ABSTRACT

The relation between culture and freedom of religion or belief is often seens as negative one, with freedom of
religion often invoked to defend human rights violations in the response many humans rights advocates
draw a distinction between culture and religion and what is insulted is that culture is the problem no
religion however the reality is that in many cases culture and religion are not so distinct with cultural
practices becoming religionized and the relious ideas becoming part of the culture recognizing the
relationship can open up other more positive avenues for the promotions of human rights for FoRB
The common connection that we make between culture and freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) is often a
negative one. Freedom of religion is often invoked to defend human rights violations and to protest against the
introduction of provisions providing for gender equality. In response, many human rights advocates, as well as
more “moderate” voices within the same religious groups as those claiming FoRB, argue that such human rights
violations or discrimination against women are not actually mandated by religion, but rather they are a cultural
practice. In an attempt to mitigate this clash between the universal standards of human rights and the claim to
freedom of religion, a distinction is therefore drawn between culture and religion. What is insinuated is that
culture is the problem, not religion.
However, this attempt to smooth over incompatibilities between human rights values and religion runs into
problems when it is faced with the reality that in many cases, this distinction between culture and religion is not
so distinct, with cultural practices becoming “religionized” and religious ideas and spaces becoming part of the
culture. While acknowledgement of this interaction might throw into question this particular strategy of
distinction to promote human rights, it can open up other avenues for a more positive understanding of the way
we understand FoRB, culture and religion. Religion, culture, and human rights do not exist in isolation, but affect
and influence each other, sometimes in negative ways, but very often in positive ways that can assist in the
understanding and promotion of FoRB.