Young woman in protests fighting for freedom, has now become a symbol of resistance

The freedom to practice (or not practice) a religion has a long history. It was established by Cyrus the Great around 500 BCE and included in both the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and in Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Even in countries where there’s a state religion, freedom of religion allows people to practice their own faith – or not practice a faith at all – without persecution.