Regulation of religion — SA must tackle religious abuse without restricting freedom of belief
On International Religious Freedom Day, the biggest threat facing religious freedom in SA is an institution created to protect it.
On International Religious Freedom Day, the biggest threat to religious freedom in South Africa is not external persecution, but rather the actions of an institution created to protect it. Craig Bailie, an expert in international studies and public leadership, points out that the Constitution guarantees the right to freedom of religion, but one particular Chapter 9 institution - the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities (CRL Commission) - has been focusing its attention on "commercialisation of religion and the abuse of people's belief systems".
This is ironic, as the commission is supposed to strengthen constitutional democracy, which includes religious freedom. Established in 2015, the commission's investigations have led to concerns over the definition and enforcement of laws that limit religious freedom, potentially infringing on individuals' right to practice their faith.
Written by urgent.news from Daily Maverick's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
