Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Human Rights—Ethical Institutions/Religious Bodies Between Foundation and Watering Down Legally Testified Rights

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Human Rights in a Changing World

  • 160 Accesses

Abstract

The purpose of this contribution is to reflect on the extent to which the operations and activities of religious bodies and other ethical institutions limit/and or water down constitutional rights and freedoms. This is with specific reference to the position in Africa. In achieving the above-mentioned purpose, this contribution discusses the meaning of religion and the constitutional framework that protects religious freedom in Africa. The contribution reflects on key issues where the activities of religious organisations have proved to limit the fundamental human rights of individuals. From a broad perspective, this contribution acknowledges the interconnectedness of language and cultural values with religious rights. It also reflects on the importance of constitutional and parastatal institutions that promote and protect linguistic, cultural, and religious rights. The contribution concludes with a call for a balance in the activities of religious institutions and the necessity to respect, protect and uphold the rights of other people.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. 1.

    See article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), Adopted by the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2200A (XXI) of 16 December 1966; article 18 of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights (UDHR), Adopted by General Assembly Resolution 217 A(III) of 10 December 1948. See generally also, Daniel Wehrenfenning, ‘The Human Rights of Religious Freedom in International law’ (2006) 18(3) A Journal of Social Justice 403; Hans-Georg Ziebertz & Ernst Hirsch Ballin, Freedom of Religion in the twenty-first Century: A Human Rights Perspective on the Relation Between Politics and Religion (2015 Leiden Brill); Heiner Bielefeldt, Nazila Ghanea & Michael Wiener, Freedom of Religion or Belief: An International Law Commentary (2016 Oxford Oxford University Press) and Javaid Rehman, ‘Accommodating Religious Identities in an Islamic State: International Law, Freedom of Religion and the Rights of Religious Minorities’ (2000) 7(2) International Journal on Minority and Group Rights 139.

  2. 2.

    For instance, there are provisions in various constitutions in Africa that seeks to protect the right and freedom of religion. See for instance, Section 15 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (1996), article 21(c) of the Constitution of the ZA of Ghana (1992), article 38 of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999); article 32 of the Constitution of the Republic of Kenya (2010) and article 19 of the Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania (1977).

  3. 3.

    John Witte & Green M. Christian, ‘Religious Freedom, Democracy, and International Huma Rights’ (2009) 23(2) Emory International Law Review 583 at 583; Peter G. Danchin, ‘The Emergence and Structure of Religious Freedom in International Law Reconsidered’ (2007/2008) 23(2) Journal of Law and Religion 455 at 455; Michael J. Perry. ‘Liberal Democracy and the Right to Religious Freedom’ (2009) 71(4) Review of Politics 621 at 621–622; Natalia Vlas & Sergiu Gherghina, ‘Where Does Religion Meet Democracy? A Comparative Analysis of Attitude in Europe’ (2012) 33(3) International Political Science Review 336 at 337–339; Thomas Buegenthal, ‘The Evolving International Human Rights System’ (2006) 100(4) The American Journal of International Law 783 at 783 and Anthony Pierson Xavier Bothwell, ‘International Standards for Protection of Religious Freedoms’ (2019) 23(1) Annual Survey of International and Comparative Law 1 at 1.

  4. 4.

    Obaji M Agbiji & Ignatius Swart, ‘Religion and Social Transformation in Africa: A Critical and Appreciative Perspective’ (2015) 114 Scriptura 1 at 1; Chidiebere C. Obi, ‘Religion and Societal Development: A Philosophical Appraisal of African Situation’ (2012) 13(2) Unizik Journal of Arts and Humanities 149 at 149 and Gerrie Ter Haar & Stephen Ellis, ‘The Role of Religion in Development: Towards A New Relationship Between the European Union and Africa’ (2006) 18(3) The European Journal of Development Research 351 at 352.

  5. 5.

