Religious Freedom and Covid-19: A European Perspective

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic will be a topic for academic research for years to come. This collection brings together international scholars from various disciplines to analyse the impact of the pandemic on both religious freedom and on religious community life in Europe.

Divided into two parts, the first focuses on theoretical considerations, while the second explores local challenges and includes case studies from countries with different socio-political profiles. The book includes critical evaluations of public crisis management of religious communities during the pandemic, as well as critical reflections on religious freedom appeals in such crisis.

In sum, the volume probes and challenges scholars and students of law, religion, politics, and sociology to go beyond the typical oppositions in considering Freedom of Religious Belief in the current secular European context. The work will be a valuable resource for academics, researchers, and policy-makers working in the areas of Law and Religion, Human Rights Law, Sociology, and Political Science.

Jelle Creemers is Professor at the Evangelische Theologische Faculteit in Leuven and director of the Institute for the Study of Freedom of Religion or Belief.

Tatiana Kopaleishvili is Postdoctoral Researcher at the Evangelische Theologische Faculteit in Leuven and coordinator of the Institute for the Study of Freedom of Religion or Belief.