Page 35 - مجلة الدراسات القضائية
P. 35
munities from harm, rather than a (Article 25),the freedom of expres-
libertarian notion of the freedom of sion within the limits of the law (Ar-
ticle 30), and the freedom to practice
speech. one's religion (Article 32).Speech is
more tightly regulated that the other
ln the next section, w€ will com- examples mentioned above for vari-
pare with the United Arab Emirates. ous reasons, but in terms of freedom
UAE to practice one's religion, the UAE
is home to many churches of differ-
While the United States and Aus-
tralia come from similar traditions, ent denominations, Sikh and Hindu
the UAE is made up of a very differ- temples, with a large Hindu temple
ent society and comes from a differ- is also set to be built in Abu Dhabi.
ent history. The US and Australia are ln general, "adherents of most major
both descendants of settler-colonial- religions in the country worshipped
ism, come from an Anglo common without government interference."(')
While apostasy is listed as a crime
law heritage, and are Iiberal democra- officially, there are no instances of
enforcement in the courts, similar to
cies that prohibit the establishment the issue of blasphemy in Australia.
Moreover, the 2015 on Combating
of a state religion, while the UAE Discrimination and Hatred may have
implications upon this law, particu-
was a British protectorate, adopted a larly in Iight of the Forum for Promot-
French civil law legal system via Egypt, ing Peace in Muslim Societies held in
Abu Dhabi and the discussions that
and is a federation of seven monar-
chies with an official state religion. took place among senior Muslim
The majority of the UAE is also made
up of noncitizens of various religions scholars.(')
and nationalities. 1- IJS Department of State, "United Arab
The UAE is also party to interna- Emirates Country Report," n.d.,5.
tional human rights treaties, such as
the Convention of the Elimination of 2- Haneen Dajanq "Outdated Religious
Laws Must Be Changed, Forum Hears,"
Discrimination Against Women and The National, April 28, 201.5, https://
the Convention on the Rights of the www. then ational. u, /uae / ,utdated-
Child. The UAE also declared year religious -1aws -mus t-b e- changed- forum-
2019 as the Year of Tolerance. The
UAE Constitution guarantees that all hears-1 .12969.
persons are equal before the law, re-
gardless of race, nationality or religion
34
Dr. Jinan Bastaki
