DISINFO: Foreign actors are targeting traditional religion to forward a consumerist neo-liberal world order
SUMMARY
The political unrest in Georgia started during an assembly of MPs from Orthodox Christian countries. Foreign actors are supporting various non-canonical entities and sectarian-style beliefs in the framework of the wider campaign against traditional religions that oppose the establishment of consumerist neo-liberal world order.
RESPONSE
Conspiracy theory, presented without evidence. Freedom of religion is a fundamental element of international law. Freedom of religion or belief is enshrined in Articles 18 of both the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) (link is external) and of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Under international law, Freedom of religion or belief has two components:
The freedom to have or not to have or adopt (which includes the right to change) a religion or belief of one’s choice, and
The freedom to manifest one's religion or belief, individually or in community with others, in public or private, through worship, observance, practice and teaching.
With the adoption of the EU Guidelines on the promotion and protection of freedom of religion or belief in 2013, the EU has committed to advance this fundamental freedom in its external action, including through its financial instruments. In doing so, the EU is guided by the principles of non-discrimination and interrelatedness of human rights.