Human Rights and Religious Freedom in Democratic Systems
Mohammad Taukir Rahmani
EC Exclusive
Democracy is a system of government in which the power to make decisions lies with the people. In a democratic system, people have the right to participate in decision-making, primarily through voting and other means. They choose their representatives to act as their voice, representing their interests within the framework of the law. It is the responsibility of the elected representatives to work for the people beyond their own interests, provided they are sincere in their work and commitment to the public.
In a democratic system, just as people have the right to elect representatives, they also have the right to remove them if they act against the law or the public’s interests. Democracy establishes rules and laws to ensure a smooth and effective system of governance, which is known as the Constitution. The Constitution guarantees essential rights and principles for living a disciplined life. Democracy emphasizes values such as equality, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, the rule of law, and the protection of human rights, enabling individuals to have a voice in how they are governed.
There are different forms of democracy, including direct democracy, where people vote on issues directly, and representative democracy, where elected officials make decisions on behalf of the citizens. In a democratic country, people from various schools of thought, divided by caste, color, creed, religion, and language, live together. This diversity is the beauty of democracy. The Constitution protects human rights, including the freedom to follow one’s own beliefs, and ensures the protection of religious rights, including the right to worship and the preservation of religious shrines, archaeological sites, and cultural architecture.
No individual, not even the president in a democratic system, has the right to impose their own interests, opinions, religion, or way of life on others. If a government body begins to enforce its decisions without regard for the people’s interests and opinions, it would devolve into a mobocratic or tyrannical system, which goes against the essence of the Constitution. The government has no authority to interfere with religious doctrines or to compel a religion to conform to a particular view. If such interference occurs in a democratic country, it is considered unconstitutional.
Everyone in a democracy has equal rights and should be treated as equals. No one is superior or inferior to others. The government must acknowledge its mistakes when they occur, and criminals must be held accountable. In the eyes of the law, a criminal is a criminal, whether they are a common person or hold a high position. It is the government’s duty to ensure justice is served.
There are no restrictions on food preferences or lifestyle choices in a democracy. Some may be vegetarians, while others may be carnivores. However, a vegetarian cannot force a carnivore to abstain from eating meat, nor can a carnivore compel a vegetarian to eat meat. Everyone is free to make their own choices, and no one should be coerced or treated inhumanely for their preferences.
To prevent crime and corruption, punishment must be enforced. If criminals and the corrupt are left unchecked, and if people are restricted from practicing their religion, expressing their opinions, or imparting education, then democracy has effectively died. In such a scenario, the Constitution is trampled underfoot, and humanity is left gasping for breath, desperately in need of nurturing.