    William A. Galston, ‘Public Morality and Religion in the Liberal State’ (1986) 19(4) Autumn 807 at 807–808; James A. Reichley, ‘Democracy and Religion’ (1986) 19(4) Autumn 801 at 801; Uwaezuoke Precious Obioha, ‘Ethics, Religion and Humanity: Rethinking Religion in twenty-first Century Africa’ (2009) 8(1/2) Global Journal of Humanities 27 at 27 and Emmanuel Kelechi Iwuagwu, ‘The Relationship Between Religion and Morality: On Whether the Multiplicity of Religious Denominations have Impacted Positively on Socio-Ethical Behaviour’ (2018) 6(9) Global Journal of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences 42 at 43. For further discussion on the relationship between religion and morality, see Vincent McNamara, ‘Religion and Morality’ (1977) 44(2) Irish Theological Quarterly 105; William J. Wainwright, Religion and Morality (2016 London Routledge); PJ Nel, ‘Morality and Religion in African Thought’ (2008) 2008(2) Acta Theologica 34; Patterson Brown, ‘Religious Morality’ (1963) 72(286) Mind 235; David Steinberg, The Multidisciplinary Nature of Morality and Applied Ethics (2020 Springer Nature Switzerland) and Donald M. Broom, The Evolution of Morality and Religion (2003 Cambridge Cambridge University Press).

  6. 6.

    Harold G. Koenig, ‘Research on Religion, Spirituality and Mental Health: A Review’ (2009) 54(5) Canadian Journal of Psychiatry 283 at 284.

  7. 7.

    E Schuurman, ‘Technology and Religion: Islam, Christianity and Materialism’ (2011) 76(2) Koers: Bulletin for Christian Scholarship 373 at 373–374. See generally also, Thomas A. Idinopulos, ‘What is Religion’ (1998) 48(3) CrossCurrents 366; Ira W. Howerth, ‘What is Religion’ (1903) 13(2) International Journal of Ethics 185 and Arvind Sharma, Problematizing Religious Freedom (2011 Springer Science Business Media).

  8. 8.

    Sarah F. Hoyt, ‘The Etymology of Religion’ (1912) 32(2) Journal of American Oriental Society 126 at 126–127. The etymology of religion is also referenced in Bernard Haring, The Law of Christ: Moral Theory for Priests and Laity (1964 New York: Newman Press); Bryan S. Turner, ‘Religion’ (2006) 23(2–3) Theory, Culture and Society 437 and Bruce Ellis Benson, ‘Is There such a Thing as “Religion”? In Search of the Roots of Spirituality’ (2020) 6(1) Open Theology 693 at 697–698.

  9. 9.

    See Joseph I. Omoregbe, A Philosophical Look at Religion (1993 Lagos JOJA).

  10. 10.

    AC Bouquet, Comparative Religion (1941 Middlesex Penguin Books) at 183. Also quoted in Christopher N. Ibenwa & Favour C. Uroko, ‘Discourse Analysis of Religion and Inter-Communal Conflict and Its Causes in Nigeria’ (2020) as per http://www.scielo.org.za/pdf/hts/v76n4/09.pdf (date accessed 01/09/2021) and Rotimi Williams Omotoye, ‘The Historical, Political and Phenomenological Importance of Ori-Oke (Hills and Mountains) in South-Western Nigeria’ in Soede Nathaniel Yaovi, Patrick U. Nwosu, Atiki G. Alamu, Lemuel E. Odeh & AY Mohammed (eds), Ori-Oke, Spirituality and Social Change in Africa: Contemporary Perspectives (2018 Langaa RPCIG, Cameroon) at 13.

  11. 11.

    Gerrie Ter Haar & Stephen Ellis, op cit note 5 at 353–354.

  12. 12.

