Perspectivas / Perspectives

It makes sense to assert that religious freedom is the sine qua non test
for real democracy.  The right to vote, own property and/or associate
freely has little meaning if citizens cannot democratically speak and
act on the basis of their beliefs about the ultimate reality that define
who they are and what it means for them to be living on this Earth

Dec. 10, 2012.─ Religious freedom is described by Wikipedia as "a principle that supports the freedom of an individual or community, in public or private, to manifest religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship, and observance; the concept is generally recognized also to include the freedom to change religion or not to follow any religion."

Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights declares that "Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief [also known as «apostasy»], and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance".

Twenty eight years later the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights entered into force, stating in Article 2 that "Each State Party to the present Covenant undertakes to respect and to ensure to all individuals within its territory and subject to its jurisdiction the rights recognized in the present Covenant, without distinction of any kind, such as race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status."

Article 18 of this Covenant further states that "Everyone shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This right shall include freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice, and freedom, either individually or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in worship, observance, practice and teaching", and adds that "Freedom to manifest one's religion or beliefs may be subject only to such limitations as are prescribed by law and are necessary to protect public safety, order, health, or morals or the fundamental rights and freedoms of others."

The Declaration and the Covenant would not have been enforceable at the national and international levels without the Protocol to the International Covenant that entered into force on 23 March 1976.  This Protocol gives competence to a UN Human Rights Committee "to receive and consider, as provided in the present Protocol, communications from individuals claiming to be victims of violations of any of the rights set forth in the Covenant", and this Committee should submit periodical reports to the UN Commission on Human Rights to take action.

Dec. 4.─ Alan Gross could've been your neighbor. An American baby boomer who loved to play the mandolin and snack on sunflower seeds, Gross had a big heart. He chose a job that took him all over the world to help equip those struggling under political and economic oppression.

Sadly, Alan Gross is not your neighbor. He is a prisoner of a repressive, freedom-denying Cuban regime. The picture on the left shows Mr. Gross before he was imprisoned.  On the right, the picture was taken during one of the rare visits allowed to family.

Gross sits in jail today because the Castro regime persistently denies its people basic political freedoms, including the freedom to access uncensored, unfiltered news and opinions. The U.N. acknowledged this right over 60 years ago.

The Obama Administration protested Gross's imprisonment from the start and claims that better relations with Cuba hinge on the American's release. Yet Havana insists on a prisoner swap, using Gross as a bargaining chip to win the release of the Cuban Five—a group of Cubans convicted in Miami for acts of espionage.