Freedom of religion and minority rights in South Africa

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Date

2021

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

MPDI

Abstract

The South African Constitution contains an extensive list of rights, several of which are relevant, directly or indirectly, to accommodate the needs of persons that belong to a religious minority group in South Africa. This article examines the extent to which these protections are utilized by individuals and courts and explores the interplay between these various sources of protection that religious minority groups and their members can rely on. It will examine the courts’ case law on freedom of religion to determine whether the courts have relied on one or all of the rights offered by the Constitution when dealing with claims made by persons belonging to a religious minority group. The reasons for and impacts of the choices that the courts have made will also be investigated. Equally important are the choices made by persons belonging to a religious minority group when approaching courts to vindicate their rights.

Description

Keywords

Religious freedom, Religious minorities, Bill of Rights, Constitutional court, South Africa

Citation

Fessha, Y. T., & Dessalegn, B. (2021). Freedom of religion and minority rights in South Africa. Religions, 12(10), 901. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel12100901