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The 2024 Global Religious Recognition Report is a compilation of the most recent available data on recognition and registration impacting conditions of religious freedom throughout the world. Each page of the 259-page report is dedicated to each sovereign state and dependent or disputed territory, including an overview of the constitutional structure, secularity and recognition and registration policies and practices. Detailed explanations of registration policy have been gathered from the Office of International Religious Freedom's International Religious Freedom Report in addition to other credible sources. The RoRB classification for each country and territory has been updated in accordance with the criteria set out in the Spectrum of Religious Recognition (SRR) which was included towards the front of this year's report. This year's report includes an abridged version of Dr Monica Gyimah's article (the full article can be found in Journal of Astronist Studies Volume 1 Issue 1) that highlights recognition and registration issues specifically impacting indigenous religious communities

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2024GlobalReligiousRecognitionReportM A J O R  E V E N T SA look at the year'schallenges and triumphsby country and territoryon recognition andregistration issuesI N D I G E N O U S  R I G H T SAn abridged article byMonica Gyimah onrecognition and registrationissues specifically impactingindigenous peoplesR E P O R T  T H I R D  E D I T I O NWhat are the aims and overall purpose of the GRRreport?D E D I C A T E D  T O  S E T T I N G  S T A N D A R D SF O R  R E C O G N I T I O N  &  R E G I S T R A T I O NP O L I C Y  T O  I M P R O V E  C O N D I T I O N S  O FR E L I G I O U S  F R E E D O M22024 GlobalReligiousRecognition ReportR E P O R T  I N F O R M A T I O NReport Publication Date: 15th August 2024Report Authors: Brandon Reece Taylorian, Monica GyimahReport Publisher: The Religious Recognition ProjectCover image: free-to-use image by Saa R.Main source: United States Department of State's International Religious Freedom ReportPublication Code Identifier (PCI): GRR2024Report Summary:The Global Religious Recognition Report provides details to both academics in the field ofreligious freedom as well as human rights organisations on the structure and functions ofeach country and territory's recognition system, including extensive analysis of recognitionand registration issues. Our report looks at freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) through thelens of religious recognition by considering how states use or misuse recognition andregistration procedures to control their citizens' religious activities. This report gives anoverview of each country's recognition and registration systems using information mainlyfrom the U.S. Department of State’s 2023 International Religious Freedom Report. The purposeof the Global Religious Recognition Report is to bring attention to religious freedomadvocates and the broader public the scale of recognition and registration issues to encouragestates to reform their policies and practices so that their recognition and registration systemskeep in alignment with their national and international commitments on FoRB.More information: Please visit www.cometan.org/rorb for the official website page of The Religious RecognitionProject. To learn more about the research works of Cometan on the matters of religiousrecognition, please click the link: https://www.cometan.org/freedom-of-religion-specialistIf you would like to contact Cometan directly regarding any matter with pertaining toreligious recognition and religious freedom, please send an email to:brtaylorian@uclan.ac.uk.This report is published free of charge by The Religious Recognition Project as the Project'spremier annual report. The redistribution of this report is only permitted for educationalpurposes. Any persons caught attempting to charge money to purchasers of this report willhear from the Director of The Religious Recognition Project.It is preferred that The Religious Recognition Project is made aware of all instances in whichthis report is utilised for educational purposes for our records. You may notify us of this bycontacting Cometan at the following email: brtaylorian@uclan.ac.uk.CONTENTSINTRODUCING RoRB                         Page  4 METHODOLOGY                                  Page  4THE SRR                                                  Page 5RoRB BY COUNTRY                            Page  6RoRB BY DEPENDENT OR DISPUTEDTERRITORY                                        Page 202GLOSSARY OF KEY TERMS             Page 254ABRIDGED ARTICLE BY DR MONICAGYIMAH                                             Page 255OTHER WORKS                                 Page 25934Data produced as part the Global Religious Recognition Report is the culmination of TheReligious Recognition Project's monitoring of national law and policy relevant to religiousregistration and recognition with a particular focus on institutional religious freedom(IRF). The Report has reproduced this data through a particular RoRB lens by providingopinion and assessment on the nature, severity and actual function of policies set down incountries to deal with the over 120 variables presently identified in The ReligiousRecognition Project's research relevant to the overall religious recognition topic. What thismeans is that the Global Religious Recognition Project not only provides data on religiousrecognition conditions around the world but extends interpretation, opinion andassessment of these conditions expressed through the RoRB terminology developedthrough The Religious Recognition Project. Please note: precise definitions of most termsrelating to RoRB issues may be found in the First Edition of The Institutional Dictionary ofFreedom of Religion or Belief (published July 2021). Please refer to the Glossary at the end ofthis report for definitions of key terms used.In addition to the Project's own monitoring capabilities, data on religious registration inparticular is sourced from the United States Department of State's annual InternationalReligious Freedom Report which is arguably the most comprehensive religious freedomreport to provide on-the-ground insight from ambassadors and embassy staff regardingthe legal framework of registration procedures for religious groups and organisations ineach sovereign state. In addition to the State Department report, reports from FreedomHouse have helped to inform the Project's understanding of the impacts of RoRB on FoRBin terms of how different communities face systematic discrimination and persecution.Additional sources of information also relevant to RoRB have been GOV.UK Travel Adviceto reconfirm what countries regard as illegal acts as they pertain to proselytising orreligious freedom and the FedEx Cross Border Global Lists of Prohibited and RestrictedItems when it comes to the topic of hieroncy (the importation of religious items into acountry for both personal and distributive purposes).INTRODUCING RoRBMETHODOLOGYRoRB is the acronym for "recognition of religion or belief" which itself refers to the  conditions that national recognition systems are in when it comes to how they bestow bothsymbolic and legal forms of recognition to religious groups and their affiliateorganisations. Each country possesses a recognition system; that is, legal and non-legalprocedures for recognising and registering belief systems (e.g. religions, philosophies), theinstitutions that represent them and the communities that adhere to them. Countries varywidely on the degree to which they use their  recognition systems fairly and reasonably;some have a long history of establishing a particular religion or denomination as thenational religion, some, while having disestablished a previous state religion continue toprovide it privileges not made available to all other groups, while other countries havechosen a strict separation of the nation state from the religious affairs of citizens.What the research conducted as part of The Religious Recognition Project has found so faris that issues involving recognition and registration are coming to have a negative impacton people's rights to freedom of religion or belief (FoRB). Further still, some countries lookto be using their recognition systems and the apparatus of legal and symbolic mechanismsthat they encompass to restrict or otherwise control what their citizens believe, how theyexpress their beliefs and indeed, how they put them into practice. However, it is not purelyindividual rights of central concern to RoRB; in fact, what is called institutional religiousfreedom (IRF) is oftentimes at the forefront of erosion when recognition systems aremisused which is in turn holding drastic effects on FoRB conditions as a whole. Thedevelopment of RoRB seeks to bring a much needed focus to religious recognition issues asthey pertain to religious freedom by identifying the scale at which recognition systems aremisused, establishing a terminology to properly organise this recognition branch of FoRBand ultimately, to establish standards for what is and is not acceptable practice and policyof countries when it comes to dealing with the admittedly difficult area of how to legallyregister and appropriately recognise the religious and philosophical beliefs of all citizens.5 THE SRR6 RoRB BY COUNTRY2024 RoRB Classification: TerminalAfghanistan,Islamic Emirate ofFoRB Claim: A partial claim was made in the 2004 constitution that subjected FoRB toSharia law, although now the Taliban even rejects this provision.RecommendationsDismantlement of the abusive uses of recognition in the country; use recognition as a means to spread awarenessof the acceptability of the diversity of belief; stop the use of systematic violence in order to achieve goals ofrestriction and censorship, especially against Muslim minorities and non-Islamic religious groups; establishregistration procedures for non-Islamic religious or belief organisations and their affiliated organisations.Secularity: State religion is Islam (no denominational specification is given,although the Taliban have said that Sunni Hanafi jurisprudence is the basis forthe legal system); theism is affirmed in the constitution.Basic religious activitiesConversion (not free; conversion from Islam is illegal); hieroncy (not free; non-Islamic items prohibited);monasticism (not free; non-Islamic monastic activity is prohibited); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (notfree; restricted to Islamic rites only); pastoral services (not free; restricted to Islamic pastoral services only);proselytism (not free; non-Islamic proselytism is illegal); public expression and observance (free); receivingdonations (not free; restricted); religious buildings (not free; restricted); religious instruction (not free;restricted to Islamic forms only; Afghan girls are banned from attending secondary school and university);religious literature (not free; illegal to produce and distribute anti-Islamic literature which can include allnon-Islamic religious literature); religious and worship services (not free; restricted); religious trade (notfree; restricted).Mandatoriness of registration: non-registration (for non-Islamic groups) and optional (formosques and madrassahs only) with one official claiming that unregistered mosques maystill receive government support and financial benefits. The Ministry of Hajj and ReligiousAffairs reports 7,000 registered mosques.Human rights instruments: Afghanistan is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, theUNCRC, and the UNDRIP; Afghanistan voted in favour of the UDHR.Registration policy: non-registration – there are no formal procedures established for non-Islamicreligious organisations to gain legal status in Afghanistan; optional registration – mosques andmadrassahs have the choice to register but their activities are closely monitored by Taliban officialswhether registered or unregistered.Key restriction tools imposed: religion by default (national identity cards include a citizen'sreligion; the government has claimed that declaring belief in Islam is not necessary for receivingcitizenship), legal registration is made exclusive to Islamic groups, non-recognition for anynon-Islamic religion or any non-Sunni denomination, prohibition of the Baha'i Faith and theJehovah’s Witnesses.Conditions of state recognition and registrationNo UN-member state has formally recognised the Taliban regime since itstakeover in 2021 although several countries have de facto recognised it byengaging in communications with Taliban officials.Protections: No explicit protection against discrimination granted to religious or irreligiouscommunities.72024 RoRB Classification: ReceptiveAlbania,Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsProvide an opportunity for new religious movements to gain access to BCAs; remove theconcessional benefit of the right to open a bank account and own property as conditions ofregistration; reduce informational requirements during registration; resolve administrative issueswith property legislation and the restitution of religious buildings.Secularity: Albania is a secular state; however, theism wasaffirmed in the latest constitution from 2012; the government hasbilateral cooperation agreements (BCAs) with the Sunni AlbanianMuslim Community (AMC), Bektashi Muslim community, RomanCatholic Church, Albanian Autocephalous Orthodox Church (AOC),and the Protestant umbrella organisation EvangelicalBrotherhood of Albania (VUSH).Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: stipulatory registration – officially, religious organisations are not obliged toregister with the government but they must register with the Tirana District Court as ‘nonprofitassociations’ to gain the right to open a bank account in the organisation’s name, own property andto become eligible for exemption from certain taxes; a judge is randomly assigned to the registrationcase within four days and the adjudication completed within one working day; units of informationrequested to complete registration include a group constitution such as details on the activities andstructure of the religious organisation, the identity of its founders and legal representatives, thenature of its interactions with other stakeholders and the address of the organisation; the registrationfee is 2,000 lek ($21); religious organisations and their subsidiaries or affiliates must obtain permitsfor newly-acquired buildings or for any building built before 2014. Religious communities wishing toreclaim property confiscated during the Communist era must first obtain ownership title from thecourt and then register the properties with the SAC in the official register established in 2020 to showquantity, value, and ownership of real estate.Key restriction tools imposed: BCAs are used in Albania as a form of recognition but are not madeavailable to all religious groups (e.g. Jehovah's Witnesses have been denied their own BCA and havefiled a court appeal to challenge this decision), BCAs codify arrangements pertaining to officialrecognition, property restitution, tax exemptions on income, donations, and religious property,exemption from submitting accounting records for religious activities and direct the government toprovide financial support to the four religious communities with BCAs; there are borderlineexcessive informational requirements and ongoing bureaucratic issues with the legislation ofreligious buildings.Human rights instruments: Albania is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and theUNDRIP; Albania did not vote on the UDHR; Albania is partied to the ECHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free);pastoral services (free); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (free); public expressionand observance (free); receiving donations (free); religious buildings (free); religious instruction(free); religious literature (free); religious and worship services (free); religious trade (free).Protections: Explicit protection against discrimination granted to religious but no explicitprotection granted to irreligious.Conditions of state recognition and registration82024 RoRB Classification: CensoriousAlgeria,People's DemocraticRepublic ofFoRB Claim: Partial claim is made.RecommendationsDismantlement of the abusive uses of registration in the country and the body of laws that perpetuate this misuse, including the broadmandatory policy; stop the policy of confinement, reduce informational requirements, and dismantle the vertical recognition system.Secularity: Sunni Islam is the state denomination; theism is affirmed in the presidential oath and allpresidential candidates must be Muslim.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: broad mandatory registration – all religious organisations must register with the government as an ‘association’before conducting any activities, even activities classified as “basic” in RoRB standards and protected under international law on FoRB; amandatory re-registration order was issued in 2012 for all religious organisations that had been previously registered; the NationalCommission for Non-Muslim Worship, which is chaired by the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MRA), handles the registration religiousorganisations once a legal compliance review has been completed by Ministry of Interior (MOI). Only registered ‘associations’ areofficially recognised in law and may legally open a bank account in the organisation’s name, convene gatherings for worship or religiousservices, raise funds and own property for religious purposes; participating in unregistered religious activity is illegal; conductingreligious activities beyond buildings not specifically registered for such purposes is also illegal; to complete registration as a national-level association, applicant religious organisations must create a charter that identifies the organisation’s leader(s), any addressesaffiliated with the applicant organisation, as well as biographic details, police and judicial records to prove good standing in society,demonstrate founding members reside in at least one quarter of the country’s provinces to prove the association merits nationalstanding, submit the association’s constitution signed by its president and submit documents indicating the location of its headquarters.The MOI is obliged by law to provide a receipt for an application once it has received all required documentation. The MOI has up to sixtydays to respond to applicants and if it does not respond within this timeframe, the application is automatically approved with the receiptof documentation submission able to be used as proof of registration. If the MOI considers the documentation submitted to beincomplete, it will not issue a receipt. The law grants the government full discretion in making registration decisions but allowsapplicants to appeal a denial to an administrative tribunal. For associations seeking to register at the local or wilaya (provincial) level,application requirements are similar, but an association’s membership and sphere of activity is strictly limited to the area in which itregisters. An association registered at the wilaya level is confined to that specific wilaya. The MRA is legally responsible for reviewingregistration applications of associations of a religious nature and to support non-Islamic communities with the process. The MRA meetson an ad-hoc basis and is composed of senior representatives of the Ministries of National Defense, Interior, and Foreign Affairs; thePresidency; national police; national gendarmerie; and the governmental National Human Rights Council (CNDH). Registered religiousassociations must receive prior authorisation from the government in order to legally receive funding from political parties or foreign-based entities and individuals. Non-Islamic religious services may only legally take place in buildings registered with the government forthat specific purpose, be open to the public and marked as such on the exterior. A request for permission to observe special non-Islamicreligious events must be submitted to the relevant wali (governor) at least five days before the event, and the event must occur inbuildings accessible to the public. Requests must include information on three principal organisers of the event, its purpose, the numberof attendees anticipated, a schedule of events, and its planned location. The wali may request the organisers move the location of anevent or deny permission for it to take place if the wali deems it would endanger public order or harm “national constants,” “goodmores,” or “symbols of the revolution.” If unauthorised meetings go forward without approval, police may disperse the participants.According to the penal code, individuals who fail to disperse at the behest of police are subject to arrest and a prison term of two to 12months. The penal code states that only government-authorised imams, whom the state hires and trains, may lead prayers in mosquesand penalises anyone else who preaches in a mosque with a fine of up to 100,000 dinars ($740) and a prison sentence of one to threeyears. The law states the government must approve any modification of structures intended for non-Islamic collective worship.Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, confinement to wilayas (provinces), dual registration, excessive informationalrequirements used with nefarious intent, mandatory reregistration (for all groups registered before 2012), non-recognition for non-Islamic religions, non-response to applications (several groups still awaiting "authorisation" after many attempts to register since2012), non-response to foreign workers' visa applications, separate registration procedures for Muslim and non-Muslim groups,verticalism, prosecution of members of Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light and Christian minorities for unauthorised gatherings,proselytising and illegal fundraising, forced closure of buildings.Human rights instruments: Algeria is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP;Algeria did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (not free; restricted); hieroncy (not free; restricted; the Ministries of Religious Affairs, Foreign Affairs, Interior, andCommerce must approve the importation of all printed materials, including religious texts and items, except those intended for personaluse. Authorities generally consider “importation” to be approximately 20 or more religious texts or items); monasticism (not free;restricted); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free; restricted); pastoral services (not free; restricted to Islamic pastoral servicesonly); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (not free; non-Islamic proselytism is illegal); public expression andobservance (not free; restricted); receiving donations (not free; restricted); religious buildings (not free; restricted); religiousinstruction (not free; restricted); religious literature (not free; illegal to produce and distribute non-Islamic literature); religious andworship services (not free; restricted); religious trade (not free; restricted).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: The constitution states discrimination based on religion is prohibited and guarantees stateprotection for non-Muslims and for the “toleration and respect of different religions.”92024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveAndorra,Principality ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsEither disestablish the privileges of the Catholic Church or extend these privileges toall religious groups that seek them; reduce borderline excessive informationalrequirements and establish registration procedures for non-Catholic religiousgroups to be recognised as religious entities in law.Secularity: Andorra is officially a secular state; however, the constitutionacknowledges a special relationship with the Roman Catholic Church whichreceives privileges not granted to non-Catholic religious groups. For example,non-Catholic groups do not have legal status as religious entities and non-Catholic missionaries are not classified as religious workersMandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: stipulatory registration mixed with non-registration – non-Catholic religious organisations are only able to register under the seculardesignation ‘nonprofit cultural organisation’ according to the law on associationswhich does not specifically mention religious groups. To register, non-Catholicreligious organisations must provide their statutes and foundational agreement, astatement certifying the names of persons appointed to the board or other officialpositions, and a patrimony declaration that identifies the inheritance or endowmentof the organisation. A consolidated register of associations records all types ofassociations, including religious groups.Key restriction tools imposed: non-registration policy for non-Catholic religiousorganisations to be recognised in law as entities of a religious nature, non-recognition for all non-Catholic religions.Human rights instruments: Andorra is partied to the ICCPR, the UNCRC, andthe UNDRIP; Andorra is not partied to the ICESCR; Andorra did not vote onthe UDHR; Andorra is partied to the ECHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burialrites (free); pastoral services (free); private expression and observance (free);proselytism (free); public expression and observance (free); receiving donations(free); religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religious literature(free); religious and worship services (free); religious trade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection granted against discrimination on the basisof religion.102024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveAngola,Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsDismantle signature quotas of all kinds and halt the misuse of registration to filter out religious groups thegovernment is unaccustomed to, the government needs to begin registering more new religious groups andnon-Christian groups, the mandatory registration policy must be abolished, benefits granted to the RomanCatholic Church through its BCA with the government need to be offered to all communities.Secularity: Angola is officially a secular state; however, a BCAbetween the Holy See and the Angolan government grants privilegesto the Roman Catholic Church that are not extended to otherreligious groups, namely how the government recognises Catholicwedding ceremonies without requiring an additional civil ceremony.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory and malregistration.Registration policy: quasi-mandatory registration – the government of Angola requires all religiousorganisations to register with it before conducting any activities, even those such as propagation and worshipservices which are considered by international standards as fundamental to FoRB. However, this order goeslargely unenforced as evidenced by the low registration rate for religious groups. Legal registration andexistential recognition are amalgamated with registration resulting in ‘legal recognition.’ The governmentmaintains the legal ability to forcibly close the premises of unregistered religious groups. ‘Legal recognition’from the National Institute for Religious Affairs (INAR), which is overseen by the Ministry of Culture andTourism, specifically allows religious organisations to purchase property and use its property to hold religiousevents, exempts it from paying certain property and import taxes, authorises the group to be treated as anincorporated entity in the court system and allows clerics from registered religious organisations the legalability to contribute to Angola’s social security system which entitles them to a pension. The law requires60,000 member signatures from legal residents to apply for registration and requires that at least 1,000 of thesignatures originate from members residing in each of the country’s 18 provinces (estimated cost is $4 persignature, creating a de facto registration fee of $240,000). Each signature and resident declaration must benotarised separately. Religious groups must also submit documents defining their organisational structure,location, methods and schedule of worship, financial resources, and planned construction projects. The lawalso establishes requirements for clergy and requires religious doctrine to conform to the general principlesand rights outlined in the constitution and the INAR is responsible for analysing doctrine to ensure it conformsto constitutional principles. The INAR has the power to grant provisional registration while religious groupscomplete the registration process to allow them to be legally active in the meantime. Malregistration – the ongoing Cabinda War undermines the central government's ability to apply registrationlaw in that territory.Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, excessive informational requirements, excessivequalifications, low registration rate (no new  groups were registered in 2023; the registration rate in thecountry is low with 88 registered religious groups but more than 1,200 unregistered), non-response,signature quota, signature-geographic quota, excessive notarisation fees to fulfil signatures quota,unregistered groups are banned from purchasing property and holding events at their own property;Catholic Church is the only group with a BCA and whose marriages are recognised (which may indicatereligious favouritism).Human rights instruments: Angola is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and theUNDRIP; Angola did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoralservices (free); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (free); public expression andobservance (free); receiving donations (free); religious buildings (not free; restricted); religiousinstruction (free); religious literature (free); religious and worship services (free); religious trade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection granted in the constitution against discrimination on thebasis of religion.112024 RoRB Classification: ReceptiveAntigua and BarbudaFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsEstablish clearer differentiation between registration and recognition; establish arecognition system that is receptive to both established groups and to new religiousmovements.Secularity: Antigua and Barbuda is officially a secular state; however,member denominations of the Antigua Christian Council receive privilegesnot granted to non-Christian denominations or Christian denominationsbelonging to the Council; theism was affirmed in the 1981 constitution.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: stipulatory registration – the government of Antigua and Barbudaonly requires religious organisations to register with it to access the legal right to own,build or renovate property in their organisation’s name. Registration also confers thefinancial benefits of tax and duty-free concessions. To register, groups must fill out a taxform online that includes a description of their activities which the government uses todetermine the organisation’s tax status. The Inland Revenue Department is thegovernment department responsible for reviewing and approving registrationapplications.Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, unregistered religious groups are prohibitedfrom owning, building, or renovating property for religious services to be held in.Human rights instruments: Antigua and Barbuda is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, theUNCRC, and the UNDRIP; Antigua and Barbuda did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burialrites (free); pastoral services (free); private expression and observance (free);proselytism (free); public expression and observance (free); receiving donations (free);religious buildings (not free; restricted); religious instruction (free); religious literature(free); religious and worship services (free); religious trade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection granted in the constitution against discrimination onthe basis of religion.122024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveArgentineRepublicFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsEstablish two distinct systems, one to deal with existential recognition and another for legalregistration; remove the pseudo-mandatory registration policy; remove excessive monitorialrequirements and qualifications for registration as well as the vertical registration system toensure religious equality.Secularity: Argentina is officially a secular state; however, the 1994 revisedconstitution stated that the government would support Roman Catholicismwhich has led to state privilege for the Roman Catholic Church such as itsexemption from the need to register to gain benefits; theism was affirmed inthe latest constitution from 1994.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: pseudo-mandatory registration – the Argentine government claims thatregistration for religious organisations is not mandatory but in law, completing registration isrequired for religious groups to conduct “public activities” which is already protected underinternational law on FoRB. While registration is not required for private religious services held inhomes, it may be necessary to conduct activities in public parks depending on the regulations ofthe city authority which may request a permit. However, to gain a permit, an organisation mustalready be registered with the Secretariat of Worship. Religious organisations are required toregister as both civil associations and as religious groups to become eligible for the full range ofbenefits that the Roman Catholic Church receives without having to register. The benefits ofregistering include tax-exempt status, visas for religious officials, and the ability to hold publicactivities. To qualify for registration, religious organisation must have a place of worship, anorganisational charter and an ordained clergy. To register a religious group, religiousorganisations are required to register with the Secretariat of Worship and to register as civilassociations, religious organisations are required to register with the Public Registry of Commerce.Once registered, an organisation must report to the Secretariat of Worship any significant changesor decisions made regarding its leadership, structure, size of membership, and address of itsheadquarters. Foreign missionaries of registered religious groups must apply to the Secretariat ofWorship which verifies the religious group is registered, authorised and active. The Secretariat, inturn, requests that immigration authorities issue appropriate documents.Key restriction tools imposed: dual registration (registration is required with both theSecretariat of Worship and the Inspector General of Justice), excessive monitorial requirements,excessive qualifications required for registration (a place of worship and an ordained clergy),non-recognition, vertical registration system (verticalism).Human rights instruments: Argentina is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC,and the UNDRIP; Argentina voted in favour of the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free);pastoral services (free); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (free); publicexpression and observance (free); receiving donations (free); religious buildings (not free;restricted); religious instruction (free); religious literature (free); religious and worship services(not free; possibly restricted if considered "public activities" if a group is unregistered); religioustrade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection granted in the constitution against discrimination on the basisof religion with fines and jail time listed as retributions.132024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveArmenia,Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsEstablish differentiated systems for recognition and registration; establish clarity as to the rights provisions ofunregistered groups; abolish excessive qualifications and the membership quota; reform pseudo-mandatory policy.Secularity: Armenia is officially a secular state (the Armenian Apostolic Church wasdisestablished in 1921); however, the constitution from 2015 recognises the ArmenianApostolic Church as the national church which receives privileges not granted to otherreligious organisations.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: pseudo-mandatory registration – while the Armenian government does not explicitly mandate thatreligious organisations register with it, religious organisations must register to conduct any financial transactions in theirown name, including owning or renting property for religious services or opening a bank account. Registered religiousorganisations may also legally minister to the religious and spiritual needs of its adherents; perform religious liturgies,rites, and ceremonies; establish groups for religious instruction; engage in theological, religious, historical, and culturalstudies; train members for the clergy or for scientific and pedagogical purposes; obtain and utilise objects and materials ofreligious significance; use media; establish ties with religious organisations in other countries; and engage in charity. Thelaw does not stipulate rights accorded to unregistered groups. To register, a religious organisation must present to the Officeof the State Registrar an assessment from the Office of the Prime Minister’s Division of Religious Affairs and NationalMinorities stating its expert opinion on whether the community complies with the requirements of the law that it be basedon “historically recognised holy scripture.” It also must be “free from materialism and [be] of a spiritual nature,” have atleast 200 adult members, and follow a doctrine espoused by a member of the “international modern system” of religiouscommunities. The law does not define “free from materialism”, or state which religious communities are part of the“international modern system.” The law specifies that this list of registration requirements, to which the Division ofReligious Affairs and National Minorities must attest, does not apply to a religious organisation based on the faith of one ofthe groups recognised as national minorities, including Assyrians, Kurds, Russians and Yezidis. A religious community mayappeal a decision by the Office of the State Registrar through the courts. Employees of the National Security Service (NSS) areprohibited from being members of a religious organisation or from using their official position to the benefit of a “religiousassociation” or to show support for any religion. While the law defines a “religious organiSation” as an association ofcitizens established for professing a common faith as well as for fulfilling other religious needs, it provides no definition for“religious associations.” The law prohibits religious organiSations from establishing “public organiSations,” the legal termfor registered nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). The law prohibits, but does not define, “soul hunting,” a termdescribing both proselytism and forced conversion. The law prohibits religious organiSations with spiritual centers locatedoutside the country from receiving funding from those foreign centers, but there is no mechanism to enforce this provision.However, in October 2023, a law came into effect allowing registered religious organisations to invite foreign citizens toperform missionary work in the country.Key restriction tools imposed: excessive qualifications required for registration, membership quota, non-recognition ofdenominations other than the Armenian Apostolic Church, rights of unregistered groups remain unaddressed in law,some registration benefits are classified under "basic religious activities" meaning such activities should not subject to agroup's registered status, prohibition on proselytising.Human rights instruments: Armenia is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and theUNDRIP; Armenia did not vote on the UDHR; Armenia is partied to the ECHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (not free; restricted); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free;restricted); pastoral services (not free; restricted); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (not free;prohibited as “soul hunting”); public expression and observance (free); receiving donations (not free; restricted);religious buildings (not free; restricted); religious instruction (not free; restricted); religious literature (not free;restricted); religious and worship services (not free; restricted); religious trade (not free; restricted).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection granted in the constitution against hate speech or incitingviolence based on religion.142024 RoRB Classification: ApatheticAustralia,Commonwealth ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsEstablish a set of differentiated systems for both existential recognition and legalregistration; more clarity required as to the membership and longevityqualifications required for tax-exempt status. Secularity: Australia is a secular state; theism was affirmed in thelatest constitution revised in 1985.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: stipulatory registration – the Australian government does notrequire religious organisations to register to conduct the full range of religiousactivities protected under FoRB. However, to receive tax exemptions on income,goods and services, a religious organisation are required to register with theAustralian Taxation Office as a ‘nonprofit entity.’ An organisation's activities,size, and permanence are some of the factors considered by the Office when itdetermines tax-exempt status.Key restriction tools imposed: lack of mechanism for state recognition ofreligions besides registration as a nonprofit entity, membership and longevity arefactors taken into consideration when the government determines tax-exemptstatus, lack of mechanism for the registration of religious organisationsspecifically as religious entities.Human rights instruments: Australia is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, theUNCRC; Australia rejected the UNDRIP; Australia voted in favour of the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory andburial rites (free); pastoral services (free); private expression and observance(free); proselytism (free); public expression and observance (free); receivingdonations (free); religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religiousliterature (free); religious and worship services (free); religious trade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection granted in law against discrimination on thebasis of religion.152024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveAustria,Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made. The law provides for freedom ofreligious belief and the rights of all residents to join, participate in,leave, or abstain from association with any religious community.RecommendationsReform the vertical registration system to ensure greater equality among religions; remove any excessive requirements andassessments of religious doctrine (called content assessments); abolish longevity and membership quotas for registration.Secularity: Austria is officially a secular state (the Roman Catholic Church was disestablished in1918); however, an agreement between the Holy See and the Austrian government makes severalCatholic holy days official national holidays.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: pseudo-mandatory registration – while the Austrian government claims it does not mandate that religiousorganisations need to register with it, unregistered religious groups are confined to conducting their activities in privateresidences only. The Austrian registration system is structured vertically as registered religious organisations are divided intotwo categories: the higher category of “legally recognised churches and religious societies” and the lower category of “state-registered religious denominational communities.” The latter of the two categories has less obligations under the law but alsoless privileges. Religious organisations that do not qualify for either of these religious designations have the option to registerunder the secular designation of “associations.” To become eligible to register as a “legally recognised churches and religioussociety”, there are longevity and membership quotas to meet. For example, organisations must have existed in Austria for aperiod of at least twenty years “of which ten years must be in an organised form and at least five years must be as a confessionalcommunity” and must have a membership totalling at least 0.2% of Austria’s population according to the latest census.Religious societies are ‘public law corporations’ which gives them the ability to provide government-funded religiousinstruction in public and private schools, tax reliefs and exemptions from various charges such as for security at events andrubbish collection. To become eligible for the status of “state-registered religious denominational community”, a religiousorganisation must have at least 300 members and submit to the Office for Religious Affairs within the Federal Chancellery itsstatutes that must describe the goals, rights and obligations of members and membership regulations, a list of officials, andfinancing information. A group must also submit a written description of its religious doctrine, which must differ from that ofany previously recognised religious society or denominational community. The Office for Religious Affairs determines whetherthe group’s basic beliefs are consistent with public security, order, health, and morals and with the rights and freedoms ofcitizens. All religious societies can request and receive government funding for pastoral care provided in prisons, hospitals,senior homes, and military installations with the amount of funding based on the size of the society’s membership. Thegovernment generally reviews and decides on each application submitted for confessional community status within six months.Religious societies, confessional communities, and religious associations all have authority to engage in such activities aspurchasing real estate in their own name and contracting for goods and services, although confessional communities andreligious associations are not eligible for the financial and educational benefits available to religious societies. Associationshave legal status, the right to function in public, and many of the same rights as confessional communities. Associations maynot offer pastoral care in hospitals or prisons, and contributions are not tax-deductible. Any group of more than two personspursuing a nonprofit goal, faith-based or otherwise, may apply to the Ministry of Interior to obtain status as an association.Such group must submit a written statement citing its nonprofit goals and commitment to function as a nonprofit organisation.The government requires a visa for visitors from non-visa-exempt countries or individuals who would stay beyond 90 days,including religious workers of confessional communities or associations. Foreign religious workers of groups recognised asconfessional communities or associations must apply for a general immigrant visa that is not employment or family based andis subject to a quota. Foreign religious workers belonging to religious societies also require immigrant visas but are exemptfrom the quota system. Religious workers from Schengen or EU-member countries are exempt from all visa requirements.Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, longevity quotas, membership quotas, vertical registration system(verticalism), new religious groups are often barred from registering under a religious designation.Human rights instruments: Austria is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and theUNDRIP; Austria did not vote on the UDHR; Austria is partied to the ECHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (not free;only registered organisations may perform pastoral care in prisons, hospitals, retirement homes and for members of themilitary); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (free); public expression and observance (free); receivingdonations (free); religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religious literature (free); religious and worshipservices (free); religious trade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection granted in the constitution against discrimination on the basisof religion; the ECHR is integrated into the Austrian constitution.162024 RoRB Classification: CensoriousAzerbaijan, Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsAbolish the rule for mandatory registration; immediately stop retribution for unregistration; abolish restrictive reregistration,signature quota, membership quota, excessive informational requirements and confinement policies.Secularity: Azerbaijan is a hypersecular state that is actively hostileto all religion.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: broad mandatory registration – the government of Azerbaijan mandates that all religious organisations, whichare given the secular designation of “association” under the law,  register with the State Committee on Religious Associations of theRepublic of Azerbaijan (SCWRA) which can appeal to the national courts to suspend any religious group. Registration is tied to thephysical building where the religious organisation is located which means any subsequent move or expansion of the organisation’sactivities beyond the registered address necessitates reregistering with the SCWRA. Registration is necessary for a religiousorganisation to legally hold meetings, maintain a bank account in its name, rent property, act as a legal entity and receive funds fromthe government. To register, a religious organisation must submit to the SCWRA a notarised application signed by at least fiftymembers, a charter and founding documents, the names of the organisation’s founders, and the organisation’s legal address and bankinformation. The law requires the application to include information on the citizenship, place of residence, date of birth, and religiouseducation, as well as copies of identity documents, of each of the 50 members. The application must include information on the historyof the community; the forms and methods of its activities and traditions; its doctrine’s approach towards family, marriage, andeducation; and restrictions the community imposes on the rights and responsibilities of its members. By law, the government mustrule on a registration application within thirty days, but there are no specified consequences if the government fails to act by thedeadline. Authorities may deny registration of a religious organisation if its actions, goals, or religious doctrine contradict theconstitution or other laws. Authorities may also deny registration if an organisation’s charter or other establishing documentscontradict the law or if the information provided is false. Religious groups may appeal registration denials to the courts. The CaucasusMuslim Board (CMB) is registered by the SCWRA as a foundation. It monitors sermons and oversees other activities of registeredIslamic organisations, including the training of clerics to lead Islamic worship and organising of pilgrimages to Mecca. Muslimcommunities must receive an approval letter from the CMB before submitting a registration application to the SCWRA. In 2022,amendments to the religious freedom law came into force that changed responsibility for appointing and removing religious leaders inall mosques in the country from the CMB to the SCWRA. The law bans activities by unregistered religious groups, punishable by finesor imprisonment. While the law prohibits government interference in the religious activities of any registered group or member of aregistered group, there are exceptions for suspected extremist or other illegal activity. The law states government entities and citizenshave rights and responsibilities to combat “religious extremism” and “radicalism.” The law specifies circumstances under whichregistered religious organisations may be dissolved, including if they act contrary to their founding objectives; cause racial, national,religious, or social animosity; or proselytise in a way that degrades human dignity or contradicts recognized principles of humanitysuch as “love for mankind, philanthropy, and kindness.” Other grounds for dissolution include hindering secular education orinducing members or other individuals to cede their property to the organisation. The law provides for some, but not all, registeredreligious groups to establish “religious centers” (headquarters) in the country. Smaller communities without a religious center are notallowed to apply for permission to have foreign citizens as religious leaders; establish religious educational establishments; organisevisits by their adherents to shrines and religious locations abroad, or exercise other rights that are attributed only to religious centers.Mass religious worship, rites, and ceremonies (with some exceptions) may be held only in places of worship and shrines. SCWRApermission is required to hold religious “mass events” anywhere other than at state-approved places of worship or shrines. Accordingto the law, the SCWRA reviews and approves all religious literature for content, legal importation, sale, and distribution. Punishmentsare proscribed by law for the production, sale, and distribution of religious literature (on paper and electronic devices), audio andvideo materials, religious items, and other informational materials of a religious nature without appropriate authorisation.Punishments for first-time offenders include a fine of between 5,000 and 7,000 manat ($2,950-$4,100), up to two years’ restrictedfreedom (probation), or up to two years’ imprisonment. Violations by a group of individuals “according to a prior conspiracy,” anorganized group, an individual for a second time, or a government official carry a fine of between 7,000 and 9,000 manat($4,100-$5,300), between two-and five-years’ restricted freedom, or a maximum of five years of imprisonment. The law prohibitsproselytising by foreigners but does not prohibit citizens from doing so. In cases of proselytisation by foreigners or stateless persons,the law sets a punishment of one to two years in prison.Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, baseless denials of registration, confinement, membership quota, reregistration,notarised signature quota, religious literature is reviewed by the government before importation and publication, significantleeway, weaponisation of terms, verticalism ('religious centres' occupy a higher status than 'associations'), abuse of members ofunregistered religious groups and fines levied against religious members meeting in private homes.Human rights instruments: Azerbaijan is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, and the UNCRC; Azerbaijanabstained on the UNDRIP; Azerbaijan did not vote on the UDHR; Azerbaijan is partied to the ECHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (not free; restricted); monasticism (not free; restricted); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free;restricted); pastoral services (not free; restricted); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (not free; restricted;illegal for foreigners);  public expression and observance (not free; restricted); receiving donations (not free; restricted); religiousbuildings (not free; restricted); religious instruction (not free; restricted); religious literature (not free; restricted with finesimposed); religious and worship services (not free; restricted); religious trade (not free; restricted).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection granted in the constitution against discrimination on the basis of religion.172024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveBahamas, Commonwealth of TheFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.Recommendations Abolish the stipulation that any use of income to promote religion necessitates registration as thiscauses a pseudo-mandatory policy; dissolve dormant laws (for example, those regardingblasphemy); establish separate systems for recognition and registration tailored to belief-basedorganisations rather than those that are used for secular entities; abolish the nationwide ban onObeah.Secularity: The Bahamas is officially a secular state; however,state privilege is granted to Christianity, in particular theBahamas Christian Council; theism was affirmed in the latestconstitution from 1973.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: pseudo-mandatory registration – although the Bahamian government doesnot formally mandate that religious organisations register with it, religious organisations arerequired to register if they use any form of income to promote religion which is such a basicactivity for religious organisations that registration is in effect mandatory. Individuals who fail toregister face up to a 10 thousand dollar fine or up to one year in prison. Religious organisationsmust also register in order to purchase land in the organisation’s name for the construction ofplaces of worship. It is $100 to register as a non-profit organisation. Registered religiousorganisations are subject to taxation laws and can receive certain tax exemptions. There are nodistinct procedures for religious organisations as procedures are the same for non-profitorganisations. The process of registration is called 'incorporation.' Groups are required tomaintain a building for gathering to qualify for registration. The Bahamas Christian Council iscomposed of leaders of various Christian denominations and is in regular, direct contact with thegovernment. Non-Christian groups (i.e. Jews, Rastafarians, Baha'is) are also given opportunities toconsult the government.Key restriction tools imposed: issue with the qualification that a religious group must maintain abuilding to become registrable, verticalism, prohibition of Obeah (those caught practicing Obeah orattempting to intimidate, steal, inflict disease, or restore a person’s health through the practice ofObeah may face a sentence of three months in prison), prohibition of marijuana use including forreligious rituals.Human rights instruments: The Bahamas is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC,and the UNDRIP; The Bahamas did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free);pastoral services (free); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (free); publicexpression and observance (free); receiving donations (free); religious buildings (free); religiousinstruction (free); religious literature (free); religious and worship services (free); religious trade(free); however, the government's continued prohibition of Obeah limits these freedoms only toreligions except Obeah.Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection granted in law against discrimination on the basis ofreligion.182024 RoRB Classification: CensoriousBahrain, Kingdom ofFoRB Claim: Partial claim is made based on sharia law as religiousobservance must not infringe on the “fundamental beliefs of Islamicdoctrine.”RecommendationsA selection of minority groups have already received registration (though this should not be confused with the same recognition that Islam receives);abolish confinement, excessive informational requirements, and multi-registration policies; discontinue discriminatory registration procedures forIslamic and non-Islamic groups.Secularity: Islam is the state religion; sharia is the principal source for legislation; theism wasaffirmed in the latest constitution from 2017.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: broad-discriminatory mandatory registration – the Bahraini government mandates that all religious organisationsregister with it before conducting any activities in the country. However, there are three different registration procedures depending on thereligion or denomination with which an organisation is affiliated. Islamic religious organisations must register with the Ministry of Justice,Islamic Affairs, and Endowments (MOJIA), specifically Sunni organisations with the Sunni Waqf within the MOJIA and Shia organisationswith the Jaafari Waqf within the MOJIA. These endowment boards supervise, fund, and perform a variety of activities related to mosques andprayer halls. Non-Islamic religious organisations must register with and receive a licence from the Ministry of Social Development (MOSD) as‘civil society organisations.’ Hence, non-Islamic religious organisations are not recognised as religious entities under the law but insteadunder a secular designation as non-profit entities. To register, a group must submit an official letter requesting a license to operate; copies ofminutes from the founders’ committee meeting; and a detailed list of founders and board members, including names, ages, nationalities,occupations, and addresses. It must also submit other information, such as the group’s bylaws, candidates who seek election to theorganisation’s governing board, a physical address, and evidence of a bank account in a bank registered with the Central Bank of Bahrain.Religious groups also may need approval from the Ministry of Education (MOE) if the public education curriculum is involved; the Ministry ofInformation Affairs if the group intends to issue religious publications; or the Ministry of Interior (MOI), in coordination with the CentralBank of Bahrain, if the organisation receives funding from foreign sources. Individuals affiliated with Islamic organisations seeking to collectmoney for religious purposes must be Bahraini citizens and must receive approval from the MOJIA. The law prohibits activities falling outsidean organisation’s charter. The penal code does not specifically address the activities of unregistered religious organisations but provides forthe closing of any unlicensed branch of an international organisation plus imprisonment of up to six months and fines of up to 50 dinars($130) for the individuals responsible for setting up the branch. Although it is illegal for unregistered religious organisations to operate, inpractice, the government often did not enforce this requirement. The SCIA oversees general Islamic religious activities taking place within thecountry as well as the publication of Islamic studies curricula and official religious texts. By law, the government regulates and monitors thecollection of money by religious and other organizations. Islamic organizations wishing to collect money must first obtain authorisation fromthe MOJIA, which issues collection licenses valid for one year. Non-Islamic organizations must obtain authorisation from the MOSD. Theperiod specified for collecting money should not exceed two months from the date of issuance of the license, with the exception of Islamic andcharitable associations, where the period of collection is six months. A 2021 amendment to a royal decree requires the Sunni and Jaafari Waqfsto submit annual reports to the MOJIA on funds they collect for religious purposes, including for the construction or renovation of places ofworship. The amendment also bans the waqfs from receiving money from abroad without MOJIA approval. The government licenses houses ofworship. Permission for construction of a new mosque, whether Shia or Sunni, requires a government determination of the need for a newmosque in the area based on population. The government also determines the need for non-Islamic houses of worship. The King has sole legalauthority to allocate public land, including for religious purposes, although he may delegate this authority to government officials. Citizensmay also offer private land to build mosques. By law, construction of Islamic places of worship requires MOJIA approval. Non-Islamic groupsmust obtain MOSD approval. Municipal authorities provide final approval for construction. The law permits non-Islamic houses of worship todisplay crosses or other religious symbols outside their premises. The government does not designate religious affiliation on national identitydocuments, including birth certificates. Applications for birth certificates and national identity documents, however, record a child’s religion(Muslim, Christian, Jewish, or other), but not denomination. Hospital admission forms and school registration forms may also requestinformation on an individual’s religion.Key restriction tools imposed: confinement, different registration procedures exist for Islamic (Sunni and Shia groups register with differentendowments), and non-Islamic groups, excessive informational requirements are requested as part of registration procedures that are likelyto be used with nefarious intent, multi-registration is invoked, non-recognition, unregistration of any unlicensed branch of a group offoreign origin will result in the branch's closure.Human rights instruments: Bahrain is partied to the ICCPR (although Bahrain made the reservation thatit interprets the Covenant’s provisions relating to freedom of religion, family rights, and equalitybetween men and women before the law as “not affecting in any way” the prescriptions of sharia), theICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP; Bahrain did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (not free; restricted); hieroncy (not free; all non-Islamic religious materials are prohibited from importation); monasticism (not free;restricted); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free; restricted); pastoral services (not free; restricted); private expression and observance (free);proselytism (not free; restricted); public expression and observance (not free; restricted); receiving donations (free); religious buildings (not free;restricted); religious instruction (free); religious literature (not free; all non-Islamic religious literature is prohibited); religious and worship services(not free; restricted); religious trade (not free; restricted).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection granted in the constitution against discrimination on the basis ofreligion.192024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveBangladesh, People's Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsCreate a separate system and distinct procedures for registration of religious organisations fromsecular entities; establish one agency to deal with religious recognition and registration in order toprocesses; abolish borderline excessive informational requirements, excessive qualifications,nominal restriction and the involvement of a secondary procedure as part of the registration process.Secularity: Islam is the state religion despite the 2014 constitution also pledging to upholdsecularism; Buddhism, Christianity and Hinduism were also specifically named in theconstitution as was the right to practice “other religions.”Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: conditional registration – the government of Bangladesh allows religiousorganisations operating only one place of worship to conduct activities without needing to register;however, if a group operates or seeks to establish multiple places of worship, the governmentmandates that the organisation undergoes registration. Religious organisations register under thesecular designation ‘non-governmental organisation’ either with the NGO Affairs Bureau (NGOAB) ifthe organisation intends to receive foreign assistance for development projects, or with the Ministryof Social Welfare if it does not require foreign funds. The NGOAB monitors all foreign funded projects.The NGOAB Director General has the authority to impose sanctions on NGOs for violating the law,including fines of up to three times the amount of the foreign donation, or closure of the NGO.Registration requirements and procedures for religious groups are the same as for secularassociations. Organisations that register with the Ministry of Social Welfare must certify that thename being registered is not already taken. Organisations must also provide the bylaws/constitutionof the organisation; confirmation of security clearances for leaders of the organization from theNational Security Intelligence; minutes of the meeting appointing the executive committee; a list ofall executive committee and general members and photographs of principal officers; a work plan; acopy of the deed or lease of the organisation’s office and a list of property owned; a budget; and arecommendation by a local government representative.  Requirements for religious groups thatregister with the NGOAB are similar. To be legally recognised, Muslim marriages must be registeredwith the state by either the couple or the cleric performing the marriage; however, some Muslimmarriages are not registered. Registration with the state of marriages for Hindus and Christians isoptional and rare, and other faiths may determine their own guidelines.Key restriction tools imposed: an impermissible qualification of a local governmentrepresentative recommendation, borderline excessive informational requirements, nominalrestriction, non-recognition, registration involves a secondary procedure.Human rights instruments: Bangladesh is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC;Bangladesh abstained from the UNDRIP; Bangladesh did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (not free; restricted); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burialrites (free); pastoral services (free); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (not free;restricted); public expression and observance (free); receiving donations (free); religious buildings(not free; restricted); religious instruction (free); religious literature (free); religious and worshipservices (not free; restricted); religious trade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection granted in the 2014 constitution against discrimination onthe basis of religion.202024 RoRB Classification: ApatheticBarbadosFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is madeRecommendationsEstablish a distinct system for existential recognition apart from legalregistration; provide broader provisions within the legal registration frameworkbeyond that of tax-exemption such as opportunities for state grants; abolishexcessive registration fee.Secularity: Barbados is a secular state (the Churchof England was disestablished in 1968); theismwas affirmed in the latest constitution from 2007.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: stipulatory registration – religious organisations operatingin Barbados are not required to register with the government except if they wishto obtain duty-free import privileges and tax benefits. An applicant religiousorganisation must file the relevant customs and tax forms with the CorporateAffairs and Intellectual Property Office, along with a resolution passed by amajority of its board of trustees expressly authorising the application, plus thegroup’s related statutory declaration (a legally binding document affirming thatsomething is true to the best knowledge of the applicant and signed in thepresence of a solicitor, commissioner for oaths, or notary public).Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, excessive registration fee for theregistration of a society ($750) that exceeds the $100 threshold set down byRoRB standards.Human rights instruments: Barbados is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, theUNCRC, and the UNDRIP; Barbados did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory andburial rites (free); pastoral services (free); proselytism (free); private expressionand observance (free); public expression and observance (free); receivingdonations (free); religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religiousliterature (free); religious and worship services (free); religious trade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection granted in the 2007constitution against discrimination on the basis of creed.212024 RoRB Classification: CensoriousBelarus, Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsDisestablish and dismantle the abusive recognition and registration system so that a new one that is more receptive may take its place in order for Belarus to climb theSpectrum of Religious Recognition; dissolve mandatory registration and excessive requirements; exchange vertical recognition for horizontal; provide genuine legalregistration and provide existential recognition; abolish the policy of confinement, community quotas, excessive informational requirements, membership quota,geographic quota, and the preapproval of basic religious activities.Secularity: Belarus is officially a secular state; however, a concordat between the Belarusian government and theBelarusian Orthodox Church (BOC) grants the BOC rights and privileges not granted to other religions; the lawrecognises the historical importance of the “traditional faiths” Catholicism, Judaism, Islam and evangelicalLutheranism as well as the “determining role of the BOC.” The law does not consider as traditional faiths newerreligious groups or older groups, such as the priestless Old Believers, Greek Catholics, and the Calvinist churches,which have roots in the country dating to the 17th century.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: broad mandatory registration – Belarusian law prohibits all unregistered religious activity in the country punishable by up to two years in prison andmandates that religious organisations register to operate and obtain separate permits to proselytise and host events outside their registered premises in addition to priorapproval from the authorities to import and distribute religious literature. The law establishes three tiers of registered religious groups: ‘religious communities’, ‘religiousassociations’, and ‘national religious associations.’ Religious communities must include at least twenty persons older than eighteen who live in one or several adjoiningareas. Religious associations must include at least ten religious communities, and one of these communities must have been active in the country for at least twenty years.National-level religious associations may establish regional and local religious associations. National religious associations earn recognition only when they compriseactive religious communities in at least four of the country’s six oblasts. To register, a religious community must submit an official application containing the followinginformation: a list of its founders’ names, places of residence, citizenship, and signatures; copies of its founding statutes; the minutes of its founding meeting; andconfirmation from regional authorities of the community’s right to occupy or use any property referenced in its founding statutes. A religious community not previouslyregistered by authorities must also submit information regarding its beliefs. The law stipulates authorities may take up to six months to review a new registrationapplication, which includes an evaluation of the religion by a state-appointed religious commission of experts. The commission evaluates the fundamental teachings ofthe religious group, as well as its rituals, practices, history, and forms and methods of activities; welfare and charitable services; proselytising and missionary activities;approaches toward marriage and family; educational activities; attitudes toward health care; and compliance with legal requirements. In addition, the community mustsubmit any texts written by its founder or considered sacred by the followers of the religion, information concerning prohibitions on clergy or adherents, a list of countrieswhere the religion is widely practiced, and a list of countries officially recognising the religious group. It also must submit information regarding countries that haverefused to recognise the religion and information on court cases against its followers in other countries. Regional authorities, as well as Minsk city authorities or localmunicipal authorities (for groups outside of Minsk), review all registration applications. Permissible grounds for denial of registration include failure to comply withrequirements for establishing a community, an inconsistent or fraudulent charter or other required document, violations of the procedures to establish religiousorganisations, and a negative evaluation by the state-appointed religious commission of experts. Communities may appeal refusals in court. To register as a religiousassociation or national religious association, a group must provide an official application with a copy of the founding statutes, a list of members of the managing body withbiographical information, proof of permission for the association to be at its designated location, and the minutes from its founding congress. Religious associations havethe exclusive right to establish religious educational institutions and to organise cloistered and monastic communities. All applicants must submit forms to establishreligious associations and national associations to OPRRNA, which has 30 days to respond. Grounds for refusal are the same as for religious communities, except they alsoinclude failure to comply with requirements for establishing an association rather than a community. Applicants may appeal in court refusals or a failure by OPRRNA torespond within the 30-day period. The law confines the activities of religious communities and associations to the jurisdictional area where they are registered. The lawpermits state agencies in charge of registration to issue written warnings to a registered religious group for violating any law or undertaking activities outside the scope ofresponsibilities in the group’s charter. Authorities may apply to a relevant court, depending upon jurisdiction, to shut down the group if it has not ceased the illegal activityoutlined in the written warning within six months or if the activity is repeated within one year of the warning. Authorities may suspend activities of the religious grouppending the court’s decision. The law does not contain a provision for appealing a warning or suspension. The housing code permits registered religious groups to holdservices at residential premises if local authorities grant permission. Local authorities must certify that the premises comply with a number of regulations, including firesafety, sanitary, and health code requirements. Authorities do not grant such permission automatically, and the law prohibits religious groups from holding services inprivate residences without prior permission from local authorities, who may approve residential worship subject to revocation. By law, all religious groups must obtainpermits to hold events outside of their premises, including when proselytising. The law penalises organising and participating in unauthorised gatherings, theannouncement of an intention to hold a mass event before securing official authorisation, training protesters, financing public demonstrations, or soliciting foreignassistance “to the detriment” of the country. Included in the definition of “mass event” are religious events held in places not specifically intended for this purpose,whether outdoors or indoors. The law requires organisers to request permission from authorities to hold a mass event, including those involving religious groups, at least15 days before the event. Some violations of the law prohibiting unauthorised mass events may be punishable by up to three years in prison. Authorities must informorganisers of a denial no later than five days before the event. In some cases, a first violation of the law within a year’s time involves an administrative penalty of a fine ordetention up to 15 days, while if there is a second or further violation during that period the person may be imprisoned up to three years. Authorities have a system ofreimbursements for security, medical, and cleaning services required from organisers of mass events, including religious events held outside of religious premises andsites, rallies, competitions, cultural events, festivals, concerts, and similar occasions. Authorities cover costs associated with events that are officially sponsored at thelocal and national levels. The law requires organisers to sign contracts for services before applying for a permit to hold a mass event and reimburse all costs within 10 days.The law requires all religious groups to obtain prior approval from authorities to import and distribute religious literature. The approval process includes officialexamination of the documents by state-appointed religious studies experts. The law permits only registered religious groups that are members of national religiousassociations to organise extracurricular religious activities at educational institutions. Only registered religious associations may apply to the Office of the PlenipotentiaryRepresentative for Religious and Nationality Affairs (OPRRNA) for permission to invite foreign clergy to the country. OPRRNA must grant permission before foreign clergymay serve in local congregations, teach or study at local institutions, or participate in charitable work. Authorities generally grant such permission for a period of one year,and they may reduce or extend permissions. OPRRNA has 30 days to respond to requests for foreign clergy permits (religious visas) and may deny requests withoutexplanation. If OPRRNA does not respond, it does not grant permission for a permit. There is no provision for appeals. By law, authorities permit foreign missionaries toengage in religious activity only in the territorial area where their religious association is registered. Transfers of foreign clergy within a religious association, includingfrom one parish to another, require prior permission from authorities. By law, foreigners may not lead religious groups. Authorities may reprimand or expel foreigncitizens who legally are present in the country for nonreligious work if they lead any religious activities. Law enforcement agencies on their own initiative or in response torecommendations from other state agencies, such as the security service, may require foreign clergy to depart the country – a decision that is beyond appeal.Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, baseless grounds of the denial of registration, confinement of registered groups, community quota, confinement, misuse of deregistrationprocedures, excessive informational requirements likely to be used with nefarious intent, geographic quota, membership quota, preapproval of basic religious activities, registration involvessecondary procedures, unregistration fines, verticalism.Human rights instruments: Belarus is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP; Belarus did notvote on the UDHR; Belarus is not partied to the ECHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (not free; restricted); hieroncy (not free; restricted); monasticism (not free; restricted); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free; restricted); pastoralservices (not free; restricted); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (not free; restricted); public expression and observance (not free; restricted);receiving donations (not free; restricted); religious buildings (not free; restricted); religious instruction (not free; restricted); religious literature (not free; restricted);religious and worship services (not free; restricted); religious trade (not free; restricted).Conditions of state recognition and registrationRecognition policy: a concordat between authorities and the BOC provides the church with autonomy in its internal affairs, freedom to perform religious rites and otheractivities, and a special relationship with the state. The concordat recognises the BOC’s “influence on the formation of spiritual, cultural, and national traditions of theBelarusian people.” Although the concordat states that it does not limit the religious freedom of other religious groups, it calls for authorities and the BOC to combatunnamed “pseudo-religious structures that present a danger to individuals and society.” The BOC, unlike other religious communities, receives state subsidies pursuantto presidential orders. In addition, the BOC possesses the exclusive right to use the word “orthodox” in its title and to use as its symbol the double-barred image of theCross of Saint Euphrosyne, the country’s Orthodox patron saint.222024 RoRB Classification: DynamicBelgium, Kingdom ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsEstablish an independent recognition agency to ensure that politicisation of decisions regarding registration and recognition does not occur; implementprocedures that reduce reliance on legislative precedents and clarify any areas of policy that remain ambiguous; abolish secondary procedures of theregistration process.Secularity: Belgium is a secular state; Anglicanism, Islam, Judaism, Greek and Russian OrthodoxChristianity, Protestantism (including evangelicals and Pentecostals), Roman Catholicism andsecular humanism are officially recognised by the Belgian government.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: stipulatory registration – there are procedures for individual places of worship of recognised religiousgroups to apply to obtain registration and federal subsidies. To do so, a place of worship must meet requirements set by theregion in which it is located and receive final approval by the federal Ministry of Justice. These requirements includetransparency and legality of accounting practices, renunciation of foreign sources of income for ministers of religion workingin the facility, compliance with building and fire safety codes, and certification of the minister of religion by the relevantinterlocutor body. Recognised places of worship also receive subsidies from the linguistic communities and municipalities forthe upkeep of religious buildings. places of worship or other religious groups that are unable or choose not to meet theserequirements may organise as nonprofit associations and benefit from lower taxes but not government subsidies. Individualhouses of worship in this situation (i.e., not completing the recognition process) may still affiliate with an officially recognisedreligious group. The government requires all religious communities and places of worship to complete a four-year probationperiod prior to official recognition. This policy applies to all places of worship regardless of religion.Key restriction tools imposed: approval from at least two different government ministries is required for recognition (dual registration),inappropriately ambiguous qualifications (the law does not specify criteria for recognition), non-response to an application by the Belgian HinduForum made in 2013 to have Hinduism recognised as a religion, secondary procedures are involved in the registration process.Human rights instruments: Belgium is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and theUNDRIP; Belgium voted in favour of the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free); private expression andobservance (free); proselytism (free); public expression and observance (not free; restrictions imposed on religious attire); receiving donations (free);religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religious literature (free); religious and worship services (free); religious trade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection granted in law against discrimination on the basis of religiousorientation.Recognition policy: the law does not define requirements to obtain official recognition. Instead, the Ministry of Justice, withParliament’s approval, specifies the legal basis for official recognition. A religious group seeking official recognition applies tothe Ministry of Justice, which then recommends approval or rejection to parliament, which votes on the application. Thegovernment evaluates whether the group meets organisational and reporting requirements and applies criteria based onadministrative and legislative precedents in deciding whether to recommend granting recognition to a religious group. Thereligious group must have a structure or hierarchy, a “sufficient number” of members, and a “long period” of existence in thecountry. It must offer “social value” to the public, abide by the laws of the state, and respect public order. The government doesnot formally define “sufficient number,” “long period of time,” or “social value.” Final approval is the sole responsibility ofthe federal parliament; however, parliament generally accepts the ministry’s recommendation. The law requires each officiallyrecognised religious group to have an official interlocutor, such as an office composed of one or more representatives of thegroup plus administrative staff, to support the government in its constitutional duty of providing the material conditions forthe free exercise of religion. The functions performed by the interlocutor include certification of clergy and teachers of thereligion, assistance in the development of the religious curriculum in schools, and oversight of the management of houses ofworship. The federal and regional governments provide financial support for officially recognised religious groups. Federalgovernment subsidies include direct payment of clergy salaries and pensions, while regions subsidise maintenance andequipment costs for facilities and places of worship, as well as clergy housing, and oversee finances and donations in excess of€1,000 ($1,100), as required by law. Denominations or divisions within the recognised religious groups (Shia Islam, ReformJudaism, or Lutheranism, for example) do not receive support or recognition separate from their parent religious group. Parentreligious groups distribute subsidies according to their statutes, which may also include salaries to clergy and public fundingfor renovation or facility maintenance. Unrecognised religious groups have the same religious rights as recognised religiousgroups; the main difference is unrecognised groups do not receive public subsidies. The Belgian Buddhist Union receives afederal subsidy even though the government has not yet completed the final administrative step to officially recogniseBuddhism. It is not illegal for religious organisations to receive foreign funding; however, recognised places of worship willlose recognition and government subsidies if their organisation receives foreign funding. Unrecognised places of worship haveno funding restrictions, but if they wish to be recognised, they must renounce foreign funding.232024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveBelizeFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsReverse the new law that interprets and treats religious organisations as businesses; greater distinctionneeds to be made between registration processes for religious entities and secular entities; abolish excessiveregistration fee and the rule that administering a property is made subject to registration as well as therules around unregistration leading to the forced closure of groups by the government.Secularity: Belize is officially a secular state; however,Christianity is privileged with the Belize Council of Churchesand Belize Association of Evangelical Churches serving as partof the government-established People’s ConstitutionalCommission; theism was affirmed in the latest constitutionfrom 2011.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: broad mandatory registration – the Belizean government mandates that all religiousorganisations register with the Companies Registry within the Ministry of the Attorney General in order tooperate legally in the country and to conduct activities already protected under international law on FoRB.There is little distinction made between registered religious organisations and registered companies,especially with the introduction of a new law that interprets religious organisations as businesses.Registration allows a religious organisation to operate legally in the country; receive state recognition;negotiate, sue, and be sued; own property; hire employees; and lend or borrow money. A one-timeregistration fee of 295 Belize dollars ($150) and a yearly fee of five Belize dollars ($3). Requirements forregistration include a memorandum of association with the government delineating the group’s objectiveand mission, an article of association, and a letter from the Central Bank if the organisation has foreignfinancial contributors. The government has the legal ability to shut down the facilities of religiousorganisations that do not register. The government does not levy property taxes on churches or otherplaces of worship. Other religious group owned buildings occupied on a regular basis, such as clergyresidences, are not tax-exempt. Individual places of worship may apply for non-governmentalorganisation status, which makes them exempt from paying income tax, business tax, and any othergovernment-levied tax or duty. Places of worship are not entitled to government-provided cashsubventions (grants). To enter the country and proselytise, foreign religious workers require a multiple-entry visa that costs 100 Belize dollars ($50) and is valid for one year. Applicants must also purchase areligious worker’s permit that costs 50 Belize dollars ($25) and is renewable annually. Visa applicationsrequest information on an applicant’s intended length of stay, location of service, availability of fundingfor their activity, and specific purpose. Members of all religious groups are eligible to obtain visas. While agroup does not need to be locally registered, a recommendation by a locally registered religious group lendsmore credibility to the visa request, according to local authorities.Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, excessive registration fee,  administering property is a basicreligious activity so to make it a registrable activity is impermissible to RoRB standards, unregistrationmay lead to a group's forced closure; a new law on non-governmental organisations will apparently treatreligious organisations as businesses and will hamper the humanitarian work conducted by religiousorganisations.Human rights instruments: Belize is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and theUNDRIP; Belize did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoralservices (free); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (free); public expression andobservance (free); receiving donations (free); religious buildings (not free; restricted); religiousinstruction (free); religious literature (free); religious and worship services (free); religious trade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection granted in the constitution against discrimination onthe basis of religion.242024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveBenin, Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsAbolish borderline excessive informational requirements and the stringent rulesaround unregistration used as the basis for the forced closure of religious groups;establish separate procedures for the registration of belief-based organisations and therecognition of belief systems themselves.Secularity: Benin is a secular state; theism is affirmed in thepresidential oath.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: broad mandatory registration – the government of Beninmandates that all religious organisations register with the Ministry of Interior in orderto operate legally in the country. Registration requirements include submittingadministrative materials (including the applicant’s birth certificate, police record, arequest letter, copy of identification, and the group’s internal rules) and payment of aregistration fee of 50,000 CFA francs ($85). The ministry may close the religiousfacilities of unregistered groups until they register. Government officials at thedepartment and municipal levels have the authority to issue orders suspending certaintypes of religious practice to maintain peace.Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, arbitrary enforcement, borderlineexcessive informational requirements, unregistration may lead to the closure of groups.Human rights instruments: Benin is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR,the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP; Benin did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (not free; restricted); nuptial,initiatory and burial rites (not free; restricted); pastoral services (not free; restricted);private expression and observance (free); proselytism (not free; restricted); publicexpression and observance (free); receiving donations (not free; restricted); religiousbuildings (not free; restricted); religious instruction (free); religious literature (notfree; restricted); religious and worship services (not free; restricted); religious trade(not free; restricted).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection is granted in law against discriminationon the basis of religion.252024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveBhutan, Kingdom ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsAbolish the policy of confinement, government preapproval, excessive qualifications and the rules around unregistration;dissolve aspects of the recognition system that have been established to restrict registration; establish a more receptiveapproach towards non-Buddhist denominations.Secularity: Vajrayana Buddhism is the state denomination; theism wasaffirmed in the latest constitution from 2008; Buddhism’s “spiritualheritage” in the country was also recognised in the 2008 constitutionand demands that the king is Buddhist.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: broad mandatory registration – Bhutanese law mandates that all religious organisations register with theCommission for Religious Organizations (CRO). Unregistered religious organisations can worship in private but are notpermitted to organise publicly, own property, raise funds, conduct outreach activities, or import literature. Penalties forunregistered organisations performing these activities range from fines to prison terms, depending on the offense. The lawstates it is an offense for a religious group to provide false or misleading information in its religious teachings, to misuseinvestments, or to raise funds illegally. To register, a religious organisation must submit an application demonstrating itsleaders are citizens of the country and disclosing their educational backgrounds and financial assets. The law also specifies theorganisational structure, bylaws, and procedural rules for registered religious organisations. It prohibits religiousorganisations from “violating the spiritual heritage” of the country and requires them to protect and promote it. The law alsostates no religious organisation shall do anything to impair the sovereignty, security, unity, or territorial integrity of thecountry. It mandates that the CRO certify religious groups applying for registration meet the specified requirements. The CROhas the authority to determine whether a group has raised funds illegally. Sanctions include fines and potential revocation ofregistration. Registered religious Organisations may raise funds for religious activities and are exempt from taxes. Registeredgroups require approval from local government authorities to hold public meetings outside of their registered facilities andmust seek approval from the Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs to invite foreign speakers or receive foreign funds. TheCRO has the authority to determine whether the content of a organisation’s religious teachings is false or misleading andwhether it has raised funds illegally. The law states the CRO shall consist of an eight-member board responsible foroverseeing the structure of religious institutions, enforcing the constitutional separation between the government andreligious organisations, and monitoring religious fundraising activities. The chairperson of the board is a cabinet ministerappointed by the Prime Minister. A senior official from the Ministry of Finance and one of the King’s appointees to theNational Council also sit on the board. The director of culture in the Ministry of Home Affairs serves ex officio as secretary.Heads of Buddhist religious organisations and the Hindu Dharma Samudaya, a registered Hindu organisation, occupy theremaining seats. There are no set term limits for the CRO. The law requires the CRO to “ensure that religious institutions andpersonalities promote the spiritual heritage of the country” by developing a society “rooted in Buddhist ethos.” Theconstitution states the King shall appoint the chief abbot of the country’s Central Monastic Body (CMB), on the advice of thefive masters of the Buddhist monastic body. Those individuals and a civil servant administrative secretary make up theCommission for Monastic Affairs, which manages issues related to Buddhist doctrine. There are no set term limits for theCMB. The constitution directs the state to provide funds and “facilities” to the CMB. The law permits the government to“avoid breaches of the peace” by requiring licenses for public assembly, prohibiting assembly in designated areas, andimposing curfews. The government may apply these measures to groups and organisations of all kinds, including religiousgroups.Key restriction tools imposed: confinement, lack of information about registered groups, non-recognition for any non-Buddhist religion, non-response to applications, preapproval, qualifications stipulated place limits on groups of foreignorigin, religious buildings must conform to traditional architecture and be approved by the government prior toconstruction, the CRO has the authority to determine the legitimacy of a religion's teachings, the King must be a Buddhist,unregistered groups are prohibited from conducting some basic religious activities.Human rights instruments: Bhutan is partied to the UNCRC; Bhutan abstained from the UNDRIP;Bhutan is not partied to the ICCPR or the ICESCR; Bhutan did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (not free; restricted); hieroncy (not free; illegal for unregistered groups for propagational use); monasticism (notfree; restricted); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free; restricted); pastoral services (not free; restricted); privateexpression and observance (free); proselytism (not free; restricted); public expression and observance (not free; restricted);receiving donations (not free; restricted); religious buildings (not free; restricted); religious instruction (not free; restricted);religious literature (not free; restricted); religious and worship services (not free; restricted); religious trade (not free;restricted).