--- title: Religious liberty date: 2021-04-07T11:33:00+01:00 author: Tim Coysh canonical_url: "https://www.eauk.org/what-we-do/advocacy/religious-liberty" section: Pages --- Society in the UK is built on fundamental freedoms and responsibilities. We believe that religious freedom is a foundational good for everyone, because it helps provide the platform from which we all enjoy freedom of speech, assembly and expression and other human rights. But religious freedoms are being eroded and derided in our society as the push of the secular, non-religious conversations seek to discredit and vilify religious activity and belief. We stand for a society where people are free to believe or reject religious beliefs, and where people are free to promote and to criticise. This means we stand for the freedom of Christians but also of those with whom we disagree. It is the hope for a society where people have the maximum opportunity to hear and respond to the gospel. We are passionate about religious liberty domestically and across the world. At home we are attentive to where religious freedom is under threat and where there are challenges to people holding and living out their beliefs. We reject the idea that there is or can be a private space for beliefs and a public space that is neutral between beliefs – someone always sets the rules for engagement in public life. It is restricting religious freedom to ask believers to hold beliefs in private and not allow those beliefs to affect how one lives in the rest of their life. The Evangelical Alliance frequently engages with government to ensure that policy and legal changes do not unduly restrict the religious freedom of people of faith. Internationally, we work with our member organisations including Open Doors UK, CSW and Release International to highlight the plight of Christians persecuted for their faith. One in eight Christians globally experiences systematic discrimination, unfair treatment and persecution, and because in the UK we enjoy such freedom, it is vital that we use our voice to speak up for our brothers and sisters who are suffering for their faith. *“In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” – 2 Timothy 3:12* [ ![Speak Up](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ![Speak up website card](https://eauk.org/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,quality=90,width=400,fit=cover/https://cdn.eauk.org/logos/Website-card-template-1_2022-08-09-150920_nvkb.png) ](https://www.eauk.org/what-we-do/initiatives/speak-up) [#### Speak Up ](https://www.eauk.org/what-we-do/initiatives/speak-up) Building confidence in our gospel freedoms [ Find out more ](https://www.eauk.org/what-we-do/initiatives/speak-up) [](https://www.eauk.org/what-we-do/initiatives/speak-up) [ ![Briefing: Martyn’s Law and how it could impact church services and events](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ![Nathan mullet V3p7 Dzb9x N4 unsplash 1](https://eauk.org/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,quality=90,width=400,fit=cover/https://cdn.eauk.org/nathan-mullet-V3p7Dzb9xN4-unsplash-1.jpg) ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/briefing-martyns-law-and-how-it-could-impact-church-services-and-events) [#### Briefing: Martyn’s Law and how it could impact church services and events ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/briefing-martyns-law-and-how-it-could-impact-church-services-and-events) Could a potential law change incur new costs for churches and allow the government to over-regulate premises? [ ![Alicia Edmund](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ](/author/alicia-edmund) [ Alicia Edmund ](/author/alicia-edmund) 20 November 2023 [](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/briefing-martyns-law-and-how-it-could-impact-church-services-and-events) [ ![Further reflections on Colin Bloom’s faith engagement review](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ![Gods kind of church](https://eauk.org/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,quality=90,width=400,fit=cover/https://cdn.eauk.org/Gods-kind-of-church.jpg) ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/further-reflections-on-colin-blooms-faith-engagement-review) [#### Further reflections on Colin Bloom’s faith engagement review ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/further-reflections-on-colin-blooms-faith-engagement-review) Our head of public policy takes a deep dive into recommendations on faith in education, marriage and explores concerns around extremism and exploitation [ ![Alicia Edmund](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ](/author/alicia-edmund) [ Alicia Edmund ](/author/alicia-edmund) 15 May 2023 [](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/further-reflections-on-colin-blooms-faith-engagement-review) [ ![Iranian church planter’s message to the UK church](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ![Farshid thumbnail](https://eauk.org/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,quality=90,width=400,fit=cover/https://cdn.eauk.org/Farshid-thumbnail.png) ](https://www.eauk.org/resources/what-we-offer/videos-and-podcasts/iranian-church-planters-message-to-the-uk-church) [#### Iranian church planter’s message to the UK church ](https://www.eauk.org/resources/what-we-offer/videos-and-podcasts/iranian-church-planters-message-to-the-uk-church) Farshid shares his experience of persecution in Iran, the suffering Christ endured for us and the core of discipleship, suffering for Christ (2 Timothy 3:12) [ Watch now ](https://www.eauk.org/resources/what-we-offer/videos-and-podcasts/iranian-church-planters-message-to-the-uk-church) [](https://www.eauk.org/resources/what-we-offer/videos-and-podcasts/iranian-church-planters-message-to-the-uk-church) [ ![Gender recognition reform: giving evidence to Scottish parliament](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ![Screenshot 2022 06 09 at 10 37 18](https://eauk.org/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,quality=90,width=400,fit=cover/https://cdn.eauk.org/Screenshot-2022-06-09-at-10.37.18.png) ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/gender-recognition-reform-giving-evidence-to-scottish-parliament) [#### Gender recognition reform: giving evidence to Scottish parliament ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/gender-recognition-reform-giving-evidence-to-scottish-parliament) Chris Ringland, our public policy officer (Scotland) shares a summary of what he spoke about in parliament and why issues of gender recognition matter [ ![Chris Ringland](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ](/author/chris-ringland) [ Chris Ringland ](/author/chris-ringland) 09 June 2022 [](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/gender-recognition-reform-giving-evidence-to-scottish-parliament) [ ![International freedom of religion or belief conference 2022](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ![Paddy kumar LF Ar Quq GRAM unsplash](https://eauk.org/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,quality=90,width=400,fit=cover/https://cdn.eauk.org/paddy-kumar-LFArQuqGRAM-unsplash.jpg) ](https://www.eauk.org/international-freedom-of-religion-or-belief-conference-2022) [#### International freedom of religion or belief conference 2022 ](https://www.eauk.org/international-freedom-of-religion-or-belief-conference-2022) Learn more about this global conference and how it relates to the persecuted church [ Find out more ](https://www.eauk.org/international-freedom-of-religion-or-belief-conference-2022) [](https://www.eauk.org/international-freedom-of-religion-or-belief-conference-2022) [ ![A law that traps teens](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ![Teenager Standing Near A Brick Wall](https://eauk.org/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,quality=90,width=400,fit=cover/https://cdn.eauk.org/Teenager-standing-near-a-brick-wall.jpg) ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/a-law-that-traps-teens) [#### A law that traps teens ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/a-law-that-traps-teens) I don’t want the government to criminalise the support I received from my church when I came out as gay – this is my story [ ![Andrew Bunt](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ](/author/andrew-bunt) [ Andrew Bunt ](/author/andrew-bunt) 15 November 2021 [](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/a-law-that-traps-teens) [ ![Government plans to ban conversion therapy need scrutiny to protect human rights](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ![Friends Study](https://eauk.org/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,quality=90,width=400,fit=cover/https://cdn.eauk.org/Friends-Study.jpg) ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/government-plans-to-ban-conversion-therapy-need-scrutiny-to-protect-human-rights) [#### Government plans to ban conversion therapy need scrutiny to protect human rights ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/government-plans-to-ban-conversion-therapy-need-scrutiny-to-protect-human-rights) Proposals to ban conversion therapy are undermined by a lack of clarity and definitions [ ![Danny Webster](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ](/author/danny-webster) [ Danny Webster ](/author/danny-webster) 29 October 2021 [](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/government-plans-to-ban-conversion-therapy-need-scrutiny-to-protect-human-rights) [ ![IDOP 2021: Our opportunity to channel the power of united prayer](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ![Praying Clasped Hands](https://eauk.org/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,quality=90,width=400,fit=cover/https://cdn.eauk.org/Praying-Clasped-Hands.jpg) ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/idop-2021-our-opportunity-to-channel-the-power-of-united-prayer) [#### IDOP 2021: Our opportunity to channel the power of united prayer ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/idop-2021-our-opportunity-to-channel-the-power-of-united-prayer) Join us for the online International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church on Sunday, 7 November 2021 [ ![Jo Evans](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ](/author/jo-evans) [ Jo Evans ](/author/jo-evans) 25 October 2021 [](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/idop-2021-our-opportunity-to-channel-the-power-of-united-prayer) [ ![Why 'Freedom Day' misses the point of freedom](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ![Freedom leaping lake](https://eauk.org/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,quality=90,width=400,fit=cover/https://cdn.eauk.org/Freedom-leaping-lake.jpg) ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/why-freedom-day-misses-the-point-of-freedom) [#### Why 'Freedom Day' misses the point of freedom ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/why-freedom-day-misses-the-point-of-freedom) ‘Freedom Day’ promises more than it can possibly deliver, and the notion of it undermines the freedom we already have [ ![Danny Webster](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ](/author/danny-webster) [ Danny Webster ](/author/danny-webster) 21 June 2021 [](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/why-freedom-day-misses-the-point-of-freedom) [ ![NOW CLOSED: What the proposed Protect Duty might mean for churches](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ![Church worship hands raised](https://eauk.org/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,quality=90,width=400,fit=cover/https://cdn.eauk.org/Church-worship-hands-raised.jpg) ](https://www.eauk.org/what-we-do/advocacy/could-you-respond-to-government-consultations/what-the-proposed-protect-duty-might-mean-for-churches) [#### NOW CLOSED: What the proposed Protect Duty might mean for churches ](https://www.eauk.org/what-we-do/advocacy/could-you-respond-to-government-consultations/what-the-proposed-protect-duty-might-mean-for-churches) Respond to government consultation on plans to place a responsibility on all public venues including churches to address terrorist threats [ Find out more ](https://www.eauk.org/what-we-do/advocacy/could-you-respond-to-government-consultations/what-the-proposed-protect-duty-might-mean-for-churches) [](https://www.eauk.org/what-we-do/advocacy/could-you-respond-to-government-consultations/what-the-proposed-protect-duty-might-mean-for-churches) [ ![Are COVID-status certificates a passport to restricted religious freedom?](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ![Church door open](https://eauk.org/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,quality=90,width=400,fit=cover/https://cdn.eauk.org/Church-door-open.jpg) ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/are-covid-status-certificates-a-passport-to-restricted-religious-freedom) [#### Are COVID-status certificates a passport to restricted religious freedom? ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/are-covid-status-certificates-a-passport-to-restricted-religious-freedom) Should churches be worried about the prospect of vaccine passports restricting access to worship services? [ ![Danny Webster](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ](/author/danny-webster) [ Danny Webster ](/author/danny-webster) 22 April 2021 [](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/are-covid-status-certificates-a-passport-to-restricted-religious-freedom) 1 [2](https://www.eauk.org/what-we-do/advocacy/religious-liberty.md/page/2 "Go to page 2") [ ](https://www.eauk.org/what-we-do/advocacy/religious-liberty.md/page/2 "Next page")