    Daniel Wehrenfennig, ‘The Human Rights of Religious Freedom in International Law’ (2006) 18(3) Peace Review 403 at 403 and Tarunabh Khaitan & Jane Calderwood Norton, ‘Religion in Human Rights Law: A Normative Restatement’ (2020) 18(1) International Journal of Constitutional Law 111 at 115.

  13. 13.

    John S Mbiti, African Religions and Philosophy (1999 2nd ed Oxford Heinemann) at 15.

  14. 14.

    John S Mbiti, ibid at 15.

  15. 15.

    Johan D van der Vyver & Christian M. Green, ‘Law, Religion and Human Rights in Africa: Introduction’ (2008) 8 African Human Rights Law Journal 337 at 338. See generally also, Omatseye BOJ & Emeriewen Kinsley Osevwiyo, ‘An Appraisal of Religious Art and Symbolic Beliefs in the Traditional African Context’ (2010) 4(2) African Research Review 529 at 530; Rotimi William Omotoye, ‘The Study of African Traditional Religion and Its Challenges in Contemporary Times’ (2011) 1(2) Ilorin Journal of Religious Studies 21; Elizabeth Bakibinga-Gaswaga, ‘African Traditional Religion and Law -Intersections between the Islamic and Non-Islamic Worlds and the Impact on development in the 2030 Agenda Era’ (2020) 14(1) Law and Development Review 1; Henri Mbaya & Ntozakhe Cezula, ‘Contribution of John S. Mbiti to the Study of African religions and African Theology and Philosophy’ (2019) 5(3) Stellenbosch Theological Journal 42; Chukwuma O. Okeke, Christopher N. Ibenwa & Gloria Tochukwu Okeke, ‘Conflict Between African Traditional Religion and Christianity in Eastern Nigeria: The Igbo Example’ (2017) 7(2) Sage Open 1; Mariam Rawan Abdulla, ‘Culture, Religion and Freedom of Religion or Belief’ (2018) 16(4) Review of Faith and International Affairs 102 and Enyinna Nwauche, The Protection of Traditional Expressions in Africa (2017 Springer International Publishing AG) at 25.

  16. 16.

    Gabriel E. Idang, ‘African Culture and Values’ (2015) 16(2) Phrominon 97 at 99.

  17. 17.

    Letlhokwa George Mpedi, ‘The Role of Religious Values in Extending Social Protection: A South African Perspective’ (2008) (1) Acta Theologica 105 at 106.

  18. 18.

    Johan D van der Vyver & Christian M. Green, op cit note 16 at 340.

  19. 19.

    Letlhokwa George Mpedi, op cit note 18 at 108 and Theophilus Edwin Coleman, ‘Reflecting on the Role and Impact of the Constitutional Value of Ubuntu on the Concept of Contractual Freedom and Autonomy in South Africa’ (2021) 24 Potchefstroom Electronic Law Journal (PER/PELJ) 1 at 8–16. The biblical foundation of expressing one’s humanity through his relationship with others may be found in Galatians 5:13–14 (New International Version), which provides that, “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge in the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this command: ‘love your neighbour as yourself.”.

  20. 20.

    Letlhokwa George Mpedi, op cit note 18 at 108 and Theophilus Edwin Coleman, op cit note 20 at 8–16.

  21. 21.

    Johan D van der Vyver & Christian M. Green, op cit note 16 at 338–339.

  22. 22.

    2008 (1) SA 474 (CC).

  23. 23.

    MEC For Education: Kwazulu-Natal & Others v Pillay & Others 2008 (1) SA 474 (CC) para 47–53. For further discussion on the relationship between culture and religion see generally, IT Benson, ‘Can Law Avoid Creating Culture in it Own Image?: The Context for Diversity, Religion and Culture in MEC for Education & Others v Navaneethum Pillay: Reflecting a Decade Later’ (2017) 42(2) Journal of Juridical Science 120; L Du Plessis, ‘Religious Freedom and Equality as Celebration of Difference: A Significant Development in Recent South African Case Law’ (2009) 12(4) Potchefstroom Electronic Law Journal (PELJ/PER) 10; Mtendeweka Mhango, ‘Recognising Religion’ (2012) 25(2) Journal For the Study of Religion 23 and Lourens Du Plessis, ‘Affirmation and Celebration of the ‘Religious Other’ in South Africa’s Constitutional Jurisprudence on Religious and Related Rights: Memorial Constitutionalism in Action’ (2008) 8 African Human Rights Law Journal 376.

