Religious Liberty and International Law in Europe

Religious Liberty and International Law in Europe
Malcom D. Evans
Cambridge University Press 1997

Note to the download edition:  “In this fascinating book Malcolm Evans describes in detail the ways in which the freedom of religious belief has been incorporated into the legislation of the countries of Europe. He goes on to examine the mechanisms by which this freedom is guaranteed, and a number of problematic cases that have recently been discussed in the Council of Europe. In a concluding section he outlines a number of developments that will influence the direction that the search for the protection of religious liberty under international law may take.”

Publisher’s Abstract: The freedom of religion is one of the oldest and most controversial of the claims that are recognized as forming part of the corpus of human rights. In this important and fascinating book Malcolm Evans provides a detailed account of the ways in which the freedom of religious belief came to be incorporated into the legislation of the countries of Europe. He goes on to examine the mechanisms by which this freedom is guaranteed, and a number of problematic cases which have recently been discussed in the Council of Europe. In a concluding section he outlines a number of developments which will influence the direction that the search for the protection of religious liberty under international law may take.

“This work is highly recommended…to those seeking an introduction to this subject…” Daniel L. Wade, International Journal of Legal Information

“Malcom Evans’ Religious Liberty and International Law in Europe is an exceedingly well-researched, indexed, and documented work that examines, from both historical and current perspectives, international legal protections of the rights of religion, conscience, and belief on the European continent.” Journal of Religion

• First major treatment of the right to religious liberty in European law
• Authoritative work from leading figure in human rights law
• Highly topical subject in European law
• Contains the most up-to-date and extensive examination of Article 9 of the ECHR (European Court of Human Rights): the most extensive coverage of the work of the UN special Rapporteur
• The book focuses upon religious liberty as a freedom in its own right, rather than as a component of minority rights and discrimination