State Responses to Minority Religions

This book explores state responses to minority religions in four parts. The volume provides a legal and normative overview of the variety of responses available to states and looks at Islamic majority countries. It also focuses on Western Europe, paying particular attention to the rise in the twentieth century of the 'sect' and exploration of the European Court of Human Rights.

The response of states to demands for free exercise of religion or belief varies greatly across the world. In some places, religions come as close as imaginable to autonomous existences with little interference from government. In other cases religion finds itself grinding out a meagre living, if at all, under the jealously watchful eye of the state. This book provides a legal and normative overview of the variety of responses to minority religions available to states. Exploring case studies ranging from Islamic regions such as Indonesia, Pakistan, and the wider Middle East, to Western Europe, Eastern Europe, China, Russia, Canada, and the Baltics, contributors include international scholars and experts in law, sociology, religious studies, and political science. This book offers invaluable perspectives on how minority religions are currently being received, reviewed, challenged, or ignored in different parts of the world.