  24. 24.

    For further discussion on the United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief, see Nazila Ghanea, ‘The 1981 UN Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief: Some Observations’ in Nazila Ghanea (ed), The Challenge of Religious Discrimination at the Daw of the New Millennium (2004 Springer The Netherlands) at 9–31 and Donna J Sullivan, ‘Advancing The Freedom of Religion or Belief Through the UN Declaration on the Elimination of Religious Intolerance and Discrimination’ (1988) 82(3) The American Journal of International Law 487.

  25. 25.

    Article 21(c) of the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana (1992). See the following cases on the constitutional right to religious freedom in Ghana: James Kwabena Bomfeh Jnr v Attorney-General Write No J1/14/2017 (unreported); Ernest Adofo & Another v. The Attorney-General and Another [2003–2005] 1 GLR 239; Owusu & Others v Amoa-Obeng [1992] 2 GLR 293 and Tyron Ras Marghuy (Suing by Next Friend and Father Kwame Marghuy) v Board of Governors, Achimota Senior High School & the Attorney General Suit No. HR/0055/2021 (unreported).

  26. 26.

    Section 15(1) The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (1996). For further discussion on the nuances of religious freedom in South Africa, see generally Radley Henrico, ‘Proselytising the Regulation of Religious Bodies in South Africa: Supressing Religious Freedom?’ (2019) 22 Potchefstroom Electronic Law Journal (PELJ/PER) 1; Nico Vorster, ‘Religious Freedom and State Neutrality. The South African Experiment in Religious Rights’ (2010) 19 Freedom of Religion 67; Georgia Alida du Plessis, ‘Apartheid, Religious Pluralism and the Evolution to Religious Freedom in South Africa’ (2016) 40(2) Journal of Religious History 237; P Pratap Kumar, ‘Religious Pluralism and Religious Education in South Africa’ (2006) 18(3) Method & Theory in the Study of Religion 273; Rosalind IJ Hackett, ‘Regulating Religious Freedom in Africa’ (2011) 25(2) Emory International Law Review 853 and Pieter Coertzen, Grappling with Religious Differences in South Africa: A Draft for A Charter of Religious Rights (2013 London Routledge).

  27. 27.

    Section 15(2), The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (1996).

  28. 28.

    Section 15(3)(a)(i), The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (1996).

  29. 29.

    Section 15(3)(a)(ii), The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (1996).

  30. 30.

    Section 15(3)(b), The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (1996).

  31. 31.

    Section 31(1), The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (1996).

  32. 32.

    Section 31(2), The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (1996).

  33. 33.

    Article 32(4), The Constitution of the Republic of Kenya (2010). See the following cases on religious freedom under the 2010 Constitution of Kenya: ABH v Board of management [Particulars Withheld] Girls’ High School & 3 Other Interested Party National Cohesion & Integration Commission [2016] eKLR; Seventh Day Adventist Church (East Africa) Limited v Minister for Education & 3 Others [2014] eKLR; JWM (Alias P) v Board of Management O High School & 2 Others [2019] eKLR; Nyakamba Gekara v Attorney General & 2 Others [2013] eKLR and Mohamed Fugicha v Methodist Church in Kenya (Suing Through Registered Trustees) & 3 Others [2016] eKLR.

  34. 34.

    Article 32(3), The Constitution of the Republic of Kenya (2010).

  35. 35.

    Article 45(4)(a) and (b), The Constitution of the Republic of Kenya (2010).

