Email this article Forum internum and forum externum in the law of freedom of thought, conscience, and religion: international legal aspects and comparative analysis.
- Authors: Kulov S.S.1
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Affiliations:
- Issue: No 3 (2025)
- Pages: 63-81
- Section: Articles
- URL: https://bakhtiniada.ru/2644-5514/article/view/361979
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.25136/2644-5514.2025.3.74619
- EDN: https://elibrary.ru/WXOAHW
- ID: 361979
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Abstract
The article explores the concepts of forum internum and forum externum as essential components of the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion. It analyses international legal instruments, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the European Convention, alongside jurisprudence from the UN Human Rights Committee and the European Court of Human Rights. Particular attention is given to the distinction between internal convictions, which are afforded absolute protection, and their external manifestations, which may be restricted under specific conditions. Additionally, the article examines the conformity of the Russian legal system with international standards in this sphere. The research summarises current doctrinal developments relating to forum internum and externum and analyses recent practical cases, an area that has not previously received systematic coverage in Russian academic literature. The aim of this article is to provide a comprehensive analysis of the concepts of forum internum and forum externum within the context of the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion. Special emphasis is placed on a comparative legal perspective regarding the protection of this right within international and regional frameworks (UN, Council of Europe, CIS) as well as within the Russian legal order. The methodological framework comprises a combination of general scientific and specialised legal methods, including comparative-legal analysis, formal-legal analysis, and case study approaches. The practical significance lies in the fact that the conclusions and recommendations offered in the article can be applied to improve legislation and judicial practices, as well as in expert analyses and educational activities addressing issues of international protection of freedom of conscience. The international experience analysed in this study demonstrates that effective protection of freedom of thought, conscience, and religion is achievable only through strict adherence to the boundary between forum internum and forum externum. Absolute protection of individual internal beliefs must be balanced with reasonable and justified regulation of external religious manifestations. Observance of this balance promotes harmonious coexistence of diverse worldviews, prevents religious conflicts, and reinforces the principle of the rule of law. International legal mechanisms have accumulated valuable experience that can be utilised by states, including Russia and CIS countries, to enhance their own practices.
References
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