Andrew Puddephatt, GLOBAL PARTNERS DIGITAL The Asia region faces a number of challenges in the promotion and protection of freedom of expression. In particular, people across the region increasingly find themselves under attack for expressing their religious belief – or non-belief. Although most governments in the region formally express support for the right to free expression, in practice many minority religious groups or those whose religious belief are not that of the majority find themselves under attack, including violence. Acceptance of different religious beliefs is crucial to achieving respect and protection of all religions. Every belief finds itself in a minority in one country or another and the freedom to practice one’s religion is contingent on the willingness to respect the rights of others to practice their own. This applies equally to those who have no religious belief or choose to be silent about their beliefs. For any freedom of belief to be properly enjoyed by all, tolerance and acceptance is essential. In different settings Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Buddhists and atheists find themselves under attack, often from religions that seek protection when they are in a minority. And freedom of expression lies at the heart of religious tolerance. Unless one is free to discuss your belief, share it with others like yourself, or simply express truthfully your own opinion, then it cannot be said that you truly know yourself or your belief. Human beings are social animals, they discover their own views and shape them in interchange with others. Without the freedom to do so – and in accordance with the restrictions prescribed by international law preventing the incitement of hatred and violence – the practice of religious belief can become a means to silence the beliefs of others. This report outlines the international human rights standards and processes related the protection of freedom of expression and religious belief, and discusses regional trends and challenges. The nine country case studies include the stories of many people across the region struggling to defend freedom of expression and promote an understanding of free expression that this is consistent with the expression of religious views. Some of the stories are horrifying – people are being killed for what they believe and say while exercising their rights to express that belief. It also provides an overview of the relevant laws and standards which impinge on people’s rights in each of these countries. It is a challenge to governments in the region to recognise their responsibility to protect the rights of their own citizens. The Jakarta Declaration set out in this report is a stirring declaration of the responsibilities, not just of governments but of all the relevant actors. It set out a clear path to the essential task of protecting rights to free expression in the region and ultimately, to the protection of religious belief itself. 8