  36. 36.

    Article 38(1), The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999).

  37. 37.

    Article 38(4), The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999).

  38. 38.

    Article 38(3), The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999).

  39. 39.

    Article 19(1), The Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania (1977). For further discussion on the nature of religious freedom in Tanzania, see generally David Westerlund, ‘Freedom of Religion under Socialist Rule in Tanzania’ (1982) 24(1) Journal of Church and State 87; Peter G. Forster, ‘Religion and the State in Tanzania and Malawi’ (1997) 32(304) Journal of Asian and African Studies 164 and Freddy Safieli Manongi, Religious Phenomenology, Socio-Demography and Ecology in the Rural Mt Kilimanjaro, Tanzania (2012 Unpublished PhD Thesis, Bangor University. Also see the following cases: Zakaria Kamwela & Others v The Minister of Education & Vocational Training & Another Civil Appeal No. 3 of 2012 [2013] TZCA 167; Rev Petter Makalla & Others v Rev Jacob Mameo Ole Paulo & Others Civil Case No 195 of 2019 [2020] TZHC 2526 and Fayaz Shamji v The Registered trustees of Khoja Shia Ithnasheri Jamaat Mwanza & 5 Others Civil Case No 05 of 2019 [2021\ TZHC 3847.

  40. 40.

    Article 19(1), The Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania (1977).

  41. 41.

    Article 19(2), The Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania (1977).

  42. 42.

    See generally JD van der Vyver, ‘The Right to Self-Determination of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities in South Africa’ (2011) 14(4) Potchefstroom Electronic Law Journal (PELJ/PER) 2 at 7–9 and S. Kwaw Nyamekye Blay, ‘Changing African Perspectives on the Right of Self-Determination in the Wake of the Banjul Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights’ (1985) 29(2) African Law Journal 147 at 150; Henrik Angerbrandt, ‘Religion, Ethnicity, and Citizenship: Demand for Territorial Self-Determination in Southern Kaduna, Nigeria’ (2015) 33(2) Journal of Contemporary African Studies 232 and Mtendeweka Mhango, Governance, Peace and Human Rights Violation in Africa: Addressing the Application of the Right to Self-Determination in Post-Independence Africa’ (2012) 5 African Journal of Legal Studies 199.

  43. 43.

    [2001] 2 BLR 654.

  44. 44.

    Kamanakao I & Others v Attorney-General & Another [2001] 2 BLR 654. See a contrary decision in Sesana & Others v Attorney-General [2006] 2 BLR 633 where the High Court of Botswana upheld the principle of self-determination. See also the Nigerian case of Safiyatu v Attorney-General of Sokoto State (2003) NNLR 439–464. See generally, Abdulmumini A. Oba, ‘Judicial Practice in Islamic Family Law and its Relation to ‘Urf Custom’ in Northern Nigeria’ (2013) 20(3) Islamic Law and Society 272 and Enyinna Nwauche, ‘Law, Religion and Human Rights in Nigeria’ (2008) 8 African Human Rights Law Journal 568.

  45. 45.

    Alice Boateng & Cynthia A. Sottie, ‘Harmful Cultural Practices Against Women and Girls in Ghana: Implications for Human Rights and Social Work’ in Vishanthie Sewpaul, Linda Kreitzer & Tanusha Raniga (eds) The Tensions Between Culture and Human Rights: Emancipatory Social Work and Afrocentricity in a Global World (2021) at 105–121 and Sandra E. Greene, ‘Modern ‘Trokosi’ and the Abolition in Ghana: Connecting Past and Present’ (2009) 66(4) The William & Mary Quarterly 959 at 959.

  46. 46.