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection is granted in the constitution against discrimination on thebasis of faith.262024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveBolivia,Plurinational State ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsDissolve excessive requirements for registration and subjective legislation that could be used for purposes of restriction;lower fees for registration; Bolivia's fees are significantly higher than the majority of other country’s registration fees forthe same process; dismantle restrictive policies and procedures in order to become more receptive; develop procedures forexistential recognition and abolish the practice of state definition of religion.Secularity: Bolivia is officially a secular state (the Roman Catholic Church was disestablished in2009); however, the Roman Catholic Church receives privileges not granted to other religiousorganisations by way of a concordat between the Holy See and the Bolivian government whichexempts the Church from having to undergo registration; theism was affirmed in the latestconstitution from 2009. Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: broad mandatory registration – religious organisations must register with the Office of Religion andNongovernmental Organisations within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and the process results in an "operatinglicence." The law makes a clear distinction between religious organisations as belief-based and as representing acommunity of adherents and secular non-governmental organisations. The religious freedom law requires all religious orspiritual organizations to inform the government of all financial, legal, social, and religious activities. The law regulatesreligious or spiritual organizations’ finances and labor practices by requiring they use funds exclusively to achieve theorganisation’s objectives, banning the distribution of money among members, subjecting all employees to national laborlaws and compelling religious organisations to pay taxes. Religious organisations must meet 14 documentaryrequirements to register with the government. These include submitting notarised legal documents, including theorganisation’s statutes, internal regulations, and procedures; rental agreement documents, utility invoices, and a sitemap for the place(s) of worship; detailed information on board members and legal representatives, including criminalbackground checks; INTERPOL certificates for foreigners; proof of fiscal solvency; a leadership organisation chart, withnames, addresses, identification card numbers, and photographs; a full list of members and identifying information;details on activities and services provided by the organisation, including the location of the services; and information ontheir financing source(s), domestic and foreign. The requirements for classification as a spiritual or religious organisationvary slightly, but the government requires essentially the same type of information from both. The constitution defines aspiritual organisation as a group of natural, national, and/or foreign persons who organise themselves to carry outpractices that develop their spirituality according to their ancestral worldview. Most spiritual organisations areindigenous in their origins. The constitution defines a religious organisation as a group of natural, national, and/orforeign persons who organise themselves with the purpose of carrying out practices of worship and/or belief around aSupreme Being to develop their spirituality and religiosity. Religious and spiritual organisations must be nonprofit. Thegovernment may revoke a spiritual or religious organisation’s operating license for noncompliance with the registrationrequirements if the organisation does not produce an annual report of activities for more than two consecutive years; doesnot comply with its stated objectives; carries out activities different from those established in its statutes; or carries outactivities contrary to the country’s constitution, laws, morality, or “good customs.” A religious or spiritual organisationmay also lose its operating license if it does not comply with the deadline for renewing the license. The government maynot deny legal recognition to any organisation based on its articles of faith. The fee to obtain an operating license as areligious organisation is 6,780 bolivianos ($990). The fee for a spiritual organisation is 4,068 bolivianos ($600). Althoughthe government does not provide an official explanation for the difference in these licensing fees, government officials sayspiritual organisations are charged less because they are smaller than religious organisations.Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, broad reservations to deregister, deregistration procedures are stringentand their grounds ambiguous making groups vulnerable to baseless deregistrations, excessive informationalrequirements, excessive registration fees, mandatory notification of the state of all financial, legal, social and religiousactivities, reregistration, state definition of religion. Human rights instruments: Bolivia is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and theUNDRIP; Bolivia voted in favour of the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (not free; restricted); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free;restricted); pastoral services (not free; restricted); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (not free;restricted); public expression and observance (free); receiving donations (not free; restricted); religious buildings (notfree; restricted); religious instruction (free); religious literature (free); religious and worship services (not free;restricted); religious trade (not free; restricted).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection is granted in the constitution against discrimination on the basis ofreligion.272024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveBosnia andHerzegovinaFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsDissolve intrusive registration requirements to reach receptivity; remove vertical recognition; establish an equitable recognitionsystem; abolish the imposition of a membership quota, nominal restriction, signature and the policy of non-recognition foruntraditional religious groups.Secularity: Bosnia and Herzegovina is officially a secular state; however, the latestconstitution from 1992 of the entity Republika Srpska recognises the Serbian OrthodoxChurch (SOC) as “the Church of the Serb people and other people of Orthodox religion”; thelaw also recognises four “traditional” religious communities including  the IslamicCommunity, the SOC, the Roman Catholic Church, and the Jewish communityMandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: pseudo-mandatory registration – although the government of Bosnia and Herzegovina does not explicitlymandate that religious organisations register to operate legally, religious organisations cannot conduct collaborative actions suchas charity work, fundraising, and constructing and occupying places of worship without registering which are activities sofundamental religious organisations that registration in effect becomes mandatory. The law on religion states that churches andreligious communities serve as representative institutions and organisations of believers, founded in accordance with their ownregulations, teachings, beliefs, traditions, and practices. The Ministry of Justice maintains a unified register of all religiouscommunities. To acquire official status as a recognised religious community, religious groups must register. The constitutions ofBiH, the Federation entity, and the RS entity state that registered religious organisations are allowed to operate freely. According tolaw, any group of 300 or more adult citizens may apply to register a new religious community (defined as non-Christian) or churchthrough a written application to the Ministry of Justice. Requirements for registration include an application attaching religiousstatutes that define the method of religious practice and a petition for establishment with the signatures of at least 30 founders. Theministry must issue a decision within 30 days of receipt of the application. The law stipulates the ministry may deny the applicationif it concludes the content and manner of worship may be “contrary to legal order, public morale, or is damaging to the life andhealth or other rights and freedoms of believers and citizens.” A group may appeal a negative decision to the national-level Councilof Ministers. The law allows registered religious communities to establish their own sub-organisations, which may operate withoutrestriction. The law states that no new church or religious community may be founded bearing the same or similar name as anexisting church or religious community. The law also states no one may use the symbols, insignia, or attributes of a church orreligious community without its consent. Unregistered religious groups may assemble to practice their religion, but they have nolegal status and may not represent themselves as a religious community. In addition to registered churches and religiouscommunities, there are educational, charitable, and other institutions, known as “legal subjects,” that belong to these communitiesbut are registered as separate legal entities in the Ministry of Justice registry. The Islamic Community has 121 legal subjects, theCatholic Church 404, the Orthodox Church 550, the Jewish community eight, and other churches and religious communities andalliances (primarily Protestant groups) have 50. The law on religion states that churches and religious communities must pay taxesand contributions on earnings of their employees (pension, health, and disability insurance). There is no uniform system forproviding pensions and health benefits for religious officials, as the Federation and the RS manage their own systems. In theFederation, all 10 cantons generally include religious officials in their health insurance systems, but the systems vary from canton tocanton. For example, Sarajevo Canton does not include religious workers in its health insurance system but offers such insurance toreligious officials under more favorable terms than those available to other citizens. In the RS, pension benefits and disabilityinsurance are provided to SOC religious workers who live there.Key restriction tools imposed: ambiguous grounds for the denial of registration are vulnerable to misuse, membership quota,nominal restriction, non-recognition for untraditional or alternative belief systems, signature quota, verticalism.Human rights instruments: Bosnia and Herzegovina is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC,and the UNDRIP; Bosnia and Herzegovina did not vote on the UDHR; Bosnia and Herzegovina ispartied to the ECHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (not free;restricted); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (free); public expression and observance (free); receivingdonations (not free; restricted); religious buildings (not free; restricted); religious instruction (free); religious literature(free); religious and worship services (free); religious trade (not free; restricted).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection is granted in the constitutions of both entities the Federation of BiHand the Republika Srpska against discrimination on the basis of religion.Recognition policy: the law recognises the legal status of four “traditional” religious communities: the Islamic Community (therepresentative organisation of the country’s Muslim community), SOC, the Catholic Church, and the Jewish community. Eachgroup operates under its own formal or informal governing principles, including designations of persons in leadership at variouslevels and within various jurisdictions who speak officially on behalf of the group. The government recognises the IslamicCommunity as the sole, supreme institutional religious authority for all Muslims in the country, including immigrants andrefugees, as well as for Bosniaks and other Muslim nationals living outside the country who accept the Islamic Community’sauthority. According to the law, no Islamic group may register with the Ministry of Justice or open a mosque without thepermission of the Islamic Community.282024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveBotswana,Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsDissolve the retribution of fines and imprisonments for unregistration in order to move towardsgreater receptivity; provide more sophisticated procedures for registration and recognition indifferentiated capacities; provide greater support to encourage religious and belief-basedorganisations and communities to establish in order to move to the classification of dynamism;abolish the imposition of a membership quota.Secularity: Botswana is officially a secular state; however, state privilege forChristianity is shown through the influence of the Botswana Council of Churches(BCC) to affect law and policy.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: broad mandatory registration – the government of Botswana mandates thatall organisations, including religious organisations, must register with the Registrar of Societieswithin the Ministry of Labor and Home Affairs to operate legally in the country, including theability to conduct business, sign contracts and open a local bank account. However, the lawdiscriminates by stipulating that religious organisations affiliated with a new religion notpreviously registered must have a minimum of 150 members to register while those affiliatedwith a religion previously registered need only ten members to register. Any person whomanages, assists in the management of, or holds an official position in an unregistered group issubject to a fine of up to 1,000 pula ($76) and up to seven years in prison. Individuals who are notin leadership positions in unregistered groups are subject to lower penalties, including fines up to500 pula ($38) and up to three years in prison. The Societies Act, amended in 2022 to curb moneylaundering, requires all societies, including registered religious groups, to reregister with theRegistrar of Societies. It also mandates qualification criteria for the officers of registeredsocieties, including pastors, who are required to possess theology certification from a “reputableinstitution” to ensure that they are qualified to perform their functions.Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, fines and imprisonment will be levied againstunregistered groups, insufficient clarity on informational requirements for the registrationprocess, membership quota, the government continues to pursue court cases againstunregistered religious organisations that the government claimed were coming into the countryto “take advantage of” local citizens by demanding tithes and donations for routine services orspecial prayers; the 2022 Societies Act has been criticised for not sufficiently distinguishingreligious organisations from businesses and civil associations.Human rights instruments: Botswana is partied to the ICCPR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP;Botswana is not partied to the ICESCR; Botswana did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (not free; subject to registration); nuptial,initiatory and burial rites (not free; subject to registration); pastoral services (not free; subject toregistration); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (free); public expression andobservance (free); receiving donations (not free; subject to registration); religious buildings (notfree; subject to registration); religious instruction (free); religious literature (free); religious andworship services (not free; subject to registration); religious trade (not free; subject to registration).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection is granted in the constitution against discrimination on thebasis of creed.292024 RoRB Classification: ReceptiveBrazil, FederativeRepublic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsDifferentiation needs to be made between existential recognition and legal registration andthere needs to be procedures set in place to ensure sufficient bestowal of these two separateforms of recognition; establish an independent recognition agency to handle dynamically thevast diversity of beliefs and practices found in the country so that sufficient degrees ofexistential recognition and legal registration are bestowed; rearrange segmented structure forregistration.Secularity: Brazil is a secular state (the Roman CatholicChurch was disestablished in 1890); theism was affirmed inthe latest constitution from 2017.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: stipulatory registration – the Brazilian government only requests thatreligious organisations register to obtain tax-exempt status but unregistered religiousorganisations can establish places of worship, train clergy and proselytise. Religiousorganisations seeking tax-exempt status have to register with both the Federal Revenue Officeand the local municipality in which they operate. States and municipalities have differentrequirements and regulations for obtaining tax-exempt status. Most jurisdictions requireorganisations to document the purpose of their congregation, provide an accounting of finances,and have a fire inspection of any place of worship. Local zoning laws and noise ordinances maylimit where a religious group may build houses of worship or hold ceremonies. A constitutionalprovision provides the right of access to religious services and counsel to individuals of allreligions in all civil and military establishments. The law states public and private hospitals aswell as civil or military prisons must comply with this provision.Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, localisation of tax-exempt status procedures.Human rights instruments: Brazil is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, theUNCRC, and the UNDRIP; Brazil voted in favour of the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free);pastoral services (free); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (free); publicexpression and observance (free); receiving donations (free); religious buildings (free); religiousinstruction (free); religious literature (free); religious and worship services (free); religioustrade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection is granted in the constitution againstdiscrimination on the basis of religion.302024 RoRB Classification: TerminalBruneiDarussalamFoRB Claim: Partial claim is made based on sharia-compliantreservations.RecommendationsAbolish the mandatory registration law and arbitrary requirements for registered status; dismantlement of the currentabusive recognition system; dissolve excessive informational requirements, nominal restrictions, non-recognition of allnon-Sunni groups, state preapproval of activities and the criminalisation of unregistration.Secularity: Shafi’i Sunni Islam is the state denomination which is the latest constitution from2006 stated the Sultan is the head of; the official national ideology is Melayu Islam Beraja(MIB), a system combining Malay nationalism with Islam and monarchism that thegovernment actively promotes; theism is affirmed in the oath of allegiance; the constitutionrequires all cabinet ministers to be of Malay ethnicity and Muslim.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: broad mandatory registration – Bruneian law mandates that all religious organisations registerwith the Registrar of Societies within the Ministry of Home Affairs in order to operate legally in the country. TheRegistrar of Societies has the discretion in law to deny a registration application for any reason. To become an approvedreligious organisations, background checks are conducted on the organisation’s leaders and board members. Applicantorganisation are also subject to naming requirements. Registered organisations must furnish any updated informationon leadership, election of officers, members, assets, activities, and any other information the registrar requests.Benefits of registration include the ability to operate, reserve space in public buildings, and apply for authorisation toraise funds. Organisations are prohibited from affiliation with any entity outside the country without prior writtenapproval by the registrar. Unregistered organisations may face charges of unlawful assembly and may be subject tofines. Individuals who participate in or influence others to join unregistered organisations may be fined, arrested, andimprisoned. The penalty for violating laws on the registration and activity of organisations is a fine of up to 10,000Brunei dollars ($7,600), imprisonment for up to three years, or both. The law states any public assembly of five or morepersons requires official approval in advance. Under emergency powers, this applies to all forms of public assembly,including religious assembly. In practice, however, places of worship are viewed as private places in which gatheringsdo not require approval. The law prohibits the teaching or promotion of any religion other than Islam to Muslims or topersons of no faith. Under the SPC, the penalty for propagating religions other than Islam is up to five years in prison, afine of up to 20,000 Brunei dollars ($15,200), or both. The sharia penal code (SPC) includes a provision that makes itillegal to criticise Islam as well as the SPC itself. The SPC includes provisions barring contempt for or insult of theSultan, the administration of sharia, or any law related to Islam. SPC sections provide, in certain circumstances, fordeath sentences for apostasy from Islam, deriding Islamic scriptures, and declaring oneself as God, among otheroffences. Laws and regulations limit access to religious literature. The law states it is an offense for a person to importany publication deemed objectionable, which is defined in part as describing, depicting, or expressing matters of race orreligion in a manner likely to cause “feelings of enmity, hatred, ill will, or hostility between different racial or religiousgroups.” The law also bans distributing non-Islamic religious materials to Muslims or persons of no faith. All religioustexts are listed as restricted items for import and require a government import permit before shipment. The SPCprohibits publication or importation of published materials giving instruction about Islam with content contrary tosharia. It also bars the distribution to Muslims or to persons with no religion of publications related to religions otherthan Islam. The SPC bars the publication, broadcast, or public expression of a list of words generally associated withIslam (such as the Quran) in a non-Islamic context.Key restriction tools imposed: arbitrary requirements during registration procedures, baseless grounds of the denial ofregistration, excessive informational requirements, nominal restriction, non-recognition of all non-Sunni groups, statepreapproval of religious activities, unregistration is illegal, nationwide prohibition continues of what the governmentlabels “deviant” groups including Ahmadiyya, Baha'i Faith and Jehovah's Witnesses and the sharia penal code also bansmost non-Sunni forms of Islam as well as any practice or display of “black magic.”Human rights instruments: Brunei is partied to the UNCRC and the UNDRIP; Brunei is not partiedto the ICCPR or the ICESCR; Brunei did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (not free; restricted); hieroncy (not free; restricted to Islamic religious materials only); monasticism (notfree; subject to registration); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free; subject to registration); pastoral services (notfree; restricted); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (not free; illegal); public expression andobservance (not free; restricted); receiving donations (not free; subject to registration); religious buildings (not free;subject to registration); religious instruction (not free; restricted); religious literature (not free; illegal to distribute non-Islamic religious materials); religious and worship services (not free; restricted); religious trade (not free; restricted).Conditions of state recognition and registration312024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveBulgaria,Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsRemove some of the cited excessive informational requirements; abolish the mandatory notification policy and the non-recognition policy of any denomination other than the BOC; establish procedures for existential recognition.Secularity: Bulgaria is officially a secular state (the Bulgarian Orthodox Church was disestablished in1946); however, Eastern Orthodox Christianity was recognised in as Bulgaria’s “traditionalreligion” in the constitution last revised in 2015; in particular, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church (BOC)is recognised as the national church and receives privileges not granted to other religiousorganisations such as its exemption from having to register to continue receiving benefits.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: stipulatory registration – Bulgarian law only requests that religious organisations register with the SofiaCity Court if they wish to receive financial and legal benefits including tax-exempt status. The end result of registration the lawcalls “national legal recognition.” Applications must include the organisation’s name and official address; a description of theorganisation’s religious beliefs and service practices, its organisational structure, management procedures, bodies, andmandates; a list of official representatives and the processes for their election; procedures for convening meetings and makingdecisions; and information on finances, property, and processes for termination and liquidation of the group. The Directoratefor Religious Affairs under the Council of Ministers provides expert opinions on registration matters upon the court’s request.Applicants must notify the Directorate for Religious Affairs within seven days of receiving a court decision on theirregistration. Applicants may appeal negative registration decisions to the Sofia Appellate Court and, subsequently, theSupreme Cassation Court, the country’s highest court. The law does not require the formal registration of local branches ofregistered groups with the local court, only that branches notify local authorities and local authorities enter them in a register.The law prohibits registration of different groups with the same name in the same location. The Directorate for ReligiousAffairs and any prosecutor may request that a court revoke a religious organisation’s registration on the grounds of systematicviolations of the law. As of year’s end, there were 228 registered religious groups in addition to the BOC. Registered religiousgroups must maintain a registry of all their clergy and employees, provide the Directorate for Religious Affairs with access tothe registry, and issue a certificate to each clergy member, who must carry it as proof of representing the group. Foreignmembers of registered religious groups may obtain long-term residency permits, but for the foreign member to be allowed toconduct religious services during his or her stay, the group must send advance notice to the Directorate for Religious Affairs.The law requires the government to provide funding for all registered religious groups based on the number of self-identifiedfollowers in the latest census at a rate of 10 levs ($6) per capita to groups that comprise more than 1 percent of the populationand varying amounts for the rest. Registered groups have the right to perform religious services; maintain financial accounts;own property such as houses of worship and cemeteries; provide medical, social, and educational services; receive property taxand other exemptions; and participate in commercial ventures. The law allows registered groups to publish, import, anddistribute religious media; it does not address the rights of unregistered groups regarding such media. National law does notrestrict religious practice by unregistered religious groups, but these groups lack privileges that the law grants to registeredgroups, such as access to government funding and the right to own property, establish financial accounts in their names,operate schools and hospitals and burial grounds, receive property tax exemptions, and sell religious merchandise. The lawdoes not restrict proselytising by registered or unregistered groups. Some local ordinances, however, place restrictions oncertain activities of religious groups. Some municipalities, including Kyustendil, Maritsa, Pleven, Razgrad, Sliven, and Varna,prohibit unregistered religious groups from conducting any religious activities. Ordinances in Kyustendil, Maritsa, Pleven, andShumen prohibit door-to-door proselytising, while in Kyustendil and Maritsa, ordinances restrict religious agitation on thestreet and the distribution of religious literature without a permit. The ordinance in Kyustendil remains in effect despite a 2018Supreme Administrative Court ruling that it was unconstitutional. Burgas municipality prohibits the wearing of unregisteredreligious groups’ religious dress and symbols. Some municipalities prohibit religious activities inside cultural institutes,schools, and establishments for youth and children.Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, excessive informational requirements, mandatory notification imposed ontolocal branches, non-recognition of any denomination other than the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, unregistered groups maynot conduct some "basic religious activities".Human rights instruments: Bulgaria is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP;Bulgaria did not vote on the UDHR; Bulgaria is partied to the ECHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (not free;subject to registration); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (free); public expression and observance(free); receiving donations (not free; subject to registration); religious buildings (not free; subject to registration); religiousinstruction (free); religious literature (free); religious and worship services (not free; subject to registration); religioustrade (not free; subject to registration).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection is granted in the constitution against discrimination on the basis ofreligion.322024 RoRB Classification: ReceptiveBurkina FasoFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsTo achieve dynamic status, an independent recognition agency needs to be established to monitorand guide religious recognition activity and its meaningful impact; dissolve borderline excessiveinformational requirements and ensure that separate procedures exist for legal registration andexistential recognition to resolve this issue of amalgamation.Secularity: Burkina Faso is a secular state.Mandatoriness of registration: optional and malregistration.Registration policy: stipulatory registration – the government of Burkina Faso does not mandatereligious organisations register in order to operate legally in the country. However, religiousorganisations must register with the Ministry of Territorial Administration, Decentralization, andSecurity (MATDS) to obtain legal recognition by the government. However, registered religiousorganisations are subject to regulations imposed on all registered organisations or be subject to a fineof 50,000 to 150,000 CFA francs ($85 to $255). The government taxes religious groups if they engagein commercial activities, such as farming or dairy production, but not all mosques, churches thatengage in these activities are taxed, despite a 2022 decision by the Organisation for theHarmonisation of Business Law in Africa, to which the country belongs, that member governments doso. The registration process usually takes three to four weeks and costs less than 50,000 CFA francs($85). The  Directorate General for Religious, Customary, and Traditional Affairs (DGARCT),established by MATDS in May 2023, coordinates the ministry’s activities related to religion. The newdirectorate has the stated aim to promote and foster inter-religious dialogue and peace; eliminateradicalisation and religious extremism; develop and implement measures for the construction ofplaces of worship and the registration of religious organisations and religious congregations; andmonitor the implementation of standards for burial, exhumation, and transfer of remains (which mayinclude religious elements). Religious groups operate under the same regulatory framework forpublishing and broadcasting as other entities. MATDS may request copies of proposed publicationsand broadcasts to verify they are in accordance with the nature of the religious group as stated in itsregistration. MATDS also reviews permit applications by religious groups.Malregistration – the ongoing Islamist insurgency means the central government may not have theability to enforce its registration laws throughout the territory it claims.Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, borderline excessive monitorial requirements, excessiveauthority granted to the MATD, possible use of impermissible basis for the denial of registration orderegistration by the government's use of "moral" grounds as the reason for such actions.Human rights instruments: Burkina Faso is partied to the ICCPR,the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP; Burkina Faso did not voteon the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (unclear); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free);pastoral services (free); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (free); public expressionand observance (free); receiving donations (free); religious buildings (free); religious instruction(free); religious literature (free); religious and worship services (free); religious trade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection is granted in theconstitution against discrimination on the basisof religion.332024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveBurundi,Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsEnd membership quotas and other unnecessary registration requirements; end the cited retributions; halt governmentinvolvement in the internal affairs of religious bodies and halt government monitoring of religious activity; reverse lawsrestricting on religious activity; revoke the mandatory registration policy; take a more receptive approach to non-traditional religious and belief groups.Secularity: Burundi is a secular state; theism was affirmedin the latest constitution from 2018.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: broad mandatory registration – the Burundian government mandates that all religious organisationsregister with the Ministry of Interior (MOI) to operate legally in the country and for official government recognition. Toregister, religious organisations must state the belief system or denomination it affiliates with, a copy of its bylaws, a localheadquarters address as well as a foreign address if the group is headquartered abroad, and the names and addresses of thegroup’s governing body and legal representative. The law further requires each religious group’s facilities meetconstruction and sanitation requirements and prohibits religious groups from undertaking religious activities during workhours unless authorised by the MOI. Additionally, all religious groups must carry out an economic or social project, such asestablishing a school or health center. All religious groups are required to file an annual report on their activities, which anMOI team monitors. The law prohibits individuals, either independently or within religious denominations, from professingthemselves to be God. The law also prohibits the promotion of atheism. According to the law, all legal representatives forreligious groups must be Burundian citizens, at least 30 years old, and hold at minimum a bachelor’s degree. The lawmandates terms within organisations’ governing bodies be limited to five years, renewable by democratic elections. The lawalso gives the MOI the right to organize elections should religious leaders fail to do so at term’s end. Any religious groupheadquartered outside the country must also sign a framework agreement with the government and ensure traceability ofall foreign funding by opening foreign currency accounts at the central bank and providing proof of origin of foreignfunding in order to access those accounts. The law regulating religious groups provides several additional registrationrequirements, including respect for the environment, hygiene standards, public order, adherence to guidelines mandatingcertain distances between places of worship, and avoidance of noise pollution. Any independent religious group based in-country filing for registration must have a minimum of 300 members. Foreign-based religious groups seeking to establishan in-country presence must have at least 500 members to qualify. The law prohibits foreign citizens from being membersof executive and decision-making bodies for religious groups at the national level. The MOI provisionally grants legal statusfor up to two years while registration approval is pending. The law on religious groups does not provide broad taxexemptions or other benefits; however, the financial laws exempt from tax those goods imported by religious groups if thegroups can demonstrate importation of the goods is in the public interest. Some religious schools have agreements with thegovernment entitling them to tax exemptions when investing in infrastructure or purchasing school equipment andeducational materials. The MOI usually processes registration requests in two to four weeks. Leaders, administrators, oradherents of religious groups who continue to practice after registration is denied, or after the dissolution or suspension ofa previously approved registration, are subject to six months to five years of imprisonment, a fine, or both.Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, discrimination of new, independent and foreign religious groupsthrough the imposition of separate regulations, excessive monitorial requirements, imprisonment of members, staffand leaders of religious groups who continue to practice after registration denial, membership quotas, the lawprohibits promoting atheism.Human rights instruments: Burundi is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, and the UNCRC;Burundi abstained from the UNDRIP; Burundi did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (not free; subject to registration); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites(not free; subject to registration); pastoral services (not free; subject to registration); private expression andobservance (free); proselytism (not free; subject to registration); public expression and observance (not free;restricted); receiving donations (not free; subject to registration); religious buildings (not free; subject to registration);religious instruction (free); religious literature (not free; subject to registration); religious and worship services (notfree; subject to registration); religious trade (not free; subject to registration).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection is granted in the constitution againstdiscrimination on the basis of religion.342024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveCabo Verde,Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsEstablish a recognition system that has the capacity to bestow both existential recognition and legal registration;remove subjective wording from the legislation in order to ensure that misuse of the legislation does not occur;revoke all restrictive policies and requirements that are inappropriate to standards of freedom of religion or belief;abolish the law stipulating a 500 signature quota to access registration.Secularity: Cabo Verde is officially a secular state; however, a concordat with the CaboVerdean government grants the Roman Catholic Church privileges that are not given toother religious organisations, including the recognition of Catholic marriages undercivil law and the Church’s legal status.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: broad mandatory registration – the government of Cabo Verde mandates that allassociations, including religious organisations, register with the Ministry of Justice. However, to begin anyactivities related to “developing their presence in the country” (a stipulation which is vague and may bearbitrarily enforced), religious organisations must gain the notarised signatures of 500 members in order toaccess registration which locks new religious groups out of the legal status to operate. To register, a religiousorganisation must submit a copy of its charter and statutes signed by its members. Registered religious groupsmay receive exemptions from taxes and fees in connection with places of worship or other buildings intended forreligious purposes, activities with exclusively religious purposes, institutions and seminaries intended forreligious education or training of religious leaders, goods purchased for religious purposes, and distribution ofpublications with information on places of worship. Unregistered organisations may conduct the same activitiesto the extent permitted under the law but are not eligible for tax benefits. Legally registered churches andreligious groups may use broadcast time on public radio and television at their own expense. Failure to presentthe required signatures prevents religious groups from completing their formal registration process andobtaining tax-exempt status and protections for their property and presence in the country. According to thelaw, registered churches and religious communities or organisations may apply for and obtain authorisation toprovide moral and religious education in public schools.Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, arbitrary enforcement, issue with making registration aprerequisite for a religious group's access to broadcasting time, signature quota.Human rights instruments: Cabo Verde is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC,and the UNDRIP; Cabo Verde did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (not free; subject to registration); nuptial, initiatory and burialrites (not free; subject to registration); pastoral services (not free; subject to registration); private expression andobservance (free); proselytism (not free; subject to registration); public expression and observance (free);receiving donations (not free; subject to registration); religious buildings (not free; subject to registration);religious instruction (free); religious literature (not free; subject to registration); religious and worship services(not free; subject to registration); religious trade (not free; subject to registration).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection is granted in the constitution against discrimination onthe basis of religion.Recognition policy: a concordat between the government and the Holy See recognises the legal status of theCatholic Church and its right to carry out its apostolic mission freely in the country. The concordat furtherrecognises Catholic marriages under civil law and the right of Catholics to carry out religious observances onSundays, and it specifies a number of Catholic holidays as public holidays. It protects places of worship and otherCatholic properties and provides for religious educational institutions, charitable activities, and pastoral work inthe military, hospitals, and penal institutions. The concordat exempts church revenues and properties used inreligious and nonprofit activities from taxes and makes contributions to the church tax deductible.352024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveCambodia,Kingdom ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsDissolve aspects of legislation that are cumbersome and restrictive (e.g. multi-level authorisation, capacity andmembership quotas, mandatory registration); end restrictions placed on non-Buddhist activities including proselytismand distribution of literatures; establish a system for existential recognition that possesses the provisions to protect non-Buddhist belief systems and groups.Secularity: Buddhism is the state religion according to thelatest constitution revised in 2008.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: quasi-mandatory registration – although Cambodian law mandates that all religious organisations,including Buddhist organisations, must register with the Ministry of Cults and Religions (MCR) before conducting anyactivities in the country, there are no penalties for religious organisations that fail to register. Applicant religiousorganisations must inform the government of their goals, describe their activities, provide biographical information for allreligious leaders, identify their funding sources, submit annual reports detailing all activities and refrain from insultingother religious groups, fomenting disputes, or undermining national security. Registration requires approval fromnumerous local, provincial, and national government offices, a process that can take up to 90 days. Religious organisationsthat do not register may not receive an income tax exemption from the Ministry of Economy and Finance. The law alsoforbids religious organisations from organising events, rallies, meetings, and training sessions that are politically focused.The law does not authorise a religious entity to hold title to land, which compels religious leaders to register land in theirpersonal capacity rather than that of their organisation. The law requires separate registration of all places of worship andreligious schools. Authorities may temporarily close unregistered places of worship and religious schools until they areregistered. The law also distinguishes between “places of worship” and “offices of prayer.” The establishment of a place ofworship requires that an individual, not a religious organisation, own both the structure and the land on which it islocated. The facility must have a minimum capacity of 200 persons, and the permit application requires the support of atleast 100 congregants. An office of prayer may be in a rented location and has no minimum capacity requirement. Thepermit application for an office of prayer requires the support of at least 25 congregants. Places of worship must be locatedat least two kilometres (1.2 miles) from each other and may not be used for political purposes or to house criminals orfugitives. This distance requirement applies only to the construction of new places of worship and not to offices ofreligious organisations or offices of prayer. Schools that focus on religious studies must be registered with the MCR andthe Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sport (MOEYS). There is no visa category specifically applicable to religious workers.Foreigners working in a religious institution must qualify for and obtain a Type C visa, which allows for a three monthstay, and work permit.Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, ambiguous qualifications for registered status, ambiguous usagerequirements imposed on places of worship, arbitrary enforcement, capacity quota for places of worship, excessiveinformational requirements, mandatory and separate registration procedures for each place of worship of a group,membership quota imposed on places of worship, multi-registration, no stipulated penalties for an unregistered groupalthough unregistered places of worship and religious school may be temporarily shut down until they register, zoningquota imposed onto places of worship.Human rights instruments: Cambodia is partied to the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP;Cambodia filed an instrument of accession to the ICCPR but did not ratify; Cambodia did notvote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (not free; prohibited to import religious materials); monasticism (not free; subject toregistration); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free; subject to registration); pastoral services (not free; subject toregistration); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (not free; non-Buddhist proselytism is illegal); publicexpression and observance (free); receiving donations (not free; subject to registration); religious buildings (not free;subject to registration); religious instruction (free); religious literature (not free; restricted); religious and worshipservices (not free; subject to registration); religious trade (not free; subject to registration).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection is granted in the constitution against discrimination on thebasis of religion.Recognition policy: the law bans non-Buddhist groups from proselytising publicly and stipulates that non-Buddhistliterature may be distributed only inside a related religious institution. The law also prohibits offers of money or materialsto persuade persons to convert. It penalises acts that constitute “infringement on state religion,” including unauthorisedwearing of Buddhist monks’ robes in public, damaging Buddhist religious premises or sacred objects, and “insulting” aBuddhist monk or nun.362024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveCameroon,Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsReverse the use of broad grounds for the deregistration of groups unfavoured by the government; abolish statedefinition of religion and the imposition of a authoritative decree; establish an independent recognitionagency to deal with recognition and registration rather than governmental departments.Secularity: Cameroon is a secular state.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory and malregistration.Registration policy: quasi-mandatory and discriminatory mandatory registration – although theCameroonian government mandates that all religious organisations must register with a local governmentoffice and the Ministry of Territorial Administration (MINAT) in order to operate legally, there are no formalpenalties for religious groups that fail to register. However, the government reserves its right to suspend theactivities of unregistered religious organisations. Exempt from registering are religious organisations thatthe government deems to be “indigenous” since the law characterises the practice of traditional religion as aprivate concern observed by members of a particular ethnic or kinship group or the residents of a particularlocality. To register, religious organisations must meet the state definition of a ‘religious congregation’ as“any group of natural persons or corporate bodies whose vocation is divine worship” or “any group ofpersons living in community in accordance with a religious doctrine.” The applicant religious organisationmust submit a request to the local government office a request for registration and include with it a charterdescribing planned activities, names and functions of the organisation’s officials, and a declaration ofcommitment to comply with the law on freedom of association. This application is then sent on to MINATfor review. MINAT reviews the file and sends it to the Presidency with a recommendation to approve or deny.Registration is granted by presidential decree. Official registration confers no general tax benefits but allowsreligious groups to receive real estate for the conduct of activities as a tax-free gift and to gather publiclyand worship. It also permits missionaries for registered groups to receive visas with longer validity than domissionaries for unregistered entities. Unregistered religious organisations may gather publicly andworship under a policy of “administrative tolerance” as long as public security and peace are not disturbed.Most unregistered religious groups operate under the umbrella of a registered religious group, adopting thatgroup’s name and submitting to the registered group’s oversight. MINAT may issue an order to suspend anyreligious group for “disturbing public order,” although no legislation defines these terms. The Presidentmay dissolve any previously authorised religious organisation that “deviates from its initial focus.”Malregistration – in parts of northern Cameroon, the presence of the Islamist group Boko Haram hasundermined the ability for the government to protect registered religious communities while in thesouthern parts of the country, attacks against members of religious communities resulting from theongoing internal conflict remain common and undermine the government’s ability to uphold the rights ofboth registered and unregistered communities.Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, broad grounds for the deregistration of religious groups,state definition of religion, the president has singular power to approve or deny a registration application ofa religious group (authoritative decree).Human rights instruments: Cameroon is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, theUNCRC, and the UNDRIP; Cameroon did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoralservices (not free; restricted); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (not free; restricted);receiving donations (free); public expression and observance (free); religious buildings (not free;restricted); religious instruction (free); religious literature (free); religious and worship services (not free;restricted); religious trade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection is granted in the constitution againstdiscrimination on the basis of religion.372024 RoRB Classification: ApatheticCanadaFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsEstablish a recognition system that caters for both existential recognition and legal registrationsimultaneously; to make this system dynamic, it would need to cater to both traditional orestablished belief systems and their derivatives as well as minorities and NRMs; this system shouldbe complemented by the establishment of an independent recognition agency to ensure the systemfunctions sufficiently and that does not come restrictive.Secularity: Canada is a secular state; theism wasaffirmed in the Constitution Act 1982.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: stipulatory registration – Canadian law does not require religious or belieforganisations to register with the government in order to conduct operations legally. However,religious or belief organisations that do register receive tax-exempt status by the federalgovernment and are recognised in law as ‘nonprofit organisations’ with the Charities Directorateof the Canada Revenue Agency. Nonprofit status provides such organizations with federal andprovincial sales tax reductions, rebates, and exemptions. To gain and retain tax-exempt status, agroup must be nonpolitical and undergo periodic audits. Charitable status also grants members ofthe clergy various federal benefits, including a housing deduction under the tax code and expeditedprocessing through the immigration system. The term “clergy” includes persons whosecommunities have licensed, ordained, or otherwise formally recognized them for their religiousleadership and authority to perform spiritual duties and services within their religiousorganisation. Individual citizens who donate to tax-exempt religious groups receive a federal taxreceipt entitling them to federal income tax deductions.Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation. In April 2023, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation(CBC) reported that Quebec Education Minister Bernard Drainville issued a directive prohibitingprayer rooms or designated prayer spaces in publicly funded schools, in accordance with theprovince’s secularism law. The directive did not apply to private schools. Drainville said, “School isnot a place of prayer. A person should not be able to use a classroom as a prayer room,” and addedthat students would still be allowed to pray “discreetly and silently.” In June, a Quebec court deniedthe Canadian Civil Liberties Association and National Council of Canadian Muslims an injunction tosuspend the ban, ruling these groups failed to prove an urgent need to stay the ban while theychallenged the directive in court.Human rights instruments: Canada is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR,and the UNCRC; Canada rejected the UNDRIP; Canada eventually votedin favour of the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free);pastoral services (free); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (free); publicexpression and observance (free; some restrictions around the religious attire of governmentofficials); receiving donations (free); religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free);religious literature (free); religious and worship services (free); religious trade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection was granted inthe latest constitution from 2011 againstdiscrimination on the basis of religion.382024 RoRB Classification: CensoriousCentral AfricanRepublicFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsAbolish excessive qualifications and membership quota; broad grounds for the denial of registrationmust no longer be used against religious groups unfavoured by the government; provide greaterclarity on laws regarding unregistration; establish differentiation between legal registration forphysical entities (e.g. organisations) and existential recognition for abstract entities (e.g. beliefsystems, denominations, communities).Secularity: Central African Republic is a secular state according to the latestconstitution from 2023; theism is affirmed in the presidential oath.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory and malregistration.Registration policy: quasi-mandatory and discriminatory mandatory registration – by law, allreligious organisations in the Central African Republic must register with the Ministry of theInterior, Ministry of Public Security, and Ministry of Territorial Administration in order to operatelegally in the country yet no formal penalties are prescribed in law for religious organisations thatoperate without registering. However, animist spiritualist communities are exempt from having toregister and may receive benefits and exemptions offered to registered religious organisationswithout needing to register. Despite the mandatory registration order in place, religiousorganisations seeking registration must prove that they have a minimum of 1,000 members and thattheir leaders have adequate religious education, a qualification that is not specifically defined. Thelaw permits the government to deny registration to any religious group deemed offensive to publicmorals or likely to disturb social peace. It allows the suspension of registered religious groups if theiractivities are judged subversive by legal entities. There are no fees for registration as a religiousgroup. Registration confers official recognition and benefits, such as exemptions from customstariffs for vehicles or equipment imported into the country.Malregistration – the ongoing internal conflict undermines the ability for the central government toensure that even registered religious communities can conduct their activities freely with Russianmercenary forces and the country’s own armed forces target Muslims populating the northwestregion.Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, broad grounds for the denial of registration which arevulnerable to misuse against unfavoured religious groups, broad grounds for the deregistration ofreligious groups, excessive qualifications and qualifications intertwined with a membership quota,membership quota, penalties for unregistration are unclear.Human rights instruments: Central African Republic is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR,the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP; Central African Republic eventually voted in favour of theUDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (not free; subject to registration); nuptial,initiatory and burial rites (not free; subject to registration); pastoral services (not free; subject toregistration); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (not free; subject toregistration); public expression and observance (free); receiving donations (not free; subject toregistration); religious buildings (not free; subject to registration); religious instruction (free);religious literature (not free; subject to registration); religious and worship services (not free;subject to registration); religious trade (not subject; subject to registration).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection is granted in the constitution against discrimination onthe basis of religion.392024 RoRB Classification: CensoriousChad, Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsDissolve existent restrictions in the registration process such as the criminalisation of unregistered groups with a prisonterm and a fine, temporary recognition and excessive informational requirements; making the Office of the Director ofReligious and Traditional Affairs independent from government would make the Chadian system more dynamic.Secularity: Chad is a secular state.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: discriminatory mandatory registration – the Chadian government mandates that allreligious organisations wishing to operate legally in the country register with the Ministry of Interior with theexception of what the government deems to be traditional indigenous religious groups. This mandatoryregistration order also applies to all foreign missionary organisations wishing to set up activities in Chad. TheDirector of Religious and Traditional Affairs under the Ministry of Interior oversees religious matters, arbitratesinter-communal disputes, and ensures religious freedom as outlined in the constitution is protected. Theministry conducts background checks on every founding member and establishes a six-month temporary, butrenewable, authorisation to operate, pending final authorisation and approval. Failure to register with theministry means organisations are not considered legal entities and may not open bank accounts or entercontracts; it may also lead to the banning of a group. Group founders or board members may be subject to onemonth to one year in prison and a fine of 50,000 to 500,000 CFA francs ($84 to $840) for failure to register.Registration does not confer tax preferences or other benefits. The position of Director of Religious andTraditional Affairs rotates every two years among Muslims, Protestants, and Catholics. The office contains aspecial bureau for Hajj and Umrah under the supervision of the Presidency of the Republic, with members chosenannually by presidential decree. The HCIA deals directly with the Ministries of Interior and TerritorialAdministration and Decentralised Territorial Collectivities or with the civil Office of the President of the Republicto address concerns with Wahhabi groups. Burqas, defined by ministerial notice as “any garment where one seesonly the eyes,” are forbidden by ministerial decree. The ministerial notice also applies to niqabs, although thisban is routinely unenforced. The HCIA, an independent government body, oversees Islamic religious activities,including some Arabic-language schools and institutions of higher learning, and represents the country’s Muslimcommunity at international Islamic forums. The government approves those nominated by members of the HCIAto serve on the council. Wahhabis are nominated to serve on the council but have not participated due to theirstated concerns regarding the council’s role in the government ban on their activities. Muslim Brotherhoodadherents also sit on the council, operating under the umbrella of Sufi groups rather than as overt representativesof Muslim Brotherhood groups. The Grand Imam of N’Djamena, who is selected by a committee of Muslim eldersand approved by the government, is the de jure president of the HCIA and oversees the heads of the HCIAbranches and grand imams from each of the country’s 23 provinces. He has the authority to restrict Muslimgroups from proselytising, to regulate the content of mosque sermons, and to control activities of Islamiccharities. Although the country is legally defined as a secular state, the HCIA has jurisdiction for some issues,including personal status issues such as marriage, property disposition between spouses, divorce, and parentage.Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, arbitrary enforcement, excessive informational requirements,temporary recognition, unregistered groups may be subject to bans and their leaders levied with fines.Human rights instruments: Chad is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, and the UNCRC;Chad was absent during voting on the UNDRIP; Chad did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (not free; subject to registration); nuptial, initiatory and burialrites (not free; subject to registration); pastoral services (not free; subject to registration); private expression andobservance (free); proselytism (not free; subject to registration); public expression and observance (free);receiving donations (not free; subject to registration); religious buildings (not free; subject to registration);religious instruction (free); religious literature (not free; subject to registration); religious and worship services(not free; subject to registration); religious trade (not free; subject to registration).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection is granted in the constitution againstdiscrimination on the basis of religion.402024 RoRB Classification: DynamicChile, Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsEstablish differentiation between recognition and registration in order to cater to belief systems,denominations and communities.Secularity: Chile is a secular state (the Roman Catholic Church wasdisestablished in 1925).Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: stipulatory registration – the government of Chile does not mandate that religiousorganisations register with the Ministry of Justice unless they wish to receive tax benefits. Religiousorganisations may establish and maintain places of worship if the locations comply with public hygiene andsecurity regulations established by laws and municipal orders. Registered religious organisations arerecognised in law under the designation ‘religious nonprofit organisation.’ Religious organisations have theoption of adopting a charter and bylaws suited to a religious entity rather than to a private corporation or asecular nonprofit. Under the law, religious nonprofit organisations may create affiliates, such as charitablefoundations, schools, or additional houses of worship, that retain the tax benefits of the parent religiousorganisation. The National Office of Religious Affairs (ONAR) is charged with facilitating communicationbetween faith communities and the government and ensuring the protection of the rights of members ofminority religious groups. According to ONAR, public law recognises more than 5,957 religiousorganisations as legal entities. By law, the Ministry of Justice must accept the registration petition of areligious entity, although it may object to petitions within 90 days if legal prerequisites for registration arenot satisfied. Applicants for religious nonprofit status must provide the Ministry of Justice with anauthorised copy of their charter and corresponding bylaws with charter members’ signatures and nationalidentification numbers. The bylaws must include the organisation’s mission, creed, and structure. Thecharter must specify the signatories, the name of the organisation, and its physical address, and it mustinclude confirmation the religious institution’s charter signatories approved the bylaws. In the event theMinistry of Justice raises objections to the group, the group has 60 days to address the ministry’s objectionsor challenge them in court. Once a religious entity is registered, the state may not dissolve it by decree. Ifconcerns are raised regarding a religious group’s activities after registration, the semiautonomous Councilfor the Defense of the State may initiate a judicial review of the matter. One registration per religious groupis sufficient to extend nonprofit status to affiliates, such as additional places of worship or schools, clubs, orsports organisations, without registering them as separate entities. The law grants all religious groups theright to appoint chaplains to offer religious services in public hospitals and prisons and does not make adistinction between registered and unregistered groups. Prisoners may request religious accommodations.Regulations allow officially registered religious groups to appoint chaplains to serve in each branch of thearmed forces, the national uniformed police, and the national investigative police.Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation.Human rights instruments: Chile is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC,and the UNDRIP; Chile voted in favour of the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoralservices (free); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (free); public expression andobservance (free); receiving donations (free); religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free);religious literature (free); religious and worship services (free); religious trade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection is granted in law against discrimination on thebasis of religion.412024 RoRB Classification: TerminalChina,People's Republic ofFoRB Claim: Partial claim is made subject to the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) concept of‘normal religious activity’ and the policy ‘Sinicisation of religion.’RecommendationsThe full dismantlement of the present apparatus of restrictions on religious activity achieved via recognition and registration must take place; dismantlement must entail the abolition of all laws that restrict basicreligious activity or otherwise perpetuate violations of freedom of religion or belief; reinstitution must take place so that laws regarding religious freedom can be rewritten in a way that is inclusive of all groups, namelydiscontinuing the practice of state definition of religion; abolish current policies of confinement, constriction, excessive informational requirements, mandatory registration order, preapproval, purposive localisation,state theology, and the other key restriction tools utilised by the Chinese Communist Party to maintain control of the religious lives of citizens of the PRC.Secularity: China is a hypersecular state that professes state atheism; the official national ideology is a combination of Marxism-Leninismand Mao Zedong Thought; the current unofficial ideology is ‘Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics’; Buddhism,Catholicism, Islam, Protestantism, and Taoism are recognised by the government but their practice is regulated by the following state-established ‘patriotic religious associations’: Buddhist Association of China (BAC), Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association (CCPA), IslamicAssociation of China, Taoist Association of China and Three Self-Patriotic Movement (TSPM).Mandatoriness of registration: mandatoryRegistration policy: broad mandatory registration – Chinese law mandates that to conduct any operations legally in the country all religious organisations must register under one of the five state-sanctioned ‘patrioticreligious associations’, but the law does not provide an avenue to register for religious organisations affiliated with a religion other than one of the five already recognised. Religious organisations that fulfil this initialrequirement must register with the United Front Work Department (UFWD). The CCP is responsible for creating religious regulations and oversees the UFWD, which in turn manages the State Administration of ReligiousAffairs’ (SARA) functions and responsibilities. The SARA is responsible for implementing the CCP’s regulations on religious affairs and administers the provincial and local bureaus of religious affairs. The 2020Administrative Measures for Religious Groups regulate the organization, function, offices, supervision, projects, and economic administration of communities and groups at the national and local levels. The measures statethat only registered groups may operate legally and stipulate that religious organizations must support the leadership of the CCP, adhere to the direction of Sinicization, and implement the values of socialism. They statespecifically that religious organizations shall “follow the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, abide by laws, regulations, rules, and policies, correctly handle the relationship between national law and canon, andenhance national awareness, awareness of the rule of law, and citizenship.” The SARA’s 2021 Administrative Measures for Religious Clergy require all clergy to pledge allegiance to the CCP and socialism. The measures statereligious clergy “should love the motherland, support the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party, support the socialist system, abide by the constitution, laws, regulations, and rules, practice the core values ofsocialism, adhere to the principle of independent and self-administered religion in China, adhere to the direction of the Sinicization of religion in China, and operate to maintain national unity, religious harmony, and socialstability.” The measures also state that clergy should “resist illegal religious activities and religious extremist ideology, and resist infiltration by foreign forces using religion.” The measures also provide that “entrance toreligious places of worship should be regulated through strict gatekeeping, verification of identity, and registration.” The measures create a database of “religious personnel” to track their performance and also stipulatethat authorities shall hold religious organizations and institutions responsible for the behavior of individual religious clergy. They stipulate religious staff should study “the contents of doctrines and regulations that areconducive to social harmony, progress of the times, and health and civilization.” The measures instruct religious clergy to integrate these doctrines and regulations into “preaching and to play a role in promoting theSinicization of religion in our country.” On 1st September 2023, revisions to the 2005 Administrative Measures for Religious Activity Venues took effect requiring “places of religious activity” to uphold the leadership of theCCP, implement “Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for the New Era,” and promote the Sinicization of religion. Ensuring support for and compliance with these policies is listed as the firstresponsibility of managers of religious institutions, who are also required to establish a system to ensure religious personnel study CCP policies. The measures also stipulate that the content of sermons should both reflect“socialist core values” and be integrated with “traditional Chinese culture.” The updated measures prohibit the construction of large open-air religious statues outside temples and churches, and state religious activitysites “shall integrate Chinese culture and embody Chinese style in areas such as architecture, sculpture, painting, and decoration.” They require managers of religious venues to “prevent foreign forces from using religionto infiltrate” their organization. The law bans religious or spiritual groups that the government considers to be ‘cults’ or promote heterodox teachings. Laws ban unauthorised domestically generated online religiouscontent and prohibit overseas organisations and individuals from operating online religious information services in the country without a permit. According to regulations, in order to register, religious organizations mustsubmit information on the organisation’s historical background, members, doctrines, key publications, minimum funding requirements, and government sponsor, which must be one of the five state-sanctioned religiousassociations. Registration information is required only once, but religious organizations must reregister if changes are made to the required documentation. The civil code permits a religious organization establishedaccording to law to apply for the status of a “legal person” (nonprofit entity). This status permits such organizations to own property, publish approved materials, train staff, and collect donations, and facilitatesauthorities’ ability to track and regulate religious institutions. Religious and other regulations permit the five official patriotic religious associations to engage in activities such as building places of worship, trainingreligious leaders, publishing literature, and providing social services to local communities. The CCP’s UFWD, including the SARA, and the Ministry of Civil Affairs provide policy guidance and supervision on theimplementation of these regulations. Regulations stipulate that individuals who participate in unsanctioned religious activities are subject to criminal and administrative penalties. The regulations also stipulate that anyform of income from illegal activities or illegal properties shall be confiscated and a fine imposed of between one to three times the value of the illegal income or properties. If the illegal income or properties cannot beidentified, officials may impose a fine of less than 50,000 renminbi (RMB) ($7,000). Authorities may penalize property owners renting space to unregistered religious groups by confiscating those properties and relatedincome and levying fines of between RMB 20,000 ($2,800) and RMB 200,000 ($28,000). Government policy allows registered religious groups to engage in charitable work, but regulations specifically prohibit faith-basedorganizations from proselytizing while conducting charitable activities. Authorities require faith-based charities, like all other charitable groups, to register with the government. Once they are registered as officialcharities, authorities allow them to raise funds publicly and to receive tax benefits. The government does not permit unregistered charitable groups to raise funds openly, hire employees, open bank accounts, or ownproperty. According to several unregistered religious groups, the government requires faith-based charities to obtain official cosponsorship of their registration application from the local official religious affairs bureau.Authorities often require these groups to affiliate with one of the five state-sanctioned religious associations. The law requires members of religious groups to seek approval to travel abroad for “religious training,conferences, pilgrimages, and other activities.” Anyone found organizing such activities without approval may be fined between RMB 20,000 ($2,800) and RMB 200,000 ($28,000). Authorities may seize illegally obtainedincome connected to such travel and, “if the case constitutes a crime, criminal responsibility shall be investigated according to law.” The regulations permit only the Islamic Association of China to organize Muslimpilgrimage trips and require that those who apply to join the Hajj be “patriotic, law-abiding, and have good conduct,” have never before participated in the Hajj, and be in sound physical and mental health. Travelers mustalso be able to pay all costs associated with Hajj travel and oppose religious extremism. Regulations specify that no religious structure, including clerical housing, may be transferred, mortgaged, or utilized as aninvestment. SARA regulations restrict religious groups conducting business or making investments by stipulating the property and income of religious groups, schools, and venues must not be distributed and should beused for activities and charities befitting their purposes; any individual or organization that donates funds to build religious venues is prohibited from owning those venues. Regulations impose a limit on foreign donationsto religious groups, stating such donations must be used for activities that authorities deem appropriate for the group and the site. Regulations state that donations exceeding RMB 100,000 ($14,000) must be submitted tothe local government for review and approval. Religious groups, religious schools, and “religious activity sites” may not accept donations from foreign sources that have conditions attached. National laws allow eachprovincial administration to issue its own regulations concerning religious affairs, including penalties for violations. In addition to the five officially recognized religions, local governments may, at their discretion, permitfollowers of certain unregistered religions to carry out religious practices. The law does not define what constitutes proselytizing. The constitution states that no state unit, social organization, or individual may force acitizen to believe or not believe in a religion. Offenders are subject to administrative and criminal penalties. Publication and distribution of literature containing religious content must follow guidelines determined by theState Publishing Administration. Publication of religious material must also conform to guidelines determined by the Propaganda Department of the CCP Central Committee. Online activities (“online religious informationservices”) of religious groups require prior approval from the provincial religious affairs bureau, a requirement that overlaps with measures passed in 2022 regulating religious content online. Authorities may confiscatereligious texts published without authorization, including Bibles, Qurans, and Buddhist and Taoist texts, and close unauthorised publishing houses.Key restriction tools imposed: confinement, constriction, excessive informational requirements, registration is a precondition to a religious groups conducting what RoRB standards consider to be "basic religiousactivities", non-recognition of any religion other than the five already recognised, purposive localisation, state definition of religion, state theology, stringent monitorial requirements, stringent reregistration policy,unregistration is criminalised, widespread preapproval policy for all religious activities, surveillance of religious services as well as online and offline religious expression and activity, around 800 USCIRF-recognisedReligious Prisoners of Conscience are currently detained, imprisoned or forcibly disappeared. Measures promulgated in 2022 ban unauthorized domestic online religious content and prohibit overseas organizations andindividuals from operating online religious information services in the country without a permit. The measures direct government regulators to ban content that uses religion “to incite subversion of state sovereignty,oppose the leadership of the Communist Party, undermine the socialist system, national and ethnic unity, and social stability, or advocate extremism, terrorism, national separatism, and religious fanaticism.” Themeasures require that any individual or organization engaging in “cyberspace religious information-releasing services, reposting services, and dissemination platform services,” such as streaming or publishing sermons,obtain a government permit to do so and validate that permit every three years. Without a permit, organizations and individuals “must not proselytize online, carry out religious education or training, publish preaching orrepost or link to related content, organize the carrying out of religious activities online, or broadcast religious rites such as obeisance to Buddha, burning incense, ordinations, services, masses, or baptisms, through meanssuch as text, images, audio, or video either live or in recordings.” To acquire a permit, individuals or organizations must apply to the religious affairs department of the government of the province, autonomous region, ormunicipality where they are located. The law bans certain religious or spiritual groups. Criminal law defines banned groups as “cult [xie jiao] organizations” and provides for criminal prosecution of individuals belonging tosuch groups and punishment of up to life in prison. There are no published criteria for determining or procedures for challenging such a designation. Criminal law prohibits “organizing and using a sect, cult, or superstitionto undermine implementation of the law.” Violations carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. The CCP maintains an extralegal, party-run security apparatus to eliminate the Falun Gong religious group and otherbanned organizations. The government considers Falun Gong an “illegal organization.” The government continues to ban the Guanyin Method religious group (Guanyin Famen or the Way of the Goddess of Mercy) andZhong Gong (a qigong exercise discipline). The government also characterises a number of Christian groups as “cult organizations,” including the Shouters, CAG (also known as Eastern Lightning), Society of Disciples(Mentu Hui), Full Scope Church (Quan Fanwei Jiaohui), Spirit Sect, New Testament Church, Three Grades of Servants (San Ban Puren), Association of Disciples, Established King Church, Family Federation for World Peaceand Unification (Unification Church), Family of Love, and South China Church. Authorities continued to arrest and otherwise detain leaders and members of religious groups, often those connected with groups notregistered with the state-sanctioned religious associations. Authorities reportedly used vague or insubstantial charges, sometimes in connection with religious activity, to convict and sentence leaders and members ofreligious groups to years in prison. Due to the lack of transparency regarding law enforcement’s persecution of religious followers, estimates of those imprisoned during the year for their religious beliefs ranged from thelow thousands to more than 10,000. Members of the CAG, an unregistered organization that authorities labeled a “cult”, faced large-scale detention and arrest in 29 provinces, according to civil society reporting. The CAGreported that during the year, the government arrested at least 12,463 individuals, compared with 10,895 arrests in 2022. Authorities sentenced at least 2,207 individuals to prison (compared with 1,901 in 2022), including1,094 individuals who received sentences of three years or more. Authorities subjected at least 5,832 to torture or forced indoctrination. The highest number of arrests occurred in Jiangsu, Anhui, Zhejiang, and ShandongProvinces. Religious rights advocacy groups and media reported the government continued to prohibit or hinder the activities of religious groups not affiliated with the state-sanctioned religious associations, includingunregistered Protestants, Catholics, Muslims, Buddhists and others. At times, authorities said they shuttered a gathering because the group or its activities were unregistered; at other times, the place of worship lackednecessary permits. Local authorities tacitly allowed some unregistered groups to operate, but in other cases, authorities required unregistered religious groups to disband, leaving their congregants with the sole option ofattending services under a state-sanctioned religious leader. The SARA continued to maintain publicly available statistics on some, but not all, registered religious groups, but did not update that information annually.According to the SARA, there were 42,439 Buddhist temples and 8,349 Taoist temples registered in the country as of the end of 2021. The SARA did not publish the number of registered Islamic mosques, Catholic churches,or Protestant churches. According to 2014 SARA statistics (the most recent available), more than 5.7 million Catholics worshipped in sites registered to the CCPA. The SCIO’s 2018 white paper on religion in the country statedthat approximately 144,000 places of worship were registered to conduct religious activities in the country, among which were 33,500 Buddhist temples (including 28,000 Han Buddhist temples, 3,800 Tibetan Buddhistmonasteries, and 1,700 Theravada Buddhist temples), 9,000 Taoist temples, 35,000 mosques, 6,000 CCPA churches and places of assembly spread across 98 dioceses, and 60,000 TSPM churches and places of assembly. TheSCIO white paper also estimated there were more than 384,000 religious personnel in the country: 222,000 Buddhist, 40,000 Taoist, 57,000 Muslim, 57,000 Protestant, and 8,000 Catholic. Authorities in Foshan,Guangdong Province, raided two unregistered churches in May, according to RFA and ChinaAid. On May 7, officers forcibly entered a Fengsheng Gospel Church member’s home where several congregants were watchingonline Christian programming, charged those gathered with holding an “illegal assembly,” and fined each person present RMB 200 ($28). On May 24, police, security personnel, and religious affairs officers raided theJiasheng Gospel Church premises, searched the personal belongings of everyone there, interrogated and filmed all those present, and confiscated furniture, computers, and books. Police also detained the pastor, DengYanxiang, and three other church workers on the charge of “illegal business operation” for printing religious texts. Authorities issued formal arrest warrants for the detainees on June 28. International Christian Concernreported on July 11 that authorities in Xiamen, Fujian Province, fined Pastor Yang Xibo of the non-TSPM-affiliated Xunsiding Church RMB 400,000 ($56,000) for holding church services without proper registration.Authorities disbanded the church, the largest house church in the city, in 2019 and expelled its members from their place of worship. According to RFA, the congregation continued to meet in alternative locations, despitepolice raids and large administrative fines. In April, RFA reported the Intermediate People’s Court of Xiamen ruled against Pastor Yang in his appeal of a RMB 200,000 ($28,000) fine he had received in 2021 for “organizingan illegal assembly.”Human rights instruments: China is partied to the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP; China is a signatory to the ICCPR but has not ratified;China voted in favour of the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (not free; restricted); hieroncy (not free; restricted); monasticism (not free; restricted); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free; restricted); pastoral services (not free; restricted); private expression andobservance (free); proselytism (not free; restricted and subject to criminal penalties); public expression and observance (not free; restricted); receiving donations (not free; restricted); religious buildings (not free;restricted); religious instruction (not free; restricted); religious literature (not free; restricted); religious and worship services (not free; restricted); religious trade (not free; restricted).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Partial protection is granted in law against discrimination on the basis of religion but legal action cannot be taken byindividuals or groups against the government for cases of religious discrimination.422024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveColombia,Republic ofFoRB Claim: Partial claim is made as “Satanism, or magical,superstitious, or spiritualistic practices” are not protected under the law.RecommendationsReverse bans on unregistered religious groups be able to legally collect and receive donations due to this being classified as a basicreligious activity. Resolve some of the minor issues with borderline excessive informational requirements. In order to be classifiedDynamic, establish greater differentiations between existential recognition and legal registration and establish a recognition agency thatworks independently of the government.Secularity: Colombia is officially a secular state (the Roman Catholic Church was disestablishedin 1936); however, a concordat with the Holy See grants the Roman Catholic Church privileges,such as allowing the Church to provide chaplaincy services, that are not afforded to otherreligious denominations; theism was affirmed in the latest constitution from 2015.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: pseudo-mandatory registration – although the Colombian government claims that it does not mandate thatreligious organisations register with the Ministry of Interior (MOI), the fact that unregistered religious organisations are notallowed to engage in fundraising or receive non-financial private donations makes the policy in effect mandatory. Registrationresults in what the law calls ‘extended public recognition’ which groups can grant to their affiliate organisations sharing the samebeliefs without having to complete separate registration applications. The MOI is responsible for formally recognising churches,religious denominations, religious federations and confederations, and associations of religious ministers, as well as keeping apublic registry of religious organisations. Organisations formally recognised by the ministry may then confer this recognition,called “extended public recognition,” to affiliated groups sharing the same beliefs. The application process requires submission of aformal request and basic organisational information, including copies of the organisation’s constitution and an estimate of thenumber of members. The government considers a religious group’s total membership, its “degree of acceptance within society,”and other factors, such as the organisation’s statutes and its required behavioral norms, when deciding whether to grant formalrecognition. The MOI provides a free, internet-based registration process for religious and faith-based organisations seekingrecognition. Formally recognised religious organisations may collect funds and receive donations, establish religious educationinstitutions, and perform religious services, excluding marriages. Unregistered ones may perform religious activities withoutpenalty but may not collect funds or receive non-financial private donations. According to the law, all associations, foundations,and corporations declared as nonprofit organisations, including foundations supported by churches or religious organisationsrecognized by the MOI, must pay taxes. Churches and religious organisations recognised by the MOI are tax exempt, but they mustreport their income and expenses to the National Tax and Customs Authority. According to a Constitutional Court ruling, the statemay not seize the assets of non-Catholic churches in legal proceedings if the church meets the requirements for formal governmentrecognition. Decree 922 of 2023 went into effect in June 2023 which granted eight additional religious organisations the permissionto engage in activities such as marriages, funeral services, and spiritual assistance in prisons, hospitals, military facilities, andeducational institutions. Under the decree, members of religious groups that are neither signatories to the decrees nor affiliatedwith signatories must marry in a civil ceremony for the state to recognize the marriage. Religious groups not signatories to the 1997or 2023 public laws may not provide chaplaincy services or conduct state-recognised marriages. Foreign missionaries are eligible toapply for two types of religious visas within the category of tourist visas, either as religious leaders and personnel (valid for twoyears) or religious students/volunteers (valid for one year). The MFA issues visas to foreign missionaries and religious groupadministrators, who are members of religious organisations officially recognised and registered with the MOI. When applying for avisa, foreign missionaries must provide a certificate from either the MOI or church authorities confirming registration of theirreligious group with the MFA. Alternatively, they may provide a certificate issued by a registered religious group confirming theapplicant’s membership and mission in the country. The visa application also requires a letter issued by a legal representative of thereligious group stating the organisation accepts full financial responsibility for the expenses of the applicant and family, includingfunds for return to their country of origin or last country of residence. Applicants must explain the purpose of the proposed activitiesand provide proof of economic means. A Constitutional Court ruling stipulates that although missionaries may work in the country,no group may impose forced religious conversion on members of Indigenous communities.Key restriction tools imposed: barring unregistered groups from collecting funds or receiving donations interferes with "basic religiousactivities", borderline excessive informational requirements depending on how the information is used regarding number of members soit does not turn into a membership quota.Human rights instruments: Colombia is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, and the UNCRC;Colombia abstained from the UNDRIP but has since endorsed it; Colombia voted in favour ofthe UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free though not for all communities); pastoralservices (not free; subject to recognition); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (free); public expression and observance(free); receiving donations (not free; subject to registration); religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religious literature(free); religious and worship services (not free; subject to registration); religious trade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection is granted in law against discrimination on the basis ofreligion.432024 RoRB Classification: TerminalComoros,Union of theFoRB Claim: Partial claim is made and constrained bysharia-compliant reservations.RecommendationsThe non-registration policy still imposed by the Comoran government inhibits any non-Sunnireligious community from obtaining legality to exist in the country and so must be abolished; aregistration procedure that is non-mandatory but also available to all religious groups needs to beestablish in law and carried out by the government; abolish the restrictions in law placed on thebasic religious activities of all non-Sunni religious groups.Secularity: Sunni Islam is the state denomination with the latest constitution from2018 establishing the Shafi’i school as the “official religious reference” of thecountry’s legal system; theism is affirmed in the presidential oath.Mandatoriness of registration: non-registration.Registration policy: non-registration – there is no registration procedure for religiousorganisations outlined in law; only Sunni Muslim organisations may legally establish places ofworship, train clergy and assemble. The government does not allow non-Sunni religious groupsto assemble for peaceful religious activities in public places, although foreigners are permitted toworship at three Christian churches in Moroni, Mutsamudu, and Moheli, and foreign ShiaMuslims are permitted to worship at a Shia mosque in Moroni.Key restriction tools imposed: non-recognition of any denomination other than Sunni Islam,non-response to applications from non-Sunni groups, non-Sunni organisations are blockedfrom receiving registered status. The law prohibits proselytising or the performance of non-Sunni religious rituals in public places, to avoid “affronting society’s cohesion and endangeringnational unity.” Proselytising for any religion except Sunni Islam is illegal, and the law providesfor the deportation of foreigners who do so. The penal code states, “Whoever discloses, spreads,and teaches Muslims a religion other than Islam will be punished with imprisonment of threemonths to one year and a fine of 50,000 to 500,000 Comorian francs” ($115 to $1,150). The lawalso states, “The sale [or] the free distribution to Muslims of books, brochures, magazines,records and cassettes or any other media teaching a religion other that Islam” will be punishedwith the same penalties.Human rights instruments: Comoros is partied to the UNCRC and the UNDRIP;Comoros is a signatory to both the ICCPR and the ICESCR but has not ratified either;Comoros did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (not free; prohibited to convert from Sunni Islam); hieroncy (not free; prohibited toimport non-Sunni religious materials and items); monasticism (not free; restricted); nuptial,initiatory and burial rites (not free; restricted); pastoral services (not free; restricted); privateexpression and observance (free); proselytism (not free; prohibited for all non-Sunni religiousgroups; foreigners will face deportation); public expression and observance (not free; non-Sunni public expression or observance prohibited); receiving donations (not free; restricted);religious buildings (not free; restricted); religious instruction (not free; restricted); religiousliterature (not free; non-Sunni literature prohibited); religious and worship services (not free;prohibited); religious trade (not free; illegal).