Human Rights and Religious Freedom in South Asia

Abstract

This research examines the status of human rights and religious freedom in South Asia, particularly Bangladesh, critically. South Asia is one of the multi-cultural and multi-religious regions where Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism are the major religious traditions. Besides, more than half of the world’s economically poorest people live in South Asian countries, most of whom are sensitive to religion. South Asia is an area of religious and political instability which contains limited civic amenities where religious freedom and minority rights have been under threat for decades. Religious freedom is one of the fundamental human rights, and violation of this right leads to the rise of intolerance and religious extremism. This study is a sincere effort to explore the causes of the weakness of South Asian states and governments in terms of ensuring human rights and religious freedom. South Asia consists of Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan, where religion-based conflicts have taken a terrible turn. Minor religious groups in different regions of South Asia face challenges. For decades, they have become victims of persecution because of political issues, economic and cultural crises, misunderstanding of secularism and pluralism, religious extremism, and misconception about religious harmony. Though fundamental human rights have been guaranteed by most of the Constitutions of South Asian Countries recently, we can see the opposite scene in practice. The violation of religious and political rights is pervasive in these countries. There is a strong link between democracy, the state, and terrorism. The study examines that the weak democracy of almost all countries of South Asia aggravates political and religious turmoil and thus fosters terrorism. It is the prime hindrance to securing human rights in these areas. As a result, the consecutive violence centered on religion and politics has made the life of the people of this region miserable. iv It is noteworthy that mutual communication and understanding among South Asian regions is comparatively less than that of the people of other regions in the world. Consequently, religious intolerance and the rise of militancy in these countries have taken a terrible shape. That is why it is the great responsibility of the states and governments to increase dialogue and open discussion among the people of the region in order to enhance interfaith and inter-cultural understanding. The current research tries to analyze international interference in case of violating human rights and religious freedom and the effectiveness of the international organizations in preventing such types of violations. This study explores the major causes of the violations of human rights and religious freedom in South Asia. The misuse of religion for political purposes, international conspiracies, and the silent role of international organizations, poverty, unemployment, and lack of knowledge about other religions among the adherents of different faiths accelerate the problem. South Asian governments should take necessary steps and be alert to national and international conspiracies. Rumors in the name of religion and misconceptions about the beliefs and practices of other faiths accelerate the tendency of religious fanaticism, which later turns into communal strife. Along with governments and mass media, people of these countries should be aware of the misuse of religions and the rumors in the name of religions. This research indicates that interfaith dialogue can ensure peaceful coexistence among the followers of different faithbased communities in South Asia. In this research, by analyzing the respondent's responses and views on this problem, necessary suggestions are put forward, intending to expose the fundamental catalysts of religious intolerance alongside the precautions and measures that can be taken to ensure religious freedom.