    Ibigbolade S. Aderibigbe, ‘Religious Traditions in Africa: An Overview of Origins, Basic Beliefs, and Practices’ in Ibigbolade S. Aderibigbe & Carolyn M Jones Medine (eds), Contemporary Perspectives on Religions in Africa and the African Diaspora (2015 Palgrave MacMillan New York) at 7–28; John Sodiq Sanni, ‘Religion: A New Struggle for African Identity’ (2016) 17(2) Phrominon 1 at 1–2; John Pobee, ‘Aspect of African Traditional Religion’ (1976) 37(1) Sociological Analysis 1 at 1–2; Johan D van der Vyver & Christian M. Green, op cit note 16 at 338–339; Letlhokwa George Mpedi, op cit note 18 at 106.

  47. 47.

    Ibigbolade S. Aderibigbe, ibid at 7.

  48. 48.

    Letlhokwa George Mpedi, op cit note 18 at 107. For discussion on the historical origins of AICs, see GC Oosthuizen, ‘African Independent Churches in South Africa: A History of Persecution’ (2000) 14(2) Emory International Law Review 1089; Jose Antunes da Silva, ‘African Independent Churches: Origin and Development’ (1993) 88 Anthropos 393; CM Pauw, ‘African Independent Churches as a ‘People’s Response’ to the Christian Message’ (1995) 8(1) Journal for the Study of Religion 3; Victor EW Hayward, ‘African Independent Church Movements’ (1963) 15(2) The Ecumenical Review 192; Edmund Ilogu, ‘Independent African Churches in Nigeria’ (1974) 63(252) International Review of Missions 492; Birgit Meyer, ‘Christianity in Africa: From African Independent to Pentecostal-Charismatic Churches’ (2004) 33 Annual Review of Anthropology 447; Kakwata Frederick, ‘The Progressive Pentecostal Conception of Development Within an African Context of Poverty’ (2017) 3(1) Stellenbosch Theological Journal 159.

  49. 49.

    Alan Gregor Cobley, ‘The ‘African National Church’: Self-Determination and Political Struggles among Black Christians in South Africa to 1948’ 1991) 60(3) Church History 356 at 356; Obed Kealotswe, ‘The Nature and Character of African Independent Churches (AICs) in the twenty-first Century: Their Theological and Social Agenda’ (2014) 40(2) Studia Historiae Ecclesiasticae 227 at 227–228.

  50. 50.

    Letlhokwa George Mpedi, op cit note 18 at 107.

  51. 51.

    John Kwaku Opoku, Eric Manu & Frimpong Wiafe, ‘Religion, Education and Development in Ghana: A Historical Perspective’ (2015) 3(12) Global Journal of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences 6 at 13–15; Jill Olivier & Quentin Wodon, ‘Faith-Inspired Education in Ghana: A Historical Case Example’ (2014) 12(2) The Review of Faith & International Affairs 27 at 27; Ebenezer Yaw Blasu, ‘Christian Missionaries and Education: Presbyterian Educational Chaplaincy as a Holistic Mission Strategy for Transformational Development’ (2021) 5(5) International Journal of Research and Innovation in Applied Science 167 at 168–169; Ransford Pinto, ‘The Effect of Western Formal Education on the Ghanaian Educational System and Cultural Identity’ (2019) 88(1) The Journal of Negro Education 5 at 5–10; Peter White, Religion, Mission and National Development: A Contextual Interpretation of Jeremiah 29:4–7 in Light of the Activities of Basel Mission Society in Ghana (1828–1918) and Its missiological Implications (2015) 36(1) Verbum et Ecclesia 1 at 5 and Edward H. Berman, ‘African Responses to Christian Mission Education’ (1974) 17(3) African Studies Review 527 at 528.

  52. 52.

    Ibigbolade S. Aderibigbe, op cit note 47 at 10.

  53. 53.

    Choon Sup Bae & PJ van der Merwe, Ancestor Worship—Is it Biblical?’ (2008) 64(3) HTS Theological Studies 1299 at 1302; John Pobee, op cit note 47 at 1–5 and Letlhokwa George Mpedi, op cit note 18 at 107.

  54. 54.

