cultivate a healthy political culture and end the misuse of religion for political purposes, ensuring equal political participation for everyone, regardless of religion or ethnicity.

• Strengthen tolerance and social cohesion through education, interfaith dialogue, cultural and religious literacy, and inclusive policies developed through participatory processes.

• Protect the right of all individuals to hold and express their beliefs freely and peacefully, without fear of persecution or discrimination.

In addition, APHR also declared its commitment to supporting victims of religious-based violence and discrimination, addressing religious conflicts while promoting reconciliation, ensuring that laws align with international human rights standards, and preventing the misuse of religion for political gain.

The group stated that parliamentarians would collaborate with various stakeholders to protect FORB, focusing primarily on minority groups.

Furthermore, they are dedicated to including diverse religious perspectives in state dialogues, building capacity, and sharing best practices to enhance their parliamentary work.

APHR also added that it aims to ensure national human rights mechanisms meet international transparency, accountability, and effectiveness standards.

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