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Protection is granted in the 2018 constitution against discrimination“of any kind” but religion is not mentioned specifically.442024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveCongo, DemocraticRepublic of theFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsDismantlement of the retribution for unregistration; remove all instances of political involvement in theregistration process, namely the requirement for the Presidency to approve religious groups of foreign origin;revoke the mandatory registration rule and other restrictive policies part of the registration process.Secularity: Democratic Republic of the Congo is a secular state;however, theism was affirmed in the latest revised constitutionfrom 2011.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: broad mandatory registration – the government of the DRC mandates that all religiousorganisations, including those of domestic and foreign origin, register with it to operate legally in the country. Thismandatory policy extends to all non-profit entities affiliated with a religion which must also register separately.The Congolese government has the power granted in law to legally recognise, suspend recognition of, or dissolvereligious groups. To register, religious organisations are required to submit a copy of their bylaws and constitutionto the Ministry of Justice issues a provisional approval and, within six months, a permanent approval or rejection;unless the ministry specifically rejects the application, the group is considered approved and registered after sixmonths even if the ministry has not issued a final determination. Religious organisations with a foreignheadquarters must undergo an approval by the Presidency in addition to the justice ministry. The law secularisesreligious organisations by officially recognising them in law as non-profit organisations.  The law prescribespenalties of up to two years’ imprisonment, a fine of 200,000 Congolese francs ($75), or both for groups that arenot properly registered but receive gifts and donations on behalf of a church or other religious organisation. Bylaw, eight religious groups that meet certain characteristics with regard to their status and competence in electoralmatters (i.e., acting as civil society organisations) are charged with nominating the head of CENI: the CatholicChurch, national umbrella organisation for Protestant groups, Muslim community, Salvation Army, IndependentChurch of Congo, Kimbanguists, Revival Church, and Independent Orthodox Church. The Ministry of Justice did notissue any final registration permits for religious groups; it had not done so since 2014, despite the law stipulatingthat groups are automatically registered if the ministry does not issue a decision on their applications within sixmonths of their submission. The government, however, continued its practice of allowing domestic religiousgroups that had pending registration permit requests to operate, and these groups reported they continued to do sounhindered. Foreign-based religious groups stated they operated without restriction after applying for legal status.Under existing law, which remained under review, nonprofit organisations could operate as legal entities if agovernment ministry ruled favourably on their application or by default if the government did not object to theirapplication for status. According to registration statistics for 2015, the latest year for which the Ministry of Justicehad such data, there were 14,568 legally registered nonprofit organisations, 11,119 legal religious nonprofitorganisations, and 1,073 foreign nonprofit organisations in the country.Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, arbitrary enforcement, no permanent registration permitsdispensed since 2014, registration of GFOs is dependent upon presidential decree, subsidiaries organisationsaffiliated with a registered religious organisation are required to register separately, temporary registration, vague"public order" narrative tool is invoked that could lead to its misuse against groups unfavoured, Muslims complainthat access to pastoral services such as chaplains for those in the military, police, and hospitals is restricted toChristian groups.Human rights instruments: Democratic Republic of the Congo is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR,the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP; Democratic Republic of the Congo did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (not free; subject to registration); nuptial, initiatory and burialrites (not free; subject to registration); pastoral services (not free; subject to registration); private expression andobservance (free); proselytism (not free; subject to registration); public expression and observance (free);receiving donations (not free; subject to registration); religious buildings (not free; subject to registration);religious instruction (free); religious literature (not free; subject to registration); religious and worship services(not free; subject to registration); religious trade (not free; subject to registration).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection was granted in the 2011 revised constitution againstdiscrimination on the basis of religion.452024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveCongo, Republic of theFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsDissolve all restrictive policies, particularly the mandatory registration rule and excessiveinformational requirements; abolish the law criminalising unregistered religious activity; reversethe ban on religious clothing that targets the Muslim community.Secularity: Republic of the Congo is a secular state; however, Christianity isprivileged by the state because registration law requires those wishing to lead areligious congregation to be knowledgeable regarding the Bible.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: broad mandatory registration – all religious organisations are required bylaw to register with and be approved by the Ministry of Interior to operate legally in the country.To register, religious organisations must present a title or lease to the property where theestablishment is located, the exact address of the establishment, a copy of its bylaws, and adocument that clarifies the mission and objectives of the organisation. Failure to register iscriminalised in law with penalties including fines and the confiscation of goods, invalidation ofcontracts, and deportation of foreign group members. Religious applicants who request to lead areligious group must present a certificate of qualifications that demonstrates the applicant hasundergone formal or informal religious training, is generally knowledgeable regarding the Bible,and is therefore qualified to lead a religious establishment.Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, criminalisation of unregistered religiousactivities with fines and other penalties, informational requirements are likely to be misusedagainst groups unfavoured by the government.Human rights instruments: Republic of the Congo is partied to the ICCPR, theICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP; Republic of the Congo did not vote on theUDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (not free; subject to registration); nuptial,initiatory and burial rites (not free; subject to registration); pastoral services (not free; subject toregistration); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (not free; subject toregistration); public expression and observance (not free; restrictions imposed on religious attire);receiving donations (not free; subject to registration); religious buildings (not free; subject toregistration); religious instruction (free); religious literature (not free; subject to registration);religious and worship services (not free; subject to registration); religious trade (not free; subjectto registration).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection was granted in the latest  constitution from 2015against discrimination on the basis of religion.Recognition policy: a 2017 bilateral framework agreement between the government and theHoly See formalised relations between the government and the Catholic Church. The agreementdefines places of worship, cemeteries, and ecclesiastical sites; penal case processes for clergy,property rights; rules pertaining to the use of mass media; education; appointment of chaplainsto the security forces; and church institutional activities providing health, education, social, andmedical services for the common good.462024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveCosta Rica, Republic ofFoRB Claim: Partial claim is made.RecommendationsEstablish a system that has the capacity to differentiate between existential recognition and legal registration andthat can bestow these equitably; remove the stipulation of membership quota, that registration is a prerequisite forfundraising, that places of worship need to be registered independently from the organisations with which they areaffiliated and the vertical recognition system that is in effect; resolve the issue of partial recognition being in effectby establishing provisions for all groups to saying recognition on a level playing field.Secularity: Roman Catholicism is the state denomination; theismwas affirmed in the latest revised constitution from 2011.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: pseudo-mandatory registration – although the Costa Rican government does not mandatethat religious organisations register to organise worship services or to practise their beliefs in public or private,organisations must register to conduct any kind of fundraising which in effect makes registration mandatory.Registration is conducted with the Ministry of Justice which manages the public registry but the Ministry ofForeign Affairs and Worship is also involved in managing the relationship between the state and religiousorganisations. The Catholic Church is exempt from having to register. Registration is only available to religiousorganisations with ten members or more and religious organisations must register under the secular designation‘association with judicial status.’ The registration process is called incorporation. Authorities require registrationto conduct financial transactions, obtain legal representation, and own property. Immigration law requires foreignreligious workers to belong to a religious group accredited for migration control purposes by the Ministry ofForeign Affairs and Worship. It stipulates religious workers may receive permission, which is renewable, to stay atleast 90 days, but not more than two years. To obtain accreditation, a religious group must present documentationabout its organisation, including its complete name, number of followers, bank information, number of houses ofworship, and names of and information on the group’s board of directors. Immigration regulations requirereligious workers to apply for temporary residence before arrival. Members of Protestant groups registered assecular associations continued to state their preference for a separate registration process that would specificallycover church construction and operation, permits to organize events, and pastoral access to hospitals and prisonsfor members of non-Catholic religious groups. The groups continued to seek the changes through the passage of areligious freedom bill under legislative review since 2018. If passed, the bill would address the concerns of non-Catholic groups regarding the registration of religious groups, including through language clarifying thedefinition of religious groups. According to authorities, when the government denied a religious group’sregistration, it was often because the group’s purpose or main activity did not include worship. In the case of theCatholic Church, the government continued to address such concerns through the special legal recognitionafforded the Church under canon law.Key restriction tools imposed: membership quota, non-recognition for any non-Catholic religion ordenomination, places of worship must be registered separately from the religious organisations to which they areaffiliated, registration is made a prerequisite of a group's eligibility to legally engage in fundraising, verticalism.Human rights instruments: Costa Rica is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, andthe UNDRIP; Costa Rica voted in favour of the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services(free); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (free); public expression and observance (free);receiving donations (not free; subject to registration); religious buildings (not free; subject to registration);religious instruction (free); religious literature (free); religious and worship services (free); religious trade (free).Protections: Implicit protection was granted in the latest constitution from 2011against discrimination on the basis of religion.Conditions of state recognition and registrationRecognition policy: the constitution requires the Costa Rican government to contribute to the maintenance of theRoman Catholic Church. Unlike other religious groups, the Catholic Church receives special legal recognition under aconcordat, and it is not registered as an association. Its assets and holdings are governed consistent with Catholiccanon law. The law allows the government to provide land free of charge only to the Catholic Church. Only Catholicpriests and public notaries may perform state-recognised marriages. Wedding ceremonies performed by otherreligious groups must be legalised through a civil union. The constitution forbids Catholic clergy from serving in thecapacity of president, vice president, cabinet member, or Supreme Court justice. This prohibition does not apply tonon-Catholic clergy.472024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveCôte d'Ivoire, Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsRevoke the law on mandatory registration, including the mandatory notification order; abolish the rule that localand foreign religious organisations have different registration procedures; the proposed law that will distinguishmore clearly between religious and secular organisations registration is welcomed but needs to see implementationbefore it can be assessed for its compliance with FoRB.Secularity: Côte d'Ivoire is a secular state; however, the leader of a Christiandenomination has consistently claimed that the government extends preferentialtreatment to Islamic religious groups for instance by providing them with morefunding than Christian groups.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: quasi-mandatory registration – Ivorian law mandates that all religious organisations–bothforeign-based and domestic–notify the government of their existence before operating in the country. The law alsomandates that all religious organisations register with the Department of Faith-Based Organizations (DGC)although no penalties are prescribed in law for religious groups that do not register. To register, a group mustprovide its bylaws, names of the founding members and board members, date of founding, and general assemblyminutes to the DGC. The DGC investigates the group to ensure it has no members or purpose deemed politicallysubversive and that no members have been judicially deprived of their civil and political rights. Local religiousgroups are allowed to operate for two months without official approval after they submit their registrationapplication. The DGC, part of the Ministry of Interior and Security, is charged with promoting dialogue amongreligious groups as well as between the government and religious groups, providing administrative support toreligious groups attempting to become established in the country, monitoring religious activities, and managingstate-sponsored religious pilgrimages and registration of new religious groups. Foreign religious groups with apresence in the country require additional authorisation from the Minister of Interior and Security. Whether areligious group is categorised as local or foreign is based on the nationality of its members, the source of itsfunding, the make-up of its executive board, and the location of its head office. Groups with 75 percent foreignmembership, foreign funding, foreign board members, or a foreign head office are considered foreign. Foreignreligious groups are technically not allowed to begin operating until they receive authorisation, but this is notenforced. registered groups benefit from government support, such as free access to state-run television and radiofor religious programming if requested. Registered religious groups are not charged import duties on devotionalitems, such as religious books or rosaries. Registered religious groups are also exempt from property tax on theplaces of worship they own. Non-registered groups are not allowed to sue for damages or receive compensation forinjuries suffered, but members of these groups may do so as individuals. In October 2023, the DGC reported that thegovernment was planning to update the law defining and governing religious groups. A new law was drafted butwas not available for public review. The DGC said the new law would update the definitions of religious groups tobetter differentiate them from civil society groups; the original legislation, which dated to 1960 when the countrygained independence, blurred that distinction. The new law, according to the DGC, would draw a clearer distinctionbetween the two types of entities and allow for different regulatory approaches for each.Key restriction tools imposed: arbitrary enforcement, discriminatory rules apply for local and foreign religiousgroups attempting registration, narrative tool of "politically subversive" may be misused as a grounds forderegistration.Human rights instruments: Côte d'Ivoire is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, and the UNCRC; Côted'Ivoire was absent during voting on the UNDRIP; Côte d'Ivoire did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (not free; subject to registration); nuptial, initiatory and burialrites (not free; subject to registration); pastoral services (free); private expression and observance (free);proselytism (not free; subject to registration); public expression and observance (free); receiving donations (notfree; subject to registration); religious buildings (not free; subject to registration); religious instruction (free);religious literature (not free; subject to registration); religious and worship services (not free; subject toregistration); religious trade (not free; subject to registration).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection was granted in the latest constitutional revision from 2016 againstdiscrimination on the basis of religion.482024 RoRB Classification: ReceptiveCroatia, Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsEstablish differentiation between existential recognition and legal registration and ensure appropriate provisions for theexecution of each are put in place; remove membership quotas and other intrusive informational requirements from theregistration process; solving these minor issues with the system will see Croatia ascend to the highest classification ofdynamic.Secularity: Croatia is a secular state; however, the Roman Catholic Churchreceives state financial support, including for religious officials, andother benefits such as funding for religious education in public schools asa result of the Holy See’s four concordats with the government (the firstthree date to 1997 and the fourth was adopted in 1998).Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: stipulatory registration – Croatian law does not mandate that religious organisations register withthe government in order to engage in worship, proselytise, own property, and import religious literature, but religiousorganisations must register in order for religious leaders to provide spiritual counsel in prisons, hospitals, and themilitary. Registered religious communities that have not concluded agreements with the state and unregisteredreligious groups may not conduct religious education in public schools. Unregistered religious groups have no access tostate funds in support of religious activities, including charitable work, counselling, and building costs. The staterecognises marriages conducted by registered religious communities that have concluded agreements with the state,eliminating the need for civil registration. Marriages conducted by registered communities that have not concludedagreements with the state, or by unregistered religious groups, require civil registration. The law defines the legalposition of religious communities and determines eligibility for government funding and tax benefits. Registeredreligious communities are exempt from taxes on the purchase of real estate, the profit/capital gains tax, and taxes ondonations. According to the law, a religious community previously active as a legal entity before the enactment of theexisting law in 2002 (amended in 2013) need only submit its name, the location of its headquarters, information on theoffice of the person authorised to represent it, and the seal and stamp it uses to register. To register as a religiouscommunity, a religious group without prior legal status as a religious community must have at least 500 members andhave been registered as an association with at least three members for at least five years. To register as a religiouscommunity, a group must also submit a list of its members and documentation outlining the group’s activities andbylaws and describing its mission to the Ministry of Justice and Public Administration. Unregistered religious groupsmay operate freely but do not receive tax benefits. They may conduct financial transactions as legal entities. Acontractual agreement with the state, which grants a registered religious community eligibility for further funding andbenefits, defines the community’s role and activities and provides for collaboration with the government in areas ofjoint interest, such as education, health, and culture.Key restriction tools imposed: excessive informational requirements (namely requiring a list of members), longevityquota, membership quotas (500 members), reregistration (all groups registered before 2002).Human rights instruments: Croatia is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, andthe UNDRIP; Croatia did not vote on the UDHR; Croatia is partied to the ECHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services(free); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (free); public expression and observance (free);receiving donations (free); religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religious literature (free); religiousand worship services (free); religious trade (free).Protections: Explicit protection was granted in the latest constitutional revision from2013 against discrimination on the basis of religion.Recognition policy: stipulatory registration – in addition to the Catholic Church, as of March 2023, 20 of the registeredreligious communities have formal agreements with the state that more clearly define activities and cooperation, suchas in the areas of marriage and religious education in public schools. These groups may access state funds for religiousactivities. Since March, the government also has an agreement with the Reformed Christian Church of Hungarians inCroatia on matters of mutual interest and an annex to the agreement with the Reformed Christian Church in Croatia onmatters of mutual interest.Conditions of state recognition and registration492024 RoRB Classification: TerminalCuba, Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsAbolish the criminalisation of unregistered religious activity; abolish the mandatory registration order imposed on religious organisations.Secularity: Cuba is a hypersecular state (the Roman Catholic Churchwas disestablished in 1902); the official ideology of Cuba is Marxism-Leninism; Cuba used to be an atheist state until 2019.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: broad mandatory registration – Cuban law mandates that all religious organisations apply with the Ministry ofJustice (MOJ) for official registration prior to beginning their operations in Cuba. The Office of Religious Affairs (ORA) monitors allreligious activity in Cuba under direction of the Cuban Communist Party (CCP). The MOJ secularises religious organisations byregistering them under the secular designation ‘association’ and the registration is similar to the registration procedure for civil societyorganisations. The application process requires religious groups to identify the location of their activities, their proposed leadership,and their funding sources, among other requirements. Even if the MOJ grants official registration, the religious group must requestpermission from the ORA each time it wants to conduct activities other than regular services, such as holding meetings in approvedlocations, publishing major decisions from meetings, receiving foreign visitors, importing religious literature, purchasing and operatingmotor vehicles, and constructing, repairing, or purchasing places of worship. Groups that fail to register face penalties ranging fromfines to closure of their organisations and confiscation of their property. The penal code states membership in or association with anunregistered group, including a religious group, is a crime; penalties range from fines to three months’ imprisonment, and leaders ofsuch groups may be sentenced to up to two years in prison in addition to fines. The law regulates the registration of “house churches”(private residences used as places of worship). Two house churches of the same denomination may not exist within 1.2 miles of oneanother. House churches must provide detailed information – including the number of worshippers, dates and times of services, and thenames and ages of all inhabitants of the house in which services are held – to authorities. The law states if authorisation is granted,authorities will supervise the operation of meetings; they may suspend meetings in the house for a year or more if they find a housechurch does not fulfil the requirements. If a neighbour registers a complaint against a church, the house church may be closedpermanently and members subject to imprisonment. Foreigners must obtain permission before attending services in a house church;foreigners may not attend house churches in some regions. According to law, any violation will result in fines and closure of the housechurch. The penal code also imposes sentences of up to 10 years’ imprisonment on those receiving funding from foreign organisations,including religious groups, or financing activities the government considers to be directed against the state or its constitutional order.Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, criminalisation of leading or becoming a member of an unregistered religious group,denial of registration or non-response to some registration applications (as early as 1994; e.g., for Jehovah's Witnesses), pseudo-registration, restrictions persist around the religious activities of foreigners, state supervision of religious gatherings, zoning quota. InAugust 2023, CSW documented at least four separate instances of state authorities, including officials from the DSE, the PNR, and theDepartment of Physical Planning, issuing threats or intimidating Afro-Cuban religious groups or leaders based their intent to engage inunregistered religious activities. According to CSW, many religious groups continued to state their lack of legal registration impededtheir ability to practice their religion. Several religious groups, including Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Church of Jesus Christ, still hadnot received decisions from the MOJ on pending applications for official registration, some dating as far back as 1994. In May, membersand leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ visited the country to inaugurate a fifth congregation in the Havana District; however, theChurch remained unrecognised, and therefore an illegal organisation. Despite a 2019 letter from then Cuban ambassador to the UnitedStates, Jose Cabanas, to the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ in Salt Lake City stating the denomination was “welcome” inthe country, as of year’s end, the MOJ again had not acted on the Church’s registration request. Representatives of several religiousgroups and religious freedom organisations said the government continued to interpret the law on associations as a means for the ORAand the MOJ to deny registration of certain groups. They also said the MOJ’s determinations of ineligibilities for registration sometimesincluded the assertion that another group already had identical or similar objectives, which these representatives said was a governmentpretext to control and favor certain factions of a religious denomination or one religious group’s activities over those of other groups. Atyear’s end, Soka Gakkai continued to be the only Buddhist organisation registered with the government, and the Islamic League was theonly registered Islamic organisation. The CCP continued to directly govern religious freedom through the ORA, which has authority overall matters related to religious groups, including their registration, travel outside the country, and building and construction permits.According to religious leaders of unregistered churches, the government continued to selectively prevent some religious groups fromestablishing accredited schools. These leaders said religious groups that were registered with the government and were willing toparticipate in government events were allowed to operate seminaries, interfaith training centers, before-and-after-school programs,eldercare programs, weekend retreats, workshops for primary and secondary students, and higher education programs. The ACC iscomposed of approximately 50 leaders of registered and unregistered religious denominations and networks as well as leaders ofindependent churches on the island. Several religious freedom organisations previously submitted reports to the UPR, including theAlliance of Unregistered Cuban Churches, the OAA, the ACN, Prisoners Defenders, and the Patmos Institute, among others.Human rights instruments: Cuba is partied to the UNCRC and the UNDRIP; Cuba is a signatory ofboth the ICCPR and the ICESCR but did not ratify either; Cuba voted in favour of the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (not free; restricted); hieroncy (not free; restricted); monasticism (not free; restricted); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites(not free; restricted); pastoral services (not free; restricted and subject to registration); private expression and observance (free);proselytism (not free; restricted); public expression and observance (not free; restricted and the dissemination of religious informationillegal); receiving donations (free); religious buildings (free); religious instruction (not free; private religious instruction is illegal);religious literature (free); religious and worship services (not free; restricted and subject to registration); religious trade (not free;restricted and subject to registration).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection was granted in the latest constitution from 2019 againstdiscrimination on the basis of religion.502024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveCyprus, Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsAbolish the law stipulating that only religious organisations may not engage in financial transactionsand maintain bank accounts. Religious groups not recognised in the constitution are secularised in lawand not understood as religious entities which creates a problematic hierarchy.Secularity: Cyprus is officially a secular state (the Autocephalous Greek OrthodoxChurch of Cyprus was disestablished in 1977); however, the Autocephalous GreekOrthodox Church of Cyprus remains recognised as the national church and wasgranted special privileges in the constitution such as the exclusive right to regulateand administer the Church’s internal affairs and property in accordance with itscanons and charter; the Islamic Vakf was also given similar special privileges in theconstitution; constitutional recognition is also granted to Maronite Catholicism, theArmenian Orthodox Church, and Latin Rite Roman Catholicism.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: discriminatory and pseudo-mandatory registration – all religious organisations notaffiliated with the denominations recognised in the constitution are officially not mandated to registerwith the Cypriot government but they must register to legally engage in financial transactions andmaintain bank accounts. Religious organisations are secularised under the law by having to register underthe secular designation ‘non-profit organisation.’ To register, a religious group must submit, through anattorney, an application to the Registrar of Companies under the Ministry of Energy, Commerce, andIndustry stating its purpose and providing the names of its directors. Religious groups registered asnonprofit organisations are treated the same as other nonprofit organisations. They are tax exempt, mustprovide annual reports to the government, and are not eligible for government subsidies.Key restriction tools imposed: constitutional recognition, privileges granted to those religious groupsrecognised in the constitution, pseudo-mandatory registration policy imposed.Human rights instruments: Cyprus is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC,and the UNDRIP; Cyprus did not vote on the UDHR; Cyprus is partied to the ECHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoralservices (free); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (free); public expression andobservance (free); receiving donations (free); religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free);religious literature (free); religious and worship services (free); religious trade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection was granted in the latest constitution from 2013against discrimination on the basis of religion.Recognition policy: the clergy of the five religious communities (recognised by the Republic of Cyprusconstitution) have the authority to perform marriage ceremonies and may sign marriage certificates.Members of the clergy of other faiths must apply to the Ministry of Interior (MOI) for authorisation toperform marriages. The list of authorised marriage officers is published in the Official Gazette. Divorcerequires a court decision. A state physician or pathologist, not a member of the clergy, signs all deathcertificates. According to the law, the Armenian, Maronite, and Latin communities each have an electedrepresentative to parliament who has nonvoting observer status. Members of these communities also mayrun for any of the 56 seats that have voting rights in the body. According to media reports, during ameeting on June 7, the Chief Rabbi of Israel, David Lau, asked ROC President Christodoulides to remedysome of the challenges faced by the Jewish community in Cyprus, namely the lack of practical legislation toaccommodate the activities of the Chief Rabbinate of Cyprus, such as authorisation to register Jewishmarriages in the national civil registry.512024 RoRB Classification: ReceptiveCzech RepublicFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made, but it is only made in theCharter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms which is adocument supplemental to the constitution.RecommendationsEstablish a recognition agency independent of government that deals with and facilitates religious recognition andregistration processes. Revoke the membership quotas and dismantle the elements of the system that correspond tovertical recognition in an effect to make the system fairer.Secularity: Czech Republic is a secular state.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: stipulatory registration – Czech law does not mandate that religious organisations register with thegovernment in order to assemble, worship and propagate religious beliefs and the freedoms of unregistered religiousorganisations are recognised. However, only registered religious organisations may legally own property. The registrationprocess secularises religious organisations by registering them under the secular designation ‘civic association.’ The lawstates the Department of Churches within the Ministry of Culture (MOC) is responsible for religious affairs. The lawestablishes a two-tiered system for religious groups that register with the ministry. To qualify for the first (lower) tier, areligious group must present to the Department of Churches at least 300 signatures of adult members permanentlyresiding in the country, a founding document listing the basic tenets of the faith, and a clearly defined structure offiduciary responsibilities. First-tier registration confers limited tax benefits, including exemptions from taxes on interestearned on current account deposits, donations, and members’ contributions. For second (higher) tier registration, a groupmust have been registered with the Department of Churches as a first-tier group for 10 years, have published annualfinancial reports for 10 years prior to the second-tier application, and have membership equal to at least 0.1 percent of thepopulation, i.e., approximately 10,700 persons. The group must provide this number of signatures as proof. Second-tierregistration entitles religious groups to the tax benefits granted to first-tier groups and the exercise of special rights,including conducting weddings, teaching religion at public schools, and conducting chaplaincy services in the military andprisons. Prisoners may receive visits from their own clergy, regardless of the clergy’s registration status. The governmentrequires second-tier groups to publish an annual report on their exercise of the special rights. There are 44 state-registered religious groups – 23 first and 21 second tier. Second-tier religious groups registered prior to 2002 are entitledto government subsidies. The law phases out direct state subsidies to second-tier religious groups over a 17-year periodending in 2029. The MOC reviews applications for first- and second-tier registration with input from other governmentbodies such as the Office for Protection of Private Data and from outside experts on religious affairs. While the law sets a30-day deadline for administrative decisions, it allows for extensions that can delay decisions indefinitely. Applicantsdenied registration may appeal to the Minister of Culture to reconsider its decision and, if denied again, to the courts. Thelaw permits second-tier religious groups to apply through the MOC to teach religion in state schools if there is a demandfor such classes. Eleven of the 21 second-tier groups have permission to teach religion classes. The religious groupsprovide the teachers, and the school pays their salaries. If a state school does not have enough funds to pay for its religiouseducation teachers, religious groups pay for them. Student attendance at religious classes is optional. According to law, ifseven or more students register for a particular religion class at the beginning of the school year, a school must offer thatclass to those who registered. Religious workers who are not from European Economic Area countries or Switzerland mustobtain long-term residence and work permits to remain in the country for more than 90 days. There is no special visacategory for religious workers. Foreign missionaries and clergy are required to meet the requirements for a standard workpermit.Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, baseless or suspected baseless denials of registration, experts on religiousaffairs and other ministries are consulted on registration applications, open-ended registration, longevity quota,membership quota, signature quota, vertical registration system (verticalism), questionable denials of registration. InSeptember, the Czech Social Christian Church appealed the MOC’s 2022 decision to rejects its registration applicationdirectly to the Minister of Culture. As of the end of the year, the minister had not rendered a decision. In April, theSupreme Administrative Court rejected the PGJ’s 2021 appeal of the Prague Municipal Court decision to uphold the MOC’sdenial of its registration. In November 2022, the Protestant Church of Saint Corona appealed to the Prague MunicipalCourt the MOC’s 2022 decision to deny its registration. The case remained pending at year’s end. In July 2022, the Churchof Laughter appealed the Prague Municipal Court’s 2022 decision to uphold the MOC’s 2019 and 2020 denials of itsregistration. The case remained pending at the Supreme Administrative Court at year’s end.Human rights instruments: Czech Republic is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, andthe UNDRIP; Czech Republic did not vote on the UDHR; Czech Republic is partied to the ECHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (notfree; subject to registration as a second-tier group); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (free); publicexpression and observance (free); receiving donations (free); religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free);religious literature (free); religious and worship services (free); religious trade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: No protection was specifically granted against discrimination on the basis of religionin the latest constitution from 2013 nor in the Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms.522024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveDenmark, Kingdom ofFoRB Claim: No claim was made in the 1953 constitutionaccording to which “rules for religious bodies dissenting from theEstablished Church shall be laid down by Statute.”RecommendationsEstablish sufficient provisions for existential recognition, not just legal registration; in order to receive dynamic classification, Denmarkwould need to establish a recognition agency to manage religious recognition and registration in the country that is independent ofgovernment; remove laws and stipulations that violate elements of the Durham principles; revoke membership quotas.Secularity: Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Denmark (ELC) is the state denomination of Denmarkestablished in the latest constitution from 1953 and is recognised as the national church; the ELCreceives state support and the reigning monarch must belong it.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: stipulatory registration – Danish law does not mandate that religious organisations register with the Ministry ofEcclesiastical Affairs for such organisations to operate freely and legally. The Ministry of Ecclesiastical Affairs is responsible for grantingofficial status to religious groups other than the ELC through recognition by royal decree for groups recognised prior to 1970 (such as theCatholic, Methodist, Baptist, Russian Orthodox, and Jewish communities) or through official registration. Congregations are not requiredto register by law, although registration is required to receive tax benefits. Religious communities must comply with annual reportingrequirements to maintain their government recognition. According to the Ministry of Ecclesiastical Affairs, there are 192 religious groupsand congregations the government officially recognises or that are affiliated with recognised groups: 119 are Christian, 36 Muslim, 20Buddhist, five Hindu, three Jewish, and there are nine other groups and congregations, including Baha’is and followers of the IndigenousNorse belief system Forn Sidr. The law codifies the registration process for religious communities other than the ELC and treats equallythose recognised by royal decree and those approved through registration. A religious community must have at least 50 adult memberswho have resident status or possess Danish citizenship. For congregations located in sparsely populated regions such as Greenland, thegovernment applies a lower population threshold, which varies according to the total population of the region. Religious groups seekingregistration must submit a document describing the group’s central traditions and most important rituals to the Ministry of EcclesiasticalAffairs. A group applying for registration must also provide a copy of its rules, regulations, and organisational structure; an auditedfinancial statement (which it must submit annually); information about the group’s leadership; and a statement on the number of adultmembers permanently residing in the country. Groups also must have formal procedures for membership and make their teachingsavailable to all members. The ministry makes the final decision on registration applications after receiving recommendations from agroup consisting of a lawyer, religious historian, sociologist of religion, and non-ordained theologian. Religious groups that do notsubmit the annual financial statement or other required information may lose their registration status. The state permits groups notrecognised by either royal decree or the registration process, such as the Church of Scientology, to engage in religious practices withoutpublic registration. The state does not grant unrecognised religious groups full tax-exempt status, but members may deductcontributions to these groups from their taxes. By law, the Ministry of Immigration and Integration may prevent entry by foreignreligious figures who do not already have a residence permit if it determines their presence poses a threat to public order. In such cases,the ministry places the individuals on a national sanctions list and bars them from entry for two years, a period which it may extend. Thesanctions list does not apply to EU nationals and residents. This law does not apply to Greenland or the Faroe Islands, but royal decreemay enforce it in those territories.Key restriction tools imposed: excessive informational requirements, localisation of procedures for tax benefits, membership quotas (50adult members in Denmark; lower quotas are imposed in Greenland and the Faroe Islands), privileges granted to the ELC include fundingthrough state grants and voluntary tax-deductible contributions received through payroll and the monarch must be a member of the ELC,religious communities except the ELC are set to lose the privilege of issuing their own birth, baptismal and marriage certificates.Human rights instruments: Denmark is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and theUNDRIP; Denmark voted in favour of the UDHR; Denmark is partied to the ECHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free; subject to registration); pastoralservices (free); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (free); public expression and observance (not free; restrictions inreligious attire particularly burqas and niqabs); receiving donations (free); religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free);religious literature (free); religious and worship services (free); religious trade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: No protection was specifically granted in the 1953 constitution against discriminationon the basis of religion.Recognition policy: stipulatory registration – recognised religious groups may perform legal marriage ceremonies, name and baptisechildren with legal effect, issue legal death certificates, obtain residence permits for foreign clergy, establish cemeteries, and receivevarious value added tax exemptions. Since January 2023, all recognised religious communities may issue birth, baptismal, and marriagecertificates. Members of other religious communities or individuals unaffiliated with a recognized religious group may have birth anddeath certificates issued by the health authority. The law requires clergy members with legal authorisation to officiate marriages to havean adequate mastery of the Danish language and to complete a two-day course on family law and civil rights administered by the Ministryof Ecclesiastical Affairs. The law also requires that religious workers “must not behave or act in a way that makes them unworthy toexercise public authority.” The government may strip the right to perform marriages from religious workers whom it perceives as notcomplying with these provisions.532024 RoRB Classification: CensoriousDjibouti, Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsAllow for proselytism for all faiths to take place and for public practice of all religions; de-politicise religious activity; revoke thecountry’s reservation to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights regarding proselytism in public spaces; revoke themandatory registration rule.Secularity: Islam is the state religion of Djibouti; theism wasaffirmed in the latest revised constitution from 2010; the presidentmust swear an Islamic religious oath.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: broad mandatory registration – the government of Djibouti mandates that all religious organisations, both those ofdomestic and foreign origin, register with the Ministry of Interior (MOI) before they can conduct any activities legally in the country. TheMOI conducts a lengthy background investigation of the applicant group. The investigation reviews group leadership, religious affiliation,sources of finance, and the group’s objectives within the country. Ties to religious groups considered extremist, strong political agendas,and relations with unfriendly foreign nations are factors that could cause a group’s application to be rejected. Domestic and foreignMuslim religious groups must also inform the High Islamic Council at the Ministry of Islamic Affairs and Waqfs of their existence andintent to operate. Muslim and non-Muslim foreign religious groups must also gain approval from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs tooperate in the country. Once approved, every foreign religious group signs a one-year agreement detailing the scope of its activities.Workers from foreign religious groups must purchase an annual residency card, but in a change from the previous requirement, no longerhave to obtain work permits. Foreign religious groups must submit quarterly reports to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and renew theiragreements every year. The quarterly report details activities, origin of funding for activities, scope of work completed, and identifiesbeneficiaries. Religious groups may not operate in the interim while awaiting registration. The Ministry of Islamic Affairs and Waqfs alsoensures that imams trained in Islamic institutes abroad follow an interpretation of Islam that aligns with government views on religioustolerance. The High Islamic Council supervises their preaching and provides training to imams who were trained abroad before they begintheir duties to ensure they continue to remain in line with the government’s interpretation of Islam. The government continued to permitregistered non-Islamic groups, comprising Catholic, Protestant, Greek Orthodox, and Ethiopian Orthodox churches, to operate freely,according to Christian leaders. Muslim citizens were permitted to enter Christian churches, although societal pressure continued todiscourage conversion. There were no limitations on the importation of religious literature for registered non-Islamic groups. Following arejection of a request to open a second Ethiopian Orthodox church in late 2022, the government did not register any other Christian ornon-Christian groups during the year. The Church of Scientology maintained its registration as a commercial entity. The governmentsubsidised the cost of utilities at certain church properties of registered non-Islamic groups, since it considered these church propertiesto be part of the national patrimony. Religious groups not registered with the government, including the Ethiopian Protestant and non-Sunni Muslim congregations, continued to operate without government sanction. Shia Muslims remained unable to register. Thegovernment continued to allow non-Islamic religious groups to host events and proselytise on the groups’ private property but notelsewhere. The government continued to permit a limited number of Christian missionaries to sell religious books and pamphlets at abookstore in Djibouti City. The government continued to issue visas to foreign Muslim, Catholic, and Protestant clergy and missionaries,but only those belonging to registered religious groups could work in the country or operate nongovernmental organisations. There werean estimated 20-30 foreign religious workers in the country during the year. The government continued to require foreign religiousleaders to regularise their status by purchasing an annual residency card for 24,000 Djiboutian francs ($136). Religiously affiliated NGOs,similar to other NGOs, are only permitted to have two foreign staff while registered religious organizations are not subject to thisrestriction.Key restriction tools imposed: broad grounds exist for the denial of registration, excessive background investigation into applicant groupleaders, financial sources and group objectives in the country, excessive monitorial requirements (in the form of quarterly reports onactivities), groups may not operate in the interim while their registration is being processed, limited agreement, non-recognition of anynon-Islamic religion, religion by default (citizens are officially considered Muslims if they do not specifically identify with anotherreligious group), religious groups are not permitted to conduct basic religious activities in the interim of their registration applicationbeing processed, separate procedures exist for Islamic and non-Islamic groups. The Ministry of Islamic Affairs and Waqfs continued tooversee all Islamic matters, including providing imams with their Friday sermons; imams were not permitted to stray from theirapproved scripts. The government also maintained authority over hiring of imams for all mosques and of mosques’ assets. According toministry representatives, government control and oversight of mosques remained necessary to preclude political activity from mosquesand counter what it termed foreign extremist influence.Human rights instruments: Djibouti is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, andthe UNDRIP; Djibouti did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (not free; restricted); hieroncy (not free; restricted to Islamic and registered Christian groups only); monasticism (not free;restricted); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free; restricted); pastoral services (not free; restricted); private expression andobservance (free); proselytism (not free; non-Islamic forms restricted to private property); public expression and observance (not free);receiving donations (free); religious buildings (not free); religious instruction (not free; restricted); religious literature (not free;restricted); religious and worship services (not free; restricted); religious trade (not free; restricted).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection was granted in the latest revised constitution from 2010against discrimination on the basis of religion.542024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveDominica, Commonwealth ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsDifferentiate between existential recognition from legal registration; establish an independent recognitionagency that can manage an established recognition system ectopolitically; remove the elements of thestipulatory registration process which may be applied mandatorily.Secularity: Dominica is a secular state; however, theism was affirmed in the latestconstitution from 2014.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: broad mandatory registration – Dominican law mandates that all religiousorganisations register with the Registrar of Societies section of the Ministry of Labor and Home Affairs tooperate legally in the country. According to the law, any person who manages, assists in the managementof, or holds an official position in an unregistered group is subject to a fine of up to 1,000 pula ($76) and upto seven years in prison. Individuals who are not in leadership positions in unregistered groups are subjectto lower penalties, including fines up to 500 pula ($38) and up to three years in prison. To register,religious organisations must submit to the Registrar of Societies their constitution. Beyond legal operation,registration also allows religious organisations to conduct business, sign contracts, and open a local bankaccount. New religious groups must have a minimum of 150 members to register. For previously registeredreligious groups, the membership threshold remains 10. The Societies Act, amended in 2022 to curb moneylaundering, requires all societies, including registered religious groups, to reregister with the Registrar ofSocieties. It also mandates qualification criteria for the officers of registered societies, including pastors,who are required to possess theology certification from a “reputable institution” to ensure that they arequalified to perform their functions.Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, a second procedure is imposed for the registration ofreligious buildings, signature quota (signatures by five group executives), sub-registration. Leaders ofsome interfaith groups, including the BCC, expressed continuing concern regarding the 2022 amendmentsto the Societies Act that addressed money laundering, citing a clause in the amended act that stipulates thatany member of the clergy who was charged and convicted of any offense should not be appointed to anyreligious position even after serving his or her sentence. During the year, BCC leadership again expressedthe view that churches should not be regulated by the Societies Act and called for the government todevelop a separate law that would govern the conduct of all religious groups. In November, President Masisimet with BCC leaders to discuss their concerns in further detail. At year’s end, the government had notagreed to the BCC’s demands but agreed to continue discussions with the organisation. The governmentcontinued its policy of requiring all pastors to have a certificate in theology and requiring foreign pastors ofsome of the unregistered churches to apply for visas, including those from countries whose nationals werenormally allowed visa-free entry. In 2019, the government announced it was reviewing the visa policy forforeign pastors, but as of year’s end, there were no new developments. Sources stated there are no knowndelays with the process of registering foreign pastors, although the government did not make the list ofapplicants publicly available.Human rights instruments: Dominica is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, theUNCRC, and the UNDRIP; Dominica did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoralservices (free); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (free); public expression andobservance (free); receiving donations (free); religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free);religious literature (free); religious and worship services (free); religious trade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection was granted in the latest revised constitution from2014 against discrimination on the basis of religion.552024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveDominicanRepublicFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsDemocratise the recognition and registration statuses in the country; revoke restrictions involved in theregistration process (including excessive informational requirements, longevity quota, membership quota,mandatory registration order, and the second and third procedures).Secularity: Roman Catholic Church was established as the state denomination ofthe Dominican Republic in 1954 concordat with the Holy See; theism was affirmedin the latest constitution from 2015.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: stipulatory registration – non-Catholic religious organisations are not required to register with theDominican government to legally operate in the country, only to receive customs duties. Non-Catholic religiousorganisations can only register under the secular designation ‘non-government organisations’ and are not recognisedas religious entities. Registration is to be conducted with both the Attorney General’s Office and the Ministry of Finance.Registration with the Attorney General’s Office is a two-step process. The group must provide documentation of a fixedaddress and the names of seven elected officers, have a minimum of 25 members, and pay a nominal fee. The group mustalso draft and submit statutes and provide copies of government-issued identification documents for its board ofdirectors. After registering, religious groups may request customs duty exemption status from the Ministry of Finance,which does not always grant it. Only marriages performed by religious groups registered with the Central Electoral Boardare legally recognised. To register, the law requires churches to have legal status and be present in the country for atleast five years, provide a membership list, and train clergy on how to perform marriages. Churches are responsible fordetermining the legal qualification of couples, as the law prohibits same-sex marriages as well as marriages of personsyounger than 18; churches must record all marriages in the civil registry within three working days of the marriage.According to the law, failure to comply with these regulations may result in a misdemeanour charge, including 100 pesos($2) for each day beyond the recording deadline, suspension of a marriage license, or up to five years in prison. Foreignmissionaries may obtain a one-year, multiple-entry business visa through the Ministry of Foreign Relations aftersubmitting proof of their affiliation with the relevant religious institution in the country. Foreign missionaries mayrenew their visa before the original one-year visa has expired.Key restriction tools imposed: excessive informational requirements (provision of a membership list), longevityquota, membership quota, second and third procedures as part of the overall registration process are imposed,separate mandatory registration procedure for religious groups that intend to officiate marriages.Human rights instruments: Dominican Republic is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR,the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP; Dominican Republic voted in favour of the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free; subject toregistration); pastoral services (free); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (free); publicexpression and observance (free); receiving donations (free); religious buildings (free); religious instruction(free); religious literature (free); religious and worship services (free); religious trade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection was granted in the latest revised constitution from2015 against discrimination on the basis of religion.Recognition policy: the Catholic Church receives special protection from the state in the exercise of Catholic ministry,exemption of Catholic clergy from military service, permission to provide Catholic instruction in public orphanages,public funding to underwrite some church expenses, and exemption from customs duties. Nationally recognised holidaysalso include days that are traditionally observed only by Catholics. The concordat grants the Catholic Church full accessto prisons and the Church is the only religious group legally guaranteed access to prisoners. The government assigns aCatholic priest to every prison and pays his salary. Prisoners of all faiths have the right to practice their religion under alaw on the regulation of penitentiary and correctional systems. The 2021 law establishes freedom of religion for allprisoners and prohibits discrimination toward prisoners based on their religion. The law affirms the right of prisoners toreceive religious services and seek counseling from officials of their faith. Representatives of non-Catholic groups canaccess prisons upon request.562024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveEcuador, Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsDifferentiate between existential recognition and legal registration; establish procedures for the former as well as the latter;expand the Secretariat into a recognition agency that is independent of government; remove instances of ambiguity within thelegislation, set up procedures for multi-level recognition and revoke the mandatory registration order.Secularity: Ecuador is officially a secular state; however, theRoman Catholic Church receives privileges from the state due toa 1937 concordat with the Holy See; theism was affirmed in thelatest constitution from 2008.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: broad mandatory registration – Ecuadorian religion law and a separate decree both mandate that all non-Catholic religious organisations register with the Ministry of Government. If a religious group wishes to provide social services, itmust register under a 2017 executive decree regulating the legal status of civil society organisations (CSOs). However, a religiousorganisation does not need to register as a CSO and may conduct the processes separately to registering as a religious entity. TheMinistry of Government maintains national databases of legally recognized religious organisations and legally recognized CSOs,including religious groups registered as CSOs. An officially registered religious group, whether as a religious organisation or as aCSO, is eligible to receive government funding and exemptions from certain taxes, per the tax code. All religious organisationsmust be nonprofit and are not required to disclose their financial accounts to the government. To register as a religiousorganisation, a group must present a charter signed by its founding members to the Ministry of Government and provideinformation on its leadership and physical location. Registrants may deliver their documentation directly to the Ministry ofGovernment in Quito, to one of the ministry’s regional offices, or via email. There is no fee for registration. The Directorate ofRegistration of Organizations of Worship, Belief and Conscience, which is part of the Undersecretariat for Nationalities, ReligiousMovements, and Social Organisations and Participation within the Ministry of Government, is charged with reviewing andapproving the submitted documentation. To register as a CSO, religious groups submit the same documentation required toregister as a religious organisation, as well as approved statutes, a mission statement, and a description of the objectives of theorganisation. A religious group registers as a CSO under the government agency overseeing the issues on which the group wishesto work. The Ministry of Government may dissolve a religious group if the group does not maintain legal status or does not adhereto the mission, goals, and objectives listed in its bylaws at the time of registration. Dissolution may include liquidation of physicalproperty and be voluntary – in which case, the religious group could decide to whom to transfer its property – or forced, in whichcase the ministry would confiscate the group’s property. Foreign missionaries and religious volunteers must apply for a temporaryresidence visa and present a letter of invitation from the sponsoring organisation, which may be foreign or domestic but musthave legal status in the country, to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The letter must include a commitment to cover the applicant’sliving expenses and detail the applicant’s proposed activities. Applicants also must provide a certified copy of the bylaws of thesponsoring organisation and the name of its legal representative as approved by the government. Ministry of Government recordsshowed 5,567 religious groups as registered during the year, compared with 5,433 groups in 2022. A ministry official reportedregistration processing times averaged 30 days, and said no religious organisation was denied registration or suspended duringthe year. The official said the Ministry of Government, through its Directorate of Registration of Organisations of Worship, Beliefand Conscience, developed several tools that facilitated the registration process and sought to eliminate potential bias whenreceiving and evaluating registration requests. These included a publicly available list of requirements for religious organisationsseeking to obtain legal status, updated forms available on the ministry’s website, and instruction manuals for accessingDirectorate of Registration services. Key restriction tools imposed: mandatory registration policy; in June 2023, a Ministry of Government official said the ministrycontinued to digitise religious organisations’ documents to make the registration process more convenient for end-users. According toJewish and Muslim leaders, customs regulations, import tariffs, and onerous paperwork continued to hinder the ability to importkosher and halal foods, beverages, and plants. A Jewish leader said the law treated religious communities the same as companiesbecause all imports, including those for religious purposes, were taxed and treated as commercial items.Human rights instruments: Ecuador is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, andthe UNDRIP; Ecuador voted in favour of the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (not free; subject to registration); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free;subject to registration); pastoral services (not free; subject to registration); private expression and observance (free); proselytism(not free; subject to registration); public expression and observance (not free; subject to registration); receiving donations (notfree; subject to registration); religious buildings (not free; subject to registration); religious instruction (free); religious literature(not free; subject to registration); religious and worship services (not free; subject to registration); religious trade (not free;subject to registration).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection was granted in the latest revised constitution from 2008against discrimination on the basis of religion.Recognition policy: a 1937 concordat with the Holy See accords legal status to the Catholic Church and grants it financial privilegesand tax exemptions.572024 RoRB Classification: CensoriousEgypt, Arab Republic ofFoRB Claim: Partial claim is made.RecommendationsAllow for all types of groups to apply for recognition and registration; lift all nationwide religious prohibitions; remove all forms of politicisation of therecognition system.Secularity: Islam is the state religion of Egypt; government recognition is granted toChristianity, Judaism and Sunni Islam; al-Azhar and the Coptic Orthodox Church have influenceover the recognition of new Muslim, Christian and Jewish organisations; theism was affirmed inthe latest constitution from 2014.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: discriminatory mandatory registration – only religious organisations the Egyptian government considers to be Islamic, Christian orJewish may gain access to the process for legal status so that groups can be governed by their own canonical laws, practice religious rituals, establishhouses of worship, and import religious literature. Egyptian law refers to registration as official recognition and religious organisations allowed accessmust a request to the Administrative Affairs Department within the Ministry of the Interior. The department then determines whether the group poses athreat to national unity or social peace. As part of this determination, the department consults leading religious institutions, including the CopticOrthodox Church and al-Azhar. The President then reviews and adjudicates the registration application. The government, through the Ministry of Awqaf,appoints, pays the salaries of and monitors imams who lead prayers in licensed mosques. According to the law, penalties for preaching or giving religiouslessons without a license from the Ministry of Awqaf or al-Azhar include a prison term of up to one year, a fine of up to 50,000 EGP ($1,600), or both. Thepenalty doubles for repeat offenders. Ministry of Awqaf inspectors also have judicial authority to arrest imams for violating this law. A ministry decreeprevents unlicensed imams from preaching in any mosque, prohibits holding Friday prayers in mosques smaller than 80 square meters (860 square feet),bans unlicensed mosques from holding Friday prayer services (other prayer services are permitted), and pays bonuses to imams who deliver Fridaysermons written and disseminated by the Ministry of Awqaf. Ministry personnel monitor Friday sermons in major mosques and an imam who fails tofollow the guidelines for ministry sermons may lose the bonus and be subject to disciplinary measures, including potentially losing his preaching license.The Prime Minister has the authority to stop circulation of books that “denigrate religions,” referring to the three recognised Abrahamic faiths. Ministriesmay obtain court orders to ban or confiscate books and works of art. The cabinet may ban works it deems offensive to public morals, detrimental toreligion, or likely to cause a breach of the peace. The Islamic Research Academy of al-Azhar has the legal authority to censor and confiscate anypublications dealing with the Quran and the authoritative Islamic traditions (sunnah) and to confiscate publications, tapes, speeches, and artisticmaterials deemed inconsistent with Islamic law. A 2016 law delegates the power to issue legal permits and to authorise church construction or renovationto governors of the country’s 27 governorates. The governor must respond within four months of receipt of an application for legalisation; any refusalmust include a written justification. The law does not provide for review or appeal of a refusal, nor does it specify recourse if a governor fails to respondwithin the required timeframe. The law also includes provisions to legalise existing unlicensed churches. It stipulates that while a request to license anexisting building for use as a church is pending, the use of the building to conduct church services and rites may not be prevented. Legalisation becomesfinal only when the approved churches comply with provisions of structural soundness and civil defense (safety) conditions, prove land ownership, andpay the required administrative fees. Under the law, the size of new churches continues to depend on a government determination of the “number andneed” of Christians in the area. Construction of new churches must meet specific land registration procedures and building codes and is subject by law togreater government regulation than that applied to the construction of new mosques. Under a separate law governing the construction of mosques, theMinistry of Awqaf reviews and approves building permits. A 2001 cabinet decree includes a list of 10 provisions requiring that new mosques built after thatdate must, among other conditions, be a minimum of 500 meters (1,640 feet) from the nearest other mosque, have a ground surface of at least 175 squaremeters (1,884 square feet), and be built only in areas where “the existing mosques do not accommodate the number of residents in the area.” The law doesnot require Ministry of Awqaf approval for mosque renovations.Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation in favour of recognition rather than registration, prohibition of the Baha'i Faith and Jehovah's Witnesses,recognition is constricted to only Islamic, Christian and Jewish denominations approved by the government (this does not necessarily mean they will beaccepted for recognition), there exists broad and ambiguous qualifications for state recognition of a denomination, unrecognised groups are prohibitedfrom conducting some basic religious activities such as importing religious literature, establishing places of worship, practising their rituals freely andopenly.Human rights instruments: Egypt is partied to the ICCPR (but with a reservation based on sharia), the ICESCR, theUNCRC, and the UNDRIP; Egypt voted in favour of the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (not free; restricted); monasticism (not free; subject to registration); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free; subject toregistration); pastoral services (not free; restricted); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (not free; not prohibited in law but thegovernment prohibits any attempt to convert a Muslim to another religion or irreligion); public expression and observance (not free; restricted);receiving donations (free); religious buildings (not free; subject to registration); religious instruction (free); religious literature (not free; subject toregistration); religious and worship services (not free; subject to registration); religious trade (not free; subject to registration).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection was granted in the latest revised constitution from 2014 against discrimination on thebasis of religion.Recognition policy: only religions recognised by the government may legally engage in the public practice of their religion and build places of worship.The constitution defines al-Azhar, the main authority on theology and Islamic affairs, as “an independent scientific Islamic institution with exclusivecompetence over its own affairs. It is responsible for preaching Islam and disseminating the religious sciences and the Arabic language” worldwide. Theconstitution requires the state to provide “sufficient funding for it to achieve its purposes.” Al-Azhar’s Grand Imam is elected by al-Azhar’s Council ofSenior Scholars and is officially appointed by the President for a life term. The President does not have the authority to dismiss him. Al-Azhar has beendeemed by the Council of State, an independent judicial body that gives legal advice to the government and drafts legislation, as the final arbiterregarding licensing of audio and audiovisual productions related to Islam. Courts also seek al-Azhar’s opinion in cases of blasphemy. Its consent is aprecondition for other Muslim religious groups to practice their religious rituals openly. The constitution stipulates the canonical laws of Jews andChristians form the basis of legislation governing their personal status, religious affairs, and selection of spiritual leaders. Individuals are subject todifferent sets of personal status laws regarding such matters as marriage, divorce, and inheritance depending upon their official religious designation.The Ministry of Interior issues national identity cards for citizens that include official religious designations. Designation options are limited to“Muslim,” “Christian,” or “Jewish.” Although the government designates Jehovah’s Witnesses as “Christian” on identity cards, a presidential decreebans their religious activities. Since a 2009 court order, Baha’is and other citizens belonging to unrecognised religious groups may have their religiousaffiliation denoted by a dash (“-”) on national identity cards. The Minister of Interior has the authority to issue executive regulations determining whatdata national identity cards must list. The government recognises only the marriages of Christian, Jewish, and Muslim citizens, with documentation froma cleric, and does not recognise civil marriages between Egyptian citizens. Official guidance from the Ministry of Justice stipulates that “the law prohibitsmarriage to an atheist.” The government does not recognise marriages of Baha’is or individuals from other unrecognized religious groups such asJehovah’s Witnesses, Hindus, and members of the Church of Jesus Christ.582024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveEl Salvador, Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsEstablish sufficient procedures for existential recognition; equalisation of recognition statuses and therevocation of state privilege; benefits should be available to all groups; dismantle the vertical registration system.Secularity: El Salvador is officially a secular state; however, the Roman CatholicChurch is given the special privilege in the latest constitution from 2014 automaticrecognition which exempts it from registration requirements and governmentfinancial oversight; theism was affirmed in the 2014 constitution.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: stipulatory registration – Salvadorian law allows religious organisations to operate withoutneeding to register with the government, however, registration is required to obtain tax-exempt status andallows registered organisations to obtain an official permit for building a place of worship. To register, a religiousgroup must apply through the Office of the Director General for Nonprofit Associations and Foundations(DGFASFL) in the Ministry of Governance. The group must present its constitution and bylaws describing the typeof organisation, location of its offices, its goals and principles, requirements for membership, functions of itsruling bodies, and assessments or dues. The DGFASFL analyses the group’s constitution and bylaws to ensureboth comply with the law. Upon approval, the government publishes the group’s constitution and bylaws in theofficial gazette. The DGFASFL does not maintain records on religious groups once it approves their status, andthere are no requirements for renewal of registration. By law, the Ministry of Governance has the authority toregister, regulate, and oversee the finances of nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) and all religious groupsexcept the Catholic Church, due to the latter’s special legal recognition under the constitution. Foreign membersof religious groups must obtain special residence visas for religious activities, including proselytising, and maynot proselytise while on visitor or tourist visas. Religious groups must be registered to be eligible for theirmembers to receive this special residence visa for religious activities. The Ministry of Governance reported therewere 449 requests for registration of religious groups during the year, compared with 312 in 2022. Of these, theministry approved 177 requests and denied 54 because of incomplete documentation; 208 applications remainedunder review as of December 22. In 10 cases, the applicants requested the suspension of their application. TheMinistry of Governance reported that although the registration process was available electronically, manyreligious groups did not present the required documents in a timely manner. According to the ministry, delays inregistration approvals occurred because religious groups were first required to submit documentation, and thepaperwork they submitted to the ministry was incorrect or incomplete.Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, Catholic organisations are exempt from registration which createsa discriminatory and vertical registration system (verticalism), many registration applications remain pendinghence delaying some group's the ability to exercise the full range of activities granted through registration,according to religious groups, authorities did not restrict church services and religious gatherings under the 2022State of Exception.Human rights instruments: El Salvador is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC,and the UNDRIP; El Salvador voted in favour of the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoralservices (free); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (free); public expression and observance(free); receiving donations (free); religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religious literature(free); religious and worship services (free); religious trade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection was granted in the latest revised constitution from2014 against discrimination on the basis of religion.592024 RoRB Classification: CensoriousEquatorial Guinea, Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsRemove all instances of politicisation from the recognition and its procedures; remove instances of partial recognition; revoke state privileges in order to equalisethe procedures for recognition and registration; revoke the existent restrictions on religious activity.Secularity: Equatorial Guinea is officially a secular state; however,  a degree of state privilege is grantedto the Roman Catholic Church and the Protestant Reformed Church of Equatorial Guinea as they areexempted from having to register; the Roman Catholic Church is also the only religion to receive statefunding for operating educational institutions; theism was affirmed in the latest revised constitutionfrom 2012.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: broad mandatory registration – Equatorial Guinean law mandates that all new religious organisations must register with the Ministry of Justice,Religious Affairs, and Penitentiary Institutions (MJRAPI). In addition to Catholics and Calvinists, Methodist, Islamic and Baha’i groups are exempt from having to undergothis annual re-registration as these groups hold the status of ‘permanent presidential authorisation.’ To register, religious groups at the congregational level must submit awritten application to the MJRAPI director general of religious affairs. Groups seeking to register must supply detailed information about the leadership and membership ofthe group, construction plans for religious buildings, property ownership documents, accreditations, and a mission statement from the religious organisation’sheadquarters, and must pay a fee of 500,000 Central African francs (CFA francs) ($840). In addition, all leaders of churches must present a certificate of theology or religiousstudies from an internationally recognised institution of higher education, and the National University of Equatorial Guinea (UNGE) must issue an equivalent certificate forthem. The director general of religious affairs adjudicates these applications and may order an inspection by the MJRAPI before processing. The government may fine or shutdown unregistered groups. The law requires a permit for door-to-door proselytising. An MJRAPI decree specifies that any religious activities taking place outside the hoursof 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. or outside of registered places of worship require preauthorisation from the ministry. The decree prohibits religious acts or preaching within privateresidences if those acts involve persons who do not live there. Foreign religious representatives or authorities must obtain advance permission from the MJRAPI to lead orspeak at religious activities, and sometimes must provide the text of their remarks for MJRAPI approval in advance. Such permission is not required simply to attend services.The MJRAPI permission is usually granted for the duration of the foreign religious representative’s visit to the country. The decree exempts the Catholic Church. Thegovernment recognises official documents issued by authorised domestic or foreign religious groups, such as birth certificates and marriage certificates. Most foreigners,including foreign evangelical Christian missionaries, are required to obtain residency permits to remain in the country. Applicants must pay 400,000 CFA francs ($680)every two years for such residency permits (which are separate from group registration permits) and renew their permits annually. The residency permit fee for foreignmissionaries is the same as for other foreigners. Catholic missionaries are exempt from the residency permit requirement. Minister of Justice, Religious Affairs, andPenitentiary Institutions Sergio Abeso, who took office in February, continued to enforce the 2021 registration requirements for religious groups. Leaders of evangelicalChristian churches continued to say that the regulations adversely affected them disproportionately, because Catholic churches remained exempt from the requirements,Muslim communities operated under a presidential authorisation, and other religious communities were too small to bear the administrative and financial cost to registernew entities. Minister of Justice, Religious Affairs, and Penitentiary Institutions Sergio Abeso, who took office in February, continued to enforce the 2021 registrationrequirements for religious groups. Leaders of evangelical Christian churches continued to say that the regulations adversely affected them disproportionately, becauseCatholic churches remained exempt from the requirements, Muslim communities operated under a presidential authorisation, and other religious communities were toosmall to bear the administrative and financial cost to register new entities. Religious groups in the country, especially evangelical and Pentecostal, continued to criticise thegovernment’s registration regulations and practices, including the requirement for a certificate from the UNGE and what they stated was the government’s tendency toannounce changes to registration requirements suddenly and without consultation. Some evangelical Christian churches, which lodged a formal complaint with the MJRAPIin 2022 concerning the registration requirements, continued to discuss the requirements with the MJRAPI director general and Minister Abeso throughout the year. Theysaid that because UNGE did not have a theological faculty to offer the certificate required for foreign missionaries, some missionaries and their families had been forced toleave the country. Evangelical Christian leaders also said the MJRAPI enforced regulations inconsistently and “according to a political agenda.” The Federation of Evangelicaland Pentecostal churches said that some churches that were reported to the MJRAPI for abusive or inappropriate practices were allowed to operate while other churches thatcomplied with the law and regulations were shut down. Conversely, sources stated that the MJRAPI had more limited influence over the Catholic Church and the ProtestantReformed Church of Equatorial Guinea, which were not required to register, as well as the larger religious groups that held permanent authorisations, since theauthorisations stemmed from the President’s office and not from the ministry. In September 2023, the government ordered the closure of six evangelical and Pentecostalchurches because they failed to comply with registration requirements. In addition, local Malabo authorities and local communities registered numerous complaints aboutthe six churches. One church leader said these ranged from noise and nuisance complaints about church activities to accusations of rape, gender-based violence, and childabuse carried out against church members by church leaders. The church leader said the complaints were not filed officially nor investigated by the MJRAPI; some were basedsimply on complaints from individuals on social media. According to evangelical leaders, persistent negative societal views regarding evangelical Christian churches,including views expressed on government-owned media, also hampered some churches’ attempts to reregister. They said because some communities held negative views ofevangelical churches, partly based on the media coverage, MJRAPI officials were reluctant to register some churches. During Senate debate in September regarding proposedchanges to the law on religious freedom, for example, the government said in a press release that it needed to “protect the people” by combating the “bad practices of cultsand religious confessions” including appropriation of members’ property, “terrorism, kidnapping and the trafficking of children.” The Senate recommended updating thecensus of religious groups operating in the country and the locations of their churches, closing any religious facilities that did not permit inspection by government officialsor did not comply with the law on religious freedom, suspending the registration of all citizens or foreigners who did not have the required certificate from the UNGE,determining ways to prevent church members and their heirs from being “deceived” into giving their property to a religious group, better regulating the submission of civilor criminal violations by religious groups to the appropriate government authorities, and prohibiting the media from broadcasting “misleading advertising forevangelisation campaigns.” The recommendations were transmitted to the executive branch for action. According to various sources, the Senate recommendations, ifadopted, likely would restrict the ability of evangelical, Pentecostal, and other minority religious groups to perform their religious practices. Evangelical and PentecostalChristians continued to report that residency permits were prohibitively expensive, leading some missionaries to risk the consequences of not obtaining or renewing theirpermits while they remained in the country. Local police reportedly enforced the requirement with threats of deportation and requested a small bribe as an alternative. Thepresident of the national federation of evangelical and Pentecostal churches reported the voluntary departure during the year of some missionaries from Colombia, Mexico,Brazil and Spain due to the difficulty and cost of obtaining residency permits, but precise figures were not available. There were no reports of missionaries being deportedduring the year. Catholic missionaries did not require residency permits to remain in the country. While the government continued routinely to grant permission for religiousgroups to hold activities outside of places of worship, with the exception of private homes, it usually denied permits to hold activities outside of the prescribed hours of 6 a.m.to 9 p.m., according to religious leaders. Authorities permitted all religious groups, except the churches closed during the year, to hold services provided they finished before9 p.m. and did not disturb the peace.Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, annual reregistration may be imposed onto newer groups, arbitrary enforcement, permanent authorisations create avertical registration system (verticalism) as do registration exemptions, registration fee ($860, up from $170 the year before) exceeds $100 threshold set by RoRBstandards, registration is made a prerequisite to the legal officiation of marriages in ways customary to the religion, requalification (evangelical Christians, eventhose already approved, were ordered to submit their theological certificates for government review), unregistration may lead to fines and forced closures.Human rights instruments: Equatorial Guinea is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, and the UNCRC;Equatorial Guinea was absent during voting on the UNDRIP; Equatorial Guinea did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (not free; restricted); monasticism (not free; subject to registration); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free; subject toregistration); pastoral services (not free; subject to registration); private expression and observance (not free; some restrictions imposed); proselytism (not free;subject to a permit); public expression and observance (not free; restricted); receiving donations (not free; subject to registration); religious buildings (not free;subject to registration); religious instruction (free); religious literature (not free; restricted); religious and worship services (not free; subject to registration);religious trade (not free; subject to registration).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection was granted in the latest revised constitution from 2012 againstdiscrimination on the basis of religion.602024 RoRB Classification: TerminalEritrea, State ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsReduce the informational requirements imposed on groups; revoke the mandatory registration law and other restrictions placed on the recognitionsystem such as the ambiguous laws on unregistration, the government’s refusal to recognise or register any new religious groups, verticalrecognition system and state preapproval of religious buildings.Secularity: Eritrea is officially a secular state; Eritrean Orthodox TewahedoChurch, Sunni Islam, Catholicism, and Evangelical Lutheran Church of Eritreaare officially recognised denominations.