7. Religious Freedom in Sri Lanka - Majority Rule and Minority Rights

Grab your coffee and join us as we head to Sri Lanka, where constitutional protections for Buddhism collide with the rights of religious minorities.In this episode, we dive into the story of the Sisters of the Holy Cross of the Third Order of Saint Francis in Menzingen, a Catholic order active in Sri Lanka since the 1930s. Their challenge? Getting legally recognized by the Sri Lankan state. We unpack how the Sri Lankan Constitution gives Buddhism a “foremost place”, how this affects religious minorities, and how a simple request for incorporation ended up in front of the United Nations Human Rights Committee. From the Sri Lankan civil war to rising Buddhist nationalism, online hate campaigns and land disputes, we look at the context of tensions between Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus, and Christians.Can a state prevent a religious group from helping vulnerable people on the grounds that it might “convert” them? What happens when the Human Rights Committee rules in your favour — but your country refuses to implement the findings?For any question or correction (because yes, we make mistakes), contact us at: [email protected]