Which right protects individuals from government interference in personal beliefs?

The correct answer is freedom of religion, which is a fundamental right that safeguards individuals' personal beliefs and their practices from governmental interference. In the context of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, this right ensures that individuals can hold and express their beliefs, worship freely, or choose not to engage in any religious practices without fear of coercion or restriction by the government. This protection extends not only to organized religions but also to personal spiritual beliefs.

This right is crucial in promoting a diverse and tolerant society, allowing individuals to live according to their own convictions, which is a cornerstone of democratic principles. The other options, while important rights in their own contexts, do not specifically address the protection of personal beliefs in the same direct manner. Freedom of expression involves the right to speak and write freely but does not specifically pertain to religion. The right to assembly guarantees people the ability to gather and protest, which is more about collective action than personal beliefs. The right to privacy, while it does protect individuals' personal lives from unwarranted government intrusion, does not directly relate to the expression or practice of religious beliefs.