Dear Constituent,
Thank you for contacting me about religious freedom.
It is my firm belief that people of every faith and none should be able to enjoy the same freedoms and equal treatment so that they can practice their religion and live by their principles. Our country’s history is a story of growing liberty, from Magna Carta through to today’s ongoing fight against extremism in all its forms, and I can assure you that religious freedom is safe in modern Britain.
I am pleased that freedom of religion is enshrined in UK legislation. The Human Rights Act, which incorporated the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law, explicitly protects religious freedom. Article 9, states that “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief, in worship, teaching, practice and observance.”
The UK also takes its role seriously as a champion of religious freedom across the world. International Freedom of Religion or Belief Day is observed by the diplomatic network, and humanitarian aid to promote religious freedom has been issued via the Magna Carta Fund for Human Rights and Democracy.
Thank you for taking the time to contact me.
Yours sincerely,
Mel Stride MP
MP for Central Devon
