by Fadi Hachem, LLM
Abstract: This article examines how freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) is protected during armed conflict through the interaction of international humanitarian law (IHL), international human rights law (IHRL), and international criminal law (ICL). It argues that, although FoRB is not explicitly recognized as a standalone category within IHL, several of its core elements—including protection of religious practice, places of worship, detainees, and religious groups—are indirectly safeguarded across different legal regimes. Through selected case studies from the Levant region, the article demonstrates that these protections remain fragmented and insufficient, particularly regarding the collective and community dimensions of religious life, thereby requiring a stronger and more integrated legal protection framework.
Keywords: Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB), International Humanitarian Law, International Human Rights Law, International Criminal Law, Armed Conflict, Protection of Religious Sites; Cultural Property, Genocide.
