Written question No. 597 to the Committee of Ministers | Doc. 12594 | 18 April 2011

Freedom of thought, conscience and religion

Question from Mr Latchezar TOSHEV, Bulgaria, EPP/CD

Noting that:

• Paragraph 4 of Recommendation 1962 (2011) states that "freedom of religion and freedom to have a philosophical or secular world view are inseparable from unreserved acceptance by all of the fundamental values enshrined in the Convention";
• Paragraph 10 recalls "states' obligation to ensure that all religious communities accepting the common fundamental values can enjoy appropriate legal status guaranteeing the exercise of freedom of religion" and that "States must also reconcile the rights of religious communities with the need to protect the rights of persons with no religious beliefs who adhere to these fundamental values";

Mr Toshev,

To ask the Committee of Ministers:

When considering the reply to Recommendation 1962 (2011), to confirm that freedom of thought, conscience and religion, as enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights, is unconditional and does not depend on acceptance or adhesion to any values.