    Ibigbolade S. Aderibigbe, op cit note 47 at 10.

  55. 55.

    Ibigbolade S. Aderibigbe, op cit note 47 at 10.

  56. 56.

    Omatseye BOJ & Emeriewen Kinsley Osevwiyo, op cit note 15 at 530; Bridget OJ Omatseye & Kingsley O. Emeriewen, ‘An Appraisal of the Aesthetic Dimension to the African Philosophy of Cloth’ (2012) 3(2) Journal of Language, Technology and Entrepreneurship 57 57–60; SA Shokpeka, ‘Myth in the Context of African Traditional Histories: Can it be Called “Applied History”’ (2005) 32 History in Africa 485 at 485. See generally also, Amanda M Rudolph, ‘Images of African Traditional Religions and Christianity in “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone” and “The Piano Lesson”’ (2003) 33(5) Journal of Black Studies 562 and MY Mbofa, ‘Blood Symbolism in African Religion’ (1985) 21(3) Religious Studies 389 at 389.

  57. 57.

    Johan D van der Vyver & Christian M. Green, op cit note 16 at 348.

  58. 58.

    Johan D van der Vyver & Christian M. Green, op cit note 16 at 348.

  59. 59.

    Johan D van der Vyver & Christian M. Green, op cit note 16 at 343.

  60. 60.

    Article 10, The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999).

  61. 61.

    Article 8, The Constitution of the Republic of Kenya (2010).

  62. 62.

    Johan D van der Vyver & Christian M. Green, op cit note 16 at 344.

  63. 63.

    Johan D van der Vyver & Christian M. Green, op cit note 16 at 344.

  64. 64.

    Obaji M Agbiji & Ignatius Swart, op cit note 5 at 12; Tobias M. Masuku, ‘Prophetic Mission of Faith Communities During Apartheid South Africa, 1948–1994: An Agenda for Prophetic Mission Praxis in the Democratic SA’ (2014) 42(3) Missionalia 151 at 155; Tracy Kuperus, ‘The Political Role and Democratic Contribution of Churches in Post-Apartheid South Africa’ (2011) 53(2) Journal of Church and State 278 at 279 and Naiema Taliep, Sandy Lazarus, Mohamed Seedat & James R Cochrane, ‘The Role of Religious Leaders in Anti-Apartheid Mobilisation: Implications for Violence Prevention in Contemporary Africa’ (2015) 44(4) Religion, State and Society 331 at 332.

  65. 65.

    Obaji M Agbiji & Ignatius Swart, op cit note 5 at 12.

  66. 66.

    Obaji M Agbiji & Ignatius Swart, op cit note 5 at 12.

  67. 67.

    Letlhokwa George Mpedi, op cit note 18 at 116–120.

  68. 68.

    United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), ‘How Faith-based Organisations are Restoring Nature’ as per https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/how-faith-based-organizations-are-restoring-nature (Date accessed 27/09/2021). See also the Report of United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) on, ‘Environment, Religion and Culture in the Context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’ as per https://www.unep.org/resources/report/environment-religion-and-culture-context-2030-agenda-sustainable-development (Date accessed 27/09/2021).

  69. 69.

    Michel Sidibe, ‘Religion and Sustainable Development’ (2016) 14(3) The Review of Faith and International Affairs 1 at 1–4; Evan Berry, ‘Religion and Sustainability of Global Civil Society: Some Basic Findings from Rio + 20’ (2014) 18(3) Worldviews 269 at 270; Emma Tomalin, Jorg Haustein & Shabaana Kidy, ‘Religion and the Sustainable Development Goals’ (2019) 17(2) The Review of Faith and International Affairs 102 at 102–103 and Chilongozi Mwawi Nyirenda, ‘The Role of Religion in Sustainable Development: Theological Reflections on Sustainable Development Goals and Mother Earth’ in Nobuntu Penxa Matholeni, GK Boateng, Molly Manyonganise (eds), Mother Earth, Mother Africa & African Indigenous Religions (2020 African Sun Media Stellenbosch).

