113. Stresses that the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief, as
encapsulated in Article 18 of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and other
international human rights instruments, is a fundamental human right, interrelated with
other human rights and fundamental freedoms, encompassing the right to believe or not to
believe, the freedom to practise theistic, non-theistic or atheistic belief alike, either in
private or public, alone or in a community with others, and the right to adopt, change and
abandon or return to a belief of one‘s choice; calls for the EU to promote the right to
freedom of religion or belief within international and regional fora and in bilateral
relations with third countries;
114. Recalls that the right to conscientious objection to military service constitutes a legitimate
exercise of the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, and urges the EEAS
and the Member States to call on countries with a system of compulsory military service
to allow for an alternative service of a non-combatant or civilian character, in the public
interest and not of a punitive nature, and to refrain from punishing, including through
prison sentences, conscientious objectors for failure to perform military service;
115. Condemns in the strongest terms discrimination, intolerance, violence and killings on
grounds of religion or belief, wherever and to whomever they occur; is particularly
concerned about the increasing attempts to resolve differences within peoples divided
along religious lines by resorting to violence and persecution, as these actions constitute
an impediment to long-lasting peace and reconciliation; is also concerned about the
increasingly hostile attitudes of governments society at large in many countries which
continue to deny minority religious or belief groups the freedom to worship or publicly
express their religion or belief; notes that social hostility and attacks against religious or
belief groups, which have resulted in many deaths and injuries, are on the increase, and
that impunity and the lack of protection for minority religious or belief communities
remain a concern;
116. Opposes any legislation that penalises individuals for changing their religion or belief;
expresses profound concern at the fact that, as a result of such legislation, individuals in
certain countries face imprisonment or even the death penalty; is also concerned at the
fact that those who have left or changed their religion are subjected to social hostility,
such as violence and intimidation; opposes laws that penalise expressions deemed
blasphemous, defamatory or insulting to religion or religious symbols, figures or feelings;
states that these laws do not comply with accepted international human rights standards;
condemns blasphemy law provisions in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, Pakistan and
Saudi Arabia, which allow for imprisonment and the death penalty;
117. Welcomes recent EIDHR calls for proposals prioritising and supporting civil society
actions combating discrimination on the basis of religion or belief; encourages the EU to
support inclusive efforts towards intercultural and interfaith dialogue and cooperation at
various levels, involving community leaders, women, youth and ethnic minority
representatives, and with the aim of promoting peace building and societal cohesion; calls
for the EU and the Member States to develop grant schemes for the protection and
promotion of freedom of religion or belief in countries where this right is most at risk;
118. Welcomes the EU‘s commitment to promoting the right to freedom of religion or belief
within international and regional fora including the UN, the Organisation for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the Council of Europe and other regional mechanisms;