The right to privacy from the perspective of International law and Islamic law: A comparative study

The right to privacy, in its broadest sense, refers to the right of individuals to determine the extent to which they share information about their lives with others. One of the most frequently violated rights today is undoubtedly the right to privacy. This right, which guarantees the protection of an individual's physical, digital and social boundaries, is increasingly being violated in an age of rapid technological development, widespread surveillance and the economic value of information. Privacy is increasingly confined to a shrinking space under the prying eyes of governments, companies, the media, and other individuals. Beyond being a right, privacy also encompasses a conceptual space that individuals need within social life. Therefore, the violation of privacy not only restricts individual rights but also leads to a social problem. The first section of the study examines the etymology of the concept of privacy and its transformation into a right, exploring the development of the right to privacy throughout history. The second section examines the place of the right to privacy in international universal and regional regulations and in Islamic law sources. The final section addresses how the right to privacy is violated in subcategories such as the body, home, and information, using examples from judicial and oversight mechanisms' decisions. Each section of the study is analysed and compared within itself. Thus, the value and place of the right to privacy as a current issue in international law and Islamic law is addressed from a holistic perspective.