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: broad mandatory registration – Proclamation 73/1995 in Eritrean law mandates that all religious organisations register withthe government or otherwise cease their activities in the country. Proclamation 73/1995, which serves as the guiding law on religious issues, callsfor separation of religion and state; outlines the parameters to which religious organizations must adhere, including concerning foreign relationsand social activities; establishes an Office of Religious Affairs; and requires religious groups to register with the government or cease activities.Some members of religious groups that are unregistered or otherwise not in compliance with the law reportedly continue to be subject to the formerprovisional penal code, which sets penalties for failure to register and noncompliance. A revised penal code, pending implementation since 2015,does not directly address penalties for religious groups that fail to register or otherwise comply with the law, but includes a punishment of betweenone- and six- months’ imprisonment and a fine of 5,001 to 20,000 nakfa ($330 to $1,300) for “unlawful assembly.” The Office of Religious Affairshas authority to regulate religious activities and institutions, including approval of the applications of religious groups seeking official registration.Each application must include a description of the group’s history in the country; an explanation of the uniqueness or benefit the group offerscompared with other registered religious groups; names and personal information of the group’s leaders; detailed information on assets; adescription of the group’s conformity to local culture; and a declaration of all foreign sources of funding. The Office of Religious Affairs hasregistered four religious groups: the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church, Sunni Islam, the Catholic Church, and the Evangelical Lutheran Churchof Eritrea (affiliated with the Lutheran World Federation). While the Baha’i Faith is not one of the four officially recognized religious groups, thegroup has applied to register every year since its establishment in the country in 1959 and has “de facto” recognition from the government. Adecree requires all other religious groups to submit registration applications and to cease religious activities and services prior to approval.Religious groups must obtain government approval to build facilities for worship. The law does not provide for conscientious objector status forreligious reasons, nor are there alternative activities for persons willing to perform national service but unwilling to engage in military or militiaactivities. The government requires all citizens to obtain an exit visa prior to departing the country. The application requests the applicant’sreligious affiliation, but the law does not require that information. The law limits foreign financing for religious groups, including registeredgroups. The only contributions legally allowed are from local followers, the government, or government-approved foreign sources.Key restriction tools imposed: ambiguous laws on unregistration, long-term detention and imprisonment for members and leaders of unregistered groups, excessive andrestrictive informational requirements, ban on all non-Sunni religious activities among Muslims, government continued to deny citizenship to Jehovah's Witnesses(revoked since 1994) for refusing to participate in the referendum that created Eritrea, low registration rate as no addition to the four recognised denominations have beenmade since 2002, prohibition of all non-Sunni forms of Islam, state control of appointing religious leaders, state preapproval for building places of worship, vertical system(verticalism). Information continued to be extremely limited about those imprisoned for their faith. Many arrests and releases were unreported. The government continuedto detain without due process persons associated with unregistered religious groups, occasionally for long periods, and sometimes on the grounds of threatening nationalsecurity, according to minority religious group members and international NGOs. Their eventual release from detention was sometimes conditioned on a formalrenunciation of their faith. In August, an executive from VOM Canada said minority religious group members “simply disappeared” into the country’s prison system. Hesaid Christians from unregistered groups, especially, were often depicted by the government as “not patriotic and not good citizens.” Another international NGO officialsaid in January that unregistered Christians who continued to worship were treated as “enemies of the state” by the government. In March, UN Deputy High Commissionerfor Human Rights Nada al-Nashif said that the “harassment and arbitrary detention of people because of their faith continued unabated” in the country, with “hundreds ofreligious leaders and followers affected.” Government authorisation remained necessary for any organization to print and distribute documents; for religious groups, thatauthorisation needed to come from the Office of Religious Affairs, which continued to approve requests only from the four officially registered religious groups.Government restrictions on registered and unregistered religious groups remained in place regarding proselytising, accepting external funding from international NGOsand international organizations, and groups selecting their own religious leaders. Unregistered religious groups also faced restrictions in gathering for worship,constructing places of worship, and teaching their religious beliefs to others, although they reported that in many cases the government unofficially allowed them toworship in private homes as long as it was done discreetly. Official attitudes differed toward members of unregistered religious groups worshipping in homes or rentedfacilities. According to VOM Canada, the government actively sought to infiltrate unregistered churches and imprison their leaders. Some local authorities reportedlytolerated the presence and activities of unregistered groups, while others attempted to prevent them from meeting. The government, which has not approved theregistration of additional religious groups since 2002, again approved no new religious groups during the year. Unrecognized religious groups expressed fear that applyingwould open them to further repression. Jehovah’s Witnesses remained largely unable to obtain official identification documents, which left many of them unable to study ingovernment institutions and barred them from most forms of employment, government benefits, access to bank accounts, and travel. Local authorities sometimes deniedgovernment ration coupons to Jehovah’s Witnesses and members of Pentecostal groups because members of those unregistered groups were not issued government IDcards. Most places of worship unaffiliated with the four officially registered religious groups remained closed to worship, but many of those buildings remained physicallyintact and undamaged. The government continued to permit the last Jew known to remain in the country to maintain the synagogue in Asmara as a historic site. The GreekOrthodox church remained open as a cultural building, and members of the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church sometimes held religious services at the site. Otherstructures belonging to unregistered groups, such as the Church of Christ, remained shuttered. The government allowed the Baha’i center in Asmara to remain open, andmembers of the center had unrestricted access to the building. A Baha’i temple outside of Asmara was allowed to operate. There were indications other unregistered groups,including Seventh-day Adventists, operated to some degree. The Anglican church building held services, but only under the auspices of the registered Evangelical LutheranChurch. Government control of all mass media, as well as a fear of imprisonment or other government actions, continued to restrict the ability of unregistered religiousgroup members to bring attention to government actions against them, according to observers. Restrictions on public assembly and freedom of expression severely limitedthe ability of unregistered religious groups to assemble and conduct worship in a designated place of worship, according to group members.Human rights instruments: Eritrea is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, and the UNCRC; Eritrea was absentduring voting on the UNDRIP; Eritrea did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (not free; restricted); hieroncy (not free; restricted); monasticism (not free; restricted); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free;restricted); pastoral services (not free; restricted); proselytism (not free; restricted); public expression and observance (not free; restricted);receiving donations (not free; restricted); religious buildings (not free; restricted); religious instruction (not free; restricted); religious literature(not free; restricted); religious and worship services (not free; restricted); religious trade (not free; restricted).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection was granted in the latest constitution from 1997 against discrimination onthe basis of religion.612024 RoRB Classification: ReceptiveEstonia, Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsEnsure that both traditional religious groups and NRMs are given the appropriate support they require to establish themselves in thecountry, not in any way hinder by unnecessary government restrictions; established differentiation between recognition and registration;streamline the levels of recognition in order to ensure the equitability of the procedures and the status they grant; to be classifiedDynamic, establish a recognition agency independent of government; revoke the membership quotas currently imposed.Secularity: Estonia is a secular state; culturally, the Estonian Evangelical LutheranChurch is still recognised as the national church.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: stipulatory registration – Estonian law does not mandate that religious organisations register withthe government in order to operate legally. The law also defines ‘religious associations’ as churches, congregations,unions of congregations, and monasteries. The law also requires ‘religious associations’ to have a management boardwhich holds the right to invite a minister of religion from outside the country. At least half the members of themanagement board must reside in the country, in another member state of the European Economic Area, or inSwitzerland. The elected or appointed superior of a monastery serves as the management board for the monastery. Aseparate legal designation are ‘religious societies’ which are defined as voluntary organisations whose main activitiesinclude religious or ecumenical activities relating to morals, ethics, and cultural and social rehabilitation activitiesoutside the traditional forms of religious rites of a church or congregation. Religious societies do not need to affiliate witha specific church or congregation. The registration office of the Tartu County Court registers all religious associations andreligious societies. To register, a religious association must have at least 12 members, and its management board mustsubmit a notarised or digitally signed application, the minutes of its constitutive meeting, and a copy of its statutes. Thelaw treats registered religious associations as nonprofit entities entitled to some tax benefits, such as a value-added taxexemption, if they apply for them. The law does not prohibit religious activities by unregistered religious associations.Unregistered religious associations, however, may not act as legal persons. Unlike registered religious associations,unregistered associations are not eligible for tax benefits. Religious societies are registered according to the lawgoverning nonprofit associations and are entitled to the same tax benefits as religious associations. To register as anongovernmental association (NGO), a religious society must have a founding contract and statutes approved by itsfounders, who may be physical or legal persons. The minimum number of founders is two. The society must submit itsregistration application either electronically or on paper to the Tartu County Court registry office. During the year, thegovernment registered two new religious organizations, the Estonian Islamic Shura Council Dar al-Iftaa Congregationand the Pentecostal Worship Congregation in Estonia, as NGOs in its official registry. According to MOI official data, thereare more than 600 religious associations registered with the government.Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, lack of autonomy on management structure for registered organisations, membershipquotas.Human rights instruments: Estonia is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC,and the UNDRIP; Estonia did not vote on the UDHR; Estonia is partied to the ECHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free); proselytism(free); public expression and observance (free); receiving donations (free); religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free);religious literature (free); religious and worship services (free); religious trade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection was granted in the latest revised constitution from2015 against discrimination on the basis of religion but only prohibits religiousdiscrimination in the area of employment.Recognition policy: the MOI granted €672,011 ($743,000) to religious associations, of which the ECC received the largestamount, €530,000 ($586,000) or approximately 8 percent less than in 2022. The council comprises 10 Christianchurches, including the Lutheran Church and both the EOCMP and the AEOC, and encompasses the country’s largestChristian communities. In addition to the ECC, the MOI provided smaller grants to the Jewish Community, the MuslimCommunity, and the EELK for diaspora work among Estonians abroad. The government continued to fund ecumenicalactivities, including Estonian Broadcasting Company’s ecclesiastical broadcasts, the work of churches to support youth,activities promoting inter-religious dialogue, and religious publishing. In May, the government ended its 1995agreement with the EELK to establish a joint commission to discuss cultural, social, educational, and legal issues. TheInterior Minister stated because there is no state church, the government cannot favor one over another. The ECCincludes the EELK and continued to consult with the government on various issues.622024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveEswatini, Kingdom ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsDifferentiate between recognition and registration within the system and provide sufficient procedures for the provision of both; revokethe identified restrictive structures and policies in place on the registration process (e.g. impedimentation).Secularity: Eswatini is officially a secular state; however, state privilege is granted to ZionistChristianity as indicated by the law mandating Christian instruction in schools but banning theteaching of other religions, separating registration procedures for Christian organisations andunequal treatment of non-Christian groups in the process for constructing a place of worship;theism was affirmed in the latest constitution from 2005; theism is also affirmed in the oath ofallegiance.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: broad-discriminatory mandatory registration – Eswatini law mandates that all religious organisationsregister with the government to operate legally in the country. Similar to other countries in southern Africa, Eswatiniregistration law follows an ‘umbrella religious body’ structure. Christian organisations are obliged to register with one of thecountry’s three umbrella religious bodies, namely, League of Churches, the Swaziland Conference of Churches, or the Councilof Swaziland Churches. One of these umbrella religious bodies must provide a recommendation but, according to churchleaders, this is routinely granted and does not impede registration. The application process requires a group to provide itsconstitution, membership, and physical location, along with the relevant umbrella body’s recommendation, to the MCIT,which then registers the organisation. All legal entities, whether for-profit, non-profit, religious or non-religious, mustregister with the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade (MCIT). For Indigenous religious groups and non-Christianreligious organisations, authorities consider proof of a religious leader, a congregation, and a place of worship as sufficientgrounds to grant registration. Registered religious groups are exempt from taxation, but contributions are not tax deductible.The government does not disclose the numbers and types of religious groups registered. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)is responsible for the oversight of religious groups, once they have successfully registered with the MCIT. Religious groupsmust obtain permission from the relevant local government to construct new buildings in urban areas. In rural areas,prospective builders must obtain permission from the appropriate chief and chief’s advisory council. In some ruralcommunities, chiefs have designated special committees to allocate land to religious groups for a fee. The governmentregistered some religious groups during the year but did not disclose how many were registered, nor their identities. Somereligious groups continued to say that registering via the MCIT was unwieldy, bureaucratic, and subject to excessiveprocessing times, prompting some groups to simply not register. In contrast, religious groups continued to say the MHAprovided professional assistance and oversight of religious affairs in the country and acted in the interests of faithcommunities and churches. The government continued to require all faith groups, including Christians, to obtain advancepermission from local traditional authorities (umphakatsi) or municipal offices to hold major events, such as all-night prayervigils or public days of prayer. Authorities continued to review events for potential security risks. According to religiousleaders, these procedures constituted restrictions on these common and popular activities, but there were no reports ofgroups being denied permission to hold events. Some religious leaders continued to say, however, that delays in obtaininggovernment permission for their activities were unreasonable and sometimes only resolved by bribing the relevant civilservants whom they believed delayed and denied applications, with tacit support from their superiors, until a bribe was paid.Some groups said they opted not to request permission to hold public events, or canceled events already scheduled, becausethey did not want to attract unwanted attention. For example, Islamic leaders scheduled a public discussion of the Hamas-Israel conflict in Gaza to take place at an Islamic community center on 3rd November 2023, but canceled it themselves, whenthe King announced that a Sibaya or national “peoples’ parliament” would take place on the same day. Islamic leaders saidthey made the decision out of respect, to avoid appearing to compete for attention with the King. Religious groups reportedunequal treatment by municipal bureaucracies in their requests to erect buildings in urban areas. Hindu groups, for example,said they have not requested authorisation to build facilities because of the level of government scrutiny they felt they wouldface. There are no Hindu temples or structures in the country, and Hindus worshipped in family groups in homes.Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, registration procedures are different for Christian and non-Christian groups, registrationprocedures for Christian groups are oriented around a system of umbrella organisations meaning successful registration is dependent upon arecommendation from one such umbrella bodies, the necessity for a non-Christian registrant group to have a place of worship restricts theregistration process because those seeking to build a new place of worship must either obtain permission from the government in urban areasor gain permission from a chief and their advisory council in rural areas (impedimentation).Human rights instruments: Eswatini is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and theUNDRIP; Eswatini did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (not free; government permit required); monasticism (not free; subject to registration); nuptial, initiatory andburial rites (not free; subject to registration); pastoral services (not free; subject to registration); proselytism (not free; subject toregistration); public expression and observance (not free; subject to registration); receiving donations (not free; subject to registration);religious buildings (not free; subject to registration); religious instruction (free); religious literature (not free; subject to registration);religious and worship services (not free; subject to registration); religious trade (not free; subject to registration).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection was granted in the latest constitution from 2005 againstdiscrimination on the basis of religion.632024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveEthiopia, FederalDemocraticRepublic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsReduction of the systematic restrictions imposed on religious groups is essential; revoke the mandatoryregistration rule and other types of restriction tools.Secularity: Ethiopia is officially a secular state (the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Churchwas disestablished in 1974); however, special privileges in registration procedures aregranted to the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, which is still recognised as thenational church, and the Ethiopian Islamic Affairs Supreme Council.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: broad mandatory registration – Ethiopian law mandates that all religious organisations mustregister with the Directorate of Faith and Religious Affairs of the Ministry of Peace. Applicant religious organisations arerequired to submit a founding document, the national identity cards of its founders, and the permanent address of thereligious institution and planned regional branches. The registration process also requires an application letter,information on board members, meeting minutes, information on the founders, financial reports, offices, name, andsymbols. Religious groups must have at least 1,000 members to register as a religious entity and 500 for registration as aministry or association; the rights and privileges are the same for each category. During the registration process, thegovernment publishes the religious group’s name and logo in a local newspaper. If there are no objections within 20working days, registration is granted. Registration with the ministry confers legal status on a religious group, whichgives the group the right to congregate and to obtain land to build a place of worship and establish a cemetery.Unregistered groups do not receive these benefits. Religious groups must renew their registration at least once every fiveyears; failure to do so may result in a fine. Unlike other religious groups, the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church(EOTC) is not registered by the Ministry of Peace but obtains registration through a provision in the civil code passed in1960 during the imperial era that is still in force. Registered religious organizations are required to provide annualactivity and financial reports. Registered umbrella associations, such as the EOTC and the Ethiopian Islamic AffairsSupreme Council (EIASC), are granted special privileges, with auditing only required every three to five years. Activityreports must describe proselytising activities and list new members, newly ordained clergy, and new houses of worship.Under the constitution, the federal government owns all land; religious groups must apply to both the regional and localgovernments for land allocation, including for land to build places of worship. While the federal government grants theland, religious groups pay an annual tax to the local government. The tax is determined by the total area of the land andthe local tax rates that may differ from zone to zone. If there is a dispute between the religious organisation and the localgovernment on the land they are allocated, or not allocated, the federal government steps in as an intermediary.Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, a secondary procedure is mandated for those religious groups conductinghumanitarian and development activities which is impermissible because these are included as part of "pastoralservices" and are therefore a basic religious activity that should not be subject to registration, mandating that groups listnew members as part of monitorial requirements is excessive, membership quotas, the government imposes the publicobjection restriction tool,  the exemption of the EOC from registration creates a vertical system (verticalism), "the rightto congregate" is listed as a registration benefit yet this is a basic religious activity that should not be subject toregistration.Human rights instruments: Ethiopia is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, and the UNCRC;Ethiopia was absent during voting on the UNDRIP; Ethiopia voted in favour of the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (not free; subject to registration); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites(not free; subject to registration); pastoral services (not free; subject to registration); proselytism (not free; subject toregistration); public expression and observance (not free; subject to registration); receiving donations (not free;subject to registration); religious buildings (not free; subject to registration); religious instruction (not free; subject toregistration); religious literature (not free; subject to registration); religious and worship services (not free; subject toregistration); religious trade (not free; subject to registration).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection was granted in the constitution from 1995 againstdiscrimination on the basis of religion.642024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveFiji, Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsRemove existent restrictions and clarify ambiguous policies in order to reach the classification Receptive; set upprovisions to protect and recognise at multiple levels both traditional groups and NRMs including both existentialrecognition and legal registration; establish a recognition agency independent of government in order to beclassified Dynamic; revoke secondary procedures involved in the registration process.Secularity: Fiji is a secular state; however, theism isaffirmed in the oath of allegiance.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: broad mandatory registration – Fijian law mandates that all religious organisations mustregister with the government to operate legally in the country. The law requires religious organisations to registerthrough their board of trustees. After registering, religious organisations can operate legally and may also thenpossess land and property in the organisation’s name. Registration is conducted with the Registrar of Titles Office.Applications must include the names and identification of the trustees signed by the head of the religious bodyseeking registration, a copy of the constitution of the proposed religious body, title documents for the land used bythe religious body, and a registration fee of 2.30 Fiji dollars ($1.00). Registered religious bodies receive exemptionfrom taxes after approval from the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service, on the condition they operate in a nonprofitand noncompetitive capacity. By law, religious bodies that hold title to land or property must register their housesof worship, including their land, and show proof of title. The law does not address conditions for religiousorganisations that do not hold title to land. Permits are required for any public meeting on public propertyorganised by religious groups, except for regular religious services in houses of worship.Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, second procedures are established the registration of each buildingbelonging to a religious group in addition to the procedures for registering the group itself. In September 2023,authorities issued a deportation order for several members of the Grace Road Church, a South Korean religiousgroup with more than 400 followers. The group first moved to Fiji in 2014, stating it would be safe there from animminent apocalypse. The Republic of Korea and Interpol issued an international arrest warrant for the churchmembers in 2018. They were initially arrested by a joint Korean and Fijian force in 2018, but were released shortlyafter, and their lawyers sought an interim stay on possible deportation at the time. Through its business arm, theGrace Road Group, the church operated farms, restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, beauty parlours, and aconstruction firm in Fiji. The church’s founder, Shin Ok-ju, was convicted of child abuse, false imprisonment, andassault, and imprisoned in the Republic of Korea in 2019 for holding hundreds of followers captive in Fiji andsubjecting them to violence. In September 2023, media outlets reported that the chair of Fiji’s Human Rights andAntidiscrimination Commission said members of the Grace Road Church who faced deportation must be given theright to challenge their detention and deportation. The commission had received a complaint from members of thechurch related to the way some of its members were taken into custody by government officials. The complaintstated that authorities used force during detention, denied Church members access to a lawyer while detained at theSuva Remand Center, labeled the church as a cult, and stated that one member was denied a visa to re-enter Fiji.Human rights instruments: Fiji is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, and the UNCRC;Fiji was absent during voting on the UNDRIP; Fiji did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (not free; subject to registration); nuptial, initiatory and burialrites (not free; subject to registration); pastoral services (not free; subject to registration); proselytism (not free;subject to registration); public expression and observance (not free; subject to registration); receiving donations(not free; subject to registration); religious buildings (not free; subject to registration); religious instruction (notfree; subject to registration); religious literature (not free; subject to registration); religious and worship services(not free; subject to registration); religious trade (not free; subject to registration).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection was granted in the latest constitution from 2013against discrimination on the basis of religion.652024 RoRB Classification: ReceptiveFinland, Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsDifferentiate between existential recognition and legal registration; remove some minor issues of inequality within the recognitionsystem; revoke the membership quota and policy of non-recognition; to be classified Dynamic, a recognition agency independent ofgovernment would need to be established.Secularity: Finland is officially a secular state (the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland wasdisestablished in 1867 and the Finnish Orthodox Church was disestablished 1917); however,privileges are granted to the Finnish Orthodox Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church ofFinland (ELC) and both are still given cultural recognition as national churches.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: stipulatory registration – Finnish law does not mandate that religious organisations register with the government inorder to operate legally, associate and practise their religion. However, gaining registration is required for religious organisations that wishto obtain government funds with the exception of the ELC and the Finnish Orthodox Church. Registration is conducted with the Patent andRegistration Office and the designation is ‘religious community.’ To register as a religious community, a group must have at least 20members, the public practice of religion as its purpose, and a set of rules to guide its activities. A registered religious community is a legalentity that may employ persons, purchase property, and make legal claims. A religious group may also acquire legal status by registering asan association with a nonprofit purpose that is not contrary to law or proper behavior. Registered religious communities and nonprofitassociations are generally exempt from taxes. According to the Ministry of Education and Culture (MEC), as of August, there were 169registered religious communities, most of which had multiple congregations. The ELC and the Orthodox Church are the primary religiousinstitutions in the country. Of the other 167 registered religious communities, 73 are Christian, 57 Islamic, 16 Buddhist, four Hindu, andfour Jewish. A total of 13 registered religious communities represented other faiths. According to the MEC, several additional religiouscommunities are organized under the name the Pentecostal Church of Finland but have registered as associations and not as separatereligious communities. Similarly, other organisations, such as revivalist congregations of the ELC, have independent theological orfunctional operations but have remained administratively under the ELC and have not registered as independent religious communities.Persons may belong to more than one religious group. The law requires the ELC to maintain public cemeteries using its general allocationfrom state funds and church taxes and to account for monies used for this purpose. Other religious communities and nonreligiousfoundations may maintain their own cemeteries. All registered religious communities may own and manage property and hire staff,including appointing clergy. The law authorises the ELC and Finnish Orthodox Church to register births, marriages, and deaths for theirmembers in collaboration with the government Digital and Population Data Services Agency. State registrars do this for other persons.Key restriction tools imposed: membership quota, non-recognition for any non-Eastern Orthodox or non-Lutheran religion due to theirstate privilege, the stipulated qualification that a group must have the "public practice of religion as its purpose" is fairly broad andvulnerable to misuse. On June 13, the Ministry of Justice filed an application to the Supreme Administrative Court to overturn its 2022decision to register the Blue-Black Movement (Sinimusta Liike), a self-described “radical ethno-nationalist” group with the goal of anethnically and culturally homogenous Finland, as a political party. The application sought to have the group removed from the country’sregister of official political parties. On June 20, domestic news outlet Yle reported that the Satakunta District Court found Blue-BlackMovement party chair Tuukka Kuru guilty of ethnic incitement for a 2020 tweet in which he suggested the country criminalise Judaism ina social media post on the topic of circumcision. The court fined Kuru €1,280 ($1,400) and ordered him to delete the offending post. Thegovernment continued to provide grants to registered religious communities based on the number of members, and the MEC administeredthe grants. In 2022, the government allocated €119 million ($131 million) to the ELC and €2.6 million ($2.9 million) to the FinnishOrthodox Church. The MEC allotted €824,000 ($910,000) to all other registered religious organizations. This sum included €674,000($745,000), distributed across communities, based on the number of registered members, and €150,000 ($166,000) to the Helsinki JewishCongregation to continue its investments in security at facilities and events, following antisemitic incidents. Leaders of minority religiousgroups indicated concern regarding the funding allocation, with several Muslim community leaders noting that congregants’ lack ofcultural understanding of or opposition to registering their religious affiliation affected the amount of funding for the Muslimcommunity. The community leaders noted that many immigrants were not familiar with the practice of registering as members of areligious faith and might refrain from registration based on fear that naming themselves as part of a minority religious community couldlead to future religious discrimination. Without the actual number of minority religious community members reflected in the officialgovernment register, these communities did not receive the amount of government funding concomitant with their size.Human rights instruments: Finland is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP;Finland did not vote on the UDHR; Finland is partied to the ECHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free); privateexpression and observance (free); proselytism (free); public expression and observance (free); receiving donations (free); religiousbuildings (free); religious instruction (free); religious literature (free); religious and worship services (free); religious trade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection was granted in the latest constitution from 2011 againstdiscrimination on the basis of religion.Recognition policy: citizens who belong to either the ELC or Finnish Orthodox Church pay a church tax, collected with their income taxpayments. Parishes set their respective church tax rates separately. Church tax rates generally fall between 1 to 2.1 percent of a member’sincome. Those who do not want to pay the tax must terminate their ELC or Orthodox congregation membership. Members may terminatetheir membership by contacting the official congregation or the local government registration office, either electronically or in person.Local parishes have fiscal autonomy to decide how to use funding received from taxes levied on their members. Registered religiouscommunities other than the ELC and Finnish Orthodox Church are eligible to apply for state funds in lieu of the church tax. In addition toreceiving the church tax, the ELC and Finnish Orthodox Church may also apply for state funds. The law states that registered religiouscommunities that meet the statutory requirements, including ELC and Orthodox congregations, may apply to receive an annual subsidyfrom the government budget in proportion to the religious community’s percentage of the population.662024 RoRB Classification: ReceptiveFrench RepublicFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsEnsure that the French government’s approach is to facilitate developments and religion and philosophy; establish a recognition agencyindependent of government for the ensuring that existential recognition is provided for; this should allow France to be classified asDynamic; provisions need to be put in place to ensure existential recognition is bestowed.Secularity: France is a secular state that adheres to the principle of laïcité whichconfines religion to the private sphere; the strictness by which the application of thelaïcité principle has been applied has grown over time, thus edging France towardshypersecularism (the Roman Catholic Church was disestablished in 1905); local lawin the region Alsace-Moselle accords official recognition to Judaism, RomanCatholic Church, Lutheranism and Calvinism based on the Napoleonic Concordat of1801 and so the principle of laïcité does not apply in this region.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: stipulatory registration – French law does not require that religious or belief organisations register with thegovernment to operate legally and members of unregistered religious groups may practise their religion. However, religious or belieforganisations can choose to undergo registration to obtain official recognition from the government and tax-exempt status. Religiousgroups may register under two categories: ‘associations of worship’, which are exempt from taxes; and ‘cultural associations’, whichnormally are not exempt. Associations in either category are subject to fiscal oversight by the state. An association of worship mayorganise only religious activities. Although not tax-exempt, a cultural association may engage in for-profit as well as nonprofit activityand receive government subsidies for its cultural and educational operations. Religious groups normally register under both categories. Forexample, Catholics perform religious activities through their associations of worship and operate schools through their culturalassociations. Religious groups must apply at the local prefecture (the administrative body, headed by a prefect, that represents the centralgovernment in each department) for recognition as an association of worship and tax-exempt status. To qualify as an association ofworship, the group’s sole purpose must be the practice of religion, which may include liturgical services and practices, religious training,and the construction of buildings serving the religious group. The association must also engage in public worship and respect public order.Among excluded activities are those that are purely cultural, social, or humanitarian in nature. To apply for tax-exempt status, theassociation must provide to the prefecture its estimated budget for the year, annual accounts for the previous three years, or since theassociation’s creation, whichever is shorter, a written justification of eligibility for the status, and the number of members of theassociation. In Paris, the association must have a minimum of 25 members. Once granted, the association may use the tax-exempt statusnationwide. The government does not tax associations of worship on donations they receive. If the prefecture determines an association isnot in conformity with its tax-exempt status, however, the government may change that status and require the association to pay taxes ata rate of 60 percent on past, as well as future, donations until it regains tax-exempt status. According to ministry data more than a decadeold, the most recent available, there are 109 Protestant, 100 Catholic, 50 Jehovah’s Witnesses, 30 Muslim, and 15 Jewish associations withtax-exempt status. The number of cultural associations, many of which are not associated with religious groups, is in the thousands andchanges frequently. Cultural associations may register using an online form through the government’s public administration website.Cultural associations, even if associated with religious groups, may operate without applying for government recognition, but are notexempt from all taxes. The Church of Scientology has the status of a secular, rather than religious, association. By law, the governmentmay not directly finance religious groups to build new places of worship, except, as noted below, in Alsace-Moselle and overseasdepartments and territories. The government may, however, provide loan guarantees or lease property to groups at advantageous rates.The law also exempts places of worship from property taxes. The state owns and is responsible for the upkeep of most places of worship,primarily Catholic, built before 1905. The government may fund cultural associations with a religious connection. The law separatingreligion and state does not apply in three classes of territories. In Alsace-Moselle, Catholics, Lutherans, Calvinists, and Jews may choose toallocate a portion of their income tax to their religious group. Pastors, priests, and rabbis of these four recognized faiths in Alsace-Mosellereceive a salary from the Interior Ministry, and the country’s President, with the agreement of the Holy See, appoints the Catholic bishopsof Metz and Strasbourg. The Prime Minister appoints the Chief Rabbi and the presidents of the Jewish and Protestant consistories (theadministrative governance bodies of these groups) in Alsace-Moselle, and the Minister of Interior appoints priests and ministers of threeChristian churches (Catholic, Lutheran, and the [Calvinist] Protestant Reformed Church of Alsace and Lorraine) in the region. Localgovernments in the region may also provide financial support for constructing religious buildings. The Overseas Department of FrenchGuiana may provide subsidies to the Catholic Church. Other overseas departments and overseas territories, which include island territoriesin the Caribbean and the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans and several sub-Antarctic islands, may also provide funding for religiousgroups. This provision also applies to the portion of Antarctica the government claims as an overseas territory.Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, informational requirements could be subject to misuse against unfavoured groups,membership quota (applied in Paris only), provincialisation of registration procedures, state definition of religion established through thestipulation of ambiguous qualifications for registration, the MIVILUDES has excessive authority to designate religions as 'cults'.Human rights instruments: France is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP;France voted in favour of the UDHR; France is partied to the ECHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free); privateexpression and observance (free); proselytism (not free; reported cases of government interference with some groups, primarilyJehovah's Witnesses); public expression and observance (free; however, restrictions on religious attire in certain industries and forgovernment officials); receiving donations (free); religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religious literature (free);religious and worship services (free); religious trade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection was granted in the latest constitution from 2008against discrimination on the basis of religion.672024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveGabonese RepublicFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsEstablish procedures so that existential recognition may be bestowed and then differentiated from legalregistration; rectification of the unstructuredness and the ambiguity in the legislation; revoke themandatory registration order, the excessive informational requirements and stop the misuse ofderegistration against religious groups unfavoured by the government.Secularity: Gabon is a secular state; however, theism was affirmedin the latest revised constitution from 2011 although this wasrecently replaced with The Transition Charter in August 2023.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: broad mandatory registration – all religious or belief organisations must registerbefore they may operate legally in Gabon, a law that did not change following the establishment of TheTransition Charter in 2023. Registration is handled by the Ministry of the Interior (MOI) which is currentlyled by the transition president. Registered groups are eligible for exemptions from fees for land use andfees for construction permits. To register, a group must present to the MOI copies of its founding statutesand internal rules, a letter attesting to publication of these documents in the applicable localadministrative bulletin, a formal letter of request for registration addressed to the MOI, a property lease,the police records of the group’s leaders, and the group’s bank statements. The registration fee is 10,000CFA francs ($17). Registered religious groups must also provide the MOI with proof of nonprofit status toreceive exemptions from local taxes and customs duties on imports. The MOI maintains an official registryof religious groups. Prior to the August 30 coup d’etat, the MOI reported it continued to face trouble with“one-man operations”, individuals who attempted to register themselves as representing religious groupswithout justification. The MOI stated then that such individuals, who tended to practice a mixture ofChristianity and animism, lacked “authenticity.” Religious groups continued to say these individualsappeared to be trying to manipulate the system to get benefits they did not deserve, such as tax exonerationto import items and fee exemptions for residence permits. The MOI reported charging several groups,primarily one-man operations, with fraud or sanctioning them for other illegal activities, with thegovernment using the regulatory framework to attempt to prevent further abuses.Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, baseless and mass denials of registration, informationalrequirements are excessive and could be easily misused to discriminate against groups unfavoured by thestate, broad grounds for group deregistration are vulnerable to misuse against those unfavoured groups.Human rights instruments: Gabon is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and theUNDRIP; Gabon did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (not free; subject to registration); nuptial, initiatory andburial rites (not free; subject to registration); pastoral services (not free; subject to registration);proselytism (not free; subject to registration); public expression and observance (not free; subject toregistration); receiving donations (not free; subject to registration); religious buildings (not free; subjectto registration); religious instruction (not free; subject to registration); religious literature (not free;subject to registration); religious and worship services (not free; subject to registration); religious trade(not free; subject to registration).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection was granted in The Transition Charter from 2023 againstdiscrimination on the basis of religion.682024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveGambia,Republic of TheFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsEstablish a recognition system that has capacity to bestow both existential recognition and legalregistration in differentiation; establish a recognition agency to manage the recognition system; themore independent this agency is from the government the more dynamic the country will becomebecause its system and agency for recognition will not suffer from politicisation; reducediscrimination by educating the public about the importance of religious and belief diversity andpromote religious education in schools of all different kinds of communities of belief; revoke theimposed membership quota and signature quota as well as the extensive monitorial requirements.Secularity: The Gambia is officially a secular state;however, state privilege is granted to Islam; theism wasaffirmed in the latest constitution from 2020.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: conditional mandatory registration – religious or belief organisations thatprovide any kind of social service must register with the NGO Affairs Agency but otherwise there areno formal guidelines for the registration of religious groups and otherwise religious organisations arenot required to register for members to practise their religion. Faith-based groups that provide thesame social services as nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) must meet the same eligibilitycriteria as other NGOs. By law, all NGOs are required to register with the NGO Affairs Agency and ascharities at the attorney general’s chambers. They are required to have governing boards of directorscomposed of at least seven members responsible for policy and major administrative decisions,including internal control. The law also requires that all NGOs submit to the NGO Affairs Agency adetailed annual work program and budget, a detailed annual report highlighting progress on activitiesundertaken during the year, work plans for the following year, and financial statements audited byNGO Affairs Agency approved auditors. The government has stated the submissions help the NGOAffairs Agency monitor NGO activities. The Ministry of Lands, Regional Government and ReligiousAffairs is responsible for issues related to religious affairs in the country.Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, membership quota (possibly via a signature quota),the extensive monitorial requirements could be easily misused to the disadvantage of groupsunfavoured by the state.Human rights instruments: Gambia is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, and the UNCRC;Gambia was absent during voting on the UNDRIP; Gambia did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (not free; non-Sunni groups must obtain government approval);monasticism (not free; subject to registration); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free; subjectto registration); pastoral services (not free; subject to registration); proselytism (not free; subject toregistration); public expression and observance (not free; subject to registration); receivingdonations (not free; subject to registration); religious buildings (not free; subject to registration);religious instruction (not free; subject to registration); religious literature (not free; subject toregistration); religious and worship services (not free; subject to registration); religious trade (notfree; subject to registration).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection was granted in the latest constitution from 2020 againstdiscrimination on the basis of religion.692024 RoRB Classification: ReceptiveGeorgiaFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsRemove ambiguity from the legislation and also revoke subjective requirements; revoke instances of partial recognitionto ensure equality within the recognition system; revoke the vertical structure of the registration system.Secularity: Georgia is officially a secular state (the Georgian OrthodoxChurch was disestablished in 1921); however, special privileges aregranted to the Georgian Orthodox Church (GOC) as the national church;theism was affirmed in the latest revised constitution from 2018.Mandatoriness of registration: optional and malregistration.Registration policy: stipulatory registration – religious or belief organisations are not required to register to operate legally inGeorgia. However, groups have the option of register with the National Agency of the Public Registry (NAPR) either as a legalentity under public law or as a non-commercial entity. Both statuses offer equivalent benefits, including legal recognition, taxexemptions for donations and other “religious activities” (a term not clearly defined by law), and the right to own property andopen bank accounts. The civil code defines the activities and rights of denominations registered as legal entities. Unregisteredreligious groups may conduct religious activities but do not receive the legal status or benefits conferred on registered groups.Unregistered religious groups may have a charter and ownership of property may be based on that charter. The property shouldbe registered with the NAPR. They may maintain a bank account with a commercial bank, based on national bank regulations.Unregistered groups may also invite clergy to the country. To register as a legal entity under public law, the law specifies areligious group must have a historic link with the country or be recognized as a religion “by the legislation of the member statesof the Council of Europe.” In its definitions section, the law indicates religions considered “dishonest” or “fictitious” could bedenied registration. A religious group must also submit to the NAPR information regarding its objectives and procedures and alist of its founders and the members of its governing body. Religious groups registering as non-commercial entities do not haveto demonstrate historic ties to the country or recognition by Council of Europe members but must submit to the NAPR similarinformation on their objectives, governing procedures, and names of founders and members of their governing body. There is noappeal mechanism for groups that are denied registration as a legal entity under public law, but they may reapply to the NAPR.The state recognises only civil marriages; it does not recognise marriages conducted by the GOC or other religious groups,regardless of their registration status. The law grants the GOC exceptions from several requirements applicable to other religiousgroups, including payment of taxes on the construction, restoration, and maintenance of religious buildings and payment oftaxes on property. It exempts the GOC, but not other religious groups, from taxes on “profit from the sale of crosses, candles,icons, books, and calendars used...for religious purposes.” In addition, the law states only the GOC may acquire nonagriculturalstate property through a direct sale by the government. Should other religious groups wish to acquire this type of property, theymust participate in public tenders. Only the GOC has the right to acquire agricultural state property free of charge; all othersmust pay a fee. The law grants the church ownership over state forests located near or adjacent to GOC churches andmonasteries. According to a Ministry of Justice decree, accused and convicted individuals may meet only with spiritualrepresentatives of the GOC and registered religious organisations. Prison regulations state prisoners have the right to possessand use religious literature and objects of worship. According to NAPR, only two religious groups filed for registration during theyear, the Ozurgeti Evangelical Baptist Church and the Christ the Savior Church, and both applications remained pending becausethe religious groups needed to submit additional documents. NAPR reported the agency did not refuse registration to anyreligious groups during the year. SARI and some religious groups’ representatives, including members of the Jewish communityand the Armenian Apostolic Church, said they remained in favor of drafting a new, broader “law on religion” to define whichgroups would be eligible for these and other benefits and address issues pertaining to the registration and legal status ofreligious groups and teaching of religion in public schools. Many civil society representatives and members of other religiousgroups, including some individuals from the Muslim community, Catholic Church, and Evangelical Baptist Church, remainedopposed, arguing such legislation would create a hierarchy of religious groups and allow the government to discriminate againstsmaller religious communities and increase its leverage over them. Critics of such a law also said it might include new criteria forregistration that would be difficult for nontraditional religious groups to meet. In addition, they expressed concern that it wouldexpand the role of SARI, which some smaller groups said they viewed as an entity that promoted government control of religiousorganizations rather than a protector of religious freedom. They advocated instead making benefits available to all religiousgroups or to none. No progress toward such a law was reported by media.Malregistration – with the breakaway states of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Georgian registration law does not apply to all theterritories the country claims and so the Georgian government cannot guarantee the FoRB of registered religious organisationsin these territories with de facto authorities under Russian influence.Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, the stipulated qualifications for registered status are intentionallyambiguous to restrict LEPL status, the stipulated qualifications for registered status also invoke the internationalrecognition restriction tool (or internationalism), vertical registration system (verticalism).Human rights instruments: Georgia is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, and the UNCRC; Georgia abstainedfrom voting on the UNDRIP; Georgia did not vote on the UDHR; Georgia is partied to the ECHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services(free); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (free); public expression and observance (free); receivingdonations (free); religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religious literature (free); religious andworship services (free); religious trade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection was granted in the latest revisedconstitution from 2018 against discrimination on the basis of religion.702024 RoRB Classification: ReceptiveGermany, FederalRepublic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsEstablish provisions to bestow existential recognition in addition to the existent legal registration available; revoke theprovincially segmented structure of the recognition system to ensure universal bestowal; clarification on this aspect ofthe system and alterations made to it will raise Germany to Receptive status; revoke the provincialisation procedure inthe registration system and its vertical structure; to achieve Dynamic status, a recognition agency would need to beestablished that is independent of government.Secularity: Germany is officially a secular state; however, special privileges are grantedto the Roman Catholic Church and the Evangelical Church in Germany; theism wasaffirmed in the latest revised constitution from 2014.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: stipulatory registration – German law allows unregistered religious or belief organisations tooperate freely. However, if religious or belief organisations wish to receive tax-exempt status, then they must registerunder the secular designation ‘nonprofit association.’ State-level authorities review registration submissions androutinely grant tax-exempt status; if challenged, their decisions are subject to judicial review. Those applying for tax-exempt status must provide evidence they are a religious group through their statutes, history, and activities. A specialpartnership exists between the states and religious groups with PLC status, as outlined in the constitution. Anyreligious group may request PLC status, which, if granted, entitles the group to levy tithes (8 percent of income tax inBavaria and Baden-Wuerttemberg (BW) and 9 percent in the other states) on members, who must register theirreligious affiliation with federal tax authorities. Each state collects the tithes on behalf of the religious communitythrough the state’s tax collection process, separate from and in addition to income taxes. PLCs pay fees to thegovernment for the tithing service, but not all groups with PLC status utilise the service. PLC status also allows forbenefits, including tax exemptions (larger than those given to groups with nonprofit status), representation onsupervisory boards of public television and radio stations, and the right to special labor regulations. State governmentssubsidise institutions with PLC status that provide public services, such as religious schools and hospitals. In addition,due to historic “state-church contracts” dating back to before 1919, all state governments except Bremen andHamburg subsidise the Catholic Church and the EKD with different yearly amounts. According to the constitution, thedecision to grant PLC status is made at the state level. Individual states base PLC status decisions on a number ofvarying qualifications, including an assurance of the group’s permanence, size, and respect for the constitutional orderand fundamental rights of individuals. An estimated 180 religious groups have PLC status, including Catholics, theEKD, Alevi Muslims, Baha’is, Baptists, Christian Scientists, Hindus, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Jews, Mennonites,Methodists, Church of Jesus Christ, Salvation Army, and Seventh-day Adventists. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat hasPLC status in the states of Hesse and Hamburg and the MTO Shahmaghsoudi School of Islamic Sufism has PLC status inNorth Rhine-Westphalia (NRW); no other Muslim communities besides the Alevis have PLC status. The COS does nothave PLC or nonprofit status in any state.Recognition policy: German law permits the federal government to characterise “nontraditional” religious groups –such as the COS – as “sects,” “youth religions,” and “youth sects” and allows the government to provide “accurateinformation” or warnings about them to the public. The law does not permit the government to use terms such as“destructive,” “pseudo-religious,” or “manipulative” when referring to these groups. Several past court decisionsruled the government must remain neutral toward a religion and may provide a warning to the public only if an “offer”by a religious group would endanger the basic rights of an individual or place the individual in a state of physical orfinancial dependence.Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, excessive authority of the government to label a religion such asScientology as dangerous, provincialisation (registration procedures are conducted at the provincial rather thanfederal level in Germany), qualifications for PLC status are vague and ambiguous making them vulnerable to misusealso meaning possible imposition of a membership quota, vertical registration system is instituted (verticalism).Human rights instruments: Germany is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, andthe UNDRIP; Germany did not vote on the UDHR; Germany is partied to the ECHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services(free); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (free); public expression and observance (free);receiving donations (free); religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religious literature (free); religiousand worship services (free); religious trade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection was granted in the latest revised constitution from 2014against discrimination on the basis of religion.712024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveGhana, Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsEstablish provisions for the existential recognition and legal registration of religious and beliefdistinct from procedures for secular entities; rid the system of any unstructured elements andmake clarifications on elements of religious life that have not been specifically addressed inpresent legislation; publish the registration fee imposed by the state; to become Dynamic,establish a recognition agency independent of government.Secularity: Ghana is a secular state; however, theism was affirmed in thelatest revised constitution from 1996.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: quasi-mandatory registration – religious or belief organisations are requiredby law to register with the Office of the Registrar General in the Ministry of Justice, however, thereis no penalty for religious groups that operate without registering. Religious or belieforganisations that do register receive legal entity status and government recognition. Theregistration cost for religious groups is slightly lower than the fee for nongovernmentalorganizations. To register, groups must fill out a form and pay a fee of 270 cedis ($23). Mostindigenous religious groups do not register. According to law, registered religious groups areexempt from paying taxes on nonprofit religious, charitable, and educational activities. Religiousgroups are required to pay taxes, on a pay-as-earned basis, on for-profit business activities, suchas church-operated private schools and universities.Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, lack of distinction between the registration ofsecular and belief-based organisations, the registration fee is undisclosed. The issue of regulatingself-styled “pastors” working outside of established ecumenical bodies continued to be debatedbetween legislators and the Christian Council of Ghana, an umbrella group of mainly traditionalProtestant denominations. The established religious bodies stated they recognized the concernsthat the legislators expressed about the individuals – including allegations of sexual misconduct,false prophecies that caused fear and panic, and financial exploitation of church members – butopposed legislation that would regulate religious practice. The Ghana Charismatic Bishops’Conference, representing more than 4,000 charismatic churches, reiterated its opposition to anyform of legislative or governmental framework.Human rights instruments: Ghana is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR,the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP; Ghana did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free);pastoral services (free); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (free); publicexpression and observance (free); receiving donations (free); religious buildings (free); religiousinstruction (free); religious literature (free); religious and worship services (free); religious trade(free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection was granted in the latest revisedconstitution from 1996 against discrimination on the basis of religion.722024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveHellenic RepublicFoRB Claim: Partial claim is made constrained bythe continued prohibition on proselytising.RecommendationsEqualise all provisions by the registration system; establish provisions for existential recognition; revoke dormant laws on proselytism,signature quota, the secondary procedure involved in the registration system and the mandatory registration order.Secularity: Orthodox Church of Greece is the state denomination of Greece and wasdescribed in the latest revised constitution from 2008 as “the prevailing religionin Greece”; theism was also affirmed in the 2008 revised constitution.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: pseudo-mandatory registration – religious or belief organisations are not formally required by Greek law to registerwith the government to legally begin operations in the country but the right to conduct certain ‘basic religious activities’ is revoked fromthose that operate unregistered. The constitution states that ministers of all known religions are subject to the same regulations as GreekOrthodox clergy. It states individuals are not exempt from compliance with the law because of religious conviction. Under the law, religiousofficials of known religions and official religious legal entities must register with the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs. The GreekOrthodox Church, the Jewish Community of Greece, and the Muslim Minority of Thrace have long-held status as official, religious, public-law legal entities. The Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Rite Catholic Church, Anglican Church, two evangelical Christian groups (theEvangelical Church of German-speakers and the Greek Evangelical Church), and the Ethiopian, Coptic, Armenian Apostolic, and AssyrianOrthodox Churches acquired religious legal-entity status under a 2014 law, which outlines how additional entities can acquire such status.This application process requires documents proving the group has “open rituals and no secret doctrines,” a list of 300 signatory members,a qualified leader who is legally in the country, and proof (e.g., each group’s charter of association) the entity’s practices do not threatenpublic order. The law provides an alternate method to obtain government recognition: a group with at least one valid permit to operate aplace of worship acquires legal protection as a “known religion” and has benefits that include exemption from taxes and municipal fees forproperty used solely for religious purposes. The terms “houses or places of prayer or worship” are used interchangeably; it is at thediscretion of a religious group to determine its term of preference. Membership requirements for house of prayer permits differ from therequirements for official recognition of religious legal entities. Local urban planning departments must certify facilities meet minimumsafety standards. Once a house of worship receives the required approvals, the religious group must submit a description of its basicprinciples and rituals and a biography of the religious minister or leader to the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs for finalapproval. The application for a house of prayer or worship permit requires at least five signatory group members. The leaders of a religiousgroup applying for a house of prayer permit must be Greek citizens, EU nationals, or legal residents of the country and must possess otherprofessional qualifications, including relevant education and experience. A separate permit is required for each physical location. A religiousgroup qualifying as a religious legal entity may transfer property and administer houses of prayer or worship, private schools, charitableinstitutions, and other nonprofit entities. Alternatively, some groups have opted to retain their status as civil society nonprofit associationsacquired through court recognition prior to the 2014 law. Under this status, religious groups, including Jehovah’s Witnesses and Bahai’s,may operate houses of prayer and benefit from real estate property tax exemptions, but they may face administrative and fiscal difficultiesin transferring property and in operating private schools, charitable institutions, and other nonprofit entities. Although properties usedexclusively for religious purposes are tax exempt, nonreligious properties owned by religious groups are subject to taxation. The law allowsreligious communities without status as legal entities to appear before administrative and civil courts as plaintiffs or defendants. During theyear, a self-declared ethnic Macedonian practicing an unaffiliated version of Orthodox Christianity (not officially recognized by any otherOrthodox Church) continued to seek acquisition of a house of prayer permit. The applicant had sought a permit for a house of prayer since2017. In 2022, the ombudsman sent an official inquiry to the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs regarding this case; the ministrysaid the permit application was missing parts of the required documentation. The applicant contended the government deliberately delayedthe process. Groups lacking religious-entity status or a house of prayer permit could still function as registered, nonprofit civil societyorganizations, but they did not have full rights, such as the right to perform a legal wedding.Recognition policy: the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne accords the recognised Muslim Minority of Thrace the right to administer and maintainmosques and social and charitable organizations. A 2022 law outlines the process by which the government appoints official muftis inThrace, including qualification criteria, the selection process, and rules for constituting a decision-making advisory committee. The lawstipulates that the Minister of Education and Religious Affairs chooses among candidates recommended by the committee. The finalappointment is certified by presidential decree (as is also the case for Greek Orthodox metropolitans).Key restriction tools imposed: public order narrative tool is invoked, mandatory registration for religious leaders (leader registration),registration requirements disallow multiformism, signature quota, secondary procedure of registration is imposed, vertical recognitionsystem is instituted (verticalism). The constitution prohibits “proselytising,” defined as “any direct or indirect attempt to intrude on thereligious beliefs of a person of a different religious persuasion with the aim of undermining those beliefs.” This prohibition is rarelyenforced. The constitution prohibits worship disturbing public order or “offending moral principles.” It allows prosecutors to seizepublications that “offend Christianity” or other “known religions,” which are defined as groups with at least one valid permit to operatea place of prayer or worship.Human rights instruments: Greece is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and theUNDRIP; Greece voted in favour of the UDHR; Greece is partied to the ECHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (not free; restricted); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free; restricted); pastoralservices (not free; restricted); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (not free; prohibited though this law is dormant);public expression and observance (free); receiving donations (not free; restricted); religious buildings (not free; restricted); religiousinstruction (free); religious literature (free); religious and worship services (not free; subject to state supervision and possibly subject toregistration); religious trade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: No protection was granted in the latest revised constitution from 2008 againstdiscrimination specifically on the basis of religion.732024 RoRB Classification: ReceptiveGrenadaFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsEstablish distinct provisions for religious entities in terms of both their existential recognitionand their legal registration apart from secular entities; revoke the multi-registration structureof the present system; to become Dynamic, a recognition agency needs to be established thatis independent of government.Secularity: Grenada is a secular state; however,theism was affirmed in the latest constitutionfrom 1992.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: stipulatory registration – religious or belief organisations are notrequired to obtain recognition from the government to operate legally in the country.However, religious or belief organisations must register to qualify for customs and taxexemptions. The group must also register with the Corporate Affairs and Intellectual PropertyOffice (CAIPO) and with the Inland Revenue Office in the Ministry of Finance, to which it mustsubmit a letter of request. The Attorney General grants final approval, and the ministry grantsapplications for tax exemptions; these are approved routinely. To be recognised as an NGO,the group must submit details to CAIPO regarding the organisation, including informationabout its directors, as well as a description of the group’s general activities and the location ofthese activities. According to 2011 government statistics, the most recent available, andinformation from CAIPO, there are approximately 20 religious groups registered in thecountry. As part of the visa process, foreign missionaries must apply to the Ministry of Laborfor a work permit costing 500 East Caribbean dollars (ECD) ($185), along with an applicationfee of 100 ECD ($37); the permit must be renewed annually. To be approved, foreignmissionaries must demonstrate prior experience, and a registered religious group mustsponsor them.Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, three different registration submissions haveto be made (multi-registration).Human rights instruments: Grenada is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, andthe UNCRC; Grenada was absent during voting on the UNDRIP; Grenada didnot vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites(free); pastoral services (free); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (free);public expression and observance (free); receiving donations (free); religious buildings(free); religious instruction (free); religious literature (free); religious and worship services(free); religious trade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Implicit protection was granted in the latest revised constitutionfrom 1992 against discrimination on the basis of religion.742024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveGuatemala,Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsDisestablish partial recognition by equalising and streamlining all recognition statuses including that of the CatholicChurch; continue to ensure that politicisation of the recognition system does not take place; re-evaluate the rulessurrounding mandatory registration for activities other than worship and proselytism; remove any instances ofunstructure by clarifying in legislation areas that remain ambiguous or unaddressed; to become Dynamic, establishprovisions for both existential recognition and legal registration; also, establish a recognition agency to manage thesystem independent of government.Secularity: Guatemala is officially a secular state (the Roman Catholic Church was disestablishedin 1871); however, the latest constitution from 1993 recognises the distinct legal personality ofthe Roman Catholic Church; theism was affirmed in the 1993 constitution.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: pseudo-mandatory registration – although the Guatemalan constitution does not mandate thatreligious or belief organisations register with the government for the “purpose of worship”, unregistered religiousorganisations cannot sign any kind of legal contract which is likely essential to religious activity. Registration also conferstax-exempt status. However, the Roman Catholic Church receives these benefits automatically without having to register.To register, a religious group must file with the Ministry of Interior a copy of its bylaws, evidence that it is a newlyestablished legal entity that intends to pursue religious objectives, and a list of its initial membership with at least 25members. The ministry may reject a registration application if it believes the group does not appear to be devoted to areligious objective, appears intent on undertaking illegal activities, or engages in activities that could threaten public order.Most applications are approved after a lengthy process. All religious groups must obtain the permission of the respectivemunicipal authorities for construction and repair of properties and for holding public events, consistent with requirementsfor nonreligious endeavours. The constitution protects the rights of Indigenous groups to practice their traditions andforms of cultural expression, including spiritual practices. The law permits Mayan spiritual groups to conduct ceremoniesat Mayan historical sites on government-owned property free of charge with written permission from the Ministry ofCulture. Anyone seeking access to the sites located in national parks or other protected areas, however, is required to payprocessing or entrance fees. The law provides for at least one “religious space, according to [the prison’s] capacity,” ineach prison. Chaplain services are limited to Catholic chaplains and nondenominational (usually evangelical) Protestantchaplains. The law does not specify that prisons must provide access for prisoners of minority religious groups to spiritualcounsellors from their faith. The government requires foreign missionaries to obtain tourist visas to enter the country;visas are renewable every three months. After renewing their tourist visas once, foreign missionaries may apply fortemporary residence for up to two years; the residential permit is renewable. According to evangelical Protestant groups,non-Catholic religious groups still had to follow a vaguely defined process involving several steps that could take up to twoyears and cost approximately 10,000 quetzals ($1,300) to register with the Ministry of Government and be able to sign anylegal contracts or receive tax-exempt status. In May, former president Giammattei signed an executive order to reduce theamount of time it takes religious groups to register. According to Commissioner to the President on Religious FreedomRobin García, it was still too early to determine whether the executive order had led to a reduction in the time required for areligious group to register. Some Mayan leaders maintained that the government limited their access to several religioussites on government-owned property and required them to pay to access the sites, even though the Ministry of Cultureapproved free access to credentialed Mayan spiritual practitioners. The same leaders said the government did not providecredentials in a timely manner to all practitioners who wished to access the sites. The government continued to deny anyaccess limitations while noting that anyone seeking access to the sites located in national parks or other protected areashad to pay processing or entrance fees. In Tikal, a complex of Mayan pyramids dating from 200 A.D. and one of the mostsacred sites for Mayan spirituality, the access fee was approximately 20 to 30 quetzals ($3 to $4), which, according tomembers of COLUSAG, was prohibitive for many Indigenous community members.Key restriction tools imposed: bilateral cooperation agreements are not made available to all religious groups, broadsgrounds for the denial of registration, informational requirements are excessive (namely pursuit of "religious objectives"and requirement to list "initial membership"), membership quota is imposed, multi-registration, registration fee ($1,300)exceeds the amount of $100 stipulated in RoRB standards, state definition of religion, the ability to rent property forreligious purposes is a "basic religious activity" that should not categorised as a benefit of registration.Human rights instruments: Guatemala is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC,and the UNDRIP; Guatemala voted in favour of the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services(free); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (free); public expression and observance (free); receivingdonations (free); religious buildings (not free; subject to registration); religious instruction (free); religious literature(free); religious and worship services (free); religious trade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Implicit protection was granted in the latest revised constitution from 1993against discrimination on the basis of religion.752024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveGuinea, Republic ofFoRB Claim: Partial claim is made in the 2021 TransitionCharter limiting FoRB to freedom of worship.RecommendationsDismantle existent policies that restrict religious activity or place barriers during the registration process; establishsufficient provisions for existential recognition not just legal registration; revoke the rule of mandatory registration; userecognition to promote diversity and to improve religious education.Secularity: Guinea is a secular state.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: broad mandatory registration – the Secretariat General of Religious Affairs (SRA) mandates that itapproves all religious or belief organisations intending to operate in Guinea. Such organisations are obliged to send the SRAa written constitution, an application form with the organisation’s address and pay a fee of 250,000 francs ($30). The SRAthen sends the documents to the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralization for final approval andsignature. Once approved, the group becomes officially recognised. Every six months, each registered religious group mustpresent a report of its activities to the government. Registering with the government entitles religious groups to anexemption from the value-added tax (VAT) on imported shipments and makes them eligible for select energy subsidies.Unregistered religious groups are not entitled to VAT exemptions and other benefits. By law, the government may shutdown unregistered groups and expel their leaders. There is limited opportunity for legal appeal of these penalties. Religiousgroups may not own radio or television stations. The imams and administrative staff of the principal mosque in Conakry andthe principal mosques in the main cities of the country’s four regions are government employees. These mosques aredirectly under the administration of the government. The government subsidises both Muslim and Christian pilgrimages inaccordance with the law. The SRA appoints national directors to lead the Offices of Christian Affairs, Islamic Affairs,Pilgrimages, Places of Worship, Economic Affairs, the Endowment, and Inspector General, which all fall under the SRA. TheSRA is charged with promoting good relations among religious groups and coordinates with other members of the informalInter-religious Council, which is composed of the SRA and representatives from the Islamic faith and the Catholic, Anglican,and other Protestant churches. The SRA continued to issue guidance outlining themes for discussion during Friday sermonsat mosques and Sunday sermons in churches. The stated purpose of the weekly guidance was to harmonise religious viewsto prevent radical or political messages in sermons. Although the SRA did not monitor sermons at every mosque and church,its inspectors continue to be present in every region and were responsible for ensuring that mosque and church sermonswere consistent with SRA directives. On 30th June 2023, the administrative authorities of the Labe Region in the central partof the country summoned a group of 12 imams for leading the Eid al-Adha prayer on June 29 instead of the official date setby the SRA of June 28. Officers of the Judicial Police of the gendarmerie interrogated the imams for more than seven hours,which they said was to determine the reasons that led them to disobey the SRA instructions. There was little information onhow the SRA would implement its December 2022 order governing the regulation, allocation, and operation of decentralisedreligious institutions, including regional inspections and the creation of prefectural and sub-prefectural secretariats formosques, Quranic schools, and religious NGOs. In August 2023, the SRA issued a circular letter requesting allnongovernmental organizations and religious associations to register with the regional inspections and prefecturalSecretariats for Religious Affairs, and in the Special Zone of Conakry with the Municipal Secretariats, from August 21 toNovember 20. The stated objective of this initiative was to compile a list of all NGOs and religious associations operatingwithin the national territory for better collaboration with the government. According to the Assistant to the Secretary of theBaha’i National Spiritual Assembly, the Baha’i community refrained from engaging in political debates and consistentlyfollowed government directives, in line with the Baha’i principle of loyalty to authorities. Jehovah’s Witnesses reported thattheir registration renewal application, which had been delayed in 2022, was approved during the year. The governmentsponsored the travel of 10,344 Muslims on the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, and the travel of approximately 193 Christians,including 142 Catholics and 51 evangelical Christians, on pilgrimage travel to Israel and nearby areas. The subsidies totalled30 billion francs ($3.5 million) for Muslim travel and approximately 2.4 billion francs ($282,000) for Christian travel.Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, arbitrary enforcement, dual registration, imposing monitorial requirementsevery six months is impermissible to RoRB standards which stipulate that monitorial requirements should only be imposedon an annual basis, there is limited opportunity for legal appeal of penalties issued, the SRA retains control over sermoncontent, unregistration can lead to the forced closure of groups and the deportation of any foreign nationals involved in thegroup, especially foreign religious leaders, processing delays for registration applicants.Human rights instruments: Guinea is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC,and the UNDRIP; Guinea did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (not free; subject to registration); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (notfree; subject to registration); pastoral services (not free; subject to registration); private expression and observance (free);proselytism (not free; religious may not own radio or television stations); public expression and observance (free);receiving donations (not free; subject to registration); religious buildings (not free; subject to registration); religiousinstruction (not free; subject to registration); religious literature (not free; subject to registration); religious and worshipservices (not free; subject to registration); religious trade (not free; subject to registration).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: No protection was granted in the 2021 Transition Charter againstdiscrimination specifically on the basis of religion.762024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveGuinea-Bissau, Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsEstablish provisions for existential recognition not just legal registration; establish a clear,authoritative system for religious recognition in order to reach the receptive classification; fix theunstructure present in the legislation by clarifying stances on topics not presently addressed; tobecome Dynamic, establish a recognition agency to manage the system independent of government.Secularity: Guinea-Bissau is a secular state.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: broad mandatory registration – the government mandates that religious or belieforganisations obtain licenses to operate legally in Guinea-Bissau. The formal process, which is notoften followed, entails providing the name, location, type, and size of the organisation to the Ministryof Justice. Under the law, religious groups are recognized as associations. The state provides taxexemptions for NGOs and religious bodies for importing goods. However, the government continued asuspension of tax exemptions for NGOs and religious bodies on imported goods instituted in September2022. When the suspension went into effect, the Ministry of Finance stated that the decision was part ofthe process to survey and balance customs and tax exemptions for all organisations. As of year’s end,the suspension remained in effect.Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, arbitrary enforcement of registration law, informationalrequirements requested could easily lead to the implementation of a membership quota. ThePentecostal church Igreja Assembleia De Deus (Assembly of God Church) continued to transmit radioprogramming beyond the 60-kilometer (36-mile) limit ordered by the Ministry of Transportation andCommunications in 2022. The Church asked the government to reconsider its restriction when initiallyimposed but did not receive a response. There were no repercussions reported for the Church’s failureto comply. Other religious leaders had previously stated that Igreja Assembleia promoted division,intolerance, and disrespect toward other religious groups. Igreja Assembleia’s leader responded thatthere was no intent to attack any other religious groups, but that the Church’s interpretation of theBible differed from that of others. The leader also stated that the Church had been criticized for itsopposition to forced marriages and its efforts to assist victims of forced marriages.Human rights instruments: Guinea-Bissau is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR,and the UNCRC; Guinea-Bissau was absent during voting on the UNDRIP;Guinea-Bissau did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (not free; subject to registration); nuptial, initiatoryand burial rites (not free; subject to registration); pastoral services (not free; subject to registration);private expression and observance (free); proselytism (not free; religious may not own radio ortelevision stations); public expression and observance (free); receiving donations (not free; subject toregistration); religious buildings (not free; subject to registration); religious instruction (not free;subject to registration); religious literature (not free; subject to registration); religious and worshipservices (not free; subject to registration); religious trade (not free; subject to registration).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Implicit protection was granted in the latest revised constitutionfrom 1996 against discrimination on the basis of religion.772024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveGuyana, Co-operativeRepublic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsEstablish a distinct recognition system for different forms and levels of religion and belief; removeall forms of unstructured by clarifying unaddressed topics and issues; revoke the rule of mandatoryregistration of places of worship and disestablish the present system as being oriented on places ofworship; to be classified as Dynamic, a recognition agency would need to be established the managethe recognition system in a way that is independent of the government to ensure no politicisation ormanipulation takes place.Secularity: Guyana is a secular state; however, theism was affirmed in thelatest revised constitution from 2016.Mandatoriness of registration: non-registration.Registration policy: indirect registration – there is no official system for formal registration of areligious group, but to receive government recognition, all places of worship must be registeredthrough the Deeds Registry. The Deeds Registry requires an organisation to submit a proposed nameand address for the place of worship, as well as the names of executive group members orcongregation leaders. Once formally recognised, a place of worship falls under legislation governingnonprofit organisations, allowing the organisation to conduct financial operations, buy property, andreceive tax benefits in its name. Foreign religious workers require a visa from the Ministry of HomeAffairs. Religious groups seeking to enter an Indigenous village for the purpose of proselytising mustapply for and obtain permission from the village council. Application to a village council must includethe name of the group, the names of its members who will be going to the village, their purpose, andthe estimated date of arrival. Reportedly, however, village councils rarely enforce this requirement.The government continued to maintain regulations limiting the number of visas for foreignrepresentatives of religious groups based on historical trends, the relative size of the group, and thepresident’s discretion; however, the government and religious groups, whose membership includedforeign missionaries, continued to state the government did not apply the visa limitation rule.Religious groups also said the visa quotas the government allotted to them were sufficient and did notadversely affect their activities.Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, indirect registration, unstructured registrationprocedures.Human rights instruments: Guyana is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, theUNCRC, and the UNDRIP; Guyana did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free);pastoral services (free); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (not free; restricted);public expression and observance (free); receiving donations (free); religious buildings (not free;subject to registration); religious instruction (free); religious literature (free); religious and worshipservices (free); religious trade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection was granted in the latest revised constitution from2016 against discrimination on the basis of “creed.”Recognition policy: the constitution mandates the establishment of the ERC, with the purpose ofpromoting ethnic harmony, eliminating ethnic discrimination, and encouraging respect for religiousdiversity. The ERC includes representatives of the country’s main religious traditions, includingChristianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Rastafarianism.782024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveHaiti, Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.Secularity: Haiti is officially a secular state (the Roman Catholic Church was disestablished in 1987);however, privileges are granted to the Roman Catholic Church based on an 1860 concordat with the HolySee that are not offered to other religions such as state protection and monthly stipends for somepriests; scholars have described Vodou as Haiti’s “national religion”; theism is affirmed in thepresidential and judicial oaths.Mandatoriness of registration: optional and malregistration.Registration policy: stipulatory registration – religious or belief organisations are not mandated to register with the government in order tooperate legally in Haiti. However, if groups do register, they will receive certain benefits including tax-exempt status, exemption from importduties on church-related items, protected class standing in legal disputes, and eligibility to receive public land to build schools. To obtain thisstatus, a religious group must submit information on its leaders’ qualifications, a membership directory, a list of the group’s social projects, andannual activity reports to the Bureau of Worship (BOW). Completion of the separate clergy registration process also confers certain benefits,namely legal authority to conduct civil ceremonies, such as marriages and baptisms, following an oath-taking ceremony organised by the Ministryof Justice. To obtain registered clergy status, the individual sponsored by a registered religious entity must submit approximately 10 documents.The required documentation package includes proof of completion for both secondary school and university or seminary-level religious studies, aswell as a police certificate confirming no criminal record and no outstanding warrants. Foreign missionaries operating in the country are subject tothe same legal and administrative requirements as their domestic counterparts. The BOW said it continued to work with less established religiousgroups to facilitate their registrations while defending its rigorous registration process, although it said continuing insecurity presented seriouschallenges to reaching out to religious groups across the capital. As of December 31, the BOW reported that no new religious groups had registeredduring the year. BOW Director General Evans Souffrant said he believed there were no serious issues with religious discrimination in the country,and outreach to all faiths remained a priority for the BOW. According to the BOW, nationwide insecurity also remained a significant hindrance toits efforts to register religious leaders during the year. Sunni and Shia Muslim groups had not completed the procedures for registration andremained unregistered at year’s end. According to the BOW, despite the benefits of registering, many religious groups and leaders continued tochoose to remain unregistered to avoid government oversight. Religious minorities said they generally disagreed with this assessment orsuggested it was an oversimplification. According to a Vodou leader, in contrast with its Catholic and Protestant counterparts, the decentralisedVodou community did not easily fit into the government’s criteria for institutional registration, which emphasises a hierarchical leadershipstructure. Vodou leaders also said they believed this nonhierarchical structure made it more difficult for Vodouists to gain representation in othergovernment bodies, such as the Provisional Electoral Council or the High Transition Council. Following the 2022 death of Euvonie GeorgesAuguste, a manbo (female Vodou priest) who had led the National Confederation of Haitian Vodou for many years, Jackson Pierre Louis wasappointed by confederation leadership early in the year as her interim replacement. According to 2021 BOW statistics, the most recent available,there were 9,195 certified Protestant pastors, 704 certified Catholic priests, and two certified Vodou clergy at the end of 2021, representing nochange from 2020. By year’s end, the government had not certified any Sunni, Shia, or Ahmadiyya Muslim imams.Malregistration – while religious leaders representing the Catholic, Protestant, evangelical Christian, Muslim, Vodou, and Jewish communitiescontinued to assert the government did not restrict their religious freedom, many religious leaders said the government’s failure to maintainsecurity and order hampered their communities’ abilities to practice their religions freely. On April 7, local news site Vant Bef Info published aneditorial condemning what it called government complicity in the continuing insecurity and economic downturn, which editors said preventedcitizens from celebrating Easter traditions.Key restriction tools imposed: bilateral cooperation agreements are not made available to all religious and belief groups active in the country,informational requirements are excessive (the necessity for a religious leader to submit a religious studies diploma, a membership directory).Some Protestant religious leaders continued to advocate increased government regulation of religious groups, in particular, following a march ledby Pastor Zidor in August to protest gang violence, during which gang members killed, tortured, or kidnapped dozens of parishioners. After theincident, citizens took to social media to condemn the “uneducated” and “irresponsible” nature of Zidor’s actions as leader of his church andcalled on the government to investigate him and revoke his license. On August 29, authorities opened criminal proceedings against Zidor andclosed his church.Human rights instruments: Haiti is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP; Haitivoted in favour of the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free); private expressionand observance (free); proselytism (free); public expression and observance (free); receiving donations (free); religious buildings (free);religious instruction (free); religious literature (free); religious and worship services (free); religious trade (free).RecommendationsEstablish a recognition system in the country that is dynamic enough to provide both existential recognition and legal registration to bothtraditional and non-traditional belief groups and at multiple levels of their activity; remove all instances of unstructure and the country shouldbe able to be moved up to receptive status; to become Dynamic, the country would need to establish an independent recognition agency tomanage with the recognition system and it would need to cater to both Christian and non-Christian groups simultaneously and equally.Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: No explicit protection was granted in the latest revised constitution from 2012 againstdiscrimination specifically on the basis of religion.Recognition policy: a concordat between the government and the Holy See signed in 1860 formalises the relationship between the state and theCatholic Church and regulates the Catholic Church’s structure within the state. The concordat accords the government some say in Catholic Churchleadership, including providing the government the right of consent over the appointment of archbishops and bishops. The government has notexercised this right in recent years. The concordat also affords privileges to the Catholic Church, including state protection and financial supportsuch as monthly stipends for some priests. The 1860 concordat between the government and the Holy See continued to be a major subject of debateamong religious leaders during the year. A Catholic leader said the Catholic Church adhered to the concordat because it was legally bound to do sounder the country’s legal system, and it had a strong historical precedent. The president of the National Council of Haitian Muslims said he did notbelieve the concordat affected Muslims’ freedom of religion. Several other non-Catholic religious leaders, however, raised concerns regarding theconcordat. One Protestant leader said it was proof of “unequal treatment” between the Catholic Church and other faiths, which put other religiousgroups at a comparative disadvantage. Vodou leaders said it reflected longstanding government and societal preference for the Catholic Churchover other religions, as well as a major piece of a longstanding history of discrimination and persecution against Vodouists.792024 RoRB Classification: ReceptiveHonduras, Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsEstablish provisions for existential recognition in addition to the already existent procedures for legal registration; ensurethat these provisions are bestowed universally and equally across traditional and non-traditional belief systems as well asto NRMs, and at multiple levels of activity; remove any remaining minor restrictive policies within the recognition system;to become Dynamic, the Honduran government would need to allow for the establishment of a recognition agency tomanage it recognition system and its activities independent of government involvement in order to ensure that freedom ofreligion or belief maintains its status of being ectopolitical.Secularity: Honduras is officially a secular state; however,privileges are granted to the Roman Catholic Church that are notoffered to other religions; theism was also affirmed in the latestrevised constitution from 2013.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: stipulatory registration – Honduran law does not mandate that religious or belief organisationsregister with the government in order to conduct their operations legally in the country. However, if organisations dochoose to register as legal entities, they will be classified under the religious designation ‘religious association.’Organisations seeking status as a legal entity must apply to the Ministry of Governance, Justice, and Decentralization andprovide information on their internal organisation, bylaws, and goals. Approved organizations must submit annualfinancial and activity reports to the government to remain registered. They may apply to the Ministry of Finance to receivebenefits, such as tax exemptions and customs duty waivers. Unregistered religious organizations do not receive tax-exemptstatus. The official nongovernmental and religious organisation registry office – the Directorate of Regulation,Registration, and Monitoring of Civil Associations (DIRRSAC) – is located within the Ministry of Governance, Justice, andDecentralization. The government requires foreign missionaries to obtain entry and residence permits and mandates that alocal institution or individual must sponsor a missionary’s application for residency and submit it to immigrationauthorities. The government has agreements with the Evangelical Fellowship of Missionaries and Ministries of Honduras,Church of Jesus Christ, and Seventh-day Adventists, among others, to facilitate entry and residence permits for theirmissionaries. Groups with which the government does not have a written agreement are required to provide proof ofemployment and income for their missionaries. Foreign religious workers may request residency for up to five years. Torenew their residence permits, religious workers must submit proof of continued employment with the sponsoringreligious group at least 30 days before their residency expires. According to immigration law, individuals who “fraudulentlyexercise their religious profession or office or commit fraud against the health or religious beliefs of citizens of the country,or the national patrimony” may be fined or face other legal consequences. The criminal code protects clergy authorised tooperate in the country from being required by a court or the attorney general’s office to testify regarding privilegedinformation obtained in confidence during a religious confession. The law does not require vicars, bishops, and archbishopsof the Catholic Church and comparably ranked individuals from other legally recognised religious groups to appear in courtif subpoenaed. They are required, however, to make a statement at a location of their choosing. The official regulations forthe penal system state that penitentiaries must guarantee the free exercise of religion without preference for one specificreligion, so long as the worship is not against the law or public order. Prisoners have access to religious counselling fromleaders of their faith. While the government authorises clergy from all religious groups to conduct marriage ceremonies, bylaw it recognises only civil marriages conducted by the municipal mayor or notary public who are authorised to performmarriage ceremonies. The official work week is Monday to Saturday, with no exceptions for religious groups that celebrateFriday or Saturday as their Sabbath. During the year, the DIRRSAC registered 103 religious associations, mostly evangelicalProtestant churches, compared with 54 associations registered in 2022. Among those registered were Iglesia de CristoBethel in El Progreso, Yoro; Ministerio Internacional el Israel de Dios in San Pedro Sula; and Iglesia Central de AdoracionCasa del Espíritu Santo in Tocoa, Colon. Some Seventh-day Adventist workers employed by both public and privatecompanies in El Progreso and Yoro said they faced pressure to work during their Sabbath.Key restriction tools imposed: bilateral cooperation agreements are not made accessible to all religious groups.Human rights instruments: Honduras is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, andthe UNDRIP; Honduras chose not to vote on the UDHR despite having the opportunity to.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free);private expression and observance (free); proselytism (free); public expression and observance (free); receivingdonations (free); religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religious literature (free); religious and worshipservices (free); religious trade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Implicit protection was granted in the latest revised constitution from 2013against discrimination on the basis of religion. However, the law criminalisesdiscrimination based on religion.802024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveHungaryFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsEstablish provisions for existential recognition to be bestowed, not just legal registration; revoke the longevity quotas, mass deregistrations, membership quotas,reclassifications, parliamentary votes, vertical registration system, onerous registration procedures, and limited agreements; to become Dynamic, the Hungarian governmentwould need to allow for the establishment of a recognition agency independent of its control that would be able to manage the recognition system without politicisation.Secularity: Hungary is officially a secular state (the Roman Catholic Churchwas disestablished in 1946); however, special recognition was granted in thelatest revised constitution from 2016 to “the role of Christianity” inpreserving the nation; theism was also affirmed in this same revisedconstitution; a further constitutional amendment in 2020 states thatchildren must be guaranteed an “upbringing based on values stemmingfrom our country’s constitutional identity and Christian culture.”Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: pseudo-mandatory registration – religious or belief organisations are not mandated by law in Hungary to register with the government to operate legallyin the country, however, clergy belonging to unregistered religious organisations are not legally permitted to perform pastoral services to members in prisons and hospitals.Religious entities that do not apply for, or that apply for and do not receive, legal status in one of the four tiers are still able to function and conduct worship but are not eligibleto receive state funding or income tax contributions from taxpayers. The law states constitutional protection of freedom of religion also applies to unregistered groups. Per a2019 amendment, the law on religion establishes a four-tier system of, in descending order, “established (or incorporated) churches,” “registered churches” (also called“registered II”), “listed churches” (also called “registered I”), and “religious associations.” The term “church” in the law refers to any religious community, not just Christianones, and religious groups in any category may use “church” in their official names. The National Assembly must approve recognition of churches as established. TheBudapest-Capital Regional Court has jurisdiction to rule on applications for registration within the other three categories. Religious groups in all four tiers have legalpersonality, which grants them legal rights, such as the right to own property. Following the 2019 amendment, all previously incorporated religious groups retained theirstatus in the first tier of the system as established churches. To qualify for established church status, a religious group must first have registered status and then conclude acomprehensive cooperation agreement with the state for the purpose of accomplishing community goals. The government submits the comprehensive agreement to theNational Assembly, which must approve it by a two-thirds majority vote. A registered church becomes an established church from the day the National Assembly approves thecomprehensive agreement. Established churches are eligible to benefit from significant state subsidies for the performance of public service activities. To qualify for registeredchurch status, a religious group must have received tax allocations from an average of 4,000 persons per year in the five-year period prior to the application. This status alsorequires that the group either have operated as a religious association for at least 20 years in the country, or at least 100 years internationally, or have operated as a listedchurch for at least 15 years in the country or at least 100 years internationally. To qualify for listed church status, a religious group must receive tax allocations from an averageof 1,000 persons per year in the three-year period prior to the application for status and have operated as a religious association for at least five years in the country or for atleast 100 years internationally. To qualify for religious association status, a religious group must have at least 10 members. The law allows the government to negotiateindividual cooperation agreements with all four tiers of religious groups for the performance of public service activities and support of faith-based activities. The agreements’duration depends on the status of the religious community, ranging from a five-year maximum for religious associations to 10 and 15 years for listed and registered churches,respectively, and unlimited duration for established churches. These agreements may be renewed. The law allows taxpayers to allocate 1 percent of their income taxes to anyreligious community in any of the four tiers. Religious groups may use these funds as they wish. Only established and registered churches (the two highest tiers) are eligible toreceive a state subsidy supplementing the 1 percent tax allocations. Religious groups that agree not to seek EU or state funding (including personal income tax allocations) fortheir religious activities may qualify as registered or listed churches without fulfilling the requirement regarding the number of personal income tax allocations. The applicantreligious community must perform primarily religious activities and may not be a criminal defendant or have been convicted of a crime during the previous five years, undersanction for “repeated violation of accounting and management rules,” or considered a national security threat. The court decides whether to grant status as a registered orlisted church based on an examination of the criteria above. In reviewing these applications, the court may consult church law, church history, or ecclesiastical or academicexperts, and may also seek the opinion of the national security services. Religious groups that initially agree not to seek government or EU funding but accept financial supportat a later stage must report it to the court within 15 days of the disbursement of the aid. To avoid losing its status or a reclassification to the lower association tier, the religiousgroup has eight days to declare to the court that it has returned the funds, requested cancellation of its religious registration status, or complied with the individual taxallocation requirement to become a registered or listed organisation. The religious group or prosecutor’s office may appeal the court’s decision on the status of the group to theBudapest-Capital Court of Appeal. The law stipulates the government minister responsible for church issues in the Prime Minister’s Office, based on information received fromthe court, shall manage an electronic database of religious groups with legal status, accessible to the public free of charge. According to the law, the Budapest-Capital RegionalCourt may dissolve a religious community with legal status, with the exception of established churches, if its activities conflict with the constitution or law or if the court rulesits registration should have been denied. The National Assembly may dissolve an incorporated church if the Constitutional Court finds it is operating in violation of theconstitution. If a religious community is dissolved without a legal successor, its assets, after satisfying creditors, become the property of the state and shall be used for publicinterest activities. Thirty-two churches have established (previously known as “incorporated”) status. These include the Roman Catholic Church; a range of Protestantdenominations; a range of Orthodox Christian groups; other Christian denominations such as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Seventh-day Adventists, and theSalvation Army; three Jewish groups – the Federation of Hungarian Jewish Communities (MAZSIHISZ), Unified Hungarian Jewish Congregation, and MAOIH; two Muslimorganizations; a Buddhist umbrella organization; and the Hungarian Society for Krishna Consciousness, the sole Hindu group registered as a church. By law, the state mayneither operate nor establish any institution for controlling or monitoring religious groups. Their doctrines, internal regulations, and statutes are not subject to state review,modification, or enforcement. Copyright law protects their names, symbols, and rites, while criminal law protects buildings and cemeteries. According to the law, established,registered, and listed churches may perform pastoral services in prisons and hospitals. Other laws indicate religious associations may also provide services at these facilities.Military and law enforcement personnel may freely practice their religion in private and also at their workplaces if their religious practice does not violate their mandatoryservice duties. The Roman Catholic, Reformed, and Lutheran Churches as well as Jewish congregations (which the government generally calls “historical churches”) mayprovide chaplain services to the military without seeking permission. Other religious groups must seek permission to offer such services. All religious groups registered in oneof the four categories have the right to open their own schools. The state provides a subsidy, based on the number of students enrolled, for employee salaries at all such schools.Only established churches automatically receive a supplementary subsidy for the schools’ operating expenses. Other religious groups may apply for a supplementaryoperational subsidy, and the Ministry of Interior may sign an individualised contract with them to cover these costs. A list of religious associations and listed churchesremained available at a dedicated webpage maintained by the Prime Minister’s Office. Court decisions regarding the registration process for registered churches, listedchurches, and religious associations were available at the central website of the courts. Following its reclassification from a listed church (third tier) to a registered church(second tier) in 2022, MET remained the only religious group classified as a registered church. The Hungarian Civil Liberties Union (HCLU), an NGO that represented somereligious groups deregistered following the 2011 adoption of the religion law, continued to monitor the enforcement of the 2014 European Court of Human Rights ruling thatthe law violated freedom of religion and caused monetary damage to the deregistered churches. The 2014 judgment required the government to reach an agreement withapplicant churches on the restoration of their status and on just compensation for any damages. The HCLU also provided legal representation in individual cases concerningfreedom of religion and belief.Key restriction tools imposed: bilateral cooperation agreements must be made accessible to all religious groups, limited agreements, longevity quota, mass deregistrationin 2011, membership quota, onerous registration procedures for each legal category, parliamentary vote, reclassification, vertical registration system is instituted(verticalism).Human rights instruments: Hungary is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP;Hungary did not vote on the UDHR; Hungary is partied to the ECHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free); private expression and observance (free);proselytism (free); public expression and observance (free); receiving donations (free); religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religious literature (free);religious and worship services (free); religious trade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection was granted in the latest revised constitutionfrom 2016 against discrimination on the basis of religion.Recognition policy: stipulatory registration – treaties with the Holy See regulate relations between the state and the Roman Catholic Church, including financing of publicservices and religious activities and settling claims for property seized by the state during the Communist era. These treaties serve as a model for regulating state relations withother religious groups, although there are some differences in the rights and privileges the state accords to each of the religious groups with which it has agreements. The statealso has formal agreements with the Hungarian Reformed Church, Hungarian Lutheran Church, MAZSIHISZ, and four Orthodox churches, covering issues such as religiouseducation and payments from the state to churches performing educational or social services on behalf of the state.812024 RoRB Classification: ReceptiveIcelandFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsEstablish a recognition agency that is independent of the government in its actions and activities; this would secure Iceland's classification asDynamic; establish provisions for existential recognition; state religion can remain although no special privileges should be provided to theELC if these same benefits are not also extended to all other groups.Secularity: Evangelical Lutheran Church of Iceland(ELC) is the state denomination of Iceland.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: stipulatory registration – Icelandic law does not mandate that religious or belief organisations register with the governmentin order to be able to legally operate in the country. The ELC is considered already registered and so automatically receives all privileges grantedto registered organisations in addition to exclusive privileges as the state church. Only registered groups are eligible for state funding and entitledto legal recognition of religious ceremonies, such as marriages, that they perform. Groups apply for recognition to the district commissioner’soffice that covers the administration of religion on a national level (currently the District Commissioner’s Office of Northeast Iceland), whichforwards the application to a four-member panel appointed by the Minister of Justice to review applications. The University of Iceland faculty oflaw nominates the panel’s chair, and the university’s Departments of Social and Human Sciences, Theology and Religious Studies, and Historyand Philosophy, respectively, nominate the other three members. The district commissioner then approves or rejects the application inaccordance with the panel’s decision. Applicants may appeal rejections to the Ministry of Justice, resubmitting their application to the districtcommissioner with additional information. The same four-member panel reviews appeals. To qualify for registration, a religious group must“practice a creed or religion,” and a life-stance organisation must operate in accordance with certain ethical values and “deal with ethics orepistemology in a prescribed manner.” The law does not define “certain ethical values” or the prescribed manner in which groups must deal withethics or epistemology. Religious groups and life-stance organizations must also “be well established,” “be active and stable,” “not have apurpose that violates the law or is prejudicial to good morals or public order,” and have “a core group of members who participate in itsoperations, support the values of the organization in compliance with the teachings it was founded on, and pay church taxes in accordance withthe law on church taxes.” The law does not define “well established” or “active and stable.” According to the District Commissioner’s Office ofNortheast Iceland, any unregistered religious group or organization may work in the same way as any company or association, provided it has, asthe other organisations do, a social security number. Unregistered religious groups may, for example, open bank accounts and own real estate.Members are free to worship and practice their beliefs without restriction as long as their activities do not cause a public disturbance, incitediscrimination, or otherwise conflict with the law. The law specifies the leader of a registered religious group or life-stance organisation must beat least 25 years of age and fulfil the general requirements for holding a public position. These include being physically and mentally healthy andfinancially independent, not having been sentenced for a criminal offense as a civil servant, and possessing the general and specialised educationlegally required for the position. Unlike the requirements for most public positions, a religious or life-stance group leader need not be a citizenbut must have legal domicile in the country. All registered religious groups and life-stance organizations must submit an annual report to therelevant district commissioner’s office (currently the District Commissioner’s Office of Northeast Iceland), describing the group’s operationsduring the previous year. Registered religious groups and life-stance organisations are required to perform state-sanctioned functions, such asmarriages and the official naming of children, and preside over other ceremonies, such as funerals. The law provides state subsidies to registeredreligious groups and life-stance organisations. For each individual 16 years of age or older who belongs to any of the officially registered andrecognized religious groups or life-stance organisations, the government allocates an annual payment from income taxes, called the “churchtax,” to the individual’s respective registered organisation. The per capita payment amount varies each year according to the annual budget bill.The government allocates the payment regardless of whether the individual pays any income tax. Registers Iceland, the government office thatmaintains records of basic information on everyone who is or has been domiciled in the country, as well as citizens residing abroad, maintains atally of the number of members of each registered group, records the religious affiliation or non-affiliation of each citizen at birth, and adjuststhe information if individuals report a change. Persons who are not members of a registered organization are still required to pay the church tax,but the government retains their contributions as general revenue rather than allocating them to religious or life-stance organisations. By law, achild’s affiliation or nonaffiliation with a registered religious or life-stance group is determined as follows: (1) if the parents are married or inregistered cohabitation and both belong to either the same registered organization or no organisation, then the child’s affiliation shall be thesame as its parents; (2) if the parents are married or in registered cohabitation, but have different affiliations or if one parent is nonaffiliated,then the parents shall make a joint decision on which organization, if any, the child should be affiliated with, and until the parents make thisdecision, the child shall remain nonaffiliated; and (3) if the parents are not married or in registered cohabitation when the child is born, the childshall be affiliated with the same registered organization, if any, as the parent who has custody over the child. A change in affiliation of childrenyounger than 16 requires the consent of both parents if both have custody; if only one parent has custody, the consent of the noncustodial parentis not required. The law requires parents to consult their children regarding any changes in the child’s affiliation between ages 12 through 15.After turning 16, children may choose affiliation on their own. The government registered the life-stance organization the Theosophical Societyduring the year. As of year’s end, the Greek Orthodox Church’s application, submitted in 2022, and the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community,submitted in 2023 remained under government consideration. Sidmennt continued to criticise authorities for developing policy on religiousmatters without consulting minority religious groups or life stance organizations. Sidmennt continued to describe the government’s policy asprincipally focused on creating a legal framework for the ELC, while other religious groups were afterthoughts. The government reported the2022 government church tax payment to registered religious and life-stance groups was 13,284 kronur ($98) for each member aged 16 or older,compared with 12,960 kronur ($95) in 2021.Key restriction tools imposed: maturity quota and public position requirements, non-recognition for any denomination or religion other than theEvangelical Lutheran Church of Iceland (ELC), stipulated qualifications are ambiguous and lend to state definitions of religion or belief, successfulregistration in Iceland is dependent upon approval by a panel of scholars effecting hinging registration on the opinions of a four-member panel (anexample of religious consultation restriction tool), vertical recognition system due to the state privilege bestowed to the ELC which possesses legalbenefits (verticalism).Human rights instruments: Iceland is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and theUNDRIP; Iceland voted in favour of the UDHR; Iceland is partied to the ECHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free); private expressionand observance (free); proselytism (free); public expression and observance (free); receiving donations (free); religious buildings (free);religious instruction (free); religious literature (free); religious and worship services (free); religious trade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection was granted in the latestrevised constitution from 2013 against discrimination on thebasis of religion.822024 RoRB Classification: CensoriousIndia, Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsEstablish provisions for existential recognition and reverse issues with misrecognition; dismantle all forms of verticalrecognition; remove all restrictive policies on conversion and proselytism; broad grounds for the denial of registration to bemisuse against groups unfavoured by the state need to be applied responsibly.Secularity: India is officially a secular state; however, stateprivilege is granted to Hinduism; official minority status isgranted in law to Buddhists, Christians, Jains, Muslims, Parsisand Sikhs; theism is affirmed in the presidential oath.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: conditional mandatory registration – although the government does not mandate that all religiousgroups register with it, it does state that religious groups receiving any kind of foreign funding must register in accordancewith the Foreign Contribution of Regulation Act (FCRA). The FCRA requires religious groups and other NGOs that receiveforeign funding to be licensed by the Ministry of Home Affairs before accepting or transferring foreign funds. This licensemust be renewed every five years. Federal law further requires NGOs that are registered under the law, including religiousorganizations, to maintain audit reports for their accounts and a schedule of their activities and to provide these to stategovernment officials upon request. The central government may reject a license application or a request to transfer funds ifit judges the recipient to be acting against “harmony between religious, racial, social, linguistic, or regional groups, castes,or communities.” The FCRA requires that NGOs, including religious organisations, use no more than 20 percent of theirfunding for administrative purposes and are prohibited from transferring foreign funds to any other organisation orindividual, limitations that many NGOs stated they found challenging to maintain their operations.Recognition policy: the constitution states any legal reference to Hindus is to be construed to include followers of Sikhism,Jainism, and Buddhism, meaning they are subject to laws regarding Hindus, such as the Hindu Marriage Act. Subsequentlegislation continues to use the word Hindu as a category that includes Sikhs, Buddhists, Baha’is, and Jains, but it identifiesthe groups as separate religions whose followers are included under the law. Federal law provides official minority status tosix religious groups: Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Parsis, Jains, and Buddhists. State governments may grant minority statusunder state law to religious groups that are minorities in a particular region. Members of recognized minority groups areeligible for government assistance programs. The constitution states that the government is responsible for protectingminorities and enabling them to preserve their culture. The law recognises the registration of Sikh marriages but does notinclude divorce provisions for Sikhs. Divorce and other Sikh personal status matters fall under Hindu codes. Under the law,any person, irrespective of religion, may seek a divorce in civil court.Key restriction tools imposed: broad grounds for the denial of registration leave this mechanism open to misuse againstgroups unfavoured by the state, misrecognition of Buddhists, Baha'is, Jains and Sikhs as Hindus or followers of Buddhism,Jainism and Sikhism as part of Hinduism and thereby subject to Hindu laws, monitorial requirements on an annual basis ispermissible but not "on request" of the state government, restrictions were recently imposed on what NGOs (includingreligious groups) can claim as funds for administrative purposes, vertical recognition system is created with the"minority-community status" (verticalism). Under the laws of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, authorities may prohibitproselytizing near any place of worship. Punishment for violations may include imprisonment for up to three years andfines of up to 5,000 rupees ($60). The laws in those states also ban the propagation or practice of any non-Hindu religionin localities designated as “temple towns” because of the number of significant Hindu temples located in those areas.Karnataka’s anticonversion law allows for imprisonment of three to five years and a fine of up to 25,000 rupees ($300) inthe case of proselytizing persons from general categories and imprisonment of three to 10 years and a fine of up to 50,000rupees ($600) for forcibly converting children, women and persons from the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribecommunities.Human rights instruments: India is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, andthe UNDRIP; India voted in favour of the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (not free; restricted in 10 of the 28 states); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burialrites (free); pastoral services (free); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (not free; restricted); publicexpression and observance (free); receiving donations (not free; subject to registration if donations originate fromoverseas); religious buildings (free); religious instruction (not free; restricted); religious literature (free); religious andworship services (free); religious trade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection was granted in the latest revised constitution from2016 against discrimination on the basis of religion.832024 RoRB Classification: CensoriousIndonesia, Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsDismantle the misused recognition system and replace with one that is inclusive of all belief systems, both traditional and NRMs; halt government involvement in the internal affairs ofreligious organisations; revoke all policies that seek to restrict religious activity or the broader registration process.Secularity: Indonesia is a secular state; however, Sunni Islam receives exclusive privileges;Pancasila is Indonesia’s official state ideology which affirms the precepts of monotheism, ajust and civilised society, national unity, democracy and social justice; Buddhism, Catholicism,Confucianism, Hinduism, Islam and Protestantism are recognised by the Ministry of ReligiousAffairs (MORA); theism was affirmed in the latest revised constitution from 2002.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory and malregistration.Registration policy: discriminatory-mandatory registration – Indonesian law mandates that all religious or belief organisations register with the governmentto operate legally in the country except organisations the government deems profess one of the six recognised religions in which case they are not mandatedto register. Organisations belonging to unrecognised religions are required to obtain a legal charter and approval from the Ministry of Law and Human Rights(MLHR) as well as a legal charter as a civil society organisation (CSO) from MOHA. Both MOHA and MLHR consult with MORA before granting legal status toreligious organisations. The law requires all CSOs to uphold the national ideology of Pancasila, which encompasses the principles of belief in one God, justice,unity, democracy, and social justice. MORA’s approval is announced publicly through a state publication. Violations of the law may result in a loss of legalstatus, dissolution of the organisation, and arrest of members under the blasphemy articles of the criminal code or other applicable laws. Indigenous religiousgroups must register with the Ministry of Education and Culture as aliran kepercayaan to obtain official, legal status. The law requires the leader of an alirankepercayaan group to demonstrate group members live in at least three regencies, which are administrative designations one level below a province, beforethe leader may officiate at a wedding. This constraint effectively bars members of some smaller groups without such geographic presence from having theirmarriage ceremony officiated by a member of their faith, although groups may aid each other and facilitate marriage ceremonies by an officiant from a groupwith similar faith traditions and rituals. The government requires all officially registered religious groups to comply with directives from MORA and otherministries on issues such as the construction of houses of worship, receipt of foreign aid by domestic religious institutions, and propagation of religion. A2006 joint ministerial decree issued by MORA and MOHA states that religious groups may not hold services in private residences, and those seeking to build ahouse of worship must obtain the signatures of at least 90 members of the group and 60 persons of other religious groups in the community stating theysupport the construction. Local governments are responsible for implementing the decree. The decree also requires approval from the local interfaith council,called the religious harmony forum (FKUB), before construction can proceed. Government-established FKUBs exist at the provincial and district/city level andare comprised of religious leaders from the six official groups. They are responsible for mediating inter-religious conflicts. A joint ministerial decree by MORAand MOHA requires domestic religious organizations to obtain approval from MORA to receive funding from overseas donors. The decree also prohibitsdissemination of religious literature and pamphlets to members of other religious groups as well as all forms of proselytising, including door-to-doorproselytising. Foreign religious workers must obtain religious worker visas, and foreign religious organisations must obtain permission from MORA to provideany type of assistance (in-kind, personnel, or financial) to local religious groups.Malregistration – the ongoing Papua conflict means that the central government may not have the ability to enforce registration laws at it prescribes in all itsterritory.Key restriction tools imposed: deregistration can lead to arrest of group members, imposition of state definitions of religion, qualifications for registered status imposethe state ideology of Pancasila and are also ambiguous which lends to their misuse against groups unfavoured by the state, religious consultation restriction tool isimposed by the fact that the Ministry of Religious Affairs must approve registration despite the fact that the Ministry of Home Affairs deals with registration proceduresand the dispensation of legal charters, signature quota for places of worship; a 2008 joint ministerial decree by MORA, MOHA, and AGO bans both proselytizing by theAhmadi Muslim community and vigilantism against the group. Violations of the ban on proselytizing by Ahmadis carry a maximum five-year prison sentence oncharges of blasphemy. According to the criminal code, vigilantism carries a maximum four-and-one-half-year prison sentence. If persons proactively ask forinformation from Ahmadi Muslims about their faith, Ahmadis are permitted to speak freely about their beliefs without violating the ban on proselytising; Another jointministerial decree by MORA, MOHA, and AGO bans the Fajar Nusantara Movement, known as Gafatar, from proselytizing, spreading its teachings publicly, orconducting any other activities deemed to spread deviant interpretations of Islam. Violators of the ban may be charged with blasphemy and may receive a maximumfive-year prison sentence; the MUI has issued fatwas that ban proselytizing by what it calls deviant groups, such as Inkar al-Sunnah, Ahmadiyya, Islam Jama’ah, the LiaEden Community, and al-Qiyadah al-Islamiyah. The MUI has issued fatwas and guidance cautioning against the spread of Shia teachings, including a 2013 guidebookcalled “Recognizing and Being Aware of Shia Deviations.” Across the country, minority religious groups, including Muslim groups in non-Muslim majority areas,continued to say the official requirement that groups had to obtain signatures from 90 members of the religious community and 60 members of other religiouscommunities in the area supporting the construction or renovation of a house of worship was a barrier. NGOs continued to report that some local governments did notissue permits for the construction of new places of worship, even when congregations had the required number of members, because those who opposed theconstruction for religious reasons sometimes pressured neighbors not to support the construction. NGOs continued to report cases in which a few vocal opponents werereportedly successful in persuading officials to stop issuing construction permits, effectively giving groups from majority religions a de facto veto over construction ofhouses of worship by minority faith groups. Some NGOs also advocated removing the requirement of FKUB approval, describing it as an unnecessary bureaucratic stepthat was sometimes used to deny approval of houses of worship that otherwise meet legal requirements. Obtaining a building permit remained an obstacle for somereligious groups. Local authorities typically prohibited services from taking place in buildings that had not received official approval. In situations where congregationshad obtained a building permit, local authorities sometimes defended the congregation’s right to construct a house of worship when faced with local opposition.Although the government generally allowed citizens to leave the religion column blank on their identity card (KTP) applications and a 2017 Constitutional Court rulingallowed citizens to select Indigenous faiths on their KTP applications, individuals continued to report difficulties accessing government services if they chose eitheroption. Faced with this problem, many religious minority members, including those following Indigenous beliefs and atheists, reportedly chose to identify as a memberof an officially recognized religion close to their beliefs or of the locally dominant religion. According to researchers, this practice obscured the real numbers ofadherents to religious groups in government statistics. NGOs and religious advocacy groups continued to urge the government to remove the religion field from KTPs.Human rights instruments: Indonesia is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP; Indonesia didnot vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (not free; restricted); hieroncy (not free; restricted and any materials considered anti-Muslim prohibited); monasticism (not free; subject to registration); nuptial, initiatory andburial rites (not free; subject to registration); pastoral services (not free; subject to registration); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (not free; subject to registration);public expression and observance (not free; restricted); receiving donations (not free; subject to registration if donations originate from overseas); religious buildings (not free; subject toregistration); religious instruction (not free; subject to registration); religious literature (not free; subject to registration); religious and worship services (not free; subject to registration);religious trade (not free; subject to registration).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection was granted in the latest revised constitution from 2016 against discrimination onthe basis of religion.Recognition policy: MORA extends state recognition and support to groups in six religions: Islam, Catholicism, Protestantism, Buddhism, Hinduism, andConfucianism. The government defines a religion as having a prophet, holy book, and deity as well as international recognition. The government deems the sixofficially recognized religions to meet these requirements. The Indonesian Council of Ulemas (MUI) is a quasi-governmental organization of Muslim clericswhose stated responsibility is maintaining religious harmony and supporting national development. While the constitution does not cite any specific branch ofIslam as official, MUI comprises only Sunni Muslim groups, including Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and Muhammadiyah. MUI does not accept Shia or Ahmadiyyamembers. The laws on blasphemy and “deviant interpretations” only protect the defamation of the six officially recognised religions.842024 RoRB Classification: TerminalIran, IslamicRepublic ofFoRB Claim: Partial claim is made.RecommendationsComplete dismantlement of the present system established by the regime must first occur before any further recommendations can bemade; reinstitution of the penal code to reflect principles of international human rights on matters of FoRB; abolish the verticalelements of the recognition system, pseudo-recognition of religious minorities, and misrecognition of unrecognised groups.Secularity: Twelver Ja'afari Shia Islam is the state denomination of Iran; Christians, Jews,and Zoroastrians were declared recognised religious minorities in the latest revisedconstitution from 1989; the latest revised constitution also stated that the four Sunnischools of thought and the Shia Zaydi school are “deserving of total respect”; theism wasaffirmed in the latest revised constitution.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory and non-registration.Registration policy: broad mandatory registration and non-registration – the Iranian government mandates that all citizensassociated with one of the three recognised religious minorities register with the authorities. Authorities may close a church andarrest its leaders if churchgoers do not register or if unregistered individuals attend services. Other than this, there are no provisionsfor the registration of any other religious or belief organisations in Iran. It is illegal to register an explicitly Humanist, atheist,secularist or other nonreligious NGO or other human rights organisation, or such groups are persecuted by authorities.”Recognition policy: the constitution states Zoroastrians, Jews, and Christians are the only recognised religious minorities. “Withinthe limits of the law,” they have permission to perform religious rites and ceremonies and to form religious societies. They are alsofree to address personal affairs and religious education according to their own religious canon. The government considers any citizenwho is not a registered member of one of these three groups or who cannot prove his or her family was Christian prior to 1979 to beMuslim. Citizens who are not recognised as Christians, Zoroastrians, or Jews generally may not engage in public expression ofreligious faith, such as worshipping in a church or wearing religious symbols such as a cross. The government makes some exceptionsfor foreigners belonging to unrecognised religious groups.Key restriction tools imposed: conversion to Christianity is not recognised in law (including non-registration and denial of rightsgranted to those born as Christians), mandatory self-registration if one is a member of one of the "recognised religious minorities",misrecognition of the Sabean-Mandaean community as Christians and Yarsanis as Shia Muslims, pseudo-recognition of "recognisedreligious minorities", unregistration will result in the forced closure of the religious building and the arrest of leaders if eithermembers do not register or unregistered members attend services, vertical recognition system (verticalism), Muslim by default. Bylaw, non-Muslims may not engage in public persuasion or attempt to convert a Muslim to another faith or belief. The law considersthese activities to be proselytizing and punishable by two to five years’ imprisonment, or up to 10 years if the individual receivedfinancial or organisational help from outside the country. The last execution of a non-Muslim specifically for proselytising occurredin 1998. The Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance and the Ministry of Intelligence and Security monitor religious activity. TheIRGC, an independent, stand-alone branch of the armed services charged with protecting the integrity of the Islamic Republic andreporting directly to the supreme leader, also monitors churches. According to human rights organizations, Christian advocacygroups, and NGOs, the government continued to regulate Christian religious practices. Official reports and media continued tocharacterise private Christian churches in homes as “illegal networks” and “Zionist propaganda institutions.” Authorities alsoreportedly barred unregistered or unrecognized Christians from entering church premises and closed churches that allowed them toenter. In response, many Christian converts practiced in secret. Other unrecognized religious minorities, such as Baha’is and Yarsanis,were also forced to assemble in private homes to practice their faith in secret. The state-issued national identity card, required foralmost all government and other transactions, allowed citizens to register as belonging to one of the country’s recognised religions orleave the religious affiliation blank. According to the Atlantic Council, religious minorities or atheists needed to lie to receive anational identification card or face denial of access to services, such as insurance, education, banking, and public transportation.Human rights instruments: Iran is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and theUNDRIP; Iran voted in favour of the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (not free; illegal to convert from Islam); hieroncy (not free; non-Shia materials prohibited); monasticism (not free;restricted); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free; restricted); pastoral services (not free; restricted); private expression andobservance (not free; restricted); proselytism (not free; illegal for non-Muslims); public expression and observance (not free;restricted and illegal in some forms); receiving donations (not free; restricted); religious buildings (not free; restricted); religiousinstruction (not free; restricted); religious literature (not free; restricted); religious and worship services (not free; restricted);religious trade (not free; restricted).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: No protection was granted in the latest revised constitution from 1989against discrimination on the basis of religion.852024 RoRB Classification: TerminalIraq,Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsComplete dismantlement of the abuse of recognition is essential to making any further headway to attaining genuine religious freedom in Iraq;this means halting the persecution of minorities, establishing a recognition system that has provisions for both existential recognition and legalregistration and the disestablishment of Islam.Secularity: Islam is the state religion of Iraq; the latest constitutionfrom 2005 protects the “Islamic identity” of the Iraqi people butmakes no specific mention of Sunni or Shia Islam; theism wasaffirmed in the latest constitution from 2005; the religious rights ofChristians, Yazidis and Mandean Sabeans were specifically mentionedin the same constitution from 2005.Mandatoriness of registration: non-registration and malregistration.Registration policy: non-registration – outside Iraqi Kurdistan, there is no mechanism for new religious or belief organisations or organisationsaffiliated with a religion not already recognised to receive legal status through registering. Three diwans (offices) are responsible foradministering matters for the recognized religious groups at the national level within the country: the Sunni Endowment Diwan, the ShiaEndowment Diwan, and the Christian and Minorities Endowment Diwan. The three diwans operate under the authority of the Prime Minister’sOffice to disburse government funds to maintain and protect religious facilities through the endowments of their respective communities. Stipulatory registration - within Iraqi Kurdistan, religious groups can register with the Kurdistan Regional Government’s Ministry of Endowmentand Religious Affairs (KRG MERA). In the IKR, religious groups obtain recognition by registering with the KRG MERA. To register, a group musthave a minimum of 150 adherents, provide documentation on the sources of its financial support, and demonstrate it is not “anti-Islam.” Eightfaiths are recognized and registered with the KRG MERA: Islam, Christianity, Yezidism, Judaism, Sabean-Mandaeism, Zoroastrianism,Yarsanism, and the Baha’i Faith. According to the KRG MERA, individuals from 14 different Christian government-recognized denominationsreside in the IKR, including denominations associated with the Chaldean Church, Assyrian Old Eastern Church, Syriac Orthodox Church, SyriacCatholic Church, Armenian Orthodox Church, Greek Orthodox Church, Roman Catholic Church, Presbyterian Church, Assyrian Protestant Church,Coptic Orthodox Church, and Seventh-day Adventist Church. The KRG MERA administers endowments that pay salaries of clergy and fundconstruction and maintenance of religious sites for Muslims, Christians, and Yezidis, but not for the other five registered religions.Malregistration – the ongoing ISIS insurgency means that the government may not have the ability to enforce its registration laws throughoutthe country.Recognition policy: the personal status law recognises the following religious groups as registered with the government: Muslims, Chaldeans,Assyrians, Assyrian Catholics, Syriac Orthodox, Syriac Catholics, Armenian Apostolic, Armenian Catholics, Roman Catholics, NationalProtestants, Anglicans, Evangelical Protestant Assyrians, Seventh-day Adventists, Coptic Orthodox, Yezidis, Sabean-Mandeans, and Jews.Recognition allows groups to appoint legal representatives and perform legal transactions, such as buying and selling property. All recognizedreligious groups in the country, except for Yezidis, have their own personal-status courts responsible for handling marriage, divorce, andinheritance issues. The law does not permit some religious groups, including Baha’i, Zoroastrian, and Kaka’i, to register under their professedreligions, which, although the groups are recognised in the IKR, remain unrecognized under federal law and lack legal protections provided to therecognized religions. Federal law criminalises the practice of the Baha’i Faith. Although not recognized by the federal government, practicingWahhabi Islam, Zoroastrianism, and Yarsanism are not criminalised. Contracts signed by institutions of these unrecognized religious groups arenot considered legal or admissible as evidence in court.National identity cards – national identity cards issued after 2016 do not denote the bearer’s religion, although the online application stillrequests this information, and a data chip on the card still contains data on religion. The only religions that may be listed on the national identitycard application are Christian, Sabean-Mandean, Yezidi, Jewish, and Muslim. There is neither a distinction between Shia and Sunni Muslims, nora designation of specific Christian denominations. Individuals practicing other faiths may only receive identity cards if they self-identify asMuslim, Yezidi, Sabean-Mandean, Jewish, or Christian. Without an official identity card, one may not register a marriage, enrol children in publicschool, acquire passports, or obtain some government services. Passports do not specify religion. Zoroastrian, Kaka’i, and Baha’i Faith adherentsagain reported their religion was listed as “Islam” on their federal identification cards, a continuing problem reported by members ofunrecognised religious groups due to the country’s constitution and personal status law.Key restriction tools imposed: pseudo-recognition is extended to Christians and other minorities in that although they are recognised underpersonal status law they still cannot practice freely and certainly not to the full extent as prescribed in FoRB, vertical recognition system(verticalism); Iraqi Kurdistan has its own registration procedures and imposes both a membership quota onto registrant religious groups andvalue informational requirements such as presenting documentation showing the group is not "anti-Islam", eight religious communities receivepseudo-recognition, prohibition of the Baha'i Faith by Iraqi federal law with a penalty of 10 years in prison for anyone convicted of practicing it,although the law is not enforced as a matter of informal policy. The KRG also does not enforce the federal ban as a matter of practice and policy,and the KRG recognises the Baha’i Faith as a religion.Human rights instruments: Iraq is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP;Iraq voted in favour of the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (not free; illegal for a Muslim to convert to another religion); hieroncy (not free; restricted and any materials considered offensive toMuslim culture prohibited); monasticism (not free; restricted); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free; restricted); pastoral services (notfree; restricted); private expression and observance (not free; restricted, especially for practitioners of the Baha'i Faith due to it being aprohibited religion); proselytism (not free; illegal); public expression and observance (not free; restricted); receiving donations (not free;restricted); religious buildings (not free; restricted); religious instruction (not free; restricted); religious literature (not free; restricted);religious and worship services (not free; restricted); religious trade (not free; restricted).Protections: Explicit protection was granted in the latest constitution from 2005 againstdiscrimination on the basis of religion.Conditions of state recognition and registration862024 RoRB Classification: ReceptiveIrelandFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsEstablish a recognition system that can provide both existential recognition and legal registration simultaneouslyand at different levels of activity; to become Dynamic, established a recognition agency that is independent ofgovernment to manage the newly established recognition system.Secularity: Ireland is a secular state (the Church of Ireland, anAnglican church, was disestablished in 1871); however, exclusiveprivileges are granted to the Roman Catholic Church, especially in thearea of schooling; theism, specifically Christian trinitarianism wasaffirmed in the latest revised constitution from 2019; the President,all judges and members of the Council of State are required to swear areligious oath that begins with a reference to “Almighty God.”Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: stipulatory registration – Irish law does not mandate that religious or belieforganisations register with the government to operate legally in the country, neither does the law set outany formal procedures for the registration of a religious or belief organisation. Religious groups mayapply to the Office of the Revenue Commissioners (the tax authority) as a charity to receive taxexemptions, and the groups must operate exclusively for charitable purposes, which under the law mayinclude “the advancement of religion.” The law requires all charitable organizations carrying outactivities in the country to register with and provide certain information relating to their organization tothe Charities Regulator, a government-appointed independent authority. The regulator maintains apublic register of charitable organizations and ensures their compliance with the law. Organizations mustapply their income and property solely toward the promotion of their main charitable object, as set out intheir governing instruments (such as a constitution, memorandum and articles of association, deed oftrust, or rules). There is no category for the advancement of nonreligious philosophical beliefs.Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, qualification that a religious group must provide "public benefit" arevulnerable to misuse against unfavoured groups.Human rights instruments: Ireland is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, theUNCRC, and the UNDRIP; Ireland did not vote on the UDHR; Ireland is partied tothe ECHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services(free); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (free); public expression and observance (free);receiving donations (free); religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religious literature (free);religious and worship services (free); religious trade (free).Protections: Explicit protection was granted in the latest constitution from 2019against discrimination on the basis of religion.Conditions of state recognition and registration872024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveIsrael,State ofFoRB Claim: Partial claim is made.RecommendationsEstablish a recognition system that has sufficient provisions for both existential recognition and legal registrationsimultaneously and at different levels of activity; remove existent abuses of the recognition system that have amounted tostagnation of recognition processes and overall caused violations of citizens' religious freedoms.Secularity: Israel is officially a secular state; Judaism is given a special position inthe legal and political framework; several laws refer to Israel as a “Jewish anddemocratic state”; Israel law recognises only the Baha'i Faith, Christianity, Druzereligion, Islam and Judaism.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: stipulatory registration – the Israeli government does not mandate that religious groups register with itin order to operate legally in the country. The language of the legislation amalgamates recognition with legal registration,leaving no distinct procedures for registration.Key restriction tools imposed: non-recognition for Protestant groups and other minorities, secondary procedures areimposed as part of the registration process, vertical recognition is in place due to different religions and their communitiesbeing recognised under different laws from both the modern Israeli law to the Ottoman millet to the British Mandate era(verticalism). It is illegal to proselytise to a person younger than 18 without the consent of both parents. The law prohibitsoffering a material benefit to potential converts while proselytising.Human rights instruments: Israel is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, and the UNCRC;Israel is not partied to the UNDRIP; Israel did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (not free; individuals may only legally convert to one of the recognised religions); hieroncy (free); monasticism(free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free); private expression and observance (free); proselytism(not free; restricted); public expression and observance (free); receiving donations (free); religious buildings (free); religiousinstruction (free); religious literature (free); religious and worship services (free); religious trade (free).Protections: No explicit protection was granted in the latest revised constitutionfrom 2013 against discrimination specifically on the basis of religion.Conditions of state recognition and registrationRecognition policy: under the Law of Return, the Population and Immigration Authority of the Ministry of Interior (MOI)recognises Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform conversions in the country for the purpose of immigration, citizenship, andregistration. Those who convert through a non-Orthodox denomination, whether inside or outside the country, are not able toobtain religious services such as marriage, divorce, or burial in a Jewish cemetery. The law recognises only Judaism, Christianity,Islam, the Baha’i Faith, and the Druze religion. The adopted Ottoman millet (court) system recognises Christian religiouscommunities, including Eastern Orthodox, Latin (Roman Catholic), Gregorian-Armenian, Armenian Catholic, Syrian Catholic,Chaldean (Chaldean Uniate Catholic), Greek Catholic Melkite, Maronite, Syrian Orthodox, and Evangelical Episcopal. By law, theAnglican and Baha’i communities are recognized by the government. The government does not recognize other religiouscommunities, including major Protestant denominations in the country, as distinct religious communities. The two legalpathways to formal recognition include petitioning either the Prime Minister’s Office or the MOI. Groups may appeal rejectedapplications to the Supreme Court. Recognised religious communities are exempt from taxation of their places of worship andmay have separate courts to apply their religion’s personal status laws. Municipalities may levy property taxes on religiousproperties not used for prayer, such as schools, monasteries, pilgrim hostels, and soup kitchens. The law establishes localreligious councils for Jewish communities and for the Druze. The MRS has jurisdiction over the country’s Jewish religiouscouncils that oversee the provision of religious services for Jewish communities. The government finances approximately 40percent of the religious councils’ budgets, and local municipalities fund the remainder. The MOI Department of Non-JewishAffairs has jurisdiction over religious matters concerning non-Jewish groups and oversees the religious council for the Druze.The Department of Non-Jewish Affairs convenes an annual inter-religious council of all recognised religions, including Judaism,which serves as a discussion forum for recognised religious communities. Members of some unrecognized groups may processtheir personal status documents, including marriage licenses, only through the authorities of one of the recognized religiouscommunities, if those authorities agree. Membership in a recognized religion is recorded in the National Registry and generallypassed from parent to child unless a person changes it through a formal conversion to another recognized religion. Religiousidentification is listed in the National Registry but not on official identity cards.882024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveItalian RepublicFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsEstablish a recognition agency to manage religious recognition independent of government; revoke excessive informational requirements.Secularity: Italy is officially a secular state (the Roman Catholic Church wasdisestablished in 1985); however, exclusive privileges are granted to the RomanCatholic Church; the latest revised constitution from 2020 described both the stateand the Catholic Church as “independent and sovereign, each with its own sphere.”Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: pseudo-mandatory registration – although Italian law does not formally mandate that religious or belief organisationsregister with the government to operate legally in the country, clergy from unregistered organisations are not legally permitted to providepastoral care to members in prisons and hospitals which makes registration pseudo-mandatory. The law provides religious groups with tax-exempt status and the right to recognition as legal entities once they have completed the registration process with the Ministry of Interior(MOI). Legal registration is a prerequisite for any group seeking an accord with the government. A religious group may apply for registrationby submitting an official request to a prefect (the local MOI representative) that includes the group’s statutes, a report on its goals andactivities, information on its administrative offices, a three-year budget, certification of its credit status by a bank, and certification of theItalian citizenship or legal residency of its head. To be approved, a group’s statutes must not conflict with the law. Once approved, the groupmust submit to MOI administrative monitoring, including oversight of its budget and internal organization. The MOI may appoint acommissioner to administer the group if it identifies irregularities in its activities. Religious groups that are not registered may still operatelegally as cultural associations and obtain tax-exempt status, legal recognition of marriages, access to hospitals and prisons, and otherbenefits, but those benefits are more easily obtained if a group has an accord with the government. The Catholic Church is the only legallyrecognized group exempted from MOI monitoring, in accordance with the concordat between the government and the Holy See. An accordalso allows a religious group to receive funds collected by the state through a voluntary 0.8 percent of personal income tax set-aside ontaxpayer returns. Taxpayers may specify to which eligible religious group they would like to direct these funds. National law does not restrictreligious face coverings, but some local authorities impose restrictions. Regional laws in Liguria, Veneto, and Lombardy prohibit the wearingof burqas and niqabs in public buildings and institutions, including hospitals. All missionaries and other foreign religious workers fromcountries that are not EU members or signatories of the Schengen Agreement must apply with the MOI for special religious activity visasbefore arriving in the country. An applicant must attach an invitation letter from his or her religious group to the application. Eligibleapplicants are those who have already received priestly ordination, or equivalent status, as well as religious ministers belonging todenominational organisations already registered with the MOI, and who intend to participate in religious ceremonies or events orecclesiastical, religious, or pastoral activities. Visa duration varies based on the request of the religious organisation.Key restriction tools imposed: informational requirements requested are excessive (namely mandating that the group's head must be anItalian national or have achieved local residency as well as credit status certification from a bank), it must be assured that bilateralcooperation agreements are made available to all religious groups, vertical recognition system is in place due to the state privilege extendedto the Catholic Church.Human rights instruments: Italy is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and theUNDRIP; Italy did not vote on the UDHR; Italy is partied to the ECHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (not free; subject toregistration); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (free); public expression and observance (free); receiving donations(free); religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religious literature (free); religious and worship services (free); religioustrade (free).Protections: Explicit protection was granted in the latest revised constitution from 2020against discrimination on the basis of religion.Conditions of state recognition and registrationRecognition policy: relations between the state and the Catholic Church are governed by a concordat between the government and the HolySee. Representatives of a non-Catholic faith requesting an accord must first submit their request to the Prime Minister’s Office. Thegovernment and the group’s representatives then negotiate a draft agreement, which the Council of Ministers must approve. The PrimeMinister then signs and submits the agreement to parliament for final approval. Thirteen groups have an accord: the Confederation ofMethodist and Waldensian Churches, Seventh-day Adventists, Assemblies of God, Jews, Baptists, Lutherans, the Church of Jesus Christ, theOrthodox Church of the Constantinople Patriarchate, the Italian Apostolic Church, the Buddhist Union, Soka Gakkai Buddhists, Hindus, andthe Anglican Church. According to leaders of the Islamic Cultural Center of Italy, the government again did not make significant progress onreaching an accord with the Muslim community, despite continuing dialogue with various Islamic religious entities. The MOI continued torecognize only the Islamic Cultural Center of Italy, which administers the Great Mosque of Rome, as a legal religious entity, a prerequisite tosigning an accord, but by year’s end, it had not signed one. The government recognized other Islamic groups as nonprofit organisations.National leaders of the larger Islamic organisations said an apparent effect of the lack of a formal agreement between the government andany Muslim group is a proportionally small number of formally recognised mosques, representing a challenge for locating adequate worshipspaces for the country’s more than 2.3 million Muslims. They said a lack of a national central body representing a majority of the country’sMuslims could also be a factor. Regional governments and Muslim religious authorities continued to recognize eight mosques, respectively,in Colle Val d’Elsa, Albenga, Milan, Rome, Ravenna, Forli, Palermo and Catania. In addition, local governments continued to recognize manyother sites as Islamic places of worship, although some Muslim authorities said these were not full-fledged mosques because they lackedminarets or other key architectural features such as domes.892024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveJamaicaFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsEstablish a recognition system that has sufficient provisions for both existential recognition and legal registrationsimultaneously and at different levels of activity; reduce excessive registration fee and revoke vertical registrationsystem.Secularity: Jamaica is a secular state; however, theismis affirmed in the oath of allegiance.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatoryRegistration policy: pseudo-mandatory registration – religious or belief organisations are not formally required by lawto register with the government to operate legally in Jamaica. However, for clergy to be legally permitted to enterprisons to provide pastoral care, they must be part of a registered religious organisations which in effect makesregistration pseudo-mandatory. Other benefits of registration include the ability to hold land and to enter into legaldisputes as organisations. The process of registration is referred to as ‘incorporation.’ Groups seeking incorporatedstatus are required to apply to the Companies Office of Jamaica (Companies Office), an executive agency. Theapplication comprises a standard form and a fee of 24,500 Jamaican dollars ($160). Nongovernmental organizationsregister through the same form and fee structure. Groups incorporated through this process must subsequently submitannual reports and financial statements to the Companies Office. Alternatively, religious groups may petitionparliament to be incorporated by parliamentary act. Such groups receive similar benefits to those incorporatingthrough the Companies Office, but parliament does not require annual reports or regulate the organisations itincorporates. Regardless of incorporation status, religious groups seeking tax-exempt status must register as charities.To be considered a charity, an organization must apply either to the Department of Co-operatives and FriendlySocieties, within the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, or to the Companies Office of Jamaica. Onceregistered, groups also submit their registration to the Jamaica Customs Agency within the Ministry of Finance and thePublic Service and apply to Tax Administration Jamaica to be considered for tax-free status. Foreign religious workers,regardless of affiliation, who visit the country to work with a religious organisation, must obtain a visa and a workpermit from the Ministry of Labor and Social Security.Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, parliamentary acts are provided as an alternative procedure forregistration and although benefits received as the same as the groups having undergone the main registrationprocedure the monitorial requirements are less stringent (parliamentarianism), registration fee of $1,600 significantlyexceeds the RoRB standards threshold of $100, vertical registration system based on the fact that some groups are lessmonitored than others; a colonial-era law criminalising Obeah and Myalism remains in effect. Potential punishment forpracticing Obeah and Myalism includes imprisonment of up to 12 months. The government, however, did not in practiceenforce this law. Seventh-day Adventists continued to report that their observance of the Sabbath on Saturdays causedthem difficulties, for example by facing challenges with employment due to their inability to work on Saturday. TheJamaica Defense Force (JDF) generally continued to refuse acceptance of Rastafarians into its ranks. The JDF previouslysaid it did not discriminate based on religion or denomination, but it stated that the force’s strict codes of conductregarding hair length and the prohibition of marijuana use among its members were the obstacles to Rastafarianparticipation in the force.Human rights instruments: Jamaica is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC,and the UNDRIP; Jamaica did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services(free); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (free); public expression and observance (free); receivingdonations (free); religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religious literature (free); religious andworship services (free); religious trade (free). However, the prohibition of the Obeah and Myalism religions means thatthe freedoms listed above do not apply to their members which undermines RoRB and FoRB conditions in Jamaica.Protections: Explicit protection was granted in the latest revisedconstitution from 2011 against discrimination on the basis of religion.Conditions of state recognition and registration902024 RoRB Classification: ReceptiveJapanFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsEstablish procedures for existential recognition and for legal registration, particularly so that the latter process is made distinct from similarprocesses for secular entities; to become dynamic, establish an independent recognition agency to deal with religious recognition; Revoke thelongevity quota, excessive informational requirements and the registration procedure of prefecturalisation.Secularity: Japan is a secular state (Shinto was disestablished in1947).Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: stipulatory registration – Japanese law does not mandate that religious or belief organisations register with thegovernment in order to operate legally in the country. The registration process is referred to in law as ‘certification.’ However, gainingregistration exempts government-certified religious groups with corporate status from paying income tax on donations and religiousofferings used as part of their operational and maintenance expenses. The law requires religious groups applying for corporate status toprove they have a physical space for worship and that their primary purpose is disseminating religious teachings, conducting religiousceremonies, and educating and nurturing believers. An applicant must present, in writing, a three-year record of activities as a religiousorganisation, a list of members and religious teachers, the rules of the organization, information about the method of making decisions onmanaging assets, statements of income and expenses for the past three years, and a list of assets. The law stipulates prefectural governorshave jurisdiction over groups seeking corporate status in their respective prefecture, and that groups must apply for registration withprefectural governments. Exceptions are granted for groups with offices in multiple prefectures, which they may register with Ministry ofEducation, Culture, Sports, and Science (MEXT). After the MEXT minister or a prefectural governor confirms an applicant meets the legaldefinition of a certified religious group with corporate status, the law requires the applicant to formulate administrative rules pertaining toits purpose, core personnel, and financial affairs. An applicant becomes a religious corporation only after the MEXT minister or governorapproves its application and the applicant subsequently registers. The law requires certified religious corporations to disclose their assets,income, and expenditures to the government. The law also authorises the government to investigate possible violations of regulationsgoverning for-profit activities. Authorities have the right to suspend a religious corporation’s for-profit activities for up to one year if thegroup violates the regulations. Under the “right of inquiry” provision of the Religious Corporation Act, the government may investigatereligious corporations suspected of committing acts that are illegal or are deemed to clearly harm the public welfare. A court may order thedissolution of a religious corporation, consequently revoking its corporate status and tax benefits, if the court finds the corporation hascommitted such acts. After dissolution, the law does not hinder a religious group from continuing to practice its religion as a noncorporateentity. The law stipulates that worship and religious rituals performed by inmates in penal institutions, alone or in a group, shall not beprohibited. The MOJ offers inmates access to volunteer chaplains from various faiths in prisons. According to the ACA, as of the end of 2021,the most recent year for which statistics were available, central and prefectural governments had certified 179,952 groups as religious groupswith corporate status, compared with 180,544 such groups at the end of 2020. The large number reflected the fact that many local units ofreligious groups registered separately. The government generally certified corporate status for religious groups when they met therequirements.Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, informational requirements are excessive (three year record of activities, list of members andleaders), longevity quota, prefecturalisation (as form of provincialisation), the stipulated qualification of a "physical space for worship" isnarrow and could be misuse against unfavoured groups or those that do not necessarily engage in worship practices. On October 13, the TokyoDistrict Court officially accepted a request submitted by MEXT to order the revocation of legal corporate status for the Family Federation inorder to “dissolve” the church as a statutory term. On October 12, MEXT Minister Moriyama stated the request was based on the church’sresponses to questions regarding its activities and on interviews the National Network of Lawyers against Spiritual Sales conducted with 170individuals who allegedly suffered financial damages caused by the church. Minister Moriyama said MEXT found the church hadsystematically continued violating civil law since 1980 by collecting large sums of money in the form of donations and encouraging expensivepurchases by a considerable number of its followers in situations that prevented them from making decisions with free will. MinisterMoriyama said the church had committed these acts as a corporate organization and caused the followers and their family membersenormous financial and mental damages. He cited 32 civilian lawsuits in which the church paid ¥2.2 billion ($15.5 million) in damages to 169plaintiffs, as well as additional settlements in and outside court involving 1,550 victims totaling ¥20.4 billion ($144.2 million). He said thechurch had met statutory conditions for dissolution, as MEXT judged the church’s acts were “clearly found to harm public welfaresubstantially” and had “deviated substantially from the purpose of a religious organization prescribed” in the law, the dissemination ofreligious teachings, the conduct of ceremonies and functions, and the education and nurture of believers. On October 12, Prime MinisterKishida Fumio stated MEXT’s dissolution request was based on “objective facts under law.” This was the government’s first request todissolve a religious corporation on the basis of a violation of civil law. In a Diet session in 2022, Prime Minister Kishida said the governmenthad previously interpreted a violation of criminal law as a prerequisite for requesting the dissolution of a religious corporation. Thisinterpretation was based on a 1996 court decision, which ordered the dissolution of the group Aum Shinrikyo for systematically producingthe chemical agent sarin for mass murder in violation of criminal law. He said that upon further discussion, the government determined itshould request dissolution on a case-by-case basis. As a result, the government interpreted it was possible to include a violation of civil lawas a prerequisite for requesting the dissolution provided the government found a religious corporation’s acts were systematic, malicious, andcontinuous. Minister Moriyama publicly stated MEXT concluded the Family Federation’s acts were systematic, malicious, and continuousand submitted the request for the dissolution with the unanimous endorsement of the MEXT advisory council of religious and legal experts.Human rights instruments: Japan is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and theUNDRIP; Japan did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free); private expressionand observance (free); proselytism (free); public expression and observance (free); receiving donations (free); religious buildings (free);religious instruction (free); religious literature (free); religious and worship services (free); religious trade (free).Protections: Explicit protection was granted in the latest constitutionfrom 1946 against discrimination on the basis of “creed.”Conditions of state recognition and registration912024 RoRB Classification: CensoriousJordan, HashemiteKingdom ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsDismantle the present restrictive system by removing all instances of partial and vertical recognition; establish procedures for equal existential recognition and legal registration for all groups; revokethe rule of mandatory registration for non-Islamic groups; utilise recognition as a means to promote diversity of belief as a positive component of society and to reaffirm the valid rights of minorities.Secularity: Islam is the state religion of Jordan; 16 Christian churches are granted lesserrecognition in law including Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Armenian Orthodox, MelkiteCatholic, Anglican, Maronite Catholic, Lutheran, Syrian Orthodox, Seventh-day Adventist, UnitedPentecostal, Coptic, Free Evangelical Church, Church of the Nazarene, Assemblies of God,Christian and Missionary Alliance, and Baptist Church; theism is affirmed in the ministerial oath.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration and recognition policy: discriminatory mandatory registration – the Jordanian government mandates that all non-Islamic religious or belief organisations register with it in order tooperate legally in the country. Registration results in what the law refers to as “official recognition.” However, Islamic organisations receive automatic recognition through the constitution and donot need to register with the government. If registered as “denominations,” they may administer rites such as marriage and establish ecclesiastical courts. Recognised religious groups may alsoown land, open bank accounts, and enter into contracts. Religious groups may alternatively be registered as “religious entities.” Religious entities must work through ecclesiastical courts ofrecognized denominations on matters such as divorce and inheritance, but they otherwise have all other rights as recognized denominations, such as conducting marriages, owning property, andopening bank accounts. Members of Christian churches recognized under the Law for Councils of Christian Denominations, as well as members of denominations registered as religious entities,may take their denomination-issued marriage certificates to the Civil Status Bureau to receive their government marriage certificates. Recognised denominations and religious entities generally donot need government approval to accept funding from parent churches or certain Christian charities or organisations based outside of the country. Recognised non-Islamic religious groups are tax-exempt but do not receive the government subsidies granted to Islamic religious groups. Religious groups that the government does not recognize as denominations or religious entities lack legalstatus and may not undertake basic administrative tasks such as opening bank accounts, purchasing real estate, or hiring staff. Individuals may exercise such activities on behalf of theunrecognized group. To register as a recognized religious denomination, the group must submit its bylaws, a list of its members, its budget, and information regarding its religious doctrine to theMinistry of Interior and Prime Ministry. In determining whether to register or recognize Christian groups, the Prime Minister confers with the Ministry of Interior and the CCL. Although neither thelaw nor the constitution explicitly mandate the practice, church and government leaders have stated that the CCL must endorse recognition for new Christian groups prior to the Prime Minister’sapproval. To achieve official recognition as denominations, the Ministry of Interior must recommend Christian groups and the cabinet must approve. The government also refers to the followingcriteria when considering recognition of Christian groups: the group’s teachings must not contradict the nature of the constitution, public ethics, customs, or traditions; the Middle East Council ofChurches, a regional body comprising four families of churches (Catholic, Orthodox, Eastern Orthodox, and Protestants), must recognize it; its religious doctrine must not be antagonistic to Islamas the state religion; and the group’s membership must meet a minimum but unspecified number of citizens. An annex to the Law for Councils of Christian Denominations lists 11 officiallyrecognized Christian religious groups: Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Armenian Orthodox, Melkite Catholic, Anglican, Maronite Catholic, Lutheran, Syrian Orthodox, Seventh-day Adventist,United Pentecostal, and Coptic. In 2018, five additional evangelical Christian denominations, formerly registered under the Ministry of Justice, were recognized by the Ministry of Interior asreligious entities but not as religious denominations and, as a result, none have been permitted to establish an ecclesiastical court: the Free Evangelical Church, Church of the Nazarene, Assembliesof God, Christian and Missionary Alliance, and Baptist Church. Religious groups such as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Church of Jesus Christ) and Jehovah’s Witnesses are notregistered and gather in semi-official or unofficial meetings places. The government improved the ability of the Church of Jesus Christ to operate by granting it legal status as a charitableassociation through its Latter-day Saint Charities in 2018 and permitted members to gather in semi-official meeting spaces owned by the charity. However, the government requires Church ofJesus Christ members to obtain marriage certificates through officially recognized Christian denominations and does not allow the Church of Jesus Christ to independently own buildings orestablish bank accounts. The CCL serves as an administrative body to facilitate tax and customs exemptions, as well as to issue civil documents related to marriage or inheritance. In other matters,such as issuing work permits or purchasing land, the denominations interact directly with the relevant ministries. Religious groups that do not have representatives on the CCL handleadministrative tasks through the ministry relevant to the task. Unrecognized Christian groups do not have representatives on the CCL, have no legal status as religious entities, and must haveindividual members of their groups conduct business with the government on their behalf. The Greek Orthodox Archbishop permanently chairs the presidency of the CCL. According to theconstitution, a special provision of the law regulates the activities and administration of finances of the Islamic awqaf. Per this provision of the law, the Ministry of Awqaf manages mosques,appoints imams, pays mosque staff salaries, manages Islamic clergy training centers, and subsidises certain mosque-sponsored activities, such as holiday celebrations and religious observances.Other Islamic institutions are the General Iftaa Department, which issues fatwas; the Supreme (Sharia) Justice Department, headed by the Office of the Supreme (Sharia) Justice (OSJ) and in chargeof the Sharia Public Prosecution; the Sharia Courts; and the Sharia Institute. The government mandates imams to adhere to officially prescribed themes for Friday sermons, while allowingflexibility in style and delivery. Muslim clergy who do not follow government policy may face suspension, a written warning, a ban from delivering Friday sermons for a certain period, or dismissalfrom the Ministry of Awqaf. In addition to these administrative measures, a preacher who violates the law may face imprisonment for a period of one week to one month or a fine not to exceed 20dinars ($28). According to the constitution, matters of the personal status of non-Muslims whose religion the government officially recognises are under the jurisdiction of denomination-specificcourts of religious communities, except for matters of inheritance, when sharia is applied to all persons regardless of religious affiliation. Such ecclesiastical courts exist for the Greek Orthodox,Roman Catholic, Melkite Catholic, Armenian Orthodox, Coptic, Syrian Orthodox, and Anglican communities. According to the law, members of recognized religious groups lacking their own courtsmay take their cases to civil courts, which, in principle follow the rules and beliefs of the litigants’ denomination in deciding cases, unless both parties to a case agree to use a specific religious court.There are no tribunals for atheists or adherents of unrecognised religious groups. Such individuals must request a civil court to hear their case. National identification cards issued since 2016 do notlist religion, but religious affiliation is still published on birth certificates, contained in records embedded in the identification card’s electronic chip, and remains on file in other governmentrecords. National identification cards are renewed every 10 years. Passports do not list religion. Per the ban on conversion from Islam under sharia, converts from Islam are not allowed to changetheir religion on electronic records. Converts to Islam must change their religion on their civil documents, such as family books (a national registration record issued to every head of family), andon electronic records. Christian converts belonging to unregistered denominations described personal accounts of security forces summoning them for questioning on several consecutive days,putting their jobs at risk. Some converts to Christianity from Islam reported they continued to worship in secret to avoid scrutiny by security officials. Because of the sharia ban on conversion,government officials generally refused to change the religion listed on official documents from Islam to any other religion. Accordingly, these converts’ religious practice did not match their officialreligion, exposing them to claims of apostasy and personal status issues involving marriage, divorce, and inheritance. As of 2022, 7,600 mosques in Jordan were registered with the Ministry ofAwqaf. Local media reported that number would increase by up to 100 annually. Over 2,700 imams are authorized to deliver sermons. Unofficial mosques continued to operate outside Ministry ofAwqaf control in some cities, and imams outside of government employment preached without ministry supervision. Ministry of Awqaf inspections uncovered a very small number of cases ofunregistered imams leading prayers in mosques during the year. In these cases, the government ordered all attendees and imams to cease their activities and gather in a designated mosque in theirarea for the Friday sermons led by a registered imam. Friday prayers in major cities were consolidated into central mosques, over which the Ministry of Awqaf had more oversight, continuing aprocess that began in 2018. The ministry allowed smaller mosques to continue Friday sermons along with their areas’ central mosque. The government continued its policy of not recognizing theBaha’i Faith but allowed Baha’is to practice their religion and included them in officially sponsored interfaith events. Sharia courts and the courts of other recognized religions continued not toissue Baha’is the marriage certificates required to transfer citizenship to a foreign spouse or to register for government health insurance and social security. The Department of Civil Status andPassports also continued not to recognize marriages conducted by Baha’i assemblies, but it issued family books to Baha’is, allowing them to register their children, except in cases of marriagesbetween a Baha’i man and a Baha’i woman when the marriage was erroneously registered as Muslim. In those cases, the children were considered illegitimate and were not issued birth certificatesor included in family books and subsequently were unable to obtain citizenship or register for school. Baha’i parents could generally designate a dash in lieu of assigning Islam or the Christianreligion on their children’s birth certificates. There were cases of daughters of Baha’i converts unable to marry Baha’i men because the birth certificates and official documents of the womenmaintained their religious designation as Islam, the prior faith of their fathers. Some members of the Baha’i Faith reported erroneous religious designations on birth certificates and officialdocuments persisted for third-generation Baha’is. Three recognized cemeteries remained registered in the name of the Baha’i Faith through a special arrangement between the group and thegovernment. Baha’i leaders reported they continued to be unable to register other properties under the name of the Baha’i Faith but remained able to register property under the names of individualBaha’is. In doing so, the Baha’i leaders said they continued to have to pay new registration fees whenever they transferred property from one person to another at the death of the registered owner,a process that created a large financial burden. Baha’i leaders stated concerns that registering properties under individual Baha’is also exposed the individuals to personal legal and financialliabilities. Baha’i leaders said they were using the civil courts to challenge their group’s property registration restrictions, stating they were unable to legally protect Baha’i assets if individuals whoregistered Baha’i property under their names decided to misappropriate funds or property. The Baha’i community’s request for religious exemptions for property registration fees remainedpending. Members of non-Muslim religious groups, especially unregistered groups, continued to report occasional threats by the government to arrest them for disrupting public order if theyproselytised Muslims.Key restriction tools imposed: endorsement from the Council of Church Leaders (CCL) is a de facto prerequisite to successful registration, excessive informational requirements and qualificationsfor registered status, Islamic groups are exemption from mandatory registration requirements, preapproval, state funding is reserved for Islamic groups, vertical recognition is in effect as there isthe state religion of Islam and various recognised Christian groups (11 with their own ecclesiastical courts and 5 without) (verticalism); Jehovah's Witnesses continued to be denied officialrecognition.Human rights instruments: Jordan is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP;Jordan did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (not free; converts from Islam not recognised by the state); hieroncy (not free; restricted); monasticism (not free; subject to registration); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free;subject to registration); pastoral services (not free; subject to registration); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (not free; all non-Islamic forms illegal); public expression andobservance (not free; restricted); receiving donations (not free; subject to registration); religious buildings (not free; subject to registration); religious instruction (not free; subject toregistration); religious literature (not free; restricted); religious and worship services (not free; restricted); religious trade (not free; restricted).Protections: Explicit protection was granted in the latest revised constitution from 2016 againstdiscrimination on the basis of religion.Conditions of state recognition and registration922024 RoRB Classification: CensoriousKazakhstan,Republic ofFoRB Claim: Partial claim is made that limits FoRB to religions considered “traditional”.RecommendationsDismantle the entire system that misuses recognition as a means to restrict religious activity; this dismantlement must take place before any further efforts can be made; revoke membership quota, broad grounds for thedenial of registration, state definition of religion, term weaponisation, geographic quota, the policy of confinement among others.Secularity: Kazakhstan is a secular state; Greek Catholicism, Hanafi Sunni Islam, Judaism, Lutheranism, RomanCatholic Church, and Russian Orthodox Church are recognised as the "traditional" religions of the country.