  70. 70.

    2006 (1) SA 524.

  71. 71.

    Home Affairs v Fourie; Lesbian and Gay Equality Project v Minister of Home Affairs 2006 (1) SA 524 para 93.

  72. 72.

    Sarah K Dreier, James D. Long & Stephen J. Winkler, ‘African, Religious, and Tolerant? How Religious Diversity Shapes Attitudes Towards Sexual Minorities in Africa’ (2019) 13(2) Politics and Religion 273 at 273; Ernest Yaw Ako, ‘Domesticating the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Right in Ghana: Threat or Promise to Sexual Minority Rights?’ (2020) 4 African Human Rights Yearbook 99 at 112; Raymond A. Atuguba ‘Homosexuality in Ghana: Morality, Law Human Rights’ (2019) 12 Journal of Politics and Law 113 at 117–118; Elias Kifon Bongmba, ‘Homosexuality, Ubuntu and Otherness in the African Church’ (2016) 4(1) Journal of Religion and Violence 15 at 15–20; Arthur K. Berliner, ‘Sex, Sin, and the Church. The Dilemma of Homosexuality’ (1987) 26(2) Journal of Religion and Health 137 at 138. For further discussion on non-discrimination in the African Union and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, see generally R Murray & F Viljoen, ‘Towards Non-Discrimination on the Basis of Sexual Orientation: The Normative Basis and Procedural Possibilities before the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the African Union’ (2007) 29 Human Rights Quarterly 86.

  73. 73.

    Kenneth Awotwe Darko, ‘We Will Vote any Government that Opposes the Anti-LGBTQ Bill—Church of Pentecost’ as per https://www.myjoyonline.com/we-will-vote-out-any-government-that-opposes-anti-lgbtq-bill-church-of-pentecost/?param= (Date accessed 08/10/2021).

  74. 74.

    2001 NR 107 (SC).

  75. 75.

    Chairperson of the Immigration Selection Board v Erna Elizabeth Frank & Another 2001 NR 107 (SC).

  76. 76.

    The Choice in Termination of Pregnancy Act of 1996.

  77. 77.

    Suit No. HR/0055/2021 (unreported).

  78. 78.

    Tyron Ras Marghuy (Suing by Next Friend and Father Kwame Marghuy) v Board of Governors, Achimota Senior High School & the Attorney General Suit No. HR/0055/2021 (unreported).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa

    Letlhokwa George Mpedi

  2. Centre for International and Comparative Labour and Social Security Law (CICLASS), University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa

    Theophilus Edwin Coleman

Authors
  1. Letlhokwa George Mpedi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Theophilus Edwin Coleman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Letlhokwa George Mpedi .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Political Science and Public Administration, Middle East Technical University in Ankara/Turkey, Bahcelievler, Ankara, Türkiye

    Mehmet Okyayuz

  2. Human Rights Centre, Central South University, Changsha, China

    Junxiang Mao

  3. University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa

    Letlhokwa George Mpedi

  4. Institute for International Political Economics, Berlin School of Economics and Law, Research Fellow at the Human Rights Center Law School at the Central South University, Changsha, PRC, Berlin, Germany

    Peter Herrmann

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden GmbH, part of Springer Nature

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Mpedi, L.G., Coleman, T.E. (2023). Human Rights—Ethical Institutions/Religious Bodies Between Foundation and Watering Down Legally Testified Rights. In: Okyayuz, M., Mao, J., Mpedi, L.G., Herrmann, P. (eds) Human Rights in a Changing World. Prekarisierung und soziale Entkopplung – transdisziplinäre Studien. Springer VS, Wiesbaden. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-39533-9_7

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-39533-9_7

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer VS, Wiesbaden

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-658-39532-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-658-39533-9

  • eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation