Freedom of religion in European and international law and its relationship with other fundamental rights

This essay explores freedom of religion or belief starting with religious and philosophical overview and elaborating especially on manifestations of religion or belief, and conflicts with other rights and freedoms guaranteed on national, European and international level (such as freedom of expression or right to education). It challenges division of religious freedom on forum internum and forum externum as being inappropriate to holistic perception of religion by many believers. The essay focuses predominantly on the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and the case_law of the European Court of Human Rights which is interpreting and complementing the Convention. It also gives a brief overview of freedom of religion in the European Union (anti_discrimination legislation) and the United Nations and depicts their instruments for the protection of the freedom