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: broad mandatory registration – Kazakh law mandates that all religious or belief organisations register with the government in order to operate legally in the country. A religious organisation may bedesignated “national,” “regional,” or “local.” To register at the local level, an organisation must submit an application to the Ministry of Justice that lists the names and addresses of at least 50 founding members. Religiousorganizations may be active only within the geographic limits of the locality in which they register unless they have enough members to register at the regional or national level. Regional registration requires at least twolocal organizations, each located within a different province, and a combined membership of at least 500 persons. National registration requires at least 5,000 total members and at least 300 members in each of thecountry’s 17 regions and the cities of Astana, Almaty, and Shymkent. Only groups registered at the national or regional level have the right to open educational institutions for training clergy. The law allows the governmentto deny registration to a religious group based on an insufficient number of adherents or inconsistencies between the religious group’s charter and any national law, as determined by an analysis conducted by the CRA.According to the administrative code, individuals participating in leading or financing an unregistered, suspended, or banned religious group may be fined between 126,250 tenge and 505,000 tenge ($280 and $1,100). Theadministrative code mandates a 505,000 tenge ($1,100) fine and a three-month suspension from conducting any religious activities for registered groups for holding religious gatherings in buildings not approved for thatpurpose; importing, producing, or disseminating religious materials not approved by the CRA; systematically pursuing activities that contradict the charter and bylaws of the group as registered; constructing religiousfacilities without a permit; holding gatherings or conducting charity events in violation of the law; or otherwise defying the constitution or laws. Private persons engaged in these activities are subject to a fine of 126,250tenge ($280). Police may impose these fines without first going to court. Those fined may appeal their penalties to a court. If an organization, its leaders, or its members engage in activities not specified in its charter, theorganization is subject to a warning, a fine of 252,500 tenge ($550), or both. Under the administrative code, if the organisation commits the same violation within a year, the legal entity is subject to a fine of 378,750 tenge($830) and a three to six-month suspension of activities. According to the administrative code, if a religious organisation engages in a prohibited activity or does not rectify violations resulting in a suspension, an official orthe organisation’s leader is subject to a fine of 505,000 tenge ($1,100); the entity is also subject to a fine of 1,262,500 tenge ($2,800), and its activities are banned indefinitely. The law authorises local authorities to“consider” and in practice to refuse locations proposed for holding religious events that are outside religious buildings. By law, religious activities may be held in residences, provided that organisers take into account the“rights and interests of neighbours.” Authorities sometimes interpret this as a requirement to receive permission from the neighbours. The government prohibits individuals who do not pay their fines, including those whodo not pay their fines for violating religious laws, from traveling outside the country. The law prohibits efforts to force a person to convert to any religion or to force a person’s participation in a religious group’s activities orin religious rites. The law further bans activities of religious organizations that involve violence against citizens or otherwise harm the health or morality of citizens and residents, force them to end marriages or familyrelations, or violate human rights and freedoms. The law also bans activities that force citizens to evade the performance of “duties specified in the constitution and legislation,” but the definition of these duties is subject tobroad interpretation by the government. The law prohibits methods of proselytizing that exploit a potential convert’s dependence on charity. The law also prohibits blackmail, violence or the threat of violence or the use ofmaterial threats to coerce participation in religious activities. The law states that in cases when a prisoner requests a clergy member to perform a religious rite, he or she may invite a clergy member of a formally registeredreligious group to a detention facility if this access complies with the prison’s internal regulations. The law bans construction of places of worship within prison territory and does not allow for rooms to be provided forreligious practice. Persons in detention have the right to engage in religious practices near their sleeping accommodations during their personal time. Pursuant to the law, registered religious organizations may participatein monitoring prisons, including creating and implementing programs to improve the correctional system and developing and publicly discussing draft laws and regulations as they relate to the prison system. Religiousgroups may identify, provide, distribute, and monitor the use of humanitarian, social, legal, and charitable assistance to prisoners. They may provide other forms of assistance to penitentiary system bodies if they do notcontradict the law. According to the law, prisoners may possess religious literature, but only if it is approved following an analysis conducted by a CRA religious “expert.” The law does not define the qualifications needed tobe a religious expert. The law defines “religious tourism” as a “type of tourism where persons travel for performance of religious rites in a country (place) of temporary residence” and requires the MCI to regulate it.Together with the Sunni Hanafi Spiritual Administration of Muslims (SAMK), a government-organized religious NGO headed by the Grand Mufti of Almaty and including CRA officials, the MCI oversees the process by whichindividuals participate in the Hajj or in other travel for the performance of religious rites. The government requires that specially selected guides and imams accompany each group and states the rules are designed to ensurepilgrims are not recruited by extremist religious groups. All production, publication, and dissemination of religious literature and information materials with religious content are allowed only after receiving a positiveexpert opinion from the CRA. The law allows one copy of published religious materials to be imported for personal use without CRA review. The law requires organizations to “take steps to prevent involvement orparticipation of anyone under the age of 18 in the activities of a religious association” if a parent or other legal guardian objects. The law bans religious activities, including proselytizing, in children’s vacation, sport,creative, or other leisure organizations, camps, or sanatoria. The extent to which organizations must prevent underage persons’ involvement in religious activity is not specifically outlined and has not been further definedby authorities. To perform missionary or other religious activity in the country, a foreigner must obtain a missionary or religious visa. These visas allow a person to stay for a maximum of six months, with the possibility ofapplying to extend the stay for another six months. To obtain missionary visas, applicants must be invited by a religious group formally registered in the country. The CRA must approve the letter of invitation. Applicantsmust obtain consent from the CRA each time they apply. The CRA may reject missionary visa applications based on a negative assessment from CRA religious experts, or if it deems the missionaries represent a danger to thecountry’s constitutional framework, citizens’ rights and freedoms, or any person’s health or morals. The constitution requires foreign religious groups to conduct their activities, including appointing the heads of localcongregations, “in coordination with appropriate state institutions,” notably the CRA and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Foreigners may not register religious groups. Local and foreign missionaries are required to registerannually with the local executive body of a region or of the cities of Astana, Almaty, and Shymkent and provide information on their religious affiliation, intended territory of missionary work, and intended timeframe forconducting that work. Missionaries must submit all literature and other materials intended to support their missionary work, together with their registration application. Use of materials not vetted during the registrationprocess is illegal. A missionary must produce registration documents and a power of attorney from the sponsoring religious organization. The local executive body of a region or the cities of Astana, Almaty, and Shymkentmay refuse to register missionaries if those executive bodies deem the missionaries’ work to “constitute a threat to the constitutional order, social order, the rights and freedoms of individuals, or the health and morals ofthe population.” The Ministry of Culture and Information (MCI), which assumed the responsibilities of the former Ministry of Information and Social Development (MISD) on September 1, regulates the practice of religion inthe country. By law, the MCI is responsible for the formulation and implementation of state policy on religion as well as for facilitating government and civil society engagement. It also considers potential violations of thelaws on religious activity and extremism. The MCI drafts legislation and regulations, conducts analysis of religious materials, and makes decisions on censorship. Religious groups are required to submit religious materialsfor approval before dissemination. The MCI cooperates with law enforcement bodies to ban religious groups and sanction individuals who violate the religion law, coordinates actions of local governments to regulatereligious practices, and provides the official interpretation of the religion law. The counterterrorism law requires religious organizations to secure their buildings of worship against potential terrorist attacks; thegovernment may act against religious organizations for failure to do so. The law states the government shall not interfere with the choice of religious beliefs or affiliation of citizens or residents unless those beliefs aredirected against the country’s constitutional framework, sovereignty, or territorial integrity. The criminal and administrative codes include penalties for unauthorised religious activity, which includes the arrangement of,and participation in, activities of unregistered religious groups, participation in religious activities outside registered areas for religious services or areas approved by the government for specific religious events via theofficial prenotification process, unlicensed distribution of religious materials or training of clergy, sale of religious literature without government approval or in places not approved by the government, and discussion ofreligion for the purpose of proselytization without the required missionary registration. Criminal penalties for this activity include imprisonment for up to seven years and fines of up to 20,419,000 tenge ($44,800). For lessserious violations, a local prosecutor and judge may impose administrative penalties without further court action. Administrative penalties include detention of up to 30 days and fines of up to 583,400 tenge ($1,300) forindividuals, 875,100 tenge ($1,900) for officials, and 1,458,500 tenge ($3,200) for organizations. The law provides a notification system for religious organizations participating in activities outside houses of worship, whichfunctions in practice as an approval system, as it requires specific locations and dates to be approved before religious activities can be conducted. The extremism law, which applies to religious groups and otherorganizations, accords the government discretion to identify and designate a group as an “extremist organization,” ban a designated group’s activities, and criminalise membership in a banned organization. The law definesextremism as commission of acts in pursuit of violent change of the constitutional system; violation of the sovereignty or territorial integrity of the country; undermining of national security; violent seizure or retention ofpower; armed rebellion; incitement of ethnic, religious, or other forms of social discord accompanied by calls to violence; or the use of any religious practice that causes a security or health risk. An extremist organization is a“legal entity, association of individuals, and (or) legal entities engaged in extremism and recognized by a court as extremist.” The law provides streamlined procedures for identifying a group as “terrorist or extremist,”permitting a court to render judgment and act on a decision in as few as 72 hours. After a legal finding of a violation, the law authorises officials to immediately revoke the organisation’s registration, thus ending its legalexistence, and to seize its property. Prosecutors have the right to annually inspect all groups registered with state bodies for compliance with all applicable laws. The administrative code prohibits “spreading the creed ofreligious groups [that are] unregistered” in the country, an offense punishable by a fine of 252,500 tenge ($550). A foreigner or stateless person found guilty may also be deported. The law does not provide for conscientiousobjection to mandatory military service on religious grounds, but clergy from registered religious organizations, including Jehovah’s Witnesses, may be exempted from service.Key restriction tools imposed: broad grounds for the denial of registration makes unfavoured groups vulnerable to baseless denials, confinement, geographic quota, membership quota, registration procedures are split between national, regional andlocal levels (localisation and provincialisation), state definition of religion, vertical recognition is in effect with FoRB being limited to "traditional" religions, weaponisation of the term "traditional" to exclude religions unfavoured by the state. Thegovernment continued not to approve the registration of Muslim groups apart from those observing the Sunni Hanafi school, which the SAMK oversaw. All other schools of Islam remained unregistered and were officially unable to practice in thecountry, although NGOs reported some non-Hanafi Muslim communities continued to worship informally without government interference. The SAMK continued to control the activities of all formally registered Muslim groups, all affiliated with theSunni Hanafi school, and, in addition to appointing imams, exercised authority over the administration of qualification examinations and background checks for aspiring imams. The MCI continued to work closely with the SAMK on the training ofimams, upgrading madrassahs to the status of degree-granting colleges, and controlling Hajj pilgrimages. The SAMK permitted imams to enroll in baccalaureate, master’s, or doctoral programs offered at Nur Mubarak University’s Islamic Studies andReligious Studies departments based on their prior education levels. In addition, there were 11 Sunni Hanafi religious training centers and one each for Roman Catholic and Russian Orthodox clergy. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community again did notattempt to register during the year; the group had attempted to register with authorities at least six times since 2011 and was last rejected in 2016. Government experts continued to justify their conclusion that the community’s teachings were notIslamic and that it must remove the word “Muslim” from its registration materials. Human rights defenders criticized this reasoning as inappropriate for a secular government. Some community members reported that since they were not registered,they did not engage in any religious activity. Local and international observers reported that authorities continued to impose restrictions on, and conduct additional scrutiny of, groups the government considered “nontraditional.” This included someProtestant groups and Muslims who practiced any version of Islam other than the officially recognized Hanafi school of Sunni Islam. Restrictions included refusal to register new buildings as official places of worship. Observers reported localgovernments continued to refuse registration to some small, non-Muslim religious groups and to monitor the activities of their members, while other groups opted not to attempt registration for fear this would attract negative attention from stateofficials and lead to harassment of their members. NGOs again stated the Council of Baptist Churches continued to refuse on principle to register under the law, in keeping with its policy of maintaining a distance from the government, and thatauthorities continued to surveil them as in prior years. The Church of Scientology continued to function as a registered public association rather than as a religious organization. The government allowed the church, as a public association, to maintainresource centers/libraries where members could read or borrow books and host discussions or meetings, but it did not allow the church to engage in public activity the government considered religious in nature, such as conducting services. Membersreported a reluctance to try to register as a religious organization under the amended 2021 Law on Religion, as the law’s broader definition of which experts could be employed to examine religious cases could leave organizations more vulnerable toaccusations of psychological harm to current or former community members. Religious freedom observers continued to report that notification procedures for scheduling religious events outside of registered religious buildings left communitiesvulnerable to government interference because the government could refuse permission for an event even if the applicants complied with all notification requirements. The CRA reported that in practice its regional offices did not deny permission toany of the groups that applied to hold religious services outside of registered religious buildings during the year. Representatives of religious groups also reported that in some regions, it was not possible to hold events outside of registered religiousbuildings because individual venues refused to rent space to them, possibly under pressure from local authorities or due to lack of understanding of the legal requirements for renting spaces for religious services. According to the Jehovah’s Witnesses,in three instances authorities interrupted religious meetings held in rented facilities. The Witnesses also stated that among their 15 local groups in the country, only one received permission during the year to start the process to designate its place ofworship as a “religious building,” and five were denied because of opposition from neighbors. Without such a designation, Witnesses said they could not distribute religious literature and had difficulty holding religious meetings. Members of someregistered minority religious groups reported the CRA participated actively in NGO-organized discussions on religious freedom and religious tolerance. In addition, nongovernmental experts in religious affairs reported some regional CRA officesorganized multifaith clubs and chat groups to facilitate positive relationships with local faith representatives. Several minority religious group representatives reported CRA outreach had improved cooperation with the national government, which wasable to resolve minor disagreements and misunderstandings of the legal structure with minimal negative consequences for religious community members. Examples included the ability to rent premises for religious worship on a regular basis withoutgovernment harassment. Religious groups also cooperated with the government to remove derogatory speech deemed illegal under the law from public platforms. CRA representatives said they maintained information hotlines and chatbots thatindividuals could contact to obtain information about religious issues. Nongovernment observers reported that Muslim groups that did not wish to register with the SAMK for reasons including differences of belief, sometimes continued to worshipinformally but generally avoided public attention for fear of provoking government interference up to and including imprisonment and physical mistreatment. Forum 18 reported that two Muslims from the ethnic Dungan community in the southernZhambyl Region were fined for teaching children on religious topics without state permission, bringing the number of ethnic Dungan Muslims fined for teaching children to read the Quran to 13 since 2018. Also, according to Forum 18, at least 10persons were prosecuted in the first half of 2023 for maintaining and using places of prayer without state permission. Eight of these cases, all involving Muslims, ended with fines. According to public reports, Zakirzhan Rozmetov was fined for leadingevening prayers during Ramadan in a Shymkent mosque stripped of registration in 2021. A court ruled that Rozmetov’s action in leading prayers was “contrary to [legal requirements]” because he “does not work as an imam or teacher in therepresentative office and is not registered as a clergyman in the local executive bodies.”Human rights instruments: Kazakhstan is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP; Kazakhstandid not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (not free; restricted); monasticism (not free; restricted); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free; restricted); pastoral services (free); private expression and observance (free); proselytism(not free; restricted); public expression and observance (not free); receiving donations (not free; restricted); religious buildings (not free; restricted); religious instruction (not free; restricted); religious literature (notfree; restricted); religious and worship services (not free; restricted); religious trade (not free; restricted).Protections: Explicit protection was granted in the latest revised constitution from 2017 against discrimination on thebasis of religion.Conditions of state recognition and registration93FoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.Registration policy: discriminatory and quasi-mandatory registration – all religious organisations,except those the governments considers to be indigenous and traditional, intending to operate in Kenyamust register with the Registrar of Societies which then reports this information to the Office of theAttorney General. Moreover, the registration rate among indigenous religious groups is low. Despite thelaw officially prohibiting the operations of unregistered or deregistered religious organisations, this lawis not frequently enforced in practice. To register, applicants must have valid national identificationdocuments, pay a fee, and undergo security screening. Applicants seeking to register and lead a newreligious society are required to hold a diploma or degree from a recognised theological institution.Registered religious institutions and places of worship are exempt from paying tax on tithes, offerings,and donations, as well as duty on imported goods. Religiously-affiliated non-governmentalorganisations and sub-organisations of a religious group engaging in charity work must register withthe NGO Coordination Board. The law requires religious institutions to file annual returns; failure to doso results in deregistration, but the penalty is frequently not enforced. Deregistration may also beappealed. The Ministry of Information, Communications, and Technology must approve regional radioand television broadcast licenses, including for religious organisations.Conditions of state recognition and registration2024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveKenya,Republic ofRecommendationsAbolish the 2022 law that requires that all religious leaders must hold a theological certificate from aneducational institution to register; abolish the discriminatory and quasi-mandatory registration order;the suggestion by the state committee that umbrella religious bodies should be establish and that moregovernment oversight of religious activity in Kenya is concerning and must be monitored internationally.Secularity: Kenya is a secular state; however, theism wasaffirmed in the latest constitution from 2010 as does the nationalanthem and the oath of allegiance for high-ranking politicians.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, indigenous and traditional groups are not required toregister, informational requirements such as valid national identification documents imply thatgroup registrants and leaders must be Kenyan nationals, registration fee is undisclosed, there havebeen no new registered religious groups since 2014 causing a backlog of thousands of applications, theRegistrar of Societies deregistered at least five churches during 2023, the government does notrecognise any theological certificates for Hindu priests despite gaining a theological certificate beinga prerequisite for registering.Human rights instruments: Kenya is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC;Kenya abstained from the UNDRIP; Kenya did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (not free; subject to registration); nuptial,initiatory and burial rites (not free; subject to registration); pastoral services (not free; subject toregistration); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (not free; subject toregistration); public expression and observance (free); receiving donations (not free; subject toregistration); religious buildings (not free; subject to registration); religious instruction (not free;subject to registration); religious literature (not free; subject to registration); religious and worshipservices (not free; subject to registration); religious trade (not free; subject to registration).Recognition policy: the law recognises five systems of marriage: civil, Christian, Hindu, customary,and Islamic.Protections: Explicit protection is granted in the constitution againstdiscrimination on the basis of religion.942024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveKiribati,Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsEstablish distinct provisions for existential recognition and legal registration within a recognition systemthat caters to all groups and at different levels of activity as is described in the Dynamic level of theSpectrum of Religious Recognition; revoke the rule of mandatory registration for religious organisationsand groups representing more than 2% of the population; the apathetic approach of the government meansthat some aspects of religious life are left vague in the legislation which may be the cause for some islandsdominated by one group to violate religious freedoms (as reported by Freedom House).Secularity: Kiribati is officially a secular state; however, Christianity receivesstate privilege; theism was also affirmed in the latest revised constitutionfrom 2013.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: conditional quasi-mandatory registration – although Kiribati lawmandates that all religious or belief organisations with a membership of equal to or greaterthan two percent o the total population according to the most recent census must registerwith the government, there are no legal consequences for not registering. To register, thereligious organization submits a request to the Ministry of Women, Youth, and Social Affairs,signed by the head of the group and supported by five other members of the organisation.Also required in the request is information regarding proof of the number of adherents andthe religious denomination and name under which the group wishes to be registered. Thegovernment allowed missionary visits to islands with a “one church” tradition providedprospective missionaries follow the traditional practice of requesting permission from localleaders. Sources stated that minority religious groups did not attempt to send anymissionaries to these islands during the year. The government allowed the Kiribati ProtestantChurch (KPC) to operate, but the church was not able to register during the year due to a courtcase and opposition to its registration from the Kiribati Uniting Church, according to KPCleadership. The church’s registration application was submitted when it separated from theKiribati Uniting Church in 2016, and church officials said they were optimistic thegovernment would grant registration due to the government’s grant support for its activities.Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, informational requirements are excessive(including proof of number of adherents), membership quota (no less than 2%), signature quota.Human rights instruments: Kiribati is partied to the UNCRC; Kiribati is neither asignatory nor a party to the ICCPR, the ICESCR or the UNDRIP; Kiribati did notvote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoralservices (free); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (free); public expression andobservance (free); receiving donations (free); religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free);religious literature (free); religious and worship services (free); religious trade (free).Protections: Explicit protection was granted in the latest revised constitutionfrom 2013 against discrimination on the basis of religion.Conditions of state recognition and registration952024 RoRB Classification: TerminalKorea, DemocraticPeople's Republic ofFoRB Claim: Partial claim is made that constricts FoRB to the construction of religiousbuildings and hosting worship services. The latest revised constitution from 2016 stated that,“Religion must not be used as a pretext for drawing in foreign forces or for harming the stateor social order.”RecommendationsComplete dismantlement of the country’s repressive system for inhibiting all forms of religious activity would need to beconducted before any further recommendations could be made to improve the situation further; although North Korea isprovided with the classification of Terminal in the Spectrum of Religious Recognition, the country should ideally begiven its own even lower classification as no other country can compare to how North Korea violates freedom of religionor belief.Secularity: North Korea is a hypersecular state that professes state atheism; the official stateideology is a combination of Juche and Kimilsungism-Kimjongilism. Mandatoriness of registration: non-registration.Registration policy: non-registration – there are currently no established procedures for the legal registration ofreligious or belief organisations. The government encourages all citizens to report anyone engaged in unauthorisedreligious activity or in possession of religious materials. The places of worship operating in the capital Pyongyang act asshowpieces or token churches for foreigners rather than autonomously run religious organisations. The country’scriminal code punishes a “person who, without authorisation, imports, makes, distributes, or illegally keeps drawings,photographs, books, video recordings, or electronic media that reflect decadent, carnal, or foul contents.” The criminalcode also bans “engaging in superstitious activities in exchange for money or goods,” as well as “encouraging others toengage in superstitious activities,” with punishments of up to seven years in a labor camp. According to local sources,this prohibition includes fortune telling. According to the NGO Committee for Human Rights in North Korea (HRNK),under these two provisions, ownership of religious materials brought in from abroad is illegal and punishable byimprisonment and other forms of severe punishment, including execution. The law specifically prohibits participation in‘religious and superstitious activities’ by “young people.” There were reports of private Christian religious activity,although the existence of underground churches and the scope of underground religious networks remained difficult toquantify. Escapee accounts indicated religious practitioners often concealed their activities from family members,neighbours, coworkers, and others due to fear of being branded as disloyal and concerns their activities would bereported to authorities. Some defectors and NGOs reported unapproved religious materials were available clandestinely.A Korea Future report in 2022 stated the state ideology of “Kimilsungism-Kimjongilism” (adherence to the teachings ofKim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il) had many hallmarks of religion, and the state presents the two leaders as “extraordinarybeings” in official materials and authorised texts.Key restriction tools imposed: non-recognition for any religion and no procedures exist for the genuine registration ofreligious organisations, state ownership of religion, there are state-sanctioned religious organisations representingBuddhism, Catholicism, Cheondoism, Orthodox Christianity, and Protestantism which receive pseudo-recognition,token churches are constructed and run by the government, weaponisation of the term "superstitious".Human rights instruments: North Korea is partied to the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP;North Korea has attempted to revoke its ratification of the ICCPR; North Korea did not vote onthe UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (not free; illegal); hieroncy (not free; all religious materials are illegal); monasticism (not free; highlyrestricted); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free; illegal); pastoral services (not free; highly restricted); privateexpression and observance (not free); proselytism (not free; illegal); public expression and observance (not free;illegal); receiving donations (not free; illegal); religious buildings (not free; illegal); religious instruction (not free;illegal); religious literature (not free; illegal); religious and worship services (not free; state-sanctioned churches);religious trade (not free; illegal).Protections: No protection was granted in the latest revised constitution from 2019 againstdiscrimination on the basis of religion.Conditions of state recognition and registration962024 RoRB Classification: ReceptiveKorea, Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsRemove restrictive financial quotas and excessive informational requirements from theregistration process as well as revoke the localisation of those procedures.Secularity: South Korea is a secular state.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: stipulatory registration – although South Korean law does not mandatethat religious or belief organisations register with the government to operate legally in thecountry, religious or belief organisations with property valued at less than 300 million won($231,000) cannot access registration. If a religious or belief fulfils the financial quota, it canbecome a government-recognised religious organisation by publishing its internal regulationsdefining the group’s purpose and activities, its meeting minutes of the group’s first gathering,and a list of executives and employees. To obtain tax benefits, including exemption fromacquisition or registration taxes when purchasing or selling property to be used for religiouspurposes, organizations must submit to the local government their registration as a religiousand nonprofit corporate body, an application for local tax exemption, and a contract showingthe acquisition or sale of property. All clergy are taxed on earned yearly income, but clergy areexempt from taxation on education, food, transportation, and childcare expenses. Individuallaypersons are eligible for income tax deductions for contributions to religious organisationsupon submission of receipts for the donations.Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, financial quota, localisation of procedures andthe necessity to own property to gain tax-exempt status.Human rights instruments: South Korea is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR,the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP; South Korea did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites(free); pastoral services (free); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (free);public expression and observance (free); receiving donations (free); religious buildings(free); religious instruction (free); religious literature (free); religious and worship services(free); religious trade (free).Protections: Explicit protection was granted in the latest revised constitutionfrom 1987 against discrimination on the basis of religion.Conditions of state recognition and registration972024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveKosovo, Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsEstablish a recognition system that in the country that has the capacity to both existentially recognise and legally register allreligious and belief groups simultaneously and at multiple levels of activity (from belief systems, to denominations, to singlereligious buildings); tighten up or remove subjective language from the legislation that is vulnerable to misuse by authorities as ameans of inhibiting religious activity, especially by non-traditional groups; revoke indirect registration, stop barringunrecognised religious communities from obtaining legal status, revoke the weaponisation of terms as well as the vertical natureof the recognition system.Secularity: Kosovo is officially a secular state; the 2006 law on religious freedomspecifically mentioned the SOC, Roman Catholic Church, Evangelical Church (which isinterpreted by the government to include all Protestant denominations), Kosovo IslamicCommunity and Hebrew Belief Community.Mandatoriness of registration: non-registration.Registration policy: non-registration – there are no procedures for legal registration provided by the government yet neitherdoes the government mandate that religious groups register with it in order to operate legally in Kosovo. Without legal status,religious communities may not own property, open bank accounts, employ staff, or access the courts as a collective entity.Individual congregations or individuals, however, may do so and perform other administrative tasks in their own name. Localcommunities often recognize religious groups’ possession of buildings; however, the law generally does not protect thesebuildings as property of a religious community, but rather as the private property of citizens or nongovernmental organizations(NGOs). SOC property is an exception; the law on special protective zones (SPZs) acknowledges and protects the integrity of SOCproperty ownership and stewardship over designated areas within the SPZs. The law provides religious communities exemptionsfrom income tax, value added taxes, immovable property taxes, and customs duties, but these benefits are unevenly enforced.The law stipulates the rights to establish humanitarian/charity organizations, accept voluntary financial contributions fromindividuals and institutions, and engage in national and international communication for religious purposes. The law onregistering NGOs, however, does not apply to “religious communities, religious centers, or temples,” which prevents religiousgroups from registering as NGOs and also prohibits NGOs from conducting religious activity in the country. In March 2023, thegovernment submitted to the Assembly proposed amendments to the law on religious freedom that would permit religiousgroups to acquire legal status, conduct business and acquire real and personal property in their name, open bank accounts, andgain import tax benefits. As of year’s end, the Assembly had not voted on the amendments. Absent enactment of the legislation,all religious communities said they continued to operate bank accounts registered to individuals instead of communities. TheUKT reported that the government’s Agency of Statistics did not take into account UKT recommendations on the draft censusquestionnaire, which restricted individuals from self-identifying with a religious community beyond “Islamic, Orthodox, orCatholic” and therefore did not provide an opportunity for some religious groups, such as the Tarikats, to self-identify asdistinct communities. The Union of Kosovo Tarikats (UKT), which also supports the right of all individuals and groups to self-identify as not practicing any religion, said the draft questionnaire did not include an option to select no religion, either. Becausethe Tax Administration revoked the UKT’s fiscal number certificate in 2022, the UKT said it remained unable to open bankaccounts and benefit from customs exemptions. According to the UKT, the Tax Administration cited as justification the absenceof Tarikats as a distinct religious group according to the law on religious freedom. The Water Services Regulatory Authoritystated it once again waived water utility fees during the year for religious buildings owned by religious communities. By law,however, it could not waive water utility fees for buildings rented by religious communities, which disproportionately affectedsmaller religious communities because most of them rented facilities. The KPEC again said the government’s official calendar ofholidays referred to “Catholic” or “Orthodox” holidays but not “Christian” or “Protestant” holidays. The KPEC stated thegovernment’s lack of advocacy for religious minorities contributed to a perceived climate of discrimination. The KPEC also saidthe presence of Islamic symbols in some public buildings contributed to a perception of Muslim influence over governmentinstitutions.Key restriction tools imposed: barring unrecognised religious communities from obtaining legal registered status, indirectregistration, vertical recognition system is in effect as some religious communities are recognised and others not (verticalism),weaponisation of the term "traditional".Human rights instruments: Kosovo is not partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, andthe UNDRIP; Kosovo did not vote on the UDHR; Kosovo is not partied to the ECHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free);private expression and observance (free); proselytism (free); public expression and observance (free); receiving donations(free); religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religious literature (free); religious and worship services (free);religious trade (free).Protections: Explicit protection was granted in the latest revised constitution from 2016against discrimination on the basis of religion.Conditions of state recognition and registration982024 RoRB Classification: CensoriousKuwait, State ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsComplete dismantlement of the present system that inhibits the vast majority of religious activities; this process must take place first before Kuwait can be reclassified as Restrictive; revoke thevertical orientation of the recognition system and multi-registration.Secularity: Islam is the state religion of Kuwait; as such, theism was affirmed in the reinstatedconstitution from 1992; the same constitution declares that the Amir must be Muslim and that the stateshall safeguard the heritage of Islam; only religious figures in Christianity and Judaism that are alsorecognised in Islamic orthodoxy are protected under anti-defamation and denigration laws.Mandatoriness of registration: non-registration.Registration policy: indirect registration – there is no officially published process outlining the steps religious or belief organisations must take to register withthe government. Government offices do not offer guidance on the registration process. There are no fixed criteria for an application to be approved. To registeran official place of worship and gain benefits from the central government, a religious group must first receive approval for its place of worship from the localmunicipality. Previously, religious groups reported the municipality would pass the paperwork to the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs (MAIA) for an“opinion” on the application for a worship space. MAIA would then issue a certificate listing board members for the organization, making the religious group alegal entity, followed by approvals from the Public Authority of Manpower (PAM) and the Ministry of Interior (MOI). During the year, embassy officials met withthe Undersecretary of MAIA and MFA representatives who stated the Council of Ministers had assigned the MFA, Ministry of Justice (MOJ), and MAIA to create aunified department dedicated to managing administrative affairs for minority faith groups. This department would include responsibilities such as processingstate registration for non-registered religious communities. Until the establishment of this department, no government agency handled registration for non-registered communities. Meanwhile, MAIA is handling administrative tasks for registered religious communities only. The officially registered Christianchurches in the country are the National Evangelical Church of Kuwait (NECK) (Protestant); Roman Catholic; Greek Catholic (Melkite); Coptic Orthodox;Armenian Orthodox; Greek Orthodox; Anglican; and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. There are no officially recognized synagogues, and,according to MAIA, none have ever applied for official recognition. The government has not registered any non-Abrahamic religious communities. Non-registered religious groups include Hindus, Sikhs, Druze, Bohra Muslims, Buddhists, and Baha’is. A religious group with a registered place of worship may hirestaff, sponsor visitors to the country, open bank accounts, and import religious materials for its congregation. Non-registered religious groups may notpurchase property or sponsor workers and must rely on volunteers from within their community for resources. Some registered religious groups, such as NECK,have agreed to assist non-registered groups in these matters. The law does not specifically prohibit proselytising by non-Muslims, but individuals proselytisingmay be prosecuted under laws criminalising contempt of religion. If a religious group wishes to purchase land, a citizen must be the primary buyer and mustsubmit a request for approval to the local municipal council, which allocates land at its discretion. Citizens, or in a few cases the government, may also lease landto religious groups. An individual’s religion is not included on passports or national identity documents except for birth and marriage certificates, on which it ismandatory. On birth certificates issued to Muslims, there is no distinction between Sunni and Shia. Members of non-Abrahamic faiths are not able to list theirreligion on their birth certificate and a dash (-) is denoted in place of their religion. The MOI, in coordination with PAM, issued visas for clergy and other staff towork at registered places of worship. The government continued to impose quotas on the number of clergy and staff of registered religious groups entering thecountry but sometimes granted additional slots upon request. Church leaders stated that within the past year, the MOI had granted significantly fewer visas forclergy and other staff, which affected their daily operations, especially for registered churches with multiple congregations and thousands of worshippers. Thegovernment continued to require foreign leaders of unregistered religious groups to enter the country as nonreligious workers. Only Muslims and Christians arepermitted to pray communally and possess religious literature while detained. Authorities allowed Muslim imams and Christian clergy access to prisoners anddetainees for religious observance, but unrecognized religions did not have this privilege.Key restriction tools imposed: multi-registration is imposed for places of worship, pseudo-recognition is granted to eight Christian groups, state definition of religion, the government ofKuwait has a non-recognition policy for any non-Abrahamic religion or religions it views as non-Abrahamic, vertical recognition is in effect (verticalism). The law bans certain topics frompublication and public discussion. These include insulting religion, in particular Islam, and “sorcery.” The law prohibits practices the government deems inconsistent with Islamic law,including anything the government deems to be “sorcery” or “black magic,” which under the penal code constitutes “fraud and deception” and carries a maximum penalty of three years’imprisonment, a fine, or both. In January, the MOI arrested a foreign labourer for possession of items allegedly used in acts of “sorcery.” Representatives of registered churches said thegovernment was generally tolerant and respectful of their faiths. Members of non-Abrahamic faiths and unregistered churches said they remained free to practice their religion in private butfaced harassment and potential prosecution if they disturbed their neighbours or violated laws regarding assembly and proselytizing. They also said they avoided conflict with authorities by notproselytizing or disparaging the government or other faiths. The government continued to allow non-Abrahamic faith groups to operate in rented villas, private homes, or the facilities ofregistered churches. Many of these groups stated they did not publicly advertise religious events or gatherings to avoid bringing unwanted attention to their organisations, either from the publicor from government authorities. Leaders of registered churches reported government authorities continued to allow only citizens to sign official documents, even if the citizens were not amongthe churches’ ordained clergy. If there were no citizen members, authorities continued to recognize the highest church authority as the official signatory of the church. To address the problem,some churches opted to have their members’ documents initially attested by their respective embassies before submitting them to local authorities. Members of non-Abrahamic faiths andunregistered churches said they experienced difficulties in celebrating major religious or life events. Many members said they lacked adequate facilities but noted clerical support for prayers,blessings of births and marriages, and conducting proper death rituals is available. In many cases, members of these religious groups stated they resolved conflicts, such as child separationissues in divorce, marital status, or inheritance, within their communities rather than in the courts, where they would be subject to sharia. The government continued to require religious groupsto obtain registration from their municipalities for religious celebrations. Authorities retained the right to withdraw the registration of any husseiniya not complying with the municipality’srules. Minority religious communities continued to state they tried to keep a low profile and did not request permission for public celebrations from authorities, since they presumed authoritieswould reject their request. The MOI continued to provide security and protection at religious sites for all recognized non-Sunni religious groups. Muslim and Christian leaders said that thegovernment, citing security concerns, kept in place a ban on outdoor religious observances instituted following the 2015 ISIS bombing of a Shia mosque that killed 27 persons. The governmentcontinued to station security forces throughout the year outside major Sunni mosques and all Shia and Christian religious venues during times of worship to deter attacks. The government alsocontinued to provide security to Shia neighbourhoods during Muharram and Ashura observances. The government allowed only shops owned by registered religious organizations to import,display, or sell non-Islamic religious literature. The government did not allow non-Islamic religious publishing companies to operate, although several churches published religious materialssolely for their congregations’ use. Church leaders said the government permitted registered churches to import religious materials for use by their congregations if none of the content insultedIslam. Registered churches reported they could import religious materials in any language. According to the Ministry of Information, MAIA reviewed books of a religious nature. Members ofnon-Abrahamic faiths and non-registered churches said they could import religious materials for their congregations if they brought in the materials as personal items when entering thecountry and did not try to sell them in public stores. While minority religious communities stated they continued to be selective in the religious materials they imported, and even more selectivein giving access to the materials, many members noted this was less of an issue during the year because their activities had moved almost entirely online during the pandemic. They said they didnot allow the circulation of these materials outside their congregations. Municipalities handled building permits and land issues for religious groups. The government stated it received noapplications for the construction of places of worship from non-Islamic religious groups during the year. The government reported it did not receive additional requests for registrations of newgroups during the year. During a meeting with nine leaders of registered and non-registered churches in March, the leaders agreed that Christians in the country did not face harassment.Nevertheless, the leaders shared concerns that churches had no assigned government agency or department to address their issues. The leader of one non-registered church said his church wasinterested in registering, but there was no publicly available information on how to register. The leaders estimated there were approximately 100 unregistered churches operating in the countryand reported that approximately two years prior, PAM imposed restrictions on the number of new visas for which churches could apply on behalf of their clergy. Shia community membersreported a continued lack of facilities for worship and difficulties obtaining permission to construct new facilities or approving repairs to existing facilities due to government delay. As ofDecember, MAIA reported there were 1,776 mosques in the country, including over 100 Shia mosques. MAIA reported there were 2,034 imams registered with the ministry. MAIA reported therewere over 570 registered husseiniyas and more that were not registered. Typically, husseiniyas are not obliged to register with MAIA, as MAIA perceives them as social gathering places ratherthan religious institutions. The government instructed MAIA, the MOI, the Kuwait City municipality, and other entities to end the use of unregistered mosques. MAIA continued to operate undera mandate from the Council of Ministers to demolish unregistered mosques, stating that some of those mosques served as extremist platforms. Authorities did not report whether there werenew, non-registered mosques opened during the year or whether any nonregistered mosques were closed during the year.Human rights instruments: Kuwait is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP;Kuwait did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (not free; restricted); hieroncy (not free; restricted); monasticism (not free; subject to registration); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free; subject to registration); pastoralservices (not free; subject to registration); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (not free; illegal for non-Muslims); public expression and observance (not free; restricted);receiving donations (not free; subject to registration); religious buildings (not free; subject to registration); religious instruction (not free; subject to registration); religious literature (not free;subject to registration); religious and worship services (not free; subject to registration); religious trade (not free; subject to registration).Protections: Explicit protection was granted in the latest revised constitution from 2016 againstdiscrimination on the basis of religion.Conditions of state recognition and registration992024 RoRB Classification: CensoriousKyrgyzRepublicFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsDismantlement of the system to restrict religious activity and of the abusive system of registration that purely exists to stop groups the government does not approve of fromcongregating; revoke all identified restriction tools in the registration system.Secularity: Kyrgyzstan is a secular state; Russian Orthodoxy and Sunni Islamare recognised as the traditional religions and are treated more favourably.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: broad mandatory registration – Kyrgyz law mandates that all religious or belief organisations register with the State Commission on Religious Affairs (SCRA) tooperate legally in the country. The law prohibits activities by unregistered religious groups, including renting space and holding religious services, including in private homes. Failure toregister can lead to a fine of 7,500 som ($84) for individuals and 23,000 som ($260) for legal entities. Groups applying for registration must submit an application that includes anorganisational charter, minutes of the organizing meeting, and a list of founding members. Each congregation of a religious group must register separately and must have at least 200resident founding citizens. Foreign religious organizations are required to renew their registrations with the SCRA annually. Although a 2016 Supreme Court decision nullified therequirement that religious groups register with local councils to establish new places of worship, in practice, the SCRA still maintains this requirement. The SCRA is legally authorised todeny the registration of a religious group if it does not comply with the law or is considered a threat to national security, social stability, interethnic and interdenominational harmony,public order, health, or morality. The SCRA may also deny or postpone the registration of a particular religious group if it deems the proposed activities of the group are not religious incharacter. Denied applicants may reapply at any time or may appeal to the courts. After the SCRA approves a group’s registration as a religious entity, the group must register with theMinistry of Justice to obtain status as a legal entity in order to own property, open bank accounts, or otherwise engage in contractual activities. The organization must submit anapplication to the ministry that includes a group charter with an administrative structure and a list of board and founding members. By law, religious groups are designated asnongovernmental organisations (NGOs) exempt from taxes on their religious activities. If a religious group engages in a commercial activity, it is required to pay taxes on that activity.The law gives the SCRA authority to ban a religious group in cases in which courts concur that a religious organization has undermined the security of the state; undertaken actionsaimed at forcibly changing the foundations of the constitutional system; created armed forces or propaganda advocating war or terrorism; engaged in the encroachment on the rights ofcitizens or obstruction of compulsory education of children; coerced members to remit their property to the religious group; or encouraged citizens to refuse to fulfil their civilobligations and break the law. The affected religious group may appeal the decision in the courts. According to the law, only individuals representing registered religious organizationsmay conduct missionary activity. If a foreign missionary represents an organization approved by the SCRA, the individual must apply for a visa with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Visasare valid for up to one year, and a missionary is allowed to work three consecutive years in the country. All foreign religious entities, including missionaries, must operate within theserestrictions and must reregister annually. Representatives of religious groups acting inconsistently with the law may be fined or deported. Violations of the law may result in fines of1,000 som ($11), and deportation in the case of foreign missionaries. The law provides for the right of registered religious groups to produce, import, export, and distribute religiousliterature and materials in accordance with established procedures, which may include examination by state experts. The law does not require government examination of religiousmaterials (such as literature and other printed or audio or video materials), and it does not define the criteria for state religious experts. The law prohibits the distribution of religiousliterature and materials in public locations or in visits to individual households, schools, or other institutions. The law specifies fines based on the nature of the violations and requireslaw enforcement officials to demonstrate an intent to distribute extremist materials before arresting a suspect. There continued to be no specified procedure used by the SCRA for hiringor evaluating the experts who examined religious literature that groups intended to distribute within their places of worship. According to religious studies academics, the SCRAcontinued to choose its own employees and religious scholars whom the agency contracted to serve as experts. Attorneys for religious groups continued to state the experts chosen bythe SCRA were biased in favor of prosecutors and were not formal experts under the criminal procedure code. The State Forensic Service, with support from SCRA on religious matters,screened the content of websites, printed material, and other forms of media for extremist content.Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, annual reregistration is made mandatory for GFOs, broad grounds are given for the denial of registration which are likely to be misusedagainst religious groups unfavoured by the state, dual registration, each new place of worship continue to have to register with a local council to operate legally despite the 2016nullification of this law, informational requirements are excessive (namely a list of founding members) due to the likelihood of their misuse, localisation of registration proceduresdown to each congregation, membership and signature quotas, unregistration is prohibited, excessive authority is granted to the SCRA to ban religious groups it does not approve of. Thelaw  prohibits “persistent actions aimed at converting followers of one religion to another” and “illegal missionary activity,” defined as missionary activity of groups not registered withthe SCRA, a government organization composed of presidential appointees that is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the law’s provisions on religion. The law alsoprohibits the involvement of minors in organized, proselytizing religious groups unless a parent grants written consent. The law prohibits the distribution of religious literature,including printed, audio, and video materials, in public places, including streets, apartment buildings, children’s institutions, and schools. In March, SCRA representatives, securitypersonnel from the GKNB, and the Talas police department raided St. Nicholas Catholic Church in Talas after a Sunday evening Mass. Persons leaving the state-registered church wereforced back into the church by officers, some of whom were carrying weapons. Security personnel accused two Slovak nuns of “illegal missionary activities” and did not allowcongregants to depart the church until the two nuns had signed a statement admitting illegal missionary activities” and “spreading their ideology.” The SCRA fined the nuns 7,500 soms($84) for carrying out religious activities without SCRA registration. The Catholic Apostolic Administration appealed the fines. Three days after the raid on St Nicholas Church, the SCRAwrote a letter to the Catholic Apostolic Administration in Bishkek stating that the SCRA would “take action against the Apostolic Administration in Kyrgyzstan for its liquidation” if moreviolations occurred. In June, two foreign citizens at a registered Protestant church in Bishkek were fined for “illegal missionary activity” after a raid by state officials. In June, authoritiesfined a Christian religious organization for conducting its services with the participation of foreign missionaries who did not have permission to conduct religious activities. One of themissionaries subsequently applied for a registration with SCRA, which rejected the application. Police then detained a local representative of the organization for allegedly offering abribe to a GKNB employee to solve the registration issue. In August, the government, including representatives from the SCRA and security services, conducted raids on houses ofworship in the southern Osh region, and shut down 39 mosques and 21 madrassahs. An additional 48 mosques and 40 madrassahs received an administrative fine. In the southernBatken region, the government conducted similar raids and shut down 32 mosques and 5 madrassahs. An additional 55 mosques and 6 madrassahs received an administrative fine. In thewestern Talas region, government inspections found 172 mosques and namazkanas (prayer rooms) violated fire safety regulations and 107 violated sanitary and hygienic standards. Inaddition, 5 mosques and 29 religious entities were operating without official SCRA registration. According to government statements following the raids, the mosques that were closeddid not have official documents or registration and were built in violation of established architectural and construction standards. NGOs reported that the government continued toarrest social media users who posted digital content that the government considered extremist, especially religious literature connected to banned groups. The government definedextremist activity as membership in a banned, “religiously oriented” organization, distribution of literature associated with a banned organization, or proselytizing on behalf of, orfinancing, a banned organization. According to the latest statistics available, in 2022, the government initiated at least 246 cases under charges of “preparing or distributing extremistmaterial,” including the distribution of material over the internet, compared to 467 cases in 2020. NGOs also noted, as in past years, that the number of arrests was higher among ethnicUzbek communities in the south, and that police continued to target and harass ethnic Uzbeks, usually in connection with the possession of banned religious literature or support ofbanned organizations. NGOs said some cases of harassment and arrests were based on false testimony or planted evidence. Jehovah’s Witnesses reported that the SCRA continued torefuse to register their local houses of worship in the south of the country, although the organization is registered in Bishkek. In June, the Supreme Court ruled to uphold previousdecisions by the Constitutional Court in November 2022. The SCRA denied the registration of Jehovah’s Witnesses’ congregations in the Osh, Naryn, and Jalalabad regions, based on theSCRA continuing to interpret the law as requiring religious groups to register with local councils to establish new places of worship. The SCRA continued to impose the requirementdespite a finding by the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in 2019 that it was in violation of Article 18 of the ICCPR, which covers religious freedom, as well as in violation of both theKyrgyz Constitution and a 2016 Supreme Court ruling stipulating that the requirement was unconstitutional. According to Jehovah’s Witnesses, the SCRA stated that the UNHRC was notan international tribunal and that its views must only be considered, not implemented. Jehovah’s Witnesses representatives stated that, following unsuccessful attempts in 2019 and2020, they did not file any new registration applications in 2023 and were reluctant to take any more action while the criminal case against them from the March 2021 government raidremained open. Minority religious groups continued to report the SCRA registration process was cumbersome, pointing in particular to the requirement to collect 200 signatures fromcitizens who identify as adherents. According to the Baptist Union, community members who opposed the establishment of Christian groups continued to pressure adherents not toprovide their signatures. Christian activists continued to say that obtaining the formal approval of local governments remained an obstacle to registration, since local governments oftenrejected Christian organizations without a legal justification by asserting without evidence that area residents opposed the spread of Christianity to their communities. Withoutregistration, Tengrists remained unable to worship publicly or distribute religious material. The Tengrinists last attempted to register as a religious group in 2018. In 2021, an SCRAofficial stated that the SCRA viewed Tengrism as a collection of traditional beliefs, rather than a religion. While the law does not require examination by authorities of all religiousliterature and materials, religious groups, including Jehovah’s Witnesses, again stated that the SCRA required they submit 100 percent of their imported religious material for review.According to Jehovah’s Witness representatives, the SCRA continued its practice of having individuals designated by the SCRA as experts examine imported religious materials submittedfor review by religious organizations, although the law did not mandate such a review. The SCRA denied the Jehovah’s Witnesses permission to import a number of religious booklets,such as one published annually in 302 languages, including Kyrgyz.Human rights instruments: Kyrgyzstan is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC; Kyrgyzstan is not partiedto the UNDRIP nor did it vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (not free; restricted); hieroncy (not free; subject to preapproval by the government); monasticism (not free; subject to registration); nuptial, initiatory and burialrites (not free; subject to registration); pastoral services (not free; subject to registration); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (not free; restricted); publicexpression and observance (not free; restricted); receiving donations (not free; subject to registration); religious buildings (not free; subject to registration); religiousinstruction (not free; subject to registration); religious literature (not free; restricted); religious and worship services (not free; subject to registration); religious trade (notfree; subject to registration).Protections: Protection was granted in the latest revised constitution from 2016 against discrimination on thebasis of belief only.Conditions of state recognition and registration1002024 RoRB Classification: TerminalLao People'sDemocratic RepublicFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsDismantlement of the present system that abuses recognition and registration to censor the religious aspects of the lives of citizens and the internal affairs of religious organisations; the currentprovisions for existential recognition are appreciated but should not be misused to exclude non-recognised religions; existential recognition should be extended to all belief systems; revoke therestriction tools identified in the registration system.Secularity: Laos is a hypersecular state that practices de facto state atheism (Theravada Buddhism wasdisestablished in 1975); however, exclusive privileges are granted to Theravada Buddhism; official ideology(Marxism-Leninism); the government officially recognises Baha'i Faith, Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Human rights instruments: Laos is partied to the ICCPR (but with a reservation on Article 18), the ICESCR, theUNCRC, and the UNDRIP; Laos did not vote on the UDHR.Registration policy: broad mandatory registration – Decree 315, issued in by the Laotian government in 2016, mandates that all religious groups register with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA) toconduct any activities legally in the country. Groups may, but are not required to, affiliate with an officially recognised religious group. Under the decree, religious groups must present information onelected or appointed religious leaders to national-, provincial-, district-, and village-level MOHA offices for review and certification. Religious groups operating in multiple provinces must obtainnational MOHA approval; groups operating in multiple districts must obtain provincial-level approval; and groups operating in multiple villages are required to obtain district-level approval. If a groupseeks to operate beyond its local congregation, it must obtain approval at the corresponding level. A religious activity occurring outside a religious group’s property requires approval from villageauthorities. Activities in another village require approval from district authorities, from provincial authorities for activities in another district, and from national authorities for activities in anotherprovince. Religious groups must submit annual plans of all activities in advance, including routine events, for local authorities to review and approve. The decree states that nearly all aspects of religiouspractice – such as congregating, holding religious services, travel of religious officials, building houses of worship, modifying existing structures, and establishing new congregations in villages wherenone existed – require permission from a provincial, district-level, and/or central MOHA office. MOHA may order the cessation of any religious activity or expression of beliefs not in agreement withpolicies, traditional customs, laws, or regulations within its jurisdiction. It may stop any religious activity it deems to threaten national stability, peace, and social order, cause serious damage to theenvironment, or affect national solidarity or unity among tribes and religions, including threats to the lives, property, health, or reputations of others. The decree requires MOHA to collect informationand statistics on religious operations, cooperate with foreign countries and international organizations regarding religious activities, and report religious activities to the government. The decree statesthe government may sponsor Buddhist facilities, incorporate Buddhist rituals and ceremonies in state functions, and promote Buddhism as an element of the country’s cultural and spiritual identity andas the predominant religion of the country. While sponsorship does not include government funding, it may include in-kind contributions or participation by high-level leaders in a Buddhist activity tohelp generate increased financial contributions from other sources. The decree requires Buddhist clergy to hold identification cards, and clergy of other religions are required to hold certificates issuedby their own religious organizations to confirm they have received legitimate religious training. Per Decree 315, the building permit process for constructing houses of worship begins with an applicationto local authorities and then requires district, provincial, and ultimately central-level LFND and MOHA permission. All houses of worship must register under the law and conform to applicableregulations. Religious organizations must own 5,000 square meters (54,000 square feet, or 1.24 acres) of land to construct a place of worship. MOHA officials at all levels must approve plans for anymaintenance, restoration, or construction activities at religious facilities in advance. Local authorities may provide input regarding the building, care, and maintenance of religious facilities, presenttheir findings to their respective provincial governors and city mayors for consideration, and subsequently request MOHA officials review and approve activities conducted in religious facilities.Individuals entering the clergy for more than three months require prior approval from district and village authorities, agreement from the receiving religious establishment, and agreement from aguardian or spouse, if applicable. For a period of less than three months, the village authority as well as a guardian or spouse, if applicable, must first approve. The shorter period stipulations areparticularly relevant to Buddhists because every Buddhist male is expected to enter the monkhood at least once in his life, often for fewer than three months. MOES and MOHA must approve the travelabroad of clergy and religious teachers for specialised studies. Students going abroad for any kind of study (including religious studies) generally require prior MOES approval. Domestic religiousorganizations that also conduct religious activities overseas must receive approval from MOHA. The government controls the distribution of written materials for religious audiences. Decree 315regulates the importation and printing of religious materials and production of books, documents, icons, and symbols of various religions. The Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism and MOHAmust approve religious texts or other materials before they are imported. MOHA may require religious groups to certify that the imported materials are truly representative of their respective religions,address issues of authenticity, and ensure imported materials comport with values and practices in the country. The law prohibits the import or export of unapproved printed or electronic religiousmaterials.Key restriction tools imposed: capacity quota, confinement, broad grounds for deregistration are likely to see their misuse against religious groups unfavoured by the state, excessive informationalrequirements regarding elected religious leaders, excessive monitorial requirements, mandatory registration of places of worship, preapproval, pseudo-recognition is also extended to Christianity, Islamand the Baha'i Faith who despite being recognised members continue to face undue restrictions violating FoRB, separate excessive monitorial requirements are imposed onto places of worship, verticalrecognition is in effect (verticalism). MOHA officials stated no new religious groups were approved or denied registration during the year and that review of registration applications already in processcontinued. According to religious leaders, MOHA continued to request some Christian groups seeking registration, such as the Church of Jesus Christ and the Methodist Church, to consider registeringunder one of the three Christian groups that were recognized already, the Catholic Church, LEC, or Seventh-day Adventists. The religious leaders said this request may have been the result of thegovernment not having sufficient staff or resources to process pending applications. Religious groups continued to report problems obtaining the proper legal titles for parcels of land for places ofworship. MOHA officials required groups to place land titles in the name of the religious group rather than in the name of a member or religious leader. Religious groups, however, reported experiencinglengthy delays with the Department of Land of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment when they sought to change names on their titles. The local leader of the Church of Jesus Christ said thechurch continued to seek registration, a process begun in 2021, but that during the year, it was unable to comply with MOHA’s requirement that it first transfer the name on a land title from an individualto the church before resubmitting a registration application. According to a MOHA official, the ministry continued to meet with unregistered groups to answer questions about the registration process butdid so infrequently. MOHA continued to hold quarterly meetings with all registered religious groups, which, religious leaders said, increased opportunities to express concerns and report on their groups’activities. Unregistered religious groups reported, however, that MOHA prohibited their attendance as observers. At the September quarterly meeting, MOHA invited officials from the Ministry ofAgriculture and Forestry to attend for the first time. Although Decree 315 prohibits members of religious groups not registered with MOHA or LFND from practicing their faith, some members ofunregistered groups stated they continued to do so for several years quietly and without interference, often in home churches. Other religious leaders said, however, that local authorities in many areasstill considered group worship in homes illegal and advised villagers they needed permits to worship in groups at a private home. Some registered religious groups, including the LEC, reported continuingto experience threats and intimidation during worship services conducted at house churches. Local authorities in Sonbury District, Savannakhet Province, disrupted a service in a house church on October1, threatening arrest and fines, according to media reports. Authorities stated the Christians angered the spirits in the village by converting to Christianity and threatened to impose penalties on theChristian villagers if non-Christian villagers became ill or died. Media sources further stated that in 2019, 180 of the villagers converted to Christianity, but the number had declined to 15. The NGO HumanRights Watcher for Lao Religious Freedom attributed the renunciations to official coercion and threats. While religious groups continued to state Decree 315 further clarified processes for meetingadministrative requirements, some requirements remained burdensome and restrictive when fully enforced. Among these were requirements to submit detailed travel plans of group leaders and requestsfor government approval in advance to hold basic religious services or activities, which some religious groups continued to state the government did not fully or uniformly enforce. Religious leaderscontinued to report various incidents throughout the country related to the requirement that they seek permission prior to travel. Some religious leaders stated authorities sometimes detained Christianswho were traveling without permission to attend religious events outside their regular locales. Several minority religious group leaders also continued to report that they often traveled, both within thecountry and abroad, without prior government approval because obtaining permission took too much time and officials often ultimately denied the requests. MOHA officials acknowledged the difficultiesrelated to these travel requirements and stated that they would address them in planned draft legislation that would ultimately replace Decree 315. According to Catholic Church officials, the governmentcontinued to routinely monitor their members and leaders ostensibly to protect against foreign influence. Church leaders also said the government often monitored foreigners attending services at theSacred Heart Cathedral in Vientiane. Christian religious leaders said the government continued to strictly enforce a prohibition, including on foreigners, against proselytizing in public areas. Thegovernment did not restrict proselytizing inside recognized places of worship. Both the Church of Jesus Christ and Seventh-day Adventists reported they had missionaries in the country but that thegovernment restricted their activities to teaching English and promoting good health practices, such as hygiene and sanitation. The government did not permit missionaries to engage in religiousdiscussions with nonmembers of their religious group outside their places of worship. Representatives of the Church of Jesus Christ and the Catholic Church said they relied on informal person-to-personcommunication to attract new members. Authorities continued to control imports of religious materials, but several groups said they could access most religious texts and documents online. MOHAofficials again said they coordinated with religious groups to review imported materials to ensure these were in accordance with the organisation’s beliefs. Due to these requirements, sources from theBaha’i community and other groups again said they chose to produce and print their own religious documents in the country. Some sources said the legal requirement that a religious organization own5,000 square meters (54,000 square feet, or 1.24 acres) of land to build a church or temple limited some smaller congregations, which lacked sufficient resources to obtain a space of that size. Seventh-day Adventist Church leaders said the largest Seventh-day Adventist church, located in Vientiane, sat on less than 3,300 square meters (35,000 square feet). Construction also commenced on a Seventh-day Adventist church in Champasak Province, with official approval, although the land the group owned there was smaller than the minimum legal requirement. Several minority religious groupscontinued to state restrictions on land acquisition hindered building and renovating places of worship, although the LFND Religious Affairs Department stated it continued to emphasise that designatedchurch structures should replace house churches whenever possible. The Seventh-day Adventist Church continued to attribute the large number of house churches to difficulties in obtaining enough landto meet Decree 315 requirements. Some religious leaders also stated they continued to experience lengthy delays in obtaining permits for church construction and generally received no response torequests. According to a church representative, the Catholic Church continued to seek government approval in its attempt to renovate a church building in Kaoyod Village, Chanthabouly District,Vientiane Capital, pending since 2007. In 2020, government officials seized a former primary school building on the same property, which the government used as office space and temporary housing forChinese construction workers building a new government high school funded by the government of China. The new high school was built on land that formerly belonged to the Catholic Church. InFebruary, after completion of construction, officials returned the primary school building to the church. When the high school opened in June the church agreed to cede an additional 1,000 square metersof land for parking, after receiving an additional request from the school through local officials. Officials also approved an application from church officials to renovate the church building, although uponformal inspection officials advised the structure needed full reconstruction, requiring an amendment to the land title to reflect changed boundaries, which was pending with the local government atyear’s end. In Bokeo Province, LEC, Seventh-day Adventist, and Catholic officials reported local officials denied requests to repair existing churches or build new ones, citing lack of adequate landholdings and insufficient members among the grounds for refusals. When some churches moved forward with repairs or renovations without approval, local authorities intervened to stop the work.Basic religious activitiesConversion (not free; restricted); hieroncy (not free; subject to preapproval by the government); monasticism (not free; restricted); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free; restricted); pastoralservices (not free; restricted); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (not free; illegal); public expression and observance (not free; restricted); receiving donations (not free; subject toregistration); religious buildings (not free; subject to registration); religious instruction (not free; restricted); religious literature (not free; restricted); religious and worship services (not free; subjectto registration); religious trade (not free; subject to registration).Protections: Protection was granted in the latest revised constitution from 2016 against discrimination on the basisof belief only.Conditions of state recognition and registration2024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveLatvia,Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsRe-establish the recognition system so that it is inclusive of all belief systems; revoke all restriction tools within the system identified in the aboveanalysis; to become Dynamic, the government would need to establish a recognition agency to manage the recognition system, after which it wouldrelinquish its control to ensure the autonomy of the agency.Secularity: Latvia is a secular state; the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia is still given culturalrecognition as the national church; Latvian law recognises Baptists, Catholics, Latvian OrthodoxChristians, Lutherans, Methodists, Old Believers, Seventh-day Adventists and Jews as "traditional"religious groups and grants these groups rights and privileges not granted to other communities; theismwas affirmed in the latest revised constitution from 2016.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: pseudo-mandatory registration – although Latvian law does not mandate that religious or belief organisations register with thegovernment to operate in the country, it does reserve the right for religious groups to conduct activities in public places including parks and publicsquares, and the right to perform pastoral care in hospitals, prisons and the military to only registered religious organisations which in turn makesthe policy mandatory in practice. Registration also accords religious groups the legal right to own property and conduct financial transactions,eligibility to apply for funds for religious building restoration, and tax deductions for donors. The law accords the same rights and privileges to theeight traditional religious groups, which it treats as already registered. The law stipulates fines ranging from €40 to €200 ($44 to $220) if anunregistered group carries out any activities reserved for registered organisations. The law states that the activities of a religious organisation maybe terminated by a court ruling if the group acts in conflict with the constitution and other regulatory laws. Activities may also be terminated if areligious organisation calls on others to disobey the law or if its activities endanger the democratic state system, public peace and order, or thehealth and morals of others. The Law on Religious Organisations, amended in 2022, provides that the Enterprise Register of the Republic of Latviamay terminate the activities of a religious organisation if it cannot be reached at its legal address, does not submit the report on its activities asrequired by law, or fails to ensure the right of representation for the management bodies of the organisation. According to a law passed in 2022, theLOC – a self-governing Eastern Orthodox Church – is de jure independent from any church outside the country. By law, to register as acongregation, a religious group must have at least 20 members who are 18 or older. Individuals with temporary residency status, such as asylumseekers and foreign diplomatic staff, may count as members for the purpose of registration only during the authorised period of their residencypermits. To apply, religious groups must submit charters explaining their objectives and activities; a list of all group members (full name,identification number, and signature); the names of the persons who will represent the religious organisation; minutes of the meeting founding thegroup; confirmation that members voted on and approved the statutes; and a list of members of the audit committee (full name, identificationnumber, and title). The audit committee is responsible for preparing financial reports on the group and ensuring it adheres to its statutes. TheEnterprise Register determines whether to register a religious group as a congregation, in consultation with the Ministry of Justice. The EnterpriseRegister may deny an application if it deems registration would threaten human rights, the democratic structure of the state, or public safety,welfare, or morals. Groups denied registration may appeal the decision in court. Ten or more congregations with a total of at least 200 members ofthe same faith or denomination, each with permanent registration status, may form a religious association or church. Groups with religiousassociation status or status as a private society or foundation may establish theological schools and monasteries. The law does not permitsimultaneous registration of more than one religious association of a single faith or denomination or of more than one religious group with the sameor similar name. According to the law, all traditional and registered religious organisations are required to submit an annual report to the MOJ byMarch 1 regarding their activities and goals. They must also provide other data, including congregation size, the number of clergy, the number ofweddings and other ceremonies performed, and details of group governance and financial status. The law stipulates foreign missionaries may beissued residency permits, hold meetings, and proselytize only if a registered domestic religious group invites them to conduct such activities. Visaregulations require foreign religious workers to present letters of invitation, typically from a religious organization, and either an ordinationcertificate or evidence of religious education that corresponds to a local bachelor’s degree in theology. Religious workers from the EU or the 27Schengen Area countries do not require visas. Recognition policy: the "traditional" religious groups recognised in law are given rights and privileges not given to other religious groups includingthe right to teach religion courses in public schools and the right to officiate at marriages without obtaining a civil marriage licence from the MOJ.These eight groups are also the only religious groups represented on the government’s Ecclesiastical Council, an advisory body established by lawand chaired by the Prime Minister that meets on an ad hoc basis to comment and provide recommendations on religious issues although theirrecommendations do not carry the force of law. The law also accords the rights and privileges that are tied into registration to the eight traditionalreligious groups without them having to undergo registration.101Key restriction tools imposed: broad grounds for the denial of registration could easily be misused against religious groups the government does notfavour, informational requirements are excessive (namely stipulating a list of all group members and their personal details among other excessiverequirements), membership quota, nominal restriction, the establishment of pastoral services and marriage officiation as registration benefitsmakes registration procedures pseudo-mandatory, vertical recognition is in effect as some "traditional religions" are recognised while others arenot (verticalism). During the year, the Enterprise Register terminated the activity of seven religious organizations – three Lutheran, two evangelical,one Pentecostal, and one Muslim – for failure to submit required reports on their activities after multiple requests. The organizations had the rightto appeal the decision, but none had done so by the end of the year. During the year, the Enterprise Register approved the registration application offour religious groups, a Pentecostal congregation, an evangelical Christian congregation, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, andthe friars of the Discalced Carmelites (under the Catholic Church).Human rights instruments: Latvia is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP; Latviadid not vote on the UDHR; Latvia is partied to the ECHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free; subject to registration); pastoral services(free); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (free); public expression and observance (free); receiving donations (free); religiousbuildings (free); religious instruction (free); religious literature (free); religious and worship services (free); religious trade (free).Protections: Implicit protection against discrimination on the basis of religion was affirmed in the latestrevised constitution from 2016.Conditions of state recognition and registration2024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveLebanese RepublicFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsRe-establish the recognition system so that it is becomes inclusive of all belief systems and is able to recognise in a multi-level capacity;revoke all the main restriction tools identified.Secularity: Lebanon is a secular state; the state recognises five Islamic denominations (including Shia,Sunni, Druze, Alawite, and Ismaili), twelve Christian denominations (Maronite, Greek Orthodox, GreekCatholic, Armenian Catholic, Armenian Orthodox, Syriac Orthodox, Syriac Catholic, Assyrian, Chaldean,Copt, evangelical Protestant, and Roman Catholic) and Judaism are recognised by the state; religiousgroups not recognised by the government include Baha’is, Buddhists, Hindus, several Protestant groups,and the Church of Jesus Christ; theism was affirmed in the latest revised constitution from 2004.