Dorje Shugden

The ban is illegal and unconstitutional

TIBETAN GOVERNMENT IN EXILE CONSTITUTION

 

ARTICLE 17.  Every Tibetan shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.  The right includes freedom to openly believe, practice, worship and observe any religion either alone or in community with others.

 

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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA CONSTITUTION

Adopted on: 26 Jan 1950

Preamble 

WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC and to secure to all its citizens: 
JUSTICE, social, economic and political; 
LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship; 
EQUALITY of status and of opportunity; and to promote among them all FRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation; 
IN OUR CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY this twenty-sixth day of November, 1949, do HEREBY ADOPT, ENACT AND GIVE TO OURSELVES THIS CONSTITUTION.

Article 15 Prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth  

(1) The State shall not discriminate against any citizen on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth or any of them. 
Article 25 Freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion  

(1) Subject to public order, morality and health and to the other provisions of this Part, all persons are equally entitled to freedom of conscience and the right freely to profess, practice and propagate religion. 

 

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UNITED NATIONS DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS

 

Article 1

1. Everyone shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This right shall include freedom to have a religion or whatever belief of his choice, and freedom, either individually or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in worship, observance, practice and teaching.

2. No one shall be subject to coercion which would impair his freedom to have a religion or belief of his choice.

3. Freedom to manifest one's religion or belief may be subject only to such limitations as are prescribed by law and are necessary to protect public safety, order, health or morals or the fundamental rights and freedoms of others.

 

Article 2

1. No one shall be subject to discrimination by any State, institution, group of persons, or person on the grounds of religion or other belief.

2. For the purposes of the present Declaration, the expression "intolerance and discrimination based on religion or belief" means any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based on religion or belief and having as its purpose or as its effect nullification or impairment of the recognition, enjoyment or exercise of human rights and fundamental freedoms on an equal basis.

 

Article 3

Discrimination between human being on the grounds of religion or belief constitutes an affront to human dignity and a disavowal of the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, and shall be condemned as a violation of the human rights and fundamental freedoms proclaimed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and enunciated in detail in the International Covenants on Human Rights, and as an obstacle to friendly and peaceful relations between nations.

 

From Geshe Kelsang Gyatso's Open Letter to H.H. the Dalai Lama, 9 December 1997:

 

"Your ban on the practice of Dorje Shugden is a direct attack on religious freedom. This is against the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and also against the law in democratic countries such as the United States. You are also engaging in Deity discrimination, which breaks the constitutional law of India."