Freedom of religion is a principle that supports the freedom of an individual or community, in public or private, to manifest religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship, and observance; the concept is generally recognized also to include the freedom to change religion or not to follow any religion. Freedom of religion is considered by many people and nations to be a fundamental human right. Thomas Jefferson once said "among the inestimable of our blessings, also, is that ...of liberty to worship our Creator in the way we think most agreeable to His will; ..." In a country with a state religion, freedom of religion is generally considered to mean that the government permits religious practices of other sects besides the state religion, and does not persecute believers in other faiths.

Many respected scholars[who?] consider India as best example of freedom of religion. The freedom to practise, preach and propagate any religion is a fundamental right outlined in the constitution. India has long been a blend of several religions.

It gave the world Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. Judaism has been practised here for 2,500 years without any anti-semitism. Christianity arrived here through Saint Thomas in the 1st Century CE as did Islam through Arab traders in the 8th century CE.

80% of India's population practises Hinduism yet India has a Sikh Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, an Italian-Indian Catholic, Sonia Gandhi as the leader of the largest party and till recently had a Muslim President, Dr Abdul Kalam. Today there are concerns[who?] about the persecution of religious minorities in the Muslim world and in some communist states such as China and North Korea, as well as other forms of intolerance in other countries —for example, the banning of worn religious articles such as the Muslim veil, in certain European countries. Article 18 of the U.N. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights shows that it is a form of (spiritual) injustice when persons are denied the liberty to exercise their religious freedom.

Freedom of religion as a legal concept is related to, but not identical with, religious toleration, separation of church and state, or secular state (laïcité).

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