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: broad mandatory registration – there are no formal procedures for legal registration prescribed in law but ‘official recognition’can be granted by applying to the government. However, unrecognised religious groups cannot assemble publicly for worship services. To do so, areligious group must submit a statement of its doctrine and moral principles to the cabinet, which evaluates whether the group’s principles are inaccordance with the government’s perception of popular values and the constitution. Alternatively, an unrecognized religious group may apply forrecognition by seeking affiliation with another recognized religious group. In doing so, the unrecognized group does not gain recognition as a separategroup but becomes an affiliate of the group through which it applies. This process has the same requirements as applying for recognition directly withthe government. There are 18 officially recognized religious groups: five Muslim groups (Shia, Sunni, Druze, Alawite, and Ismaili), 12 Christian groups(Maronite, Greek Orthodox, Greek Catholic, Armenian Catholic, Armenian Orthodox, Syriac Orthodox, Syriac Catholic, Assyrian, Chaldean, Copt,evangelical Protestant, and Roman Catholic), and Jews. Religious groups not recognized by the government include Baha’is, Buddhists, Hindus,several Protestant groups, and the Church of Jesus Christ. Individuals from all of Lebanon’s 18 recognized religious communities are involved inLebanon’s political life and government. Official recognition of a religious group allows baptisms and marriages it performs to receive governmentrecognition and also conveys other benefits such as tax-exempt status and the right to apply the group’s codes to personal status matters. By law, thegovernment permits recognized religious groups to administer their own rules on family and personal status issues, including marriage, divorce, childcustody, and inheritance. State-appointed, government-subsidised sectarian courts administer family and personal status law for Shia, Sunni, Druze,and recognized Christian groups, according to the respective religious group’s beliefs. While the religious courts and religious laws are legally boundto comply with the provisions of the constitution, the Court of Cassation (the highest civil court in the judicial system) has very limited oversight ofreligious court proceedings and decisions. Unrecognised religious groups may own property, assemble for worship, and perform religious rites freely.They may not perform legally recognized marriages or divorces, and they have no standing to determine inheritance issues. Due to agreements in thecountry’s confessional system that designate percentages of senior government positions (and in some cases, specific positions) for the recognizedreligious communities, members of unrecognized groups have no opportunity to occupy certain government positions, including cabinet,parliamentary, secretary-general, and director general positions. The government requires Protestant churches to register with the Supreme Councilof the Evangelical Community in Syria and Lebanon, a self-governing advisory group that oversees religious matters for Protestant congregations andrepresents those churches to the government. The government issues foreign religious workers a one-month visa; to stay longer, a worker mustcomplete a residency application during the month. Religious workers also must sign a “commitment of responsibility” form before receiving a visa,which subjects the worker to legal prosecution and immediate deportation for any activity involving religious or other criticism directed against thestate or any other country, except Israel. If the government finds an individual engaging in religious activity while on a tourist visa, the governmentmay determine a violation of the visa category has occurred and deport the individual.102Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation in favour recognition rather than legal registration as is the general form of amalgamation, informationalrequirements set out for recognition procedures are ambiguous and vulnerable to misuse against groups unfavoured by the state, there are severalreligious groups that the government does not or has refused to recognise; the issue of quasi-registration is ongoing. According to local NGOs, somemembers of unregistered religious groups, such as Baha’is and members of unrecognized Protestant faiths, continued to list themselves as belonging torecognized religious groups in government records to ensure their marriage and other personal status documents remained legally valid. Many Baha’issaid they chose to list themselves as Shia Muslims in order to effectively manage civil matters that Shia institutions officially administered, whilemembers of the Church of Jesus Christ said they registered as evangelical Protestants. The government again failed to approve a request from the Jewishcommunity to change its official name to the Jewish Community Council from the Israelite Communal Council (the group’s officially recognized name).Jewish community representatives reported that the MOI continued to delay the verification of the results of the Jewish Community Council’s election ofmembers, which occurs every six years, most recently in 2020. Regulations governing such councils require the MOI to verify council election results.The council, which represents the interests of the country’s Jewish citizens, repeatedly submitted requests to change its government-appointed name toreduce social stigma, but to no avail. The council blamed its official name in part for the difficulties it experienced with renewals every six years. In late2021, the Minister of Interior said the MOI would investigate allegations that several council members forged the signatures of nonresident LebaneseJews to illegally acquire property. As of year’s end, the MOI had not referred the case to the judiciary. The Jewish community faced difficulties importingmaterial for religious rites; as customs agents were reportedly wary of allowing imports of any origin containing Hebrew script due to a national ban ontrade of Israeli goods, the Jewish Community Council decided to stop importing any religious material. During the year, the Jewish Community Councilfaced difficulty in renewing the mandate of its members, a legal requirement for groups that wish to continue to be recognized by the government. Thiswas due to government officials’ unwillingness to put their signatures on any document with the group’s name on it, since doing so could bemisinterpreted as tacit support for Israel.Human rights instruments: Lebanon is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP;Lebanon voted in favour of the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (not free; restricted); hieroncy (free; a broad interpretation of the prohibition on "items offensive to Muslim culture"could see non-Islamic religious materials being prohibited); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free; subjectto recognition); pastoral services (not free; restricted); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (not free; restricted);public expression and observance (not free; restricted); receiving donations (free); religious buildings (not free; restricted); religiousinstruction (free); religious literature (free; however, could be subject to prohibition if challenged by one of the recognised religiousgroups); religious and worship services (not free; restricted); religious trade (free).Protections: Implicit protection against discrimination on the basis of religion was affirmed in the latestrevised constitution from 2004.Conditions of state recognition and registration2024 RoRB Classification: ReceptiveLesotho,Kingdom ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsTo become Dynamic, establish a recognition agency independent of government that acts to manage theestablished recognition system, to ensure its inclusivity, and to encourage the diversity of belief.Secularity: Lesotho is a secular state; Christianity is given a privileged position bythe state; theism is affirmed in the monarchical oath and oath of allegiance.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: stipulatory registration – the law does not mandate that religious groups register withthe government in order to operate legally in the country. By law, any group, religious or otherwise, mayregister as a legal entity with the government provided the entity has a constitution and a leadershipcommittee. Most religious groups register, but there is no penalty for those that do not. Registration gives agroup legal standing, formalises its structure under the law, and provides exemption from income tax. In theabsence of registration, religious organisations may operate freely but without legal standing or any of theprotections of registered organizations. The law requires religious marriages to be performed by clergymembers, leaving adherents of religious traditions without a clergy, such as Baha’is, with civil marriage astheir only option. The law also recognises marriage under Lesotho customary law based on Basotho culturalnorms and practices.103Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, restricting access to non-Christian groups broadcasting as ameans of propagation. According to The Post and Lesotho Times, in March, Minister of Local Government,Chieftainship, Home Affairs, and Police Lephema said a multistory building with a mosque overlooking thePrime Minister’s office and residential compound constructed next to the mosque posed a security risk.Referring to Muslims, Lephema said, “Let’s stop them and remind them that this is a Christian country.”Lephema also stated that Muslims trafficked Lesotho citizens to fight as terrorists in hostile countries.Muslim religious leaders continued to say Muslims had no access to state-owned television religiousprogramming opportunities available to Christian groups, which left them unable to propagate their religionthrough this medium.Human rights instruments: Lesotho is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, theUNCRC, and the UNDRIP; Lesotho did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free; subjectto registration); pastoral services (free); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (free);public expression and observance (free); receiving donations (free); religious buildings (free); religiousinstruction (free); religious literature (free); religious and worship services (free); religious trade (free).Protections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of religion wasaffirmed in the latest revised constitution from 2018.Conditions of state recognition and registration2024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveLiberia,Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsEstablish distinct procedures for existential recognition and legal registration and at multiple levels of activity; reduce financialrequirements for registration to more appropriate prices in line with RoRB standards; to become Dynamic, the governmentwould need to establish a recognition agency to manage the religious recognition system and then relinquish its control over theagency in order to ensure its independence from government involvement.Secularity: Liberia is officially a secular state; however, Christianity is privileged bythe state; theism was affirmed in the latest constitution from 1986 and in the oaths ofoffice for high-level government officials.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: discriminatory mandatory registration – Liberian law mandates that all religious or belief organisationsmust register with the government to operate legally in the country except for groups considered ‘Indigenous’ which areexempted from having to register because they are instead governed by customary law. To register, religious groups must submittheir articles of incorporation and their organizations’ statements of purpose. Local religious organizations register with theMinistry of Foreign Affairs and pay a one-time fee of 7,500 Liberian dollars (L$) ($40) to file their articles of incorporation andan annual fee of L$3,500 ($19) for registration. Foreign religious organizations pay L$78,000 ($410) for registration annuallyand a one-time fee of L$96,000 ($510) to file their articles of incorporation. Religious organizations also pay L$1,500 to L$2,000($8to $11) to notarize articles of incorporation to be filed with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and an additional L$1,500 ($8) toreceive a registered copy of the articles. The Ministry of Finance and Development Planning issues proof of accreditation for thearticles of incorporation. There is also an option of completing the same process at the Liberia Business Registry. Some religiousorganizations are eligible to register at the business entity level, in compliance with a government regulation. Registeredreligious organizations, including missionary programs, religious charities, and religious groups, receive income taxexemptions and duty-free privileges on goods brought into the country, privileges not afforded to unregistered groups.Registered groups may be sued as a single entity separately from any lawsuits brought against individual owners. The lawrequires high-level government officials to take an oath ending with the phrase, “So help me God” when assuming office. Onthose occasions, it is customary for Christians to kiss the Bible, and Muslims the Quran.104Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, imposition of a fee system for different kinds of religious organisations (local,foreign, "local and foreign") some of which exceed RoRB threshold, multiple charges of registration fee such as being chargedfor individual locations. Muslim religious leaders called for their adherents to remain calm despite campaign promises by somepoliticians to make the country a Christian state. Muslim religious leaders also urged their adherents not to vote for a candidatesolely on the basis of pledges to mark Islamic observances as national holidays, if elected. In April, leader of the LiberiaRestoration Party Allen Roosevelt Brown promised to “redeem” the country’s Christian faith by returning the country to aChristian state using the “trenches of politics.” While addressing reporters in Monrovia, Brown stated the country wasestablished “on the fundamental pillar of faith,” although it was made a secular state by the 1986 constitution. Grand Mufti ofthe Fatwa Council of Liberia Sheikh Sumaworo called for unity and restraint among Muslims during his Eid al-Fitr message inApril amid calls for official recognition of Islamic holidays or for a return of the country to a Christian state. Sumaworo exhortedfollowers to denounce those who “sow seeds of disunity” among Muslims. The National Spiritual Assembly of Baha’is reportedwarming relations with the government and during the year, commenced preliminary exploratory talks with the Center forNational Documents and Records Agency (CNDRA) to recognize and conduct Baha’i marriages. CNDRA had officers stationed atits central office to conduct weddings and award marriage certificates for Christians and Muslims and suggested stationing aBaha’i representative at the CNDRA to conduct weddings and process marriage certificates for Baha’is. Human rightsorganizations continued to call upon the government to intervene in and investigate cases of persons accused of witchcraft beinginjured or killed as the result of exorcisms and trials by ordeal.Human rights instruments: Liberia is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC,and the UNDRIP; Liberia voted in favour of the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (not free; subject to registration); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free;subject to registration); pastoral services (not free; subject to registration); private expression and observance (free);proselytism (not free; subject to registration); public expression and observance (free); receiving donations (not free; subject toregistration); religious buildings (not free; subject to registration); religious instruction (not free; subject to registration);religious literature (not free; subject to registration); religious and worship services (not free; subject to registration); religioustrade (not free; subject to registration).Protections: Implicit protection against discrimination on the basis of religion wasaffirmed in the latest constitution from 1986.Conditions of state recognition and registration2024 RoRB Classification: TerminalLibya,State ofFoRB Claim: No claim is made.RecommendationsDismantlement of the current apparatus for terminally restricting religious activity is essential before for improvements can be made to Libya’s approach to religiousfreedom; dismantlement entails the fundamental reshaping of the government and whole society’s approach to religion and belief in accepting one fundamentalprinciple, that human beings have the valid right to choose and change their belief identity, to have no none, or to be open to exploring different belief systems.Secularity: Islam is the state religion; sharia is the principle source of legislation;Christians and Jews are recognised by the state as religious minorities; theism wasaffirmed in the latest revised constitution from 2012.Mandatoriness of registration: non-registration and malregistration.Registration policy: non-registration – there are no mechanisms outlined by the government for the registration of non-Islamic religious groups as all non-Islamic groups are either restricted or prohibited. Malregistration – multiple groups continued to vie for influence and territorial control in the country. The GNU exertedlimited control outside Tripoli and relied heavily on hybrid armed actors to remain in power. LNA as a non-state actoreffectively controlled territory in the east and south of the country. Armed groups, nominally under the authority ofgovernment institutions, were the main security actors across the country.105Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, Islamic practice is constricted to state-approved norms. The Government of National Unity (GNU)through the General Authority for Endowments and Islamic Affairs (GAEIA) administers mosques, supervises clerics, and has primary responsibilityfor ensuring all Islamic religious practices conform to state-approved Islamic norms. There is no law providing for individuals’ right to choose orchange their religion or study, discuss, or promulgate their religious beliefs. There is no civil law explicitly prohibiting conversion from Islam toanother religion or prohibiting proselytizing; however, the criminal code effectively prohibits missionary activities or conversion, according toscholars and human rights advocates. It includes prohibitions against “instigating division” and insulting Islam or the Prophet Muhammad, chargesthat carry a maximum sentence of death. The criminal code prohibits the circulation of publications that aim to “change the fundamental principlesof the constitution or the fundamental rules of the social structure,” which authorities use to criminalize the circulation of non-Islamic religiousmaterials and speech considered “offensive to Muslims.” In 2022, the House of Representatives enacted an Anticybercrime Law that stipulates thatthe use of the internet and new technologies is lawful only if “public order and morality” are respected. The law allows authorities to block orremove digital content deemed offensive to Libyan culture and values without a court order in cases where “security requirements or urgency” or“public morality” are involved. The law also criminalizes the use of encrypted communications and provides the government with the authority toconduct targeted or mass surveillance of electronic communications. The law imposes substantial fines and up to 15 years in prison for publishers ofdigital content that “results in a violation of public order or public morals” and contains “ideas that undermine society’s security, stability, andsocial peace.” The National Information Security and Safety Authority, part of the Ministry of Telecommunications and Information Technology, isresponsible for administering the law domestically and extraterritorially “if their impact and consequences extend to Libya. Several religiousinstitutions continued to compete for influence in the country. The GNU GAEIA continued to oversee the state’s Islamic endowments and donations,appointed imams, and directed the Friday sermon in areas under GNU control. Madkhali Salafist cleric Mohamed al-Abbani has led the GNU GAEIAsince 2018. A rival, eastern GAEIA exercised similar responsibilities for the east and south. Human rights activists and political analysts reported thatthe Friday sermon texts that religious authorities provided to imams often included political and social messages. The Tripoli-based ISA, a domesticsecurity and intelligence service that falls under the authority of the PC but is aligned with GNU Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dabaiba, arrestednumerous individuals during the year on charges including atheism, spreading atheist ideas, Christian proselytizing, and conversion from Islam toChristianity. In March and April 2023, the Tripoli-based ISA arrested at least eight individuals as part of an operation targeting Libyan Muslimsalleged to have converted to Christianity and foreigners suspected of Christian proselytization. Media reported the arrested group included twoforeign teachers and six Libyan Christian converts; the GNU deported the two foreign teachers in mid-April, according to press reports. The ISAcharged the Libyans with circulating views aimed at altering fundamental constitutional principles or the fundamental structures of the social order,or at overthrowing the state; they faced the death penalty, according to media reports. In a statement about the arrests on its Facebook page, the ISAsaid it continued to work “day and night” to thwart attempts to “tamper with Islamic values” and that the government “is keen to monitorsuspicious activities and appeals that threaten the Islamic identity of our society, including the crime of apostasy and incitement to it.” Followingthe arrests, the ISA posted video “confessions” online. The “confessions,” which rights groups alleged were obtained under duress, depicteddetainees with their faces blurred discussing how they converted to Christianity and identifying some of the other Christian groups or individualswith whom they interacted. The video “confessions” and news of the arrests were widely shared on Libyan social media and in the press. Respondingto news of the arrests, Dar al-Ifta released a statement calling on security and judicial officials to “impose a deterrent punishment” on thoseresponsible for conversion, adding that “conversion to Christianity is clear apostasy.” At year’s end, some of the detainees remained in detentionpending further action. In May, the GNU GAEIA established the Guardians of Virtue, with the stated purpose of protecting Islamic values and virtuein the country. According to the website Middle East Monitor, opponents of the decision compared the new initiative to a “secret police,” whilesupporters pointed to their belief that Islam is under threat in the country. According to analysis by the Washington Institute for Near East Policy,“Sufis in particular have been targets of the Guardians of Virtue, and many Sufi leaders and followers have been imprisoned and prevented fromgiving sermons at mosques. The Guardians of Virtue have also been able to hunt down intellectuals and writers,” accusing them of “apostasy,Christian proselytizing, atheism, and freemasonry.” Members of some religious groups reported foreigners on their staffs had difficulties securingvisas to enter or reside in the country, as did some foreign staff members of secular, international NGOs.Human rights instruments: Libya is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, andthe UNDRIP; Libya did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (not free; illegal); hieroncy (not free; non-Islamic materials either entirely prohibited or heavily restricted); monasticism (not free; restricted);nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free; restricted); pastoral services (not free; restricted); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (not free;illegal); public expression and observance (not free; restricted); receiving donations (not free; restricted); religious buildings (not free; restricted); religiousinstruction (not free; illegal); religious literature (not free; illegal); religious and worship services (not free; restricted); religious trade (not free; restricted).Protections: No protection against discrimination on the basis of religion wasaffirmed in the latest revised constitution from 2012.Conditions of state recognition and registration2024 RoRB Classification: ReceptiveLiechtenstein,Principality ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsEstablish procedures for religious registration distinct from those established to register secular entities; establish a recognition system that hasthe capacity to both existentially recognise and legally register religious entities at multiple levels of activity; to become Dynamic, establish arecognition agency that is independent of government to manage the newly established recognition system and works to promote and sustainreligious and belief freedom through spreading the message that diversity of belief identity is positive.Secularity: Roman Catholicism is the state denomination; theism was affirmed in thelatest revised constitution from 2011.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: stipulatory registration – religious or belief organisations do not need to register with thegovernment in order to operate legally in the country. However, there is no separate law for registering religiousgroups, but religious groups other than the Catholic Church may organize themselves as associations, which thecommercial registry administers and gives associations the rights of legal entities, such as owning property andentering into contracts. Religious groups other than the Catholic Church must register as associations to receivegovernment funding for activities such as providing religious education in schools or offering language courses forforeigners. To register in the commercial registry as an association, a religious group must follow the sameprocedures as a nonreligious group: it must submit an official letter of application to the Office for Justice within theMinistry of Infrastructure and Justice that includes the organisation’s name, purpose, board members, and headoffice location, as well as a memorandum of association based on local law, a trademark certification, and a copy ofthe organisation’s statutes. All religious groups registered in the commercial registry are exempt from certain taxes.To receive residency permits, foreign religious workers must have completed theological studies, command a basiclevel of German, belong to a “nationally known” religious group (the law does not define “nationally known”), andbe sponsored by a resident clergy member of the same religious group.Recognition policy: by law the state provides 300,000 Swiss francs (CHF) ($358,000) annually to the CatholicChurch, and municipalities provide the Church with additional funds, which vary by municipality and includesupport for maintenance of buildings and grounds owned by the Church. Priests are employees of the municipalities.Financial support from the state and municipalities to other religious groups is not mandated by law but is providedon a discretionary basis on request.106Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, non-recognition for any non-Catholic religion or denomination, someinformational requirements (such as a memorandum of association based on local law and a trademark certification) areexcessive, restrictions and requirements of foreign missionaries are impermissible. In May, following two years of inaction on aproposed constitutional amendment to grant complete equality of religions and to formally separate religion and state, thegovernment proposed a new law aimed at achieving broad equality of religious communities through state recognition. TheReligious Communities Act has the stated aim of establishing equal legal treatment among religious communities by creating aprocess for state recognition based on newly established criteria. To be recognized, religious communities must have worked inLiechtenstein for more than 20 years, have a membership of at least 200 individuals, have a stable organisational structure withauthorised bodies and written statutes, and respect the state legal order. The law would also establish a state contributionamount of 20,000 CHF ($24,000) for any state-recognised religious community plus an additional 1,000 CHF ($1,200) for every100 members per the census and allow equal access to state-recorded personal data. Additionally, responsibility for religious andnondenominational education would shift from the religious authorities to school authorities. Parliament passed a similar law in2012 but it never entered into force due to failed negotiations between the state and the Catholic Archdiocese of Vaduz. The pressreported speculation that following the September retirement of Catholic Archbishop of Vaduz Wolfgang Haas, who hadexpressed vocal opposition to proposed reforms regarding the separation of church and state, that the church might change itsstance. While the LHRA praised the bill in general, it criticized the measure for not advancing the separation of religion and state,establishing excessively strict state recognition requirements, and requiring taxpayers who do not belong to a religious group tosubsidize those that do. At year’s end, the proposed law completed a consultation period and was referred to the parliament. Thegovernment immigration and passport office continued to issue five-year residency permits to religious workers instead ofvisas. Religious workers from Schengen-area member countries did not require permits or visas.Human rights instruments: Liechtenstein is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, andthe UNDRIP; Liechtenstein did not vote on the UDHR; Liechtenstein is partied to the ECHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free; subject to registration); pastoral services(free); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (free); public expression and observance (free); receiving donations (free);religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religious literature (free); religious and worship services (free); religious trade (free).Protections: No protection against discrimination on the basis of religion was affirmed in thelatest revised constitution from 2011 although there are criminal penalties for religiousdiscrimination.Conditions of state recognition and registration2024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveLithuania,Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsComplete dismantlement of the present restrictive recognition system involving the revocation of the restriction tools identified.Secularity: Lithuania is a secular state (the Roman Catholic Church was disestablished in 1940);Evangelical Lutherans, Evangelical Reformed, Greek Catholics, Jews, Karaite Jews, Old Believers,Roman Catholics, Russian Orthodox Christians, and Sunni Muslims are recognised in law as the"traditional" religious groups of Lithuania; theism is affirmed in the oath of allegiance.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: stipulatory registration – Lithuanian law does not mandate that religious or belief organisations register with the government in order to operatelegally in the country. The law defines religious groups as in one of three categories – religious communities, religious associations (which comprise at least two religiouscommunities under common leadership), and religious centers (which are higher governing bodies of religious associations). Religious groups may apply to thegovernment for state registration, state recognition, or both. The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) handles official registration of religious communities, associations, andcenters. Groups wishing to register must submit an application and supporting documentation to the ministry, including bylaws describing their religious teachings andgovernance, minutes of the founding meeting, and a list of the founders, at least 15 of whom must be citizens. Upon approval of its application, a religious community,association, or center may register as a legal entity with the State Enterprise Center of Registers. Registration is voluntary for religious communities, associations, andcenters affiliated with traditional religious groups and mandatory for nontraditional communities wishing to receive legal status. Registration of traditional religiouscommunities, associations, and centers is free of charge, while nontraditional communities pay a fee of €32 ($35). Traditional communities also have a simplerregistration procedure and need to submit only an application, decisions of their governing body on the appointment of their leader, and their headquarters address. TheMOJ may refuse to register a religious group if full data are not included in the application, the activities of the group violate human rights or public order, or a group withthe same name has already registered. According to the MOJ, there are 1,129 traditional and 198 nontraditional religious communities, associations, and centers that areofficially registered entities. For all religious groups, official registration is a prerequisite for opening a bank account, owning property, and acting in a legal or officialcapacity as a community. The law allows all registered religious groups to own property for use as prayer houses, homes, and other functions, and it permits constructionof facilities necessary for religious activities. All registered groups are eligible for public funds from municipalities for cultural and social projects. There is compulsorymilitary conscription for males between ages 19 and 26 and up to age 38 for those with higher education. Military service is for nine months. Clergy from registered groupsare among those exempt from compulsory military service. In the event of a military conflict, clergy would be called to serve as chaplains. The law recognizes the right toconscientious objection to military service and provides for alternative service under military direction either in civilian institutions or, if the military deems it necessary,in a national defense institution. Unregistered religious communities have no legal status, but the constitution allows them to conduct worship services and seek newmembers. A specific governmental commission, the Interministerial Commission to Coordinate Activities of Governmental Institutions that Deal with Issues of Religious,Esoteric, and Spiritual Groups, coordinates investigations of religious groups if there is a concern a group’s actions may be inconsistent with “principles that stress respectfor human freedom of expression and freedom of religion.” A series of laws governs restitution and compensation of seized religious property. Under these laws, registeredreligious communities had until 1997 to apply to the appropriate ministry or municipality for restitution or compensation of religious property that they owned beforeJune 19, 1948, the date on which the former Soviet Union nationalised all religious buildings. The government reviews cases from registered religious groups filed by the1997 deadline but does not accept new claims. Religious groups may appeal ministry-level or municipality decisions in court. Unregistered religious groups may not applyfor restitution. In some cases, religious groups continued to use nationalised buildings after June 19, 1948. Religious groups had until the 2014 deadline to register with theMOJ previously nationalised religious property that was not officially registered under their name but which they owned before 1948 and continued to use during the Sovietperiod. The government completed its review process in 2014.Recognition policy: the government discriminates between "traditional" and "non-traditional" religious groups by providing more benefits to the former than the latter.The constitution grants recognition to traditional religious groups and provides for recognition of other religious groups if their teachings and practices do not conflictwith law or public morals. It states the status of religious groups shall be established by agreement or law and recognised religious groups shall be free to carry out theiractivities as long as they are not in conflict with the constitution or laws. Recognition entitles nontraditional religious groups to perform marriages recognized by the statein the same manner as marriages officiated by traditional religious groups and to provide religious instruction in public schools. Recognition also grants nontraditionalreligious groups eligibility for annual subsidies from the state budget and for certain social security and healthcare contributions by the state, as well as the right tobroadcast religious services on national radio. Effective May 1, an amendment to the Law on Religious Communities and Societies requires that the Seimas determinewhether to grant state recognition to a religious group within three months of receiving a positive recommendation from the Ministry of Justice (MOJ). A religiouscommunity has the right to present its opinion on the recommendation to the Seimas. If the Seimas refuses to grant state recognition to a nontraditional religiouscommunity, it must draft a resolution stating the grounds, including the reasons why the religious community is believed to have insufficient support in society and whyits teachings or practices are contrary to law and/or morality. If the Seimas does not grant state recognition, a religious community may reapply after two years. The lawrecognizes as traditional those religious groups able to trace back their presence in the country at least 300 years. The law lists nine traditional religious groups: RomanCatholic, Greek Catholic, Evangelical Lutheran, Evangelical Reformed, Orthodox, Old Believer, Jewish, Sunni Muslim, and Karaite Jewish. Traditional religious groups mayperform marriages that are state recognized, establish joint private/public schools, provide religious instruction in public schools, and receive annual governmentsubsidies. Their highest-ranking leaders are eligible to apply for diplomatic passports, and they may provide chaplains for the military, social care institutions, hospitals,and prisons. The state provides social security and healthcare insurance contributions for clergy, religious workers, and members of monastic orders of the traditionalreligious groups. Traditional religious groups are also not required to pay social and health-insurance taxes for clergy and most other religious workers and members ofmonastic orders. Other religious groups and associations may apply to the MOJ for state recognition if they have legal entity status, meaning they have been officiallyregistered in the country for at least 25 years. The Evangelical Baptist Union of Lithuania, Seventh-day Adventist Church, Pentecostal Evangelical Belief Christian Union,and New Apostolic Church of Lithuania are the only state-recognized nontraditional religious groups registered in this manner. The government uses the term“confession” to refer to one or more traditional religious communities grouped under a single faith. The government allocates funds to each of nine confessions forrefurbishing houses of prayer, restoring old cemeteries, and preserving cultural heritage sites. Each of the nine confessions receives €3,075 ($3,400) annually as a basefund, plus an additional amount apportioned according to the number of adherents in each community. The criminal code prohibits incitement of hatred anddiscrimination based on religion and stipulates fines or up to two years in prison for violations. The code penalizes interference with religious ceremonies of recognizedreligious groups, with community service, fines, or detention for up to 90 days. The law does not address interference with or incitement of hatred against unrecognizedreligious groups.107Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, broad grounds are provided for the denial of registration, dual registration, membership quota, longevity quotas, misuse ofthe dichotomic terms "traditional" and "non-traditional" to create a vertical recognition system (verticalism), nominal restriction, parliamentary vote(parliamentarianism). An application for religious association status by the United Methodist Church of Lithuania, which the MOJ submitted to the Seimas with a favorablerecommendation in 2001, remained pending. On 19th September 2023, the Seimas rejected for the third time the application for state recognition of the Romuva, areligious association whose members practice an ancient Baltic pagan faith. The Seimas previously refused recognition in 2022 and 2019. The Romuva prevailed in theircase before the ECHR (nonbinding on the country) in 2018. The Seimas, however, again refused state recognition, stating the group fosters ethnic culture but should not beviewed as a religion. In response, the Romuva requested the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to implement “enhanced supervision” of the ECHR decision,which is used for cases requiring urgent individual measures or revealing important structural problems. Deliberations continued at year’s end.Human rights instruments: Lithuania is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and theUNDRIP; Lithuania did not vote on the UDHR; Lithuania is partied to the ECHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free; subject to registration); pastoral services (free); private expressionand observance (free); proselytism (free); public expression and observance (free); receiving donations (free); religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free);religious literature (free); religious and worship services (free); religious trade (free).Protections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of religion was affirmed in thelatest revised constitution from 2019.Conditions of state recognition and registration2024 RoRB Classification: ReceptiveLuxembourg,Grand Duchy ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsDismantle the misuse of existential recognition to exclude non-recognised groups; revoke subjective legislation; minor issueswithin the system persist that require resolutions; to become Dynamic, the government would need to establish a recognitionagency that would manage the recognition system and also take over the responsibility of funding groups; the governmentwould need to relinquish its control over the recognition agency to ensure its independence.Secularity: Luxembourg is a secular state; the government recognises and has formallyapproved conventions with the Anglican Church of Luxembourg, Greek Orthodox Church,Roman Catholic Church, Russian Orthodox Church, Romanian Orthodox Church, SerbianOrthodox Church, the Muslim community, the Jewish community and as one community theReformed Protestant Church of Luxembourg and the Protestant Church of Luxembourg.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: stipulatory registration – there are no formal registration mechanisms for religious or belieforganisations prescribed by the government. Religious groups are free to operate in the form they wish, with many choosing tooperate as nonprofit associations.Recognition policy: non-mandatory recognition – the government has formally approved conventions with six religiousgroups, which it supports financially with a fixed amount that is adjusted yearly for inflation. The six groups receive fundsbased partly on the number of their adherents in 2016; other funding is a direct contribution fixed under a revised law adoptedin 2016. The six groups are the Roman Catholic Church; the Greek, Russian, Romanian, and Serbian Orthodox Churches as onecommunity; the Anglican Church; the Reformed Protestant Church of Luxembourg and the Protestant Church of Luxembourgas one community; the Jewish community; and the Muslim community. To qualify for a convention with the state, a religiouscommunity must be a recognized world religion and have established an official and stable representative body with which thegovernment can interact. Groups without signed conventions, such as the New Apostolic Church, operate freely but do notreceive state funding. The Baha’i Faith does not have a convention with the state but has a foundation that allows it to receivetax-deductible donations. Government funding levels for the six religious groups are specified in each convention. By law,clergy of recognized religious groups hired in 2016 or earlier receive their salaries from the government and are grandfatheredinto the government-funded pension system. Religious groups receiving funds from the government must submit theiraccounts and the report of an auditor to the government for review to verify they have spent government funds in accordancewith laws and regulations. The government may cancel funding to a religious community if it determines the community is notupholding any of the three mutually agreed principles of respect for human rights, national law, and public order stipulated inthe conventions. According to the latest information from the Ministry of State in charge of religious affairs, of the sixreligious groups with conventions with the government, the Muslim community received €450,000 ($497,000) and theAnglican community received €125,000 ($138,000) during the year, the same amounts as received in 2022. The Jewish,Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox communities together received a total of €25 million ($27.6 million), the same amount asreceived in 2022. During the year, the Ministry of Higher Education provided €690,481 ($763,000) to the LSRS, to promote,among other objectives, research, education, and collaboration with the six religious groups that have signed agreements withthe state.108Key restriction tools imposed: grounds for the revocation of a bilateral cooperation agreement are broad and vulnerable tomisuse, qualifications for establishing a bilateral cooperation agreement such as the group must be a "recognised worldreligion" are ambiguous and exclude new religious movements, unstructure is a problem which is epitomised by the lack ofregistration procedures. The government continued to decline to create a legislative framework for formal recognition ofreligious groups, stating it did not have the authority and competence necessary to define religion and that codifying such adefinition would impede religious freedom. As a result, religious groups without a convention with the government continuedto operate as nonprofit organisations. Religious minority groups, including the New Apostolic Church, again stated thegovernment’s continued failure to create a legislative framework discriminated against groups that did not have a conventionwith the government. The government stated the aim of having conventions was to create a transparent funding mechanismand that the conventions were not tools for the state to legally recognize religions.Human rights instruments: Luxembourg is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, andthe UNDRIP; Luxembourg voted in favour of the UDHR; Luxembourg is partied to the ECHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free; subject to registration);pastoral services (free); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (free); public expression and observance(free); receiving donations (free); religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religious literature (free); religiousand worship services (free); religious trade (free).Protections: No protection against discrimination on the basis of religion was affirmed in thelatest revised constitution from 2009.Conditions of state recognition and registration2024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveMadagascar, Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsEstablish provisions for existential recognition; revoke existent restrictive policies in the recognition system and remove allforms of discrimination in registration process as well as all restriction tools identified; to be classified Dynamic, the governmentwould need to establish a recognition agency to manage its recognition system; following its establishment and the appointmentof a board of directors, the government would need to relinquish its involvement in the agency.Secularity: Madagascar is a secular state; theism was affirmed in the latest constitution from 2010.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: broad mandatory registration – Madagascan law mandates that all religious or belief organisations register withthe Ministry of the Interior in order to operate legally in the country. By registering, a religious group attains the legal statusnecessary to receive direct bequests and other donations. Once registered, the group may apply for a tax exemption each time itreceives a donation, including from abroad. Registered religious groups also have the right to acquire land from individuals to buildplaces of worship; however, the law states landowners should first cede the land back to the state, after which the state will thentransfer it to the religious group. To qualify for registration, a group must have at least 100 members and an elected administrativecouncil of no more than nine members, all of whom must be citizens. Groups failing to meet registration requirements may insteadregister as “simple associations.” Simple associations may not receive tax-free donations but may hold religious services as well asconduct various types of community and social projects. Associations engaging in dangerous or destabilising activities may bedisbanded or have their registration withdrawn. Simple associations must apply for a tax exemption each time they receive a donationfrom abroad. If an association has foreign leadership and/or members of the board, it may form an association “reputed to beforeign.” An association is reputed to be foreign only if the leader or members of the board include foreign nationals. Suchassociations may only obtain temporary authorisations, subject to periodic renewal and other conditions. The law does not prohibitnational associations from having foreign nationals as members. The government requires a permit for all public demonstrations,including religious events such as outdoor worship services.109Key restriction tools imposed: all leaders of a registrant religious group must be Madagascan citizens to succeed in applying throughthe main registration procedure as a religious group, amalgamation of recognition and registration procedures in favour of legalregistration, broad grounds for deregistration are likely to be misused to the detriment of groups unfavoured by the state, GFOs aregiven separate registration procedures and only "temporary authorisations" to operate in the country, membership quota of 100.Muslims born in the country continued to report that despite generations of residence, some members of their community wereunable to acquire citizenship. Muslim leaders again reported that some Muslims continued to encounter difficulty obtaining officialdocuments and services from government offices because of their non-Malagasy-sounding names. Leadership disputes within theevangelical group Jesosy Mamonjy remained unresolved this year. In September, a group of pastors within the church told the pressthat regional-level government authorities continued to interfere in its internal affairs by supporting a board elected in 2022 thatmost church members did not recognize. They said that local authorities supported the board’s decisions to replace local pastors andwould sometimes overrule parishioners if they contested the new pastors, sometimes providing armed security to new pastors whenthey thought church members might protest. The Jesosy Mamonjy pastors said they believed a member of parliament representing aformer president’s opposition political party was influencing ministry authorities and preventing a thorough investigation by theMinistry of the Interior into the board elected in 2022. Religious groups stated the government did not always enforce registrationrequirements and did not deny requests for church registration. All the large religious groups were registered. As of mid-November(the most recent information available), the Ministry of Interior reported 400 officially registered religious groups, compared with399 at the end of 2022. Between January and November 2023, the ministry registered six new religious groups and did not deny anyrequests for registration. In September, the government granted official recognition to three religious groups as churches: the NewProtestant Church of Madagascar, the Orthodox Church of Madagascar, and the Baptist Church of Madagascar. According to theMinistry of the Interior, the designation of “church” conferred the benefit of determining the Church’s internal policies and structurewithout needing to abide by the conditions listed in the legal framework for religious groups, allowing them to freely apply their ownregulations. The government acknowledged that some registered groups may have become inactive or dissolved without informingthe government. State-run Malagasy National Television continued to provide free broadcasting to Seventh-day Adventists,Lutherans, Anglicans, and Presbyterians from Mondays to Thursdays, to Catholics on Mondays, and to the Muslim community onFridays. During Ramadan, it provided additional broadcast time to the Muslim community to issue the call to prayer. Members of theFederation of Evangelical Churches continued to receive free airtime to broadcast religious services every morning on publictelevision. State-run Malagasy National Radio continued to provide free broadcasting only to the four members of the Council ofChristian Churches (Catholics, Presbyterians, Lutherans, and Anglicans) every Sunday. Leaders of the Apokalipsy Church said that thegovernment had denied their request for free airtime on national radio and television channels, however the government permittedthe church to operate several private radio and television channels without restriction.Human rights instruments: Madagascar is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP;Madagascar did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (not free; subject to registration); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free;subject to registration); pastoral services (not free; subject to registration); private expression and observance (free);proselytism (not free; subject to registration); public expression and observance (free); receiving donations (not free; subject toregistration); religious buildings (not free; subject to registration); religious instruction (not free; subject to registration);religious literature (not free; subject to registration); religious and worship services (not free; subject to registration); religioustrade (not free; subject to registration).Protections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of religion was affirmed in the latestconstitution from 2010.Conditions of state recognition and registration2024 RoRB Classification: ReceptiveMalawi, Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsEstablish provisions for existential recognition and fix instances of unstructure within the present system;to be classified Dynamic, the government would need to establish a recognition agency to manage itsrecognition system; following its establishment and the appointment of a board of directors, thegovernment would need to relinquish its involvement in the agency.Secularity: Malawi is a secular state; theism is affirmedin the presidential oath.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: stipulatory registration – religious or belief organisations are not required by law toregister with the government in order to begin operations legally in Malawi. However, religious or belieforganisations are required to register with the government to gain personality in law. To do so, groupsmust submit documentation detailing the structure and mission of their organization and pay a fee of1,000 kwacha (less than $1). The government reviews applications for administrative compliance only.According to the government, registration does not constitute endorsement of religious beliefs, nor is it aprerequisite for religious activities. Registration allows a religious group to acquire land, rent property inits own name, and obtain utility services such as water and electricity. The law authorises religious groups,regardless of registration status, to import certain goods duty free. These include items for religious use,vehicles used for worship-related purposes, and office equipment. In practice, however, the Ministry ofFinance and Economic Affairs rarely grants duty exemptions. Detainees have a right to consult with areligious counselor of their choice. Foreign missionaries are required to have employment permits.110Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation of recognition and registration procedures in favour of legalregistration.Human rights instruments: Malawi is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC,and the UNDRIP; Malawi did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free; subjectto registration); pastoral services (free); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (free);public expression and observance (free); receiving donations (free); religious buildings (not free; rentingproperty is subject to registration); religious instruction (free); religious literature (free); religious andworship services (free); religious trade (free).Protections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of religion wasaffirmed in the latest constitution from 2017.Conditions of state recognition and registration2024 RoRB Classification: CensoriousMalaysiaFoRB Claim: Partial claim constrained tosharia-compliance.RecommendationsDismantlement of the powers of the JAKIM to control the practice of Islam in the country is paramount; this should be combinedwith a dismantlement of the present Censorious apparatus of legislation and procedures restricting religious activity and theprocess of registration.Secularity: Sunni Islam is the state denomination.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: broad mandatory registration – there is no legal requirement for non-Muslim religious groups to register,but to become approved ‘nonprofit charitable organizations’, all groups must register with the government’s Registrar ofSocieties (ROS) by submitting paperwork showing the organisation’s leadership, purpose, and rules, and by paying a small fee.These organizations are legally required to submit annual reports to the ROS to remain registered. The ROS may inspect registeredorganizations and investigate those suspected of being used for purposes “prejudicial to public peace, welfare, good order, ormorality.” Tax laws allow an exemption for registered religious groups for donations received and a tax deduction for individualdonors. Donors giving zakat (Islamic tithes) to Muslim religious organizations receive a tax rebate. Donors to government-approved charitable organizations (including some non-Muslim religious groups) may receive a tax deduction on the contributionrather than a tax rebate. The law forbids proselytizing of Muslims by non-Muslims, with punishments varying from state to state,including imprisonment and caning. The law allows Muslims to proselytise without restriction. State governments have exclusiveauthority over allocation of land for, and the construction of, all places of worship as well as land allocation for all cemeteries. AllIslamic houses of worship – including mosques and prayer rooms – fall under the authority of the Department of Development ofIslam (JAKIM) and corresponding state Islamic departments; officials at these departments must first authorise the constructionof any mosque or prayer room. Foreign missionaries and international students enrolling in religious courses must apply for entrywith the Department of Immigration. These classes of visas are valid for one year, and a national body representing the respectivefaiths must endorse the applicant’s qualifications.111Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation of recognition and registration procedures in favour of legal registration, groundsfor group investigation are ambiguous and are vulnerable to being misused against groups unfavoured by the state, non-recognition for any non-Islamic group, registration fee is undisclosed, the state allocates land for building places of worship butthis policy could easily be misused against groups unfavoured by the state. Muslims who seek to convert to another religion mustfirst obtain approval from a sharia court to declare themselves as “apostates.” Sharia courts seldom grant such requests,especially for those born Muslim and ethnic Malays, and those who have converted to Islam. Penalties for apostasy vary by state.In the states of Perak, Melaka, Sabah, and Pahang, apostasy is a criminal offense punishable by a fine or prison term. In Pahang,courts may also impose up to six strokes of the cane for apostasy. The maximum penalty for apostasy in the states of Kelantanand Terengganu is death, but courts have never imposed this penalty, and its legality remains untested. Non-governmentalorganizations (NGOs) report that most converts from Islam prefer to do so privately, without legal approval. Nationally, civilcourts generally cede authority to sharia courts in cases concerning conversion from Islam. In some states, sharia courts allowone parent to convert children to Islam without the consent of the second parent. The law does not restrict the rights of non-Muslims to change their religious beliefs and affiliation. A non-Muslim wishing to marry a Muslim must convert to Islam for thesharia court to officially recognize the marriage. JAKIM and state Islamic authorities prepare all Friday sermons forcongregations as well as oversee and approve the appointment of imams at all mosques. JAKIM and state Islamic officials mustformally approve all teachers of Islam before they may preach or lecture on Islam in public. Sharia courts have jurisdiction overMuslims in matters of family law and religious observances. Non-Muslims have no standing in sharia proceedings, leading tosome cases where sharia court rulings have negatively affected non-Muslims who are unable to defend their position or appealthe court’s decision. Such rulings typically occurred in cases related to custody, divorce, inheritance, burial, and conversion ininterfaith families. The relationship between sharia and civil law remains largely unresolved in the legal system. Nationalidentity cards specify religious affiliation, and the government uses them to determine which citizens are subject to sharia. Thecards identify Muslims in print on the face of the card; for members of other recognized religions, religious affiliation isencrypted in a smart chip within the identity card. Married Muslims must carry a special photo identification of themselves andtheir spouse as proof of marriage. JAKIM coordinates the Hajj, endowment (waqf), tithes, and other Islamic activities. The FilmCensorship Guidelines published by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA) identifies several criteria that “warrant attention” bythe ministry, including scenes that depict lifestyles that are outside of “cultural norms and religious standards.”Human rights instruments: Malaysia is partied to the UNCRC and the UNDRIP; Malaysiais neither partied to the ICCPR nor the ICESCR; Malaysia did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (not free; restricted); hieroncy (not free; non-Islamic religious materials are restricted from importation);monasticism (not free; restricted); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free; restricted); pastoral services (not free;restricted); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (not free; illegal to proselytise Muslims); public expressionand observance (not free; restricted); receiving donations (not free; restricted); religious buildings (not free; restricted);religious instruction (not free; restricted); religious literature (not free; restricted); religious and worship services (not free;restricted); religious trade (not free; restricted).Protections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of religion wasaffirmed in the latest constitution from 2007 except as expressly authorised by theconstitution.Conditions of state recognition and registration2024 RoRB Classification: TerminalMaldives, Republic ofFoRB Claim: No claim is made.RecommendationsComplete dismantlement of the present recognition system must take place in order to resume any semblance of religious freedom in the country;this would involve the revocation of all legislation restricting religious activity and the disestablishment of Sunni Islam as the state religion iffreedom of religion or belief according to international law is not securable without intervention from sharia law; a new recognition system shouldbe established in order to ensure the provision of both existential recognition and legal registration for all belief systems and across all levels ofactivity.Secularity: Sunni Islam is the state denomination; theism is affirmed in the oaths of office; thepresident, all judges, ministers and all other public office holders must be Sunni Muslims.Mandatoriness of registration: non-registration.Registration policy: non-registration – there are no provisions set out in Maldivian law for any non-Islamic religious or belieforganisations to gain legal personality.112Key restriction tools imposed: Islamic preaching and proselytising that is unapproved by the state is prohibited as is all non-Islamic proselytism,non-recognition and non-registration for any religion or denomination other than Sunni Islam, obtaining a licence for an imam necessitatesreceiving a degree in religious studies from the government-approved university, state definition of religion, state supervision of sermons deliveredby imams. The law prohibits the conversion of a Muslim to another religion. By law, a violation may result in the loss of the convert’s citizenship,although a judge may impose a harsher punishment per sharia jurisprudence. Although the law does not stipulate such punishment, shariajurisprudence is often understood by the public and religious scholars to provide for the death penalty in cases of conversion from Islam (i.e.,apostasy), but the government has made no such statement. By law, no one may deliver sermons or explain religious principles in public withoutobtaining a license from the Ministry of Islamic Affairs (MIA). Imams may not prepare Friday sermons without government authorisation. To obtaina license to preach, the law specifies an individual must be a Sunni Muslim, have a degree in religious studies from a university recognized by thegovernment, and not have been convicted of a crime in sharia court. The law also sets educational standards for imams to ensure they havetheological qualifications the government considers adequate. Government regulations stipulate the requirements for preaching and contain generalprinciples for the delivery of religious sermons. The regulations prohibit making statements in sermons that may be interpreted as racial or genderdiscrimination, discouraging access to education or health services in the name of Islam, or demeaning the character of and/or creating hatredtoward persons of any other religion. The law provides for a punishment of two to five years in prison or house arrest for violations of theseprovisions. Anyone who assists in such a violation is subject to imprisonment or house arrest for two to four years and a fine of 5,000 to 20,000rufiyaa ($325 to $1,300). The law requires that foreign scholars, imams and preachers ensure their sermons conform to the country’s norms,traditions, culture, and social etiquette. Propagation of any religion other than Islam is a criminal offense, punishable by two to five years in prisonor house arrest. Proselytizing to change denominations within Islam is also illegal and carries the same penalty. If the offender is a foreigner,authorities may revoke the individual’s license to preach in the country (if the individual has one) and deport the person. By law, mosques and prayerhouses are under the control of the MIA. The law prohibits the establishment of places of worship for non-Islamic religious groups. The law states,“Non-Muslims living in or visiting the country are prohibited from openly expressing their religious beliefs, holding public congregations toconduct religious activities, or involving Maldivians in such activities.” By law, those expressing religious beliefs other than Islam faceimprisonment or house arrest of up to five years, fines ranging from 5,000 to 20,000 rufiyaa ($325 to $1,300), and deportation. By law, a femalecitizen may not marry a non-Muslim foreigner unless he first converts to Islam. A male citizen may marry a non-Muslim foreigner if the foreigner isChristian or Jewish; other foreigners must convert to Islam prior to marriage. The law prohibits importation of any items the MIA deems contrary toIslam, including religious literature, religious statues, alcohol, pork products, and pornographic materials. Penalties for contravention of the lawrange from imprisonment for three months to three years. It is against the law to offer alcohol to a citizen, although government regulations permitthe sale of alcoholic beverages to foreigners on resort islands. Individuals must request permission from the Ministry of Economic Development toimport restricted goods. The MPS reported they closed without action the investigation launched in 2019 against employees of the NGO MaldivianDemocracy Network, which was deregistered in 2019 because the group’s 2015 Preliminary Report on Radicalization in Maldives contained contentthat mocked Islam and the Prophet Muhammad, according to the MPS and the Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Community Empowerment. TheCommunications Authority of Maldives (CAM) continued to maintain an unpublished blacklist of websites containing material it deemed un-Islamicor anti-Islamic. According to the government, CAM did not proactively monitor internet content but instead relied on requests from ministries andother government agencies to block websites violating laws against criticism or defamation of Islam. As of year’s end, the MPS reported continuingthree investigations launched in 2022, into “online posts for publishing un-Islamic content or violating Islamic tenets.”Human rights instruments: Maldives is partied to the ICCPR (but with a reservation on Article 18that the government’s application of Article 18 principles shall be “without prejudice to theConstitution of the Republic”), the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP; Maldives did not voteon the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (not free; illegal and loss of citizenship for those who attempt to convert away from Islam); hieroncy (not free; non-Islamic religiousmaterials are prohibited from importation); monasticism (not free; non-Islamic monasticism illegal); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free;restricted); pastoral services (not free; restricted); private expression and observance (not free; restricted); proselytism (not free; illegal toproselytise Muslims); public expression and observance (not free; non-Islamic expression illegal); receiving donations (not free; restricted);religious buildings (not free; restricted); religious instruction (not free; restricted); religious literature (not free; non-Islamic literature illegal);religious and worship services (not free; restricted); religious trade (not free; restricted).Protections: No protection against discrimination on the basis of religion was affirmed in thelatest constitution from 2008. Although the constitution contains a provision prohibitingdiscrimination “of any kind,” it does not list religion as a prohibited basis for discrimination. Conditions of state recognition and registration2024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveMali,Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsEstablish a recognition system that possesses provisions for both existential recognition and legal registration for all belief systemsand at multiple levels of activity; revoke signature quota and non-beneficial registration policy.Secularity: Mali is a secular state and the transitionalgovernment is largely upholding this principle in practice;theism is affirmed in the presidential oath.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory and malregistration.Registration policy: discriminatory quasi-mandatory registration – although the law states that all public associations, including allreligious groups, except for groups practicing indigenous beliefs (such as animism), must register with the government, no penaltiesare prescribed for remaining unregistered. Registration also confers no tax preferences or other legal benefits. To register, applicantsmust submit copies of a declaration of intent to create an association, notarised copies of bylaws, copies of policies and regulations,notarised copies of a report of the first meeting of the association’s general assembly, and lists of the leaders of the association, withsignature samples of three of the leaders. Upon review, if approved, the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralization(MATD) grants the certificate of registration. The Ministry of Religious Affairs, Worship, and Customs (MARCC) is responsible foradministering the national strategy for countering violent extremism, promoting religious tolerance, and coordinating nationalreligious activities such as pilgrimages and religious holidays for followers of all religions. The law defines marriage as secular.Couples who seek legal recognition must have a civil ceremony, which they may follow with a religious ceremony. A man may choosebetween a monogamous or polygamous marriage. The religious customs of the deceased determine inheritance rights, and civil courtsconsider these customs when they adjudicate such cases; however, many cases are settled informally. The 147-member NationalTransition Council (CNT), the country’s transition legislative body, included four seats reserved for representatives of three religiousassociations. One seat is held by a Catholic, one by a Muslim, and two by Protestants. In 2022, the HCI objected to the CNT’s decisionto reserve a second seat for a Protestant member without also allocating an additional seat for a Muslim member.Malregistration – the ongoing war in Mali and the insurgency of Islamist militants in rural areas means the central government doesnot have the full capacity to enforce its registration laws and protect registered religious or belief organisations throughout theterritory it claims. 113Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, non-beneficial registration, signature quota (three leaders of the registrant group). OnAugust 31, authorities sentenced Adama Fomba, also known as Bahfa, an adherent of Kemetism, to five years in prison for an offenseof a religious nature. Authorities arrested Fomba in 2022 after a video circulated on social media allegedly showing him insultingIslam. In September, Fomba appealed his sentence. At year’s end, the case remained pending at the Bamako Court of Appeals. Theprosecutor responsible for cybercrime cases released a statement on August 10 warning against hate speech on social media critical ofother religions. In February, a Bamako court sentenced the national leader of Kemetism, Fakoly Doumbia, to one year in prison witheight months suspended, for “offences of a religious nature capable of causing disturbance to public order.” Doumbia and five otherswere detained in 2022 after Doumbia criticized MARCC Minister Mahamadou Kone for condemning a video on social media showingMamadou Dembele, an adherent of Kemetism, stepping on a Quran. In July, the transition government adopted a new constitution,replacing the constitution that had been in effect since 1992. The new constitution continued to prohibit religious discriminationunder the law. The draft law on religion that the Council of Ministers adopted in 2021 remained pending with the TransitionPresident’s Office at year’s end. The proposed law would enable MARCC to more easily oversee religious organizations by giving it aprimary role in approving their registration applications, replacing the existing system under which the MATD alone manages theregistration process and review. During the year, MARCC renewed a training program for imams on preaching what it described asmoderate interpretations of Islam with the Moroccan government. MARCC signed the agreement in 2022 to train 300 imams over fiveyears. According to the ministry, the governments of Egypt and Saudi Arabia also offered to train imams. In January, in collaborationwith the HCI and representatives from the Catholic and Protestant churches, MARCC published guidelines for sermons to combatviolent extremism. MARCC developed the guidelines using the results of a 2020 study of factors influencing extremism related toreligion. The UN Development Program assisted with the study.Human rights instruments: Mali is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, andthe UNDRIP; Mali did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (not free; subject to registration); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free;subject to registration); pastoral services (not free; subject to registration); private expression and observance (free); proselytism(not free; subject to registration); public expression and observance (free); receiving donations (not free; subject to registration);religious buildings (not free; subject to registration); religious instruction (not free; subject to registration); religious literature (notfree; subject to registration); religious and worship services (not free; subject to registration); religious trade (not free; subject toregistration).Protections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of religion wasaffirmed in the latest constitution from 2023.Conditions of state recognition and registration2024 RoRB Classification: ReceptiveMalta,Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsEstablish distinct provisions for existential recognition in the country and multi-level recognition isadvisable; to become Dynamic, the Maltese government would need to establish a recognition agency tomanage the aforementioned recognition system but should relinquish its control of such an agency uponits establishment in order to ensure the agency’s independence from government; existential recognitionprovided to all belief systems and at multiple levels along with fixing some of the minor issues in thepresent system identified herein should see Malta ascend to Dynamic classification.Secularity: Roman Catholic Church is the statedenomination; theism is affirmed in the presidential oathand the oath of allegiance.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: unconditional registration – religious or belief organisations are not required by lawto register to operate legally in the country and tax exemptions are available to non-registered religiousor belief groups. Religious groups may own property, including buildings. Groups using property for aparticular purpose, including religious worship, must obtain a permit for that purpose from the PlanningAuthority. All religious groups may organize and run private religious schools, and their clergy mayperform legally recognized marriages and other religious functions.Recognition policy: the constitution states the Catholic Church has “the duty and the right to teach whichprinciples are right and which are wrong.” The constitution and law make Catholic education compulsoryin public schools. The state, rather than the Catholic Church, provides teachers (who may be non-Catholic) for the courses. Students, with parental consent if the student is younger than age 16, may optout of these classes and instead take an ethics course, if one is available. If a school does not offer anethics course, students may still opt out of the religion class.114Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation of recognition and registration procedures in favour of thelatter, mandatory indirect registration, non-response and delay to applications (one such application hasbeen pending since 2017).Human rights instruments: Malta is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, andthe UNDRIP; Malta did not vote on the UDHR; Malta is partied to the ECHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free);pastoral services (free); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (free); public expressionand observance (free); receiving donations (free); religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free);religious literature (free); religious and worship services (free); religious trade (free).Protections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of “creed” wasaffirmed in the latest revised constitution from 2016.Conditions of state recognition and registration2024 RoRB Classification: ReceptiveMarshall Islands, Republic of theFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsEstablish provisions for existential recognition distinct from that of legal registration in order to becomereceptive; in order to become Dynamic, the Marshallese government would need to establish a recognitionagency to manage the aforementioned recognition system but should relinquish its control of such an agencyupon its establishment in order to ensure the agency’s independence from government.Secularity: Marshall Islands is a secular state; however, there some instances ofpreference for Christianity such as the custom to begin government functions with aChristian prayer; theism is affirmed in the constitution.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: stipulatory registration – the law in the Marshall Islands allow for non-registered religiousor belief organisations to operate legally. However, if religious or belief organisations do register then they canqualify for tax exemptions. Religious or belief organisations register under either secular designations ‘nonprofitcorporation’ or a ‘cooperative.’ The law states the tax on gross revenue shall not be applied to “corporations,associations, or societies organised and operated exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, or educationalpurposes.” In addition, goods imported into the country by “churches for their own religious, educational, orcharitable purposes” are exempt from import duty.Recognition policy: governmental functions, by continuing custom, usually began and ended with an ordainedminister from the United Church of Christ or other church official delivering a Christian prayer. Some smallerChristian denominations noted that they were rarely asked to lead prayers at official functions. While there wasno religious education in public schools, most extracurricular school events began and ended with aninterdenominational Christian prayer delivered by a minister. According to local residents, such prayers beforeand after public events were a longstanding cultural practice and part of the widely accepted tradition of thecountry.115Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation of recognition and registration procedures in favour of the latter.Human rights instruments: Marshall Islands is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, andthe UNCRC; Marshall Islands was absent during voting on the UNDRIP; MarshallIslands did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoralservices (free); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (free); public expression andobservance (free); receiving donations (free); religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religiousliterature (free); religious and worship services (free); religious trade (free).Protections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of religion wasaffirmed in the latest constitution from 1995.Conditions of state recognition and registration2024 RoRB Classification: TerminalMauritania, Islamic Republic ofFoRB Claim: No claim is made.RecommendationsComplete dismantlement of the current system is the necessary precursor to attaining any kind of semblance of religious freedom; repeal lawscriminalising conversion from Islam and proselytism by non-Muslims, as well as terminally restrictive laws that abuse citizenship.Secularity: Sunni Islam is the state denomination; theism was affirmed in the latestconstitution from 2012 and is affirmed in oaths of office; the president must be a Muslim.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: discriminatory-mandatory registration – the Mauritanian government registers non-Islamic religious asNGOs rather than as religious or belief organisations while Islamic groups do not need to register. The law allows for non-Muslimreligious groups to register and operate by applying through both the Ministry of Interior (MOI) and the Ministry of Islamic Affairsand Traditional Education (MIATE), although there were no such groups registered as of year’s end. Proselytizing by non-Muslimreligious groups is prohibited. The law sets out a declarative system in which NGOs are automatically granted authorisation tooperate 60 days after they submit their registration to authorities. Faith-based NGOs must also agree to refrain from proselytizing(prohibited for non-Muslim groups under the law) or otherwise promoting any religion other than Islam. The law requires the MOIto authorise in advance all group meetings, including non-Islamic religious gatherings and those held in private homes. As of 31December 2023, 5,858 NGOs had registered under the NGO law that went into effect in 2021. The law made it easier for NGOs,including faith-based organizations, to register and operate in the country.Recognition policy: the constitution defines the country as an Islamic republic and recognises Islam as the sole religion of itscitizenry and the state. The law requires members of the Constitutional Council and the High Council of Magistrates to take an oathof office that includes a promise to God to uphold the law of the land in conformity with Islamic precepts.116Key restriction tools imposed: all public gatherings, including those for religious purposes, must be authorised in advance by the Ministry ofInterior (MOI), it remains illegal for non-Islamic religious groups to proselytise or convert citizens and to express their religion publicly,non-recognition for any non-Sunni religion or denomination, illegal to print and distribute non-Islamic religious materials. By law, theMIATE is responsible for enacting and disseminating fatwas, fighting “extremism,” promoting research in Islamic studies, organizing theHajj and Umrah pilgrimages, and monitoring mosques. The government also appoints the High Council for Fatwa and Administrative Appeals,which advises the government on conformity of legislation to Islamic precepts and has sole authority to regulate fatwa issuance and resolverelated disputes among citizens and between citizens and public agencies. On April 25, police near the town of Rosso on the border withSenegal detained a citizen of Mauritania after his son was found bringing Bibles and Christian learning materials from Senegal intoMauritania. To protect his son, the father reportedly claimed that the Bibles and other materials belonged to him. A local investigative judge inRosso noted his intent to charge the father with tartuffery (concealing atheism or apostasy from Islam, while pretending to be a Muslim) – acharge that carries an automatic death sentence for those convicted. In July, however, the Minister of Justice authorised the father’s releaseand dropped all charges in the case. On November 30, police arrested Mauritanian pastor Adama Diallo after a video of him performing abaptism went viral and sparked what was described as community outrage. Over the following week police arrested an additional 25 Christiansfrom the congregation in Selibaby. According to sources, some police and community members exhibited what they described as a lack ofunderstanding of Christian rituals and dismissed them as unwelcome in Mauritania. A group of officials investigated the situation andattempted to pressure the Christians to reconvert to Islam. While the detainees refused to reconvert to Islam, they ultimately agreed to sign astatement that they believed in God in order to be released. Officials warned the Christians that they were in a Muslim country with lawsprohibiting the open practice of faiths other than Islam. The possession of non-Islamic religious materials remained legal, although thegovernment continued to prohibit their printing and distribution. The government maintained a Quranic television channel and radio station.Both stations sponsored regular programming on themes of moderation in Islam. The government continued to forbid non-Muslims fromproselytising, although there was no specific legal prohibition. The government continued to ban any public expression of religion except thatof Islam. Authorised churches were able to conduct services within their premises but could not proselytize. An unofficial governmentrequirement restricted non-Islamic worship to the few recognized Christian churches. There were Roman Catholic and other Christianchurches in Nouakchott, Kaedi, Atar, Nouadhibou, and Rosso. Non-Islamic religious services remained open only to foreigners, and citizenscould not attend. Some Christian groups seeking to establish churches in the country, particularly from the local Protestant community, wereunable to obtain authorization from authorities. Because of a lack of authorisation, some churches could not open a bank account in theirname. Non-Muslim religious leaders, however, stated the government typically did not prevent such groups from holding religiousgatherings as long as they were held “discretely” and in private spaces. Established churches sometimes faced difficulties importing religiousmaterials for use during church services (i.e., Bibles, religious education books, and wafers and wine for communion). Several registeredinternational Christian NGOs reported, however, that they continued to operate successfully in the country.Human rights instruments: Mauritania is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, and the UNCRC;Mauritania was absent during voting on the UNDRIP; Mauritania did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (not free; illegal and loss of citizenship for those who attempt to convert away from Islam); hieroncy (not free; non-Islamic religious materialsare prohibited from importation); monasticism (not free; non-Islamic monasticism illegal); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free; restricted);pastoral services (not free; restricted); private expression and observance (not free; restricted); proselytism (not free; illegal to proselytise Muslims andcitizens that engage in non-Islamic proselytism will lose their citizenship); public expression and observance (not free; non-Islamic expression illegal);receiving donations (not free; restricted); religious buildings (not free; restricted); religious instruction (not free; restricted); religious literature (notfree; non-Islamic literature illegal); religious and worship services (not free; restricted); religious trade (not free; restricted).Protections: No protection against discrimination on the basis of religion was affirmed in thelatest constitution from 2012.Conditions of state recognition and registration2024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveMauritius,Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsExtend procedures for existential recognition to all belief systems, denominations and communities in the country; tobecome Dynamic, Mauritius will need to establish a recognition agency to manage its recognition system; revoke thehypervertical recognition system, the imposed leadership quota and the policy of non-recognition.Secularity: Mauritius is a secular state; by parliamentary decree, Anglicanism, RomanCatholicism, Hinduism, Islam, Presbyterianism and Seventh-day Adventism were state-recognised prior to the country’s independence in 1968 and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was later recognised in 1985; theism is affirmed in both the oath of allegiance andjudicial oath.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: quasi-mandatory registration – although Mauritian law states that the registration of religiousgroups is mandatory, unregistered groups operate without penalties. Religious groups are required to register with theRegistrar of Associations under the secular designation ‘association.’ To become eligible for registration, religiousgroups must have a minimum of seven members with designated leadership responsibilities. The finance ministry maygrant these other groups tax-exempt privileges. Although registration of religious groups is required, the law does notprescribe penalties for unregistered groups.Recognition policy: the constitution states that legislative candidates must identify themselves as belonging to one ofthe four national communities cited in the constitution: Hindu, Muslim, Sino-Mauritian, or General Population. GeneralPopulation is defined by the constitution as anyone who by “their way of life” does not fall into the prior three categoriesbut is generally viewed as including those of European, African, and mixed heritage, a large majority of whom areCatholic. Sino-Mauritians are primarily Catholic, Anglican, or Buddhist. Parliamentary decrees recognize the six mainreligious groups present prior to independence in 1968 (Hindus, Catholics, Muslims, Anglicans, Presbyterians, andSeventh-day Adventists) as well as the Church of Jesus Christ, which was recognized in 1985. These groups receiveannual lump sum payments from the finance ministry based on the number of members who identified as such duringthe last census. As in previous years, the government deferred action on recognizing the Assembly of God, a Pentecostaldenomination, as a religion. The denomination has petitioned the government for such recognition for more than 20years. As of year’s end, the group was still considered an association. The government has not provided a reason for itsinaction. Religious and civil society sources stated they believed the government did not want to add the Assembly of Godto the list of recognized religions, as the church increasingly drew membership from Hindu converts. A pastor from theAssembly of God said that because the group was not considered a religious group, newborn infants could not beregistered as Assembly of God members and its pastors had limited access to hospitals and prisons. The government didnot offer a reason for not legally recognizing any religious group since 1985, when it extended recognition to the Churchof Jesus Christ. Consequently, other religious groups continued to have status only as associations.117Key restriction tools imposed: hypervertical recognition is in effect, leadership quota, non-recognition for any religionnot already recognised by the 1968 parliamentary decree which thereby excludes all new religious movements and otherminorities, non-response to the application for recognition made by the Assemblies of God 20 years ago. SomeChristians and Muslims continued to state that the predominance of Hindus in the civil service favored Hindus ingovernment recruitment and promotion, preventing Christians and Muslims from reaching higher level positions in thecivil service. In general, and dating back years, non-Hindus have stated they were underrepresented in government, thecivil service, and the security services.Human rights instruments: Mauritius is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and theUNDRIP; Mauritius did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (not free; subject to registration); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites(not free; subject to registration); pastoral services (not free; subject to registration); private expression and observance(free); proselytism (not free; subject to registration); public expression and observance (free); receiving donations (notfree; subject to registration); religious buildings (not free; subject to registration); religious instruction (not free;subject to registration); religious literature (not free; subject to registration); religious and worship services (not free;subject to registration); religious trade (not free; subject to registration).Protections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of “creed” was affirmed inthe latest constitution from 2016.Conditions of state recognition and registration2024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveUnited Mexican StatesFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsEstablish provisions for existential recognition in addition to the provisions for legal registration; revoke all restriction toolsidentified such as longevity quotas and in-person registration as well as the policy of confinement; establish a nationwiderecognition agency; resolve the issue of pseudo-mandatory registration.Secularity: Mexico is a secular state (the Roman Catholic Church was disestablishedin 1857 before being briefly reestablished in 1864 to 1867).Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: pseudo-mandatory registration – although Mexican law does not formally mandate that religious orbelief organisations need to register with the government to operate, registration is mandatory in practice as it is necessary forgroups to hold religious meetings outside any customary places of worship. Beyond this, registered organisations maynegotiate contracts, purchase or rent land, apply for official building permits and receive tax exemptions. Registration ishandled by the General Directorate for Religious Affairs (DGAR). To establish a religious association, applicants must certifythe church or other religious group observes, practices, propagates, or instructs a religious doctrine or body of religious beliefs;has conducted religious activities in the country for at least five years; has established domicile in the country; and showssufficient assets to achieve its purpose. Registered associations may freely organize their internal structures and adopt bylawsor rules pertaining to their governance and operations, including the training and appointment of their clergy. They mayengage in public worship and celebrate acts for the fulfilment of the association’s purpose lawfully and without profit. Theymay propagate their doctrine in accordance with applicable regulations and participate in the creation, management,maintenance, and operation of private welfare, educational, and health institutions, provided the institutions are not for profit.Religious groups registering for the first time may start their registration online; however, representatives must finalise it inperson. Religious groups must apply for permits to construct new buildings or convert existing buildings into places ofworship. Any religious building constructed after January 27, 1992, is the property of the group that built it and subject torelevant taxes. All religious buildings erected before then are considered part of the national patrimony and owned by the state.Religious associations must notify the government of their intention to hold a religious meeting outside their licensed place orplaces of worship. Religious associations may not hold political meetings of any kind or own or operate radio or televisionstations. Government permission is required for commercial radio or television to transmit religious programming. The federalgovernment coordinates religious affairs through Secretariat of the Interior (SEGOB). Within SEGOB, DGAR is mandated topromote religious tolerance, conduct conflict mediation, and investigate cases of religious intolerance. If a party presents adispute based on allegations of religious intolerance, DGAR may mediate a solution. Each of the 32 states has officesresponsible for religious affairs. The National Council to Prevent Discrimination (CONAPRED) is an autonomous federal agencyresponsible for ensuring nondiscrimination and equal opportunity, including for members of minority religious groups. A visacategory exists for foreign clergy and religious associates to obtain a temporary resident visa or visitor visa withoutauthorization to perform paid religious activities. The constitution recognizes the right of Indigenous communities toautonomy, codifying their right to use their own legal systems for the resolution of disputes within their communities.Indigenous autonomy is subordinate to human rights provisions as defined in the constitution and the international treaties towhich the country is a signatory. The constitution also protects the right of Indigenous leaders to practice their own “uses andcustoms,” with the provision that the law must be applied in line with human rights guarantees in the constitution and in theinternational conventions to which the country is a party. DGAR registered 196 new religious associations during the year,compared with 149 in 2022. By December 15, DGAR listed 9,960 registered religious associations, which included 9,911Christian, 15 Buddhist, 10 Jewish, five Islamic, two Hindu, and three International Society for Krishna Consciousness groups, aswell as 14 new religious expression groups. According to DGAR, new religious expressions groups are defined as philosophicalor spiritual communities born of new beliefs or are part of a broader religion, such as Scientology or the Church of the Orishas.118Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, confinement, financial quota, in-person registration, longevity quota,nationality quota, stipulated qualifications for registered are ambiguous lending to their misuse against unfavoured groups(possible state definition of religion).Human rights instruments: Mexico is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC,and the UNDRIP; Mexico voted in favour of the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (not free; subject to registration); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (notfree; subject to registration); pastoral services (not free; subject to registration); private expression and observance (free);proselytism (not free; subject to registration); public expression and observance (free); receiving donations (not free; subjectto registration); religious buildings (not free; subject to registration); religious instruction (not free; subject to registration);religious literature (not free; subject to registration); religious and worship services (not free; subject to registration);religious trade (not free; subject to registration).Protections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of “creed” wasaffirmed in the latest constitution from 2016.Conditions of state recognition and registration2024 RoRB Classification: ReceptiveMicronesia, Federated States ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsEstablish distinct provisions for existential recognition; to become Dynamic, establishan independent recognition agency to manage the system.Secularity: Micronesia is a secular state; however, national andstate government events are routinely opened and closed witha Catholic or Protestant prayer.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: stipulatory registration – religious entities are required to registeras nonprofit organisations to be exempt from taxation.Recognition policy: national and state government events routinely opened and closedwith a prayer, invocation, or benediction from a Protestant or Catholic clergy member,and often two, one from each group.119Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, the registration procedures areunstructured.Human rights instruments: Micronesia is partied to the UNCRC andthe UNDRIP; Micronesia is neither partied to the ICCPR nor theICESCR; Micronesia did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burialrites (free); pastoral services (free); private expression and observance (free);proselytism (free); public expression and observance (free); receiving donations(free); religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religious literature (free);religious and worship services (free); religious trade (free).Protections: No protection against discrimination on the basis ofreligion was affirmed in the latest constitution from 1990.Conditions of state recognition and registration2024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveMoldova, Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsProvide means for existential recognition that are extended to all belief systems, denominations and communities; revoke all identified restriction tools such as membership quotas;establish a recognition agency that is independent of government for the management of the recognition system and the promotion of both religious education and the diversity of religiousbelief and practice.Secularity: Moldova is officially a secular state; however, the lawrecognises the “exceptional importance and fundamental role” ofOrthodox Christianity, and particularly the Moldovan Orthodox Church,in the life, history, and culture of the country.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory and malregistration.Registration policy: pseudo-mandatory registration – although Moldovan law claims that religious or belief organisations need not register with thegovernment to gather for worship services legally, the fact that only registered religious or belief organisations may legally publish or import religiousliterature in effect makes registration mandatory. Only registered religious groups may also possess status as legal entities, which allows them to build housesof worship, own land for cemeteries or other property, open bank accounts, or employ staff. Registration also exempts registered religious groups from landtaxes and property taxes and allows them to establish associations and foundations. Registration is handled by the Public Services Agency (PSA). The lawpermits local registered religious groups to change their denominational affiliation or dissolve themselves. The law allows individuals to redirect 2 percent oftheir income tax to nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) or religious groups. Religious groups must be officially registered with the PSA and active for aminimum of one year before applying for the income tax benefit; use the funds received only for social, moral, cultural, and/or charitable activities andcertain administrative costs; and present reports on the use of the funds. The law exempts religious organisations from registration fees and from paying taxon the income received as donations under the 2 percent law. Under the law, a religious group wishing to register must present to the PSA a declarationincluding its exact name, fundamental principles of belief, organisational structure, scope of activities, financing sources, and rights and obligations ofmembership. The law also requires a group to show it has at least 100 founding members. A religious group must present proof it has access to premises whereit can conduct religious activities, but it does not need to own this property. The PSA is required by law to register a religious group within 15 days if theregistration request meets all legal requirements. The applicant may request an extension if the government determines the documentation submitted isinsufficient. Under the law, the Ministry of Justice has the right to request a suspension of the registered status of a religious group if it “carries out activitiesthat harm the constitution or laws” or “affects state security, public order, [or] the life and security of the people.” The law also provides for suspension orrevocation of a religious group’s registration in case of violation of international agreements or for political activity. The law prohibits religious entities fromengaging in political activity or “abusive proselytism,” defined as the action of changing religious beliefs through coercion. Foreign missionaries may submitwork contracts or volunteer agreements to apply for temporary residency permits and may reside and work in paid status or as unpaid volunteers. Onlymissionaries working with registered religious groups may apply for temporary residency permits. Foreign religious workers with these permits must registerwith the National Agency for Employment and the General Inspectorate for Migration. They must present documents confirming the official status of theregistered religious group for which they will work, papers confirming their temporary residence, and proof of valid local health insurance. Foreignmissionaries belonging to registered religious groups who do not wish to apply for temporary residency may remain in the country for 90 days on a touristvisa.Malregistration – the breakaway state of Transnistria (officially the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic) means that the authorities in Chisinau do not havethe ability to exercise their registration laws in all the territory the government claims is part of the Republic of Moldova. 120Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, grounds for deregistration and dissolutions of religious groups are so broad that they are vulnerable to beingmisused against groups unfavoured by the state, membership quota, nationality quota, proof of premises. The Catholic Diocese of Chisinau’s longstandingwritten complaints to the government that registration law provisions pertaining to the organisation of religious groups were incompatible with Catholiccanon law continued to remain unaddressed. According to Catholic Church representatives, canon law grants bishops the authority to organize new parishesand appoint priests, while Moldovan law requires newly registered religious communities be created through the initiative of community members, withleadership chosen by the members. During the year, the PSA registered all 33 religious entities that applied. These were new religious subgroups belonging toexisting religious denominations, including the Baptist Church, MOC, BOC, and Union of Pentecostal Churches. According to the PSA, 182 religious groups(compared with 156 in 2022) received funds from income tax payments voluntarily directed to religious groups. A case submitted in 2020 by Falun Dafaalleging the state violated the group’s right to peaceful assembly after the Chisinau mayor’s office denied group members permission to hold a rally duringthe visit of a People’s Republic of China delegation in 2017, remained pending at year’s end. A dispute between the BOC and the MOC concerning thegovernment’s registration of a village church in Dereneu, Calarasi Region, continued during the year. In 2020, BOC representatives accused the PSA ofillegally registering the church under the MOC’s authority. BOC officials said the church belonged to their denomination. The church’s status has been underdispute since 2017, when the parish and parishioners decided to switch legally and canonically from the MOC to the BOC. The BOC and MOC congregationsboth continued to use the Dereneu church; the local BOC priest conducted church services in a chapel in the church courtyard, while the MOC priest heldservices in the disputed main church. The BOC’s lawyer said a total of nine cases related to the BOC-MOC conflict in Dereneu were under review in courts atyear’s end. The BOC stated the local mayor fuelled the conflict by using administrative resources and his position to interfere in the conflict on behalf of theMOC. PSA has taken further action on the registration of a synagogue in Orhei city following a 2022 court ruling in favor of the JCM. In 2021, the Orhei office ofthe PSA rejected the JCM’s application for registration of the synagogue. A 2014 Orhei city council decision transferred the building to JCM ownership. TheMOC continued to maintain a network of social assistance sites, including day-care centers and temporary shelters, and provided spiritual guidance andservices to police officers, state workers, and prison inmates; other registered religious groups had access to state facilities upon request. At the beginning ofthe year, the Administration of Penitentiaries denied Jehovah’s Witnesses requests to access prisons and visit inmates. Jehovah’s Witnesses sent theAdministration several letters asking for the reason behind the change in policy. The Administration informed Jehovah’s Witnesses leadership that they hadno members in the penitentiary system and there were other religious organizations performing similar functions. Jehovah’s Witnesses leadership reportedthe penitentiary administration repeatedly stressed material contributions made by other religious groups when denying Jehovah’s Witnesses’ requests. TheJehovah’s Witnesses leadership requested the Ministry of Justice investigate the matter and provide a justification for the refusal and allow them equal accessto prison inmates. The Union of Pentecostal Churches said it remained unable to obtain a zoning permit for a building that it bought in 2006 in Copceac villageand used for religious services. The Pentecostal Church’s 2020 appeal of a lower court ruling against it was still pending at year’s end. The Islamic Leaguereached an agreement with Chisinau municipal authorities after it complained authorities asked it to pay upfront the entire amount for a plot of land forIslamic burials at the city-run cemetery in Chisinau. In 2022, municipal authorities twice rejected the League’s requests for a plot of land, even though the lawprovides the right to burial space in public cemeteries, and all religious groups are required to make only a partial payment of the fee.Human rights instruments: Moldova is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP;Moldova did not vote on the UDHR; Moldova is partied to the ECHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (not free; subject to registration); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free); private expression and observance(free); proselytism (free; however, ambiguous legislation could be used against proselytising groups that are unfavoured by the state); public expression and observance (free); receivingdonations (free); religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religious literature (not free; subject to registration); religious and worship services (free); religious trade (free).Protections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of religion was affirmed in the latestrevised constitution from 2016.Conditions of state recognition and registration2024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveMonaco,Principality ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsRemove instances of partial recognition (which would mean the disestablishment of Catholicism as the state religion ifthe same degree of recognition cannot be bestowed to groups than Catholics); establish a recognition system thatprovides existential recognition and legal registration to all applicant groups regardless of their beliefs and practices;establish a recognition agency to deal with this recognition system independently of the state; resolve minor issuesidentified within the recognition system.Secularity: Roman Catholicism is the state denomination; the Catholic Archbishop of Monacooccupies the highest government office below the sovereign and the Minister of State; Catholicrituals continued to be a part of many state ceremonies, including annual national day celebrations;the government has granted recognition to Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox, Baha’i, Buddhist,Jehovah’s Witnesses, and Jewish communities as well as to various Protestant groups.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: pseudo-mandatory registration – although the law of Monaco does not mandate that religious orbelief organisations register with the government, however the need for registration to legally rent a property for worshipservices makes registration mandatory in practice. Completing registration or “official recognition” with the Ministry ofthe Interior also confers the right to establish an office or place of worship, own property or hire employees. Religiousgroups that do register are given the religious designation ‘religious association.’ The ministry must respond to suchrequests within one month or approval is automatic. In addition to obtaining official government recognition, anyreligious group wishing to construct a place of worship in a public space must receive prior approval from the Ministry ofthe Interior. The government does not tax religious institutions.121Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation of registration procedures with language regarding recognition, secondaryprocedures exist each time a religious group seeks to build (or possibly convert) a place of worship, vertical recognition isin effect (verticalism), the dispute between the government and Jehovah's Witnesses was settled with the Witnesses byregistering the Jehovah Witnesses Association (it is likely this registration does not equate to the same degree ofrecognition enjoyed by Jewish, Protestant and Russian Orthodox communities). In December 2023, representatives of theJehovah’s Witnesses association stated that authorities intervened in and sometimes prohibited their proselytizingactivities. The representatives reported that during the year, police subjected four Jehovah’s Witnesses conducting door-to-door and street proselytizing to identity checks. The representatives said they subsequently met with police inOctober, who explained that door-to-door and public ministry in the street constituted a breach of peace under the penalcode, which requires prior authorisation for all door-to-door calling and solicitation activities. Although authoritiesallowed people to contact the Jehovah’s Witnesses association through its official website to arrange at-home meetings,cold-calling activities and proselytizing in the street requires prior government authorisation. The representativesargued that “excessive regulations” in the authorisation procedures challenged their ability to conduct their publicministry. As of year’s end, the representatives were awaiting further guidance from authorities after meeting again withgovernment officials. In January 2022, the ECHR reached a decision in a case brought by Jehovah’s Witnesses in 2019 toobtain recognition as a religious group. Prior to the case, the government had rejected three previous applications by thegroup, despite a Supreme Court ruling annulling the first two rejections. In its ruling, the ECHR announced the country’sMinister of State and Jehovah’s Witnesses had reached an agreement to settle the dispute, and Jehovah’s Witnesseswithdrew the claim. The government agreed to register the Jehovah Witnesses Association. In fall 2022, a representativeof Jehovah’s Witnesses confirmed the association had completed the registration process and that the government hadofficially recognized it as a religious group. Prior to the settlement, the government and Jehovah’s Witnesses had bothstated the group could not open a place of worship without recognition. Jehovah’s Witnesses stated that governmentrecognition would permit the organization to establish a headquarters in the country where it could worship and welcomenew members. Representatives of Jehovah’s Witnesses also said that dozens of their members visited the country astourists each year and often asked how to access religious services.Human rights instruments: Monaco is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP;Monaco did not vote on the UDHR; Monaco is partied to the ECHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services(free); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (free); public expression and observance (free); receivingdonations (free); religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religious literature (free); religious andworship services (free); religious trade (free).Protections: No protection against discrimination on the basis of religion was affirmed in the latestrevised constitution from 2002.Conditions of state recognition and registration2024 RoRB Classification: CensoriousMongoliaFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsComplete dismantlement of the present restrictive apparatus that misuses recognition to the advantage of the government to control religious belief and practice of citizens; repeal lawsthat call for mandatory registration and at local, provincial and national levels (segmentation); remove all forms of subjective language in the legislation that is misused to restrictreligious activity.Secularity: Mongolia is officially a secular state; however, the law states that the “thedominant position of Buddhism” in the country must be respected “in order torespect and uphold the traditions of the unity and civilization of the people, however,this shall not prevent citizens from following other religions.”Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: broad mandatory registration – religious or belief organisations are mandated by law to register with local and provincial authorities as well as with the GeneralAuthority for State Registration to operate legally in Mongolia. National law provides limited detail on registration procedures and does not stipulate the duration of registration, allowinglocal and provincial authorities to set their own rules. Religious groups must renew their registrations (in most cases annually) with multiple government institutions across local,provincial, and national levels. Each individual branch (or place of worship) of a religious organisation is required to register or renew as an independent legal entity, regardless of anyaffiliation with a registered parent organisation. A religious group must provide the following documentation to the relevant local provincial or municipal representative assembly whenapplying for registration: a letter requesting registration, a letter from the lower-level local authority granting approval to conduct religious services, a brief description of the group, thegroup’s charter, documentation on the group’s founding, a list of leaders, financial information, a declaration of assets (including any real estate owned), a lease or rental agreement (ifapplicable), brief biographic information on individuals wishing to conduct religious services, and the expected number of worshippers. A religious group must provide the GeneralAuthority its approved registration application to receive a certificate for operation. The renewal process requires a religious group to obtain a reference letter from the lower-level localauthority (district/soum level) to be submitted with the required documents (updated as necessary) to the local provincial or municipal representative assembly. During the renewal process,the local provincial or municipal representatives commonly request a safety inspection of the religious organisation’s offices and places of worship and will order remediation of anydeficiencies found. Upon approval, the relevant provincial or municipal representative assembly issues a resolution granting the religious institution permission to continue operations, andthe organization sends a copy of the approved registration renewal to the General Authority, which enters the new validity dates on the religious institution’s certificate for operation. Publicand private educational institutions are entitled to state funding for their secular curricula but are prohibited from using state funding for religious curricula. The education law prohibits alleducational institutions from conducting any religious training, rituals, or activities with state-provided funding. A provincial or municipal representative assembly may deny registrationrenewals for religious groups that violate the ban on using state funding for the provision of religious instruction in educational institutions. Under the labor law, all legal entities, includingreligious institutions, must hire a stipulated number of citizens for every foreign employee hired. The government sets an annual quota in the form of a resolution, and this quota changesevery year for each labor sector listed in the resolution. Groups not specified in the annual quota list must ensure 95 percent of their employees are citizens and that additional foreignemployees are hired only if the 95 percent quota is met and maintained. The annual resolution, however, uniquely stipulates that religious groups may employ one foreign worker if theyemploy at least five citizens and must meet and maintain no less than this one-to-five hiring ratio. The law regulating the legal status of foreign nationals prohibits noncitizens fromadvertising, promoting, or practicing “inhumane” religions that could damage the national culture. The religion law includes a similar prohibition on religious institutions, both foreignand domestic, conducting “inhumane” or culturally damaging activities within the country. Foreigners seeking to conduct religious activities, including proselytizing, must obtain religiousvisas, and all foreigners are prohibited from proselytizing, promoting, or practicing any religion that violates the “national culture” and law. Only registered religious groups may sponsorforeigners for religious visas. Foreigners who enter the country on other classes of visas are not allowed to undertake activities that advertise or promote any religion (as distinct frompersonal worship or other individual religious activity, which is permitted). Under the law, “Engaging in business other than one’s purpose for coming” constitutes grounds for deportation.If a religious organisation or religious representative, such as a priest, minister, imam, monk, or shaman, is found to have engaged in proselytisation through force, pressure, or deception,or to have spread “cruel” religious ideology, penalties may include a fine of 450,000 to 5.4 million tugriks ($132 to $1,600), a travel ban of six to 12 months, and six to 12 months’imprisonment. The law does not define what constitutes a “cruel” religious ideology. The law on petty offences provides for fines of 100,000 tugriks ($30) for individuals and one milliontugriks ($290) for legal entities found to have recruited children under age 16 to convert to or adopt a religion against their will. The law provides for a fine of 100,000 tugriks ($30) forindividuals and one million tugriks ($290) for any legal entity for disclosing an individual’s religion on identity documents without that person’s consent or for interfering with the internalaffairs of a religious organization unless otherwise allowed by law. The law also provides for a fine of 150,000 tugriks ($44) for individuals and 1.5 million tugriks ($440) for legal religiousentities for conducting government or political activity or financing any such activity. The law specifies a fine of 300,000 tugriks ($90) for individuals and three million tugriks ($880) forlegal entities for organizing religious training or gatherings on public premises, including schools. The law prohibits religious groups from undertaking activities that “are inhumane ordangerous to the tradition and culture of the people of Mongolia,” although there are no stated standards or legal definitions for what constitutes such activities.122Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation in favour of registration, annual mandatory reregistration (including a recertification process and a safety inspection which could be anopportunity to misuse procedures against unfavoured groups to deregister), arbitrary enforcement, each religious building including places of worship must register with the government,excessive informational requirements are requested as part of registration procedures, localisation and provincialisation of registration procedures as well as the necessity to register at thenational level, non-recognition of any non-Buddhist religion (with the possible exception of Mongolian shamanism or Tengrism), onerous registration procedures (including therequirement to gain certification from the General Authority). Registration and renewal procedures continued to vary significantly across the country, depending largely on the differentpractices of local government officials. Some religious groups continued to state the registration and renewal process was arbitrary and that prolonged delays left them without any appealmechanism during the waiting period. Other groups stated they experienced easier renewal processes with less demands for paperwork and fewer steps. The government began drafting anupdated Law on the Relationship between the State and Religious Institutions in 2018, but discontinued efforts the same year. Since beginning work on the law in 2018, the Ulaanbaatar citycouncil stopped issuing new religious activity permits, citing National Security Council (NSC) guidance to delay the issuance of new registrations until parliament amends or passes a newlaw. There were at least 59 applications pending as of 2022, the most recent statistic provided by the government. In 2022, following the Ulaanbaatar City Council’s explanation for the lackof new religious activity permits, several religious groups filed letters of complaint with the NHRC. One of the groups reported in April that the NHRC delivered a letter to the city councilurging it to implement the existing law and resolve the issues of the complainants. The city council had not taken action at year’s end. The Ulaanbaatar city council continued to issuerenewals valid for one year for existing buildings, though sometimes with prolonged delays in processing applications. Other provincial and municipal representative assemblies issuedrenewals for either two or three years. An Ulaanbaatar city council official again said Christian groups continued to constitute the majority of applicants for renewals. Christian and otherreligious groups stated other deterrents to registration included the difficulty and expense of establishing a dedicated, regular worship site and changing government personnel. Groupscontinued to state that the requirement that each local branch of the organization separately register or renew as an independent legal entity apart from its parent organization createdadditional bureaucratic burdens. Government officials again stated that the government used the registration and renewal process to assess the activities of religious groups, monitor thenumber of places of worship and clergy, determine the ratio of foreigners to nationals conducting religious activities, and determine whether their facilities met safety requirements. Citycouncil officials said extended delays in processing and approving applications were due to incomplete documentation, including missing lease agreements, as well as the poor physicalcondition of the place of worship, such as the lack of an adequate fire exit. In such cases, officials directed the religious organization to correct the deficiencies and resubmit its application.Some Christian religious leaders said temporary unregistered status could leave their organizations vulnerable to financial audit and possible legal action. Several groups, however, reportedthey continued to operate normally, despite their renewal applications having remained pending for years. Unregistered churches lacked official documents establishing themselves as legalentities and as a result could not own or lease land, file tax returns, or formally communicate with the government. Individual members of unregistered churches typically continued to ownor lease property for church use in their personal capacity. Some unregistered religious groups said they often could still function, although some reported experiencing frequent visits bylocal tax officials, police, and representatives from other government agencies. Jehovah’s Witnesses reported that the religious activity permit renewal applications for its two legal entitiesin Ulaanbaatar – the Religious Society of the Jehovah’s Witnesses in Mongolia (RSJWM) and the Evangelisers of Good News of Holy Scriptures (EGNHS) remained pending with theUlaanbaatar City Council. The Ulaanbaatar Court of First Instance (trial court) in 2017 struck down the city council’s decision to cancel the EGNHS’s registration, wherein the city councilstated its registration posed a potential threat to national security. Although the city council had as a result of the court decision reversed its decision to annul the group’s registration, ittook no affirmative action to renew it. The group submitted their renewal application for RSJWM, well in advance of the deadline of December 2022. Religious groups continued toexperience periodic inspections, usually by officers from tax, immigration, local government, intelligence, and other agencies. In some cases, inspection visits followed routine submissionsof registration renewal applications, but the pattern varied, with some groups reporting multiple inspections and others none. According to the 2023 Jehovah Witnesses Religious FreedomReport, they received an inspection team from the city council in April, but the inspection did not include review of facilities or documentation; rather the officials “condemned the beliefsand practices of Jehovah’s Witnesses and questioned why the group did not work with other Christian groups to combine their legal entities, simplify the approval process, and reduce thenumber of religious organizations.” In May, officials informed the Jehovah Witnesses that they sent reports of their inspection related to the group’s two legal entities to the NSC. Therewere no further developments regarding any NSC review as of year’s end. According to some Christian groups, the government enforced the legal requirement for groups to retain andproduce documents of parental approval of children’s activities with comparatively greater scrutiny on them. Some foreign nationals continued to face difficulties obtaining religiousworker visas. Some religious groups noted that because the law required religious groups to hire at least five local employees for each sponsored foreign worker and the fees related toforeign workers were very costly, some groups could not afford to hire foreign religious staff. Christian groups reported foreign missionaries seeking to enter the country often did so undernonreligious visas (such as student, teacher, or business visas), which legally restricted them from conducting activities otherwise allowed under religious visas. They stated thatinconsistent interpretations of the activities in which they could legally engage left them vulnerable to deportation, although there were no known instances of this having occurred formany years. The validity of religious worker visas remained linked to a religious organisation’s registration, which some Christian religious groups said resulted in additional visaprocessing or renewal difficulties. Foreign citizens could not receive or renew a religious visa unless their religious organisation’s registration or renewal was already granted. The visavalidity period could not exceed the registration validity of the holder’s sponsoring organisation.Human rights instruments: Mongolia is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP; Mongolia did notvote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (not free; subject to registration); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free; subject to registration); pastoral services (not free;subject to registration); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (not free; subject to registration; restricted); public expression and observance (free); receivingdonations (not free; subject to registration); religious buildings (not free; subject to registration); religious instruction (not free; subject to registration); religious literature (not free;subject to registration); religious and worship services (not free; subject to registration); religious trade (not free; subject to registration).Protections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of religion wasaffirmed in the latest revised constitution from 2001.Conditions of state recognition and registration2024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveMontenegroFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsEstablish a recognition agency to manage the recognition system independent of government control in order to qualify for Dynamic classification; there aresome minor existent issues within the present recognition that also need to be resolved before Montenegro is designated Receptive; these involve the removalof membership quotas and other restriction tools imposed as identified above.Secularity: Montenegro is a secular state; the Montenegrin OrthodoxChurch is still culturally recognised as the national church; the state hasbilateral cooperation agreements with Islamic Community of Montenegro(ICM), Jewish Community of Montenegro (JCM) and the Holy See.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: pseudo-mandatory registration – although Montenegrin law does not mandate that religious or belief organisations register with thegovernment, unregistered religious or belief organisations are not legally able to rent property which is essential to religious observance and administration andin effect makes registration mandatory. According to the 2021 amended religious freedom law, any religious community that previously existed in the countryunder a prior law enacted in 1977 may register and obtain legal status as an existing religious community. Religious communities and religious groups thatregistered under the 1977 religious freedom law are entered into a registration book (Book of Enrolled Religious Communities). Religious communities that didnot exist under the 1977 law or register under the 2021 religious freedom law and are approved for registration are entered into a separate book for new religiouscommunities. Groups listed in either book have legal status, which gives them the right to own or rent property; hold bank accounts in their own name; hireemployees; receive a tax exemption for donations and sales of goods or services directly related to their religious activities; and receive judicial protection oftheir community, members, and assets. Unregistered religious groups also have the right to freely practice their faith, including to proselytise and receivedonations and are eligible to receive financial or other assistance from the state through the Ministry for Human and Minority Rights (MHMR). According to thelaw, any property disputes are settled in accordance with the existing legal code. To register, a religious group must have at least three adult members who arecitizens or have legal status in the country, and provide its name and organizing documents, the names of its officials, address of the group’s headquarters, andlocation(s) where religious services will be performed. The group must have a headquarters in the country and a name that differs from groups alreadyregistered. There are 23 religious communities registered in the Unified Register of Religious Communities. These include the Serbian Orthodox Church (theMetropolitanate of Montenegro and Littoral of the SOC; the Eparchy of Budimlje and Niksic of the SOC; the Eparchy of Zahumlje and Hercegovina of the SOC; andthe Eparchy of Mileseva of the SOC, registered as four groups); the MOC; the ICM; the Roman Catholic Church (Archdioceses of Bar and Kotor, registered as twogroups); the JCM; the Christian Adventist Church; Jehovah’s Witnesses; the Diocese of Podgorica-Duklja of the Orthodox Church of Montenegro; the Church ofChrist’s Gospel; The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Montenegro; the Evangelical Church of the Word of God; the Christian Lighthouse Center; theMosaic Christian Community; the Biblical Christian Community; the Community of the Gospel of Jesus Christ; the Baha’i Community in Montenegro, theEvangelical Church Crossroads; the Religious Community of Jews, and the Catholic Salesian Community of Podgorica, a new group registered during the year.The law allows all religious groups, including unrecognized ones, to conduct religious services and rites in churches, shrines, and other premises designated bylocal governments, but it requires approval from municipal police for such activities at any other public locations. The Justice Ministry regulates relationsbetween state agencies and religious groups and is charged with protecting the free exercise of religion and advancing interfaith cooperation and understanding.The ministry provides some funds to religious communities and oversees communication between the government and religious communities. The ministry isalso in charge of drafting new legislation defining the status and rights of religious organisations. The constitution recognizes the right of members of minoritynational communities, individually or collectively, to exercise, protect, develop, and express “religious particularities” (i.e., religious customs unique to theirminority community); to establish religious associations with the support of the state; and to establish and maintain contacts with persons and organisationsoutside the country who share the same religious beliefs.Recognition policy: the government has agreements with the ICM, JCM, SOC, and Holy See that further define the legal status of these respective groups andregulate their relationship with the state. The agreement with the Holy See recognizes Catholic canon law as the church’s legal framework and outlines thechurch’s property rights. The agreements with the ICM, JCM, and SOC have similar provisions. The agreements establish commissions between each of the threereligious communities and the government. The government has no such agreements with the MOC or the other recognised religious groups.123Key restriction tools imposed: introduction of new property laws in 2020 that could see some religious buildings constructed or acquired prior to 1918confiscated by the state if a religious community cannot prove their ownership of such buildings, membership quota of 3 adult members, nominal restriction,the government must ensure that bilateral cooperation agreements are offered to all religious groups. During the year, some members of the MOC said thegovernment and the state judiciary did not protect their rights following a schism in the Church. On September 3, MOC Metropolitan Mihailo’s deputy BorisBojovic led a public gathering to remove Mihailo from the leadership of the MOC and elect himself as leader. Mihailo immediately denounced the move as invalidunder the MOC constitution and stated publicly that he remained the MOC’s leader. The Holy Synod of MOC Bishops expelled Bishop Bojovic from the church,according to Mihailo. On 23rd October 2023, the Ministry of Justice rejected Bojovic’s complaint and request to name him as MOC Metropolitan in the stateregister of religious communities. Separately, the MOC continued to pursue numerous property disputes with the government and the SOC. MOC officials said theMOC should have access to more than 750 Orthodox shrines currently under the SOC’s control. The MOC said the government took no action during the year toresolve the dispute between the SOC and MOC over ownership of these religious sites. During the year, the ICM criticized then caretaker prime minister DritanAbazovic, stating there was a disparity in government funding provided to religious communities, specifically, the ICM received significantly less than the SOC.The ICM emphasised that, while the SOC was granted approximately €585,000 ($644,000) in 2022, the ICM only received slightly more than €10,000 ($11,000).The ICM said the unequal allocation was unfair. According to the ICM, it still had not received a response from local and state institutions to its request for adonated plot of land in Bar to build a mosque, initially requested in the 1980 ICM representatives believed that the local government was discriminating againstthe ICM because the local government had provided land for the construction of Catholic and Orthodox churches. In addition, the ICM reiterated its previousconcerns regarding the limited capacity of its cemetery in Podgorica. During the year, ICM representatives described what they said was a concerning trend ofmarginalisation of minority religious communities. ICM said members of their religious community continued to experience discrimination in the workplace inpublic institutions that limited their ability to advance professionally. Several religious groups, including the Catholic, Muslim, and SOC communities, againvoiced desire for broader and clearer tax exemption rules. SOC officials often stated that in practice religious communities did not benefit from their legal tax-free status because they generally paid value-added tax on all their purchases, and private individuals could not deduct donations they made to religiousorganizations. Recognised religious communities continued to receive separate government-provided grant funding and in-kind assistance from othergovernment ministries and from local governments. During the year, the Ministry of Justice gave a total of €228,610 ($252,000) to religious communities thesame amount as in 2022. Religious groups and public figures contended that the government favored the SOC when it allocated €220,000 ($242,000) for therestoration of a church in Niksic and then it provided €900,000 ($991,000) to establish two private SOC-affiliated religious schools in Niksic. The SOC said theMinistry of Interior approved visas for clergy newly arrived in the country but did not address existing cases of clergy denied residence permits by the previousgovernment.Human rights instruments: Montenegro is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, and the UNCRC;Montenegro was absent during voting on the UNDRIP; Montenegro did not vote on the UDHR;Montenegro is partied to the ECHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (not free; subject to registration); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free; subject to registration);pastoral services (not free; subject to registration); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (free); public expression and observance (free);receiving donations (not free; subject to registration); religious buildings (not free; subject to registration); religious instruction (not free; subject toregistration); religious literature (not free; subject to registration); religious and worship services (not free; subject to registration); religious trade (not free;subject to registration).Protections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of religionwas affirmed in the latest revised constitution from 2013.Conditions of state recognition and registration2024 RoRB Classification: CensoriousMorocco,Kingdom ofFoRB Claim: Partial claim is constrained by its compliance withsharia law.RecommendationsEstablish procedures for legal registration of religious entities that are separate from secular ones; establish provisions for existential recognition for all beliefsystems and their derivatives; repeal any laws that restricts basic religious activities and curb misuses of the registration system that seek the same goal.Secularity: Islam is the state religion; Sunni Muslims and Jews are the onlyreligious communities recognised in the constitution as communities nativeto the country; theism is affirmed in the national motto.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: pseudo-mandatory registration – although Moroccan states that religious or belief organisations do not need to register with the government tooperate legally, unregistered religious or belief organisations may not rent premises for religious purposes such as worship services. Legal provisions outlined in thegeneral tax code provide tax benefits, land and building grants, subsidies, and customs exemptions for imports necessary for the religious activities of recognizedreligious groups (Sunni Muslims and Jews) and religious groups registered as associations (some foreign-resident Christian churches). The law does not requirereligious groups to register to worship privately, but a non-recognised religious group must register as an association to conduct business on behalf of the group(e.g., open and hold bank accounts, acquire land and building grants, and have access to customs exemptions for imports necessary for religious activities) or to holdpublic gatherings. Associations must register with local Ministry of Interior (MOI) officials in the jurisdiction of the association’s headquarters. An individualrepresentative of a religious group neither recognized nor registered as an association may be held liable for any of the group’s public gatherings, transactions, bankaccounts, property rentals, or petitions to the government. The registration application must contain the name and purpose of the association; the name, nationality,age, profession, and residential address of each founder; and the address of the association’s headquarters. The constitution provides civil society associations andnongovernmental organizations (NGOs) the right to organize themselves and exercise their activities freely within the scope of the constitution. The law onassociations prohibits organizations that pursue activities the government regards as “illegal, contrary to good morals, or aimed at undermining the Islamic religion,the integrity of the national territory, or the monarchical regime, or which call for discrimination.” Many foreign-resident Christian churches (churches run by andattended by foreign residents only) are registered as associations. The Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox, Greek Orthodox, Protestant, and Anglican churchesmaintain different forms of official status. The Russian Orthodox and Anglican Churches are registered as branches of international associations through theembassies of Russia and the United Kingdom, respectively. Protestant and Catholic churches, whose existence as foreign-resident churches predates the country’sindependence in 1956, as well as the Russian and Greek Orthodox Churches, maintain a special status recognized by the government, which allows them to preservehouses of worship and assign foreign clergy. The Prison Administration authorised religious observances and services provided by religious leaders for all prisoners,including religious minorities. It also respected the religious dietary requirements for religious minorities. The government continued to allow the operation of 44registered, foreign-resident Christian churches, the same number as in previous years. Some foreign pastors reported Christian citizens generally did not attend theirservices out of fear of incurring government harassment. Foreign residents and visitors attended religious services without restriction at those churches.Recognition policy: Sunni Muslims and Jews are the only religious groups recognized in the constitution as native to the country. A separate set of laws and specialcourts govern personal status matters for Jews, including functions such as marriage, inheritance, and other personal status matters. Rabbinical authorities, who arealso court officials, administer Jewish family courts. Muslim judges trained in the country’s Maliki Sunni interpretation of sharia administer the courts for personalstatus matters for all other religious groups. According to the law, a Muslim man may marry a Muslim, Christian, or Jewish woman; a Muslim woman may not marrya man of another religion unless he converts to Islam. Non-Muslims must formally convert to Islam and be permanent residents before they can become guardians ofabandoned or orphaned children. Guardianship entails the caretaking of a child, which may last until the child reaches 18, but it does not allow changing the child’sname or inheritance rights and requires maintaining the child’s birth religion, according to orphanage directors. The law does not allow Moroccan Christians to beburied in Christian cemeteries or to hold Christian names.124Key restriction tools imposed: broad stipulations could allow the government to prohibit religious groups it simply does not favour, excessive informationalrequirements (biographical information requested of founders), individual liability for the actions of the whole religious group to which they belong, localisation ofregistration procedures, state definition of religion (as seen in state certification of imams), vertical recognition is in effect (Islam receives the highest recognition asthe state religion while Judaism receives a lesser degree of recognition perhaps pseudo-recognition from the state; some Protestant churches, the Catholic Church aswell as Russian and Greek Orthodox Churches maintain special recognised status; Sunni Muslims and Jews are the only religious communities recognised by thestate). The law penalises anyone who “employs enticements to undermine the faith” or converts a Muslim to another faith by exploiting a weakness or need forassistance, or through the use of educational, health, or other institutions; it provides punishments of six months to three years’ imprisonment and a fine of 200 to500 dirhams ($20 to $50). The High Authority for Audiovisual Communications established by the constitution requires all eight public television stations to dedicate5 percent of their airtime to Islamic religious content and to broadcast the Islamic call to prayer five times daily. Authorities continued to deny Christianorganizations that are composed of Moroccan citizens the right to Christian or civil marriage and funeral services or the right to establish new churches. Thegovernment denied official recognition to NGOs that it considered to be advocating against Islam as the state religion. The Justice and Charity Organization (JCO), aSunni social movement that rejects the King’s spiritual authority, remained banned but was still active. The government continued to monitor the JCO’s activities,and it remained the largest social movement of its kind in the country, despite being unregistered. The JCO continued to release press statements on topics such aspolitical events in the country; publish its monthly magazine Al Adlwal Ihsan that covered various religious and political topics, among other things; holdconferences; manage internet sites, and participate in peaceful political demonstrations, including those related to events in the Gaza Strip. Several religious groupsreported occasionally informing authorities of planned large gatherings, for which authorities at times assisted with security measures. According to religious leadersand legal scholars, the government’s refusal to allow Shia Muslim groups to register as associations continued to prevent the groups from gathering legally for publicreligious observations. There were no known Shia mosques or husseiniyas (Shia prayer halls) in the country. According to Shia community members, they were ableto pray in Sunni mosques, but they risked criticism from other worshippers for their religious practices. The Christian NGO Open Doors stated in its 2023 CountryDossier Report that the penal code, which criminalizes “shaking the faith” of a Muslim, put many Christians who talked to others about their faith at risk of criminalprosecution and arrest. The NGO also stated, “While all Christians from an Islamic background can, in practice, be denied their rights to inheritance or familyaffiliation, this is a particular risk for women. They [Christian women] are also more vulnerable to arbitrary divorce and the denial of access to their children.” TheNGO stated the personal status law follows the country’s Maliki-Ashari Sunni interpretation of sharia. A 2017 ban on the import, production, and sale of the burqaremained in effect. The MOI publicly cited security concerns as justification for the ban, as the garment could conceal the identity of the wearer. While the burqa is notwidespread in Morocco, a small segment of the population viewed it as important. The ban did not prevent individuals from wearing burqas or making them at homefor individual use. Authorities prohibited news anchors on national television and police and army personnel in uniform from wearing a hijab or burqa. Thegovernment continued to restrict the distribution of non-Islamic religious materials as well as some Islamic materials it deemed inconsistent with the Maliki schoolof Sunni Islam. Despite restrictions on the distribution of non-Islamic religious materials, the government permitted the display and sale of Bibles in French,English, and Spanish. A limited number of Arabic translations of the Bible were available for sale in a few bookshops for use in higher education courses.Human rights instruments: Morocco is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC; Morocco was absentduring voting on the UNDRIP; Morocco did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (not free; restricted); hieroncy (not free; restricted); monasticism (not free; subject to registration); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free; subjectto registration); pastoral services (not free; subject to registration); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (not free; restricted); public expressionand observance (free); receiving donations (not free; subject to registration); religious buildings (not free; subject to registration); religious instruction (not free;subject to registration); religious literature (not free; subject to registration); religious and worship services (not free; subject to registration); religious trade (notfree; subject to registration).Protections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of beliefs was affirmed in the latestconstitution from 2011 but religion is not specifically mentioned in the non-discrimination clause.Conditions of state recognition and registration2024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveMozambique,Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsEstablish a new recognition system whose procedures are exclusive to religious entities and whichprovides for both existential recognition and legal registration for all belief systems and their derivativesand at multiple levels of activity; revoke excessive informational requirements and the mandatoryregistration order.Secularity: Mozambique is a secular state.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory and malregistration.Registration policy: broad mandatory registration – Mozambican law mandates that all religious or belieforganisations register with the Ministry of Justice, Constitutional, and Religious Affairs (MJACR). Underthe law, religious organizations are charities or humanitarian organisations, while religious groups refer toparticular denominations. Religious groups register at the denominational level or congregational level ifthey are unaffiliated. Religious groups and organisations register by submitting an application, providingidentity documents of their local leaders, and presenting documentation of declared ties to anyinternational religious group or organisation. There are no penalties for failure to register; however,religious groups and organisations must show evidence of registration to open bank accounts, file forexemption of customs duties for imported goods, or submit visa applications for visiting foreign members.The law on money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism requires NGOs, including religiousgroups, to publish annual financial accounts of their income and expenditures and to keep eight years offinancial records.Malregistration – Islamist insurgents aiming to establish an Islamic state in the northern Cabo DelgadoProvince continued to launch violent attacks throughout the year and make it so that the centralgovernment cannot guarantee protection for communities affiliated with a registered organisation in thisprovince.Recognition policy: an accord between the national government and the Holy See governs the CatholicChurch’s rights and responsibilities in the country. The agreement recognizes the Catholic Church as alegal personality and recognizes the church’s exclusive right “to regulate ecclesiastical life and tonominate people for ecclesiastical posts.” The agreement requires Catholic Church representatives toregister with the government to benefit from the church’s status. The accord also gives the Catholic Churchthe exclusive right to create, modify, or eliminate ecclesiastical boundaries; however, it stipulates thatecclesiastical territories must report to a church authority in the country.125Key restriction tools imposed: excessive informational requirements, the government must ensure that allreligious groups have access to bilateral cooperation agreements.Human rights instruments: Mozambique is partied to the ICCPR, the UNCRC, and theUNDRIP; Mozambique is not partied to the ICESCR; Mozambique did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (not free; possibly subject to registration); monasticism (not free; subject toregistration); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free; subject to registration); pastoral services (notfree; subject to registration); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (free); publicexpression and observance (free); receiving donations (not free; subject to registration); religiousbuildings (not free; subject to registration); religious instruction (not free; subject to registration);religious literature (not free; subject to registration); religious and worship services (not free; subject toregistration); religious trade (not free; subject to registration).Protections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of religion was affirmed inthe latest revised constitution from 2007.Conditions of state recognition and registrationMyanmar,Republic of theUnion ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsComplete dismantlement of the present order that systemically controls religion and belief and uses brutal force to maintain this control including the discontinuation of thegenocide against the Rohingya people; establish a new recognition system that is inclusive of all belief systems and their derivatives, has provisions for both existential recognitionand legal registration, and is able to conduct such recognition and registration at multiple levels of operation; revoke and repeal current laws that terminally restrict religiousactivity and procedures for recognition.Secularity: Buddhism is the unofficial state religion and its “special position” was recognised in the latestconstitution from 2008 as “the faith professed by the great majority of the citizens of the Union”;Christianity, Hinduism, Islam and Animism received recognition “as the religions existing in the Union”in the 2008 constitution; the same constitution also stated that “the Union may assist and protect thereligion it recognises to its utmost.”Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory and malregistration.Registration policy: broad mandatory registration – all religious or belief organisations are required by Burmese law to register to operate legally in the country. Beyond the need forregistration to conduct religious activities legally, registration also confers the right upon organisations to gain title to land and obtain construction permits. Registration involvessubmitting detailed information about the organisation’s activities, finances, and members, as well as other requirements. To act as an organisation without complying with the legalrequirement to register may result in a prison term of up to five years or a fine of more than 5 million kyat ($1,500) or both. There are 1,484 monastic or Dhamma schools, run bymonasteries and nunneries in all states and regions of the country, serving approximately 285,000 students, or 4 percent of the total school-aged population during the year. Those thatare officially registered use the official state primary and middle school curricula but also teach Buddhist culture and ways of life as part of their standard curricula. The country’s race andreligion protection laws remain in effect. One law bans polygamy, making it a criminal offense to have more than one spouse. A marriage law specifically for Buddhist women stipulatesnotification and registration requirements for marriages between non-Buddhist men and Buddhist women, obligations that non-Buddhist husbands must observe, as well as penalties fornon-compliance. A religious conversion law regulates conversion through an extensive application and approval process through a township-level Religious Board for ReligiousConversion. The law, however, is rarely applied, and many townships do not have conversion boards. The law states applicants must be older than 18 and must undergo a waiting period ofup to 180 days; if the applicant still wishes to convert, the board issues a certificate of religious conversion. A population control law allows authorities to designate special zones wherethey may apply population control measures, including authorising local authorities to implement three-year birth spacing. To register a Buddhist marriage, a couple must appear in courtwith their respective national identity cards (which identifies their religion as Buddhist) and attest they are married. Buddhist marriages may be registered at any court with relevantjurisdiction. Christian marriages are regulated under a Christian marriage act dating from 1872 and, to be recognized, must be officiated by a Christian religious figure registered with theSupreme Court. There are only a handful of Christian ministers or priests officially registered in the country. The officiating church must submit details of a marriage from its registry tothe Supreme Court within three months of the marriage ceremony.Malregistration – the ongoing civil war in Myanmar involving various militias means that registration laws protecting religious groups cannot be guaranteed throughout the wholeterritory that the central government claims.Recognition policy: the law bans any organization of Buddhist monks other than the nine state-recognized monastic orders. Violations of this ban are punishable by immediate publicdefrocking and criminal penalties. The nine recognised orders submit to the authority of the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee (SSMNC or Ma Ha Na), a government-financed andcurrently military-controlled body that oversees Buddhist affairs across the country. The government appoints the Ma Ha Na’s 47 members. The law bars members of any religious order,including monks, pastors, priests, and imams, from running for public office, and the constitution bars members of religious orders from voting. The government restricts by law thepolitical activities and expression of the Buddhist clergy (sangha). The constitution forbids “the abuse of religion for political purposes.” The Election Law states that a candidate’s parentsmust be citizens at the time of the candidate’s birth; authorities have denied citizenship to most Rohingya, thus precluding most Muslim-majority Rohingya from running for office andachieving political representation the country. The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture’s Department for the Perpetuation and Propagation of the Sasana (Buddhist teaching) overseesthe government’s relations with Buddhist monks and schools. Religious education is not included in public schools, although Buddhist-majority state schools often start the school daywith a Buddhist prayer.126Key restriction tools imposed: state-sanctioned monasticism, unstructured registration procedures, vertical recognition is in effect (although Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and animismreceive recognition in the Constitution, they do not receive the same degree of recognition or state privilege as that of Buddhism), national identity cards display a person's religion.According to RFA, on March 18, regime police, citing a “failure to submit guest registration,” reportedly detained 15 Muslims, including two clerics, during an award ceremony at a madrassain Chauk Township, Magway Region. Reportedly, the two clerics were subsequently released, while the whereabouts of the other 13 individuals was unclear at year’s end. The regimecontinued to restrict the right to freedom of association, including by religious groups. After the coup, the regime required banks to report on all foreign funds received by both local andinternational NGOs. According to various religious groups and NGOs, the process to register an NGO remained lengthy and was often unsuccessful. According to CHRO, the military regimehad not issued any permits to Christian groups to register or own land and properties. All such registration applications remained pending at year’s end, with some pending for more than 17years. According to representatives of some civil society groups, NGOs refrained from registering because doing so would require providing extensive information on staff to the regime,which they preferred not to do out of fear the regime would target the individuals for detention. A 2022 law imposed criminal penalties for organizations that failed to register of up to fiveyears in prison. One NGO leader said the 2022 law left civil society organizations in a dilemma, hesitant to register because they considered the regime illegitimate, but concerned they couldnot continue operating without registering. In May, the UN Human Rights Office and the ICJ published a joint report on the registration law stating it was “incompatible with internationalhuman rights standards” and that it had a “negative impact on the exercise of fundamental rights and freedoms.” According to the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law, theregistration law, which regulates both domestic and international NGOs, restricted freedom of association by mandating registration, enforcing criminal penalties, and severely restrictinglegitimate civil society activities. The regime’s General Administration Department continued to take legal action against Rohingya traveling internally without documentation, a reversal ofa 2020 order that had relaxed rules for internal Rohingya travel. In Rakhine State, according to the United Nations and media reports, the movement of members of various ethnic andreligious groups, particularly Rohingya remained restricted by the regime during the year. Depending on the township, restrictions usually included a requirement that travellers submit animmigration form to local authorities. A traveler could obtain this form only from the township of origin’s immigration and national registration department and only if that personprovided an original copy of a family list, temporary registration card, and letters from two guarantors. The form typically authorised travel for two to four weeks but was issued almostexclusively for medical emergencies, according to human rights activists. Sources stated that obtaining travel permits often involved extortion and bribes. Muslims throughout the countrystill faced restrictions on travel into, out of, and within Rakhine State and reportedly feared authorities would not allow them to leave Rakhine State if they were to travel there. The regimehalted the previous call under the civilian government for Rohingya to participate in the citizenship verification process and to apply for National Verification Cards (NVCs). NGOs reportedthat under the civilian government, authorities coerced or pressured Rohingya to apply for NVCs, which effectively identified Rohingya as “foreigners.” Originally scheduled to run from May2021 to November 2022, the NVC project was still underway as of the end of the year. NGO reports contained no mention of authorities issuing household registration lists to Rohingya orunofficial minorities through the program.Human rights instruments: Myanmar is partied to the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP; Myanmar isnot partied to the ICCPR; Myanmar voted in favour of the UDHR as Burma.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (not free; restricted); monasticism (not free; only nine Buddhist monastic orders are considered legal); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free;subject to registration); pastoral services (not free; subject to registration); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (not free; restricted); public expression andobservance (not free; restricted); receiving donations (not free; subject to registration); religious buildings (not free; subject to registration); religious instruction (not free;restricted); religious literature (not free; subject to registration); religious and worship services (not free; subject to registration); religious trade (not free; subject toregistration).2024 RoRB Classification: TerminalProtections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of religion was affirmed in the latestrevised constitution from 2008.Conditions of state recognition and registration2024 RoRB Classification: ReceptiveNamibia,Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsEstablish distinct provisions for existential recognition which would establish a recognition system; the degree to which such a system isinclusive of “traditional religions” and NRMs will determine the country’s classification as either Receptive or Dynamic; establish a recognitionagency to manage this recognition system that acts and makes decisions independent of government.Secularity: Namibia is a secular state; theism is affirmed in theoath of allegiance and in the presidential and ministerial oaths.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: stipulatory registration – Namibian law does not mandate that religious or belief organisations register with thegovernment in order to operate legally. The law allows recognition of any religious group under the secular designation ‘voluntary association.’Religious groups may also register as ‘nonprofit organizations’ (an “association without gain”) with the Ministry of Industrialisation and Trade.Religious groups registered as nonprofit organizations or formed as voluntary associations are exempt from paying taxes. If a religious groupregisters as a welfare organization, it may seek to purchase communal land, sometimes at reduced rates, subject to the discretion of traditionalauthorities and community land councils responsible for the allocation of communal land. Since September 2023, the government’s FinancialIntelligence Center (FIC) requires any nonprofit organization operating in the country to comply with new registration requirements intended tostrengthen the country’s existing laws and regulations against money laundering and terrorism finance. The new regulations requireadministrators of religious and other civil society groups to disclose the personal financial details of their founders, beneficial owners(individuals with greater than 20 percent ownership or controlling interest in an enterprise), board members, and donors of any funds exceeding5,000 Namibian dollars ($270). The regulations further require details on the organizations’ “control structure, governance, management,administration, and operations,” as well as the submission of annual financial statements to the FIC for auditing purposes. Potential penaltiesfor noncompliance include 10-30 years imprisonment and fines of 10 million to 100 million Namibian dollars ($543,000 to $5.4 million). Therequirements and penalties are the same for religious and nonreligious organizations. A still active preindependence proclamation with legaleffect on witchcraft suppression (WSP) sets punishments for anyone convicted of accusing someone of being a wizard or a witch; accusingsomeone of using “non-natural means in causing any disease in any person or property, or in causing injury to any person or property;”compelling someone else to accuse an individual of being a witch; or claiming themselves to practice witchcraft. These punishments includeimprisonment with or without hard labor for up to five years, a fine, or both. Like other foreigners seeking to work in the country, religiousworkers must obtain a work visa. There is no separate religious worker visa.127Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, ambiguous laws regarding registration laws. In February, Namibia Police (NAMPOL) shut downwhat they characterised as “fake churches” based on allegations that the churches were promoting civil unrest, inciting violence, engaging inunsafe health practices, and committing fraud. On February 28, the Namibian Christian Freedom Fighters (NCFF), a Christian activist group,staged a demonstration to protest what it said was unfair treatment by police and the unconstitutional closure of churches. According to localmedia, the president of the NCFF said authorities were "just looking for reasons to incriminate and close down churches". The NCFF petitionedthe government about the church closures, stating that authorities were wrongly imposing an anti-witchcraft law from 1933 to limit religiousrights and eliminate smaller independent religious groups in the country. Following the issuance of the new FIC registration requirements fornonprofit organizations, representatives of civil society groups and the media stated the new requirements were an attempt to suppress andintimidate nonprofit organizations, including churches. The leader of a large faith-based organization said some smaller member churches hadonly one or two employees and found the reporting requirements too burdensome, adding that some did not have access to computers to file theapplications, some were unaware of the need to comply, and some had their bank accounts frozen as a result of failure to comply. Thegovernment issued the requirements following the 2021 release of a government publication regarding the risks of noncompliance withinternational standards against money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing. The publication stated that some churches inthe country were implicated in financial crimes. The new registration requirements sought to mitigate those risks, according to governmentofficials, in light of the arrests of multiple church leaders implicated in international financial or trafficking crimes. One local religious officialsaid that some churches’ involvement in financial or trafficking crimes was a known problem in the community. Religious leaders continued tostate they occasionally faced problems with the government regarding visas, but they viewed this as caused by general visa difficulties forforeign workers, rather than by specific opposition to foreign religious workers. In July 2023, media reported that Chief Inspector of NAMPOLChristina van Dunem DaFonsech met with traditional healers, Pentecostal church leaders, and village headmen in Outapi in the Omusati region.At the meeting, she said some traditional healers and charismatic church pastors were “enriching themselves by taking advantage of vulnerablemembers of society by crafting witchcraft accusations” against others. Reminding her audience that the WSP was still in effect, DaFonsech urgedhealers and church leaders to stop accusing others of witchcraft; she said 27 persons across the country had committed suicide in 2022 afterbeing accused of witchcraft. She also said church leaders and traditional healers should stop abusing their congregations by having sexualrelations with some members and telling members not to take modern medicine for illnesses. Some of the churches closed by the previousinspector general of NAMPOL in 2022 reopened, and there were no similar church closures by the government during the year. The inspectorgeneral had directed officers to charge some pastors with the practice of witchcraft under the WSP in order to shut down what police officialsdeemed to be “fake churches.” Closure of these churches in 2022 had been triggered by allegations from local communities, NGOs, and localgovernment institutions that some were promoting civil unrest, inciting violence, engaging in unsafe health practices, and committing fraud.Human rights instruments: Namibia is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC,and the UNDRIP; Namibia did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free); private expression andobservance (free); proselytism (free); public expression and observance (free); receiving donations (free); religious buildings (free); religiousinstruction (free); religious literature (free); religious and worship services (free); religious trade (free).Protections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of religion wasaffirmed in the latest revised constitution from 2014.Conditions of state recognition and registration2024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveNauru,Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsEstablish structured provisions for existential recognition distinct from legal registration; establish arecognition agency that is independent of government to manage the recognition system; revoke themembership quota and nationality quota imposed.Secularity: Nauru is a secular state; theism was affirmed in the latest constitutionfrom 1968.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: quasi-mandatory registration – by law, all religious or belief organisations mustregister with the government to operate legally on Nauru however in practice religious groups stated theycould host meetings and worship services without registration. Completing registration legally allowsreligious or belief organisations to proselytise, build places of worship, hold religious services, and for theirclergy to officiate at marriages. A cabinet memorandum sets out requirements for registration of newreligious groups, including having at least 750 enrolled members, land, a building in the country, andleadership by a Nauruan member of the clergy who must reside in the country. The Catholic Church, NauruCongregational Church, Assemblies of God, Nauru Independent Church, and Seventh-day Adventist Churchare officially registered.128Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, membership quota, nationality quota. Although the lawrequires registration for religious groups to conduct a full range of activities, local religious leaders statedthe government continued to require such recognition only if a denomination’s clergy wished to officiate atmarriages. Religious groups stated they could conduct most normal functions, including services andmeetings, without registration. There were no reports the government discriminated in the registrationprocess, although the requirements make it nearly impossible for any new group to register. Thegovernment requires that each registrant must have a membership of 750 individuals and own a buildingand land. The head religious leader must be a Nauruan citizen and reside in the country. Although thegovernment again failed to register the Church of Jesus Christ during the year, Church representativesstated it had made progress towards registration and remained optimistic it could ultimately obtain someform of official recognition.Human rights instruments: Nauru is partied to the UNCRC; Nauru signed the ICCPR buthas not ratified it; Nauru is not partied to the ICESCR; Nauru was absent during votingon the UNDRIP; Nauru did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (not free; subject to registration); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatoryand burial rites (not free; subject to registration); pastoral services (free); private expression andobservance (free); proselytism (not free; subject to registration); public expression and observance(free); receiving donations (free); religious buildings (free; renting property is not subject toregistration but building places of worship is); religious instruction (free); religious literature (free);religious and worship services (not free; subject to registration); religious trade (free).Protections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of “creed” wasaffirmed in the latest revised constitution from 1968.Conditions of state recognition and registrationNepal, Federal DemocraticRepublic ofRecommendationsEstablish a recognition system that possesses within its capacities means to existentially recognise and legally register all religious entities simultaneouslyand a different levels of operation and activity; to become Receptive, this system would need to be inclusive of all belief systems and would need to treat allapplicants and entities equally regardless of their affiliations; repeal laws restricting proselytism and any policies of reregistration.1292024 RoRB Classification: CensoriousFoRB Claim: Partial claim is made that excludes the right to proselytise.Secularity: Nepal is a secular state (Hinduism was disestablished in 2015).Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory and non-registration.Registration policy: exclusionary mandatory registration – Nepalese law does not set out a legal registration procedure for religious orbelief organisations as belief-based entities except for Buddhist monasteries yet registration as a secular entity is still mandatory forreligious or belief organisations to operate legally in the country. It is not mandatory for Buddhist monasteries to register with thegovernment, although doing so is a prerequisite for receiving government funding for maintenance of facilities, skills training for monks,and study tours. A monastery development committee under the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation oversees the registrationprocess. Registration requirements include providing a recommendation from a local government body, information on the members ofthe monastery’s management committee, a land ownership certificate, and photographs of the premises. Except for Buddhistmonasteries, all religious groups must register as NGOs or nonprofit organizations to own land or other property, operate legally asinstitutions, or gain eligibility for public service-related government grants and partnerships. This includes preparing a constitution andfurnishing information on the organisation’s objectives as well as details on its executive committee members. To renew the registration,which must be completed annually, organisations must submit annual financial audits and activity progress reports. The constitutionestablishes the government’s authority to “make laws to operate and protect a religious place or religious trust and to manage trustproperty and regulate land management.” According to the Center for Education and Human Resource Development, which is under theMinistry of Education, Science, and Technology, the number of registered gumbas (Buddhist centers of learning) increased to 92 from 61in 2022. There were 110 registered gurukhuls (Hindu centers of learning), compared with 79 in 2022. According to the Center forEducation and Human Resource Development, 1,063 madrassahs were registered with district education offices, compared with 1,014 in2022. Some Muslim leaders stated approximately 2,000 full-time madrassahs continued to be unregistered. According to religiousleaders, many madrassahs, as well as full-time Buddhist and Hindu schools, continued to operate as unregistered entities because schooloperators hoped to avoid government audits and having to use the Center for Education and Human Resource Development’s establishedcurriculum. They said some schools also wished to avoid the registration process, which they characterized as cumbersome.Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, annual reregistration, excessive informational requirements, exclusionary registration,non-recognition of any religions except Buddhism and Hinduism. The criminal code sets five years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to50,000 Nepali rupees ($380) as the punishment for converting, or encouraging the conversion of, another person via coercion orinducement (which officials commonly refer to as “forced conversion”) or for engaging in any act, including the propagating of religion,that undermines the religion, faith, or belief of any caste or ethnic group. Foreign nationals convicted of these crimes may be deported.The criminal code also imposes punishments of up to two years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to 20,000 rupees ($150) for “harming thereligious sentiment” of any caste, ethnic community, or class, either in speech or in writing. On October 6, the Supreme Court upheld the2021 decision of the Jumla High Court to imprison and fine Christian preacher Keshav Raj Acharya for proselytizing. He was sentenced toone-year imprisonment, fined Rs. 10,000 ($75) and released on bail in July 2022. As of year’s end, he had not served his prison sentence.Penalties for proselytising are up to five years in prison and a fine of up to 50,000 rupees, if the proselytizing is deemed “forcedconversion.” As in prior years, human rights and minority religious groups continued to express concern that the constitution andcriminal code’s ban on conversions could make religious minorities subject to legal prosecution for actions carried out in the normalcourse of their religious practices, and vulnerable to prosecution for preaching, public displays of faith, and distribution of religiousmaterials, in contravention of constitutional assurances of freedom of speech and expression. Religious leaders stated the requirementfor Christian NGOs to register annually with local government authorities placed their organizations at political risk. Civil societyorganizations reported religiously affiliated organizations, including several with long histories of work in the country, had difficultyrenewing their registrations. During the year, multiple religiously affiliated organizations reported lengthy delays, onerous requests forchanges beyond those necessary to meet the requirements of the law, and lack of transparency when renewing or registering theirorganizations. Some of these organizations said they were reluctant to provide more specific examples due to fear of governmentreaction. Protestant churches continued to cite difficulties gaining access to land they had bought several years prior for burials in theKathmandu Valley under the names of individual church members. According to the churches, local communities continued to opposeburial by groups perceived to be outsiders but were more open to burials conducted by Christian members of their own communities.Many foreign Christian organizations had direct ties to local churches and continued to sponsor clergy for religious training abroad.Human rights instruments: Nepal is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and theUNDRIP; Nepal did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (not free; illegal); hieroncy (not free; restricted); monasticism (not free; subject to registration); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (notfree; subject to registration); pastoral services (not free; subject to registration); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (not free;illegal since 2017); public expression and observance (free); receiving donations (not free; subject to registration); religious buildings (free; rentingproperty is not subject to registration but building places of worship is); religious instruction (not free; subject to registration); religious literature (notfree; subject to registration); religious and worship services (not free; subject to registration); religious trade (not free; subject to registration).Protections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of religion was affirmed inthe latest constitution from 2015.Conditions of state recognition and registration2024 RoRB Classification: ReceptiveNetherlands,Kingdom of theFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsTo become Dynamic, establish a recognition agency that manages the established recognitionsystem and acts and makes decisions independent of the government.Secularity: The Netherlands is a secular state (the Dutch ReformedChurch was disestablished in 1795).Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: stipulatory registration – Dutch law does not require any religious or belieforganisation to register with the government beforehand to operate legally in the country.Under the law, if the tax authorities determine a group is “of a philosophical or religiousnature,” contributes to the general welfare of society, and is nonprofit and nonviolent, theygrant it exemptions from all taxes, including income, value-added, and property taxes.130Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, ambiguous qualifications for tax-exempt status.The government continued to require imams and other spiritual leaders hired from abroad,including from EU countries, to complete a course on integrating into Dutch society beforepreaching in the country. The government continued to sponsor leadership courses intended tofacilitate imam training in Dutch; since 2002, Turkish imams are also required to complete a civicintegration course. A representative of a prominent Muslim civil society organization stated,however, that two earlier government-sponsored imam training sessions were canceled due tolack of participants, which reflected suspicion from the community towards the governmentefforts. The individual stated that a new attempt would begin in 2024.Human rights instruments: the Netherlands is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, andthe UNDRIP; the Netherlands voted in favour of the UDHR; the Netherlands is partied to the ECHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites(free); pastoral services (free); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (free);public expression and observance (free); receiving donations (free); religious buildings (free);religious instruction (free); religious literature (free); religious and worship services (free);religious trade (free).Protections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of religion was affirmed inthe latest revised constitution from 2008.Conditions of state recognition and registration2024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveNew ZealandFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsRevoke the issue of pseudo-mandatory registration; to become Receptive, establish a recognitionsystem that has the capacity to bestow existential recognition and legal registration simultaneously forall belief systems and their derivatives and at different levels of activity and operation; to becomeDynamic, establish a recognition agency that manages the established recognition system and acts andmakes decisions independent of the government.Secularity: New Zealand is a secular state; theism isaffirmed in the Governor-General oath.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: pseudo-mandatory registration – although there is no law that explicitly mandatesthat religious or belief organisations must register with the government to operate legally, registration isrequired by law for religious or belief organisations to legally collect money for any charitable purpose,including the advancement of its religion, which in effect makes registration mandatory. Registration ishandled by the Department of Internal Affairs, religious or belief organisations are given the seculardesignation ‘charitable trust’ and completing registration also confers tax benefits. The registrationapplication must include the trust document, bylaws of the organization showing it is a charitableorganization, and a list of officers who state they are free from any conflict of interest and that they will notput their own interests above the organization. There is no fee for registration.131Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation.Human rights instruments: New Zealand is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, and theUNCRC; New Zealand rejected the UNDRIP; New Zealand voted in favour of the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free);pastoral services (free); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (free); publicexpression and observance (free); receiving donations (not free; subject to registration); religiousbuildings (free); religious instruction (free); religious literature (free); religious and worship services(free); religious trade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of religion wasaffirmed in the Human Rights Act of 1993 in the absence of a written constitution.2024 RoRB Classification: TerminalNicaragua,Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsTo become Receptive, establish a recognition system that has the capacity to bestow existential recognition and legal registrationsimultaneously for all belief systems and their derivatives and at different levels of activity and operation; remove all instances ofpoliticisation in the registration system.Secularity: Nicaragua is officially a secular state (the Roman Catholic Church wasdisestablished in 1939); however, the latest revised constitution from 2014 states thatgovernment-controlled, community-level action groups are entrusted with promoting“Christian values”  at the local level;  the Roman Catholic Church has a concordat with thegovernment that exempts it from having to register like all other religions; theism wasaffirmed in the same constitution from 2014.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: broad mandatory registration – all religious or belief organisations must register with the government beforehand inorder to operate legally in Nicaragua. The requirements for registration of religious groups – except for the Catholic Church, which has anagreement known as a concordat with the government – resemble those for nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). According to the lawthat regulates NGOs, registration requires an application, articles of association, and designation of officers. The National Assembly mustapprove a group’s application for “constitution,” or legal standing. Following approval, the group must go through a second approvalprocess with the Ministry of Interior before it can register as an association or NGO, allowing it to incur legal obligations, enter intocontracts, and benefit from tax and customs exemptions. Following registration, religious groups are subject to the same regulations asother NGOs or associations. The Catholic Church does not have to register as a religious group because its presence in the country predatesthe legislation; however, the government requires organizations dedicated to charity or other social work affiliated with the CatholicChurch to register. By law, organizations and persons receiving resources of foreign origin cannot participate in domestic politics. Thegovernment can fine, imprison, or confiscate or freeze the assets of any person or entity in violation of this law. The law exemptsregistered religious organizations from the requirement to register as foreign agents with the Ministry of Interior. By law, those receivingexemptions cannot participate in or support activities related to the country’s internal or foreign affairs. Missionaries must obtainreligious worker visas and provide information concerning the nature of their missionary work before the Ministry of Interior authorisestheir entry into the country. Locally based religious organizations must provide documentation and request travel authorisation from theMinistry of Interior prior to the arrival of visiting persons or religious groups. Missionaries must complete the process before arrival, andit generally takes several weeks to do so. The law regulating telecommunication services provides for imposing fines, not seizingproperty, to sanction media outlets, including ones affiliated with religious organizations, that do not meet administrative requirements.Recognition policy: the Roman Catholic Church has a concordat with the government that deals with its presence in the country.132Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, annual reregistration, the government escalated its restrictions on Catholic worship servicesand arresting Catholic clergy, new legislation on residence permits increase restrictions, the state's closure of a Protestant televisionchannel. According to a 2023 report entitled Nicaragua: A Persecuted Church? (2018-2022, government-directed actions targetingevangelicals included attacks on more than 50 evangelical churches, the closure of evangelical NGOs, siege and repression of evangelicalpastors or their families, confiscations of buildings, impediments to carrying out activities, and the exile of more than 20 evangelicalpastors. On December 18, police announced an investigation against a U.S. citizen working with the evangelical organization MountainGateway and the U.S.-based evangelist ministry “Shaking the Nations.” Police arrested 11 Nicaraguan individuals affiliated with MountainGateway, including nine pastors, citing a money laundering investigation, and transferred them to La Modelo prison. On December 20, theMinistry of Interior canceled the organisation’s legal status and called on the Attorney General to seize its assets, saying the organizationhad obscured its finances and impeded oversight. All 11 Nicaraguans remained imprisoned at year’s end without formal charges filed againstthem. By law, all registered religious congregations benefit from tax and customs exemptions; however, in July, several Catholic Churchesreceived property tax collection notices from corresponding municipal governments, an attempt to financially suffocate churches,according to media outlets. When asked about the collection notices, Cardinal Brenes told media outlets the situation had been resolved.Human rights instruments: Nicaragua is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and theUNDRIP; Nicaragua voted in favour of the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free); privateexpression and observance (free); proselytism (free); public expression and observance (free); receiving donations (free); religiousbuildings (free); religious instruction (free); religious literature (free); religious and worship services (free); religious trade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of religion was affirmed inthe latest revised constitution from 2014.2024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveNiger, Republic of theFoRB Claim: Explicit claim was made in the currentlysuspended 2017 revised constitution.RecommendationsTo become Receptive, establish a recognition system that is able to recognise and register simultaneously and at multiple levels; revokemandatory registration; revoke government regulation of places of worship and temporary registration in the form of probationary legalstatus.Secularity: Niger is a secular state; theism is affirmed in the presidential and otherministerial and senior government official oaths.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory and malregistration.Registration policy: broad mandatory registration – all religious or belief organisations are required to undergo registration before theymay legally conduct activities in Niger. The National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland’s (CNSP) newly established Ministry ofInterior, Security and Territorial Administration (Ministry of Interior) now handles registration procedures. Registration approval is basedon submission of required legal documents, including the group’s charter, minutes of the group’s board of directors, annual action plan,and list of the organisation’s founders. Only registered organizations are legally recognized entities. Non-registered groups are notpermitted to operate, although some unregistered religious organizations reportedly operate without authorisation in remote areas. TheMinistry of Interior requires clerics addressing large national gatherings to either belong to a registered religious organisation or obtain aspecial permit. Registered religious groups wishing to obtain permanent legal status must undergo a three-year review and probationaryperiod before the Ministry of Interior’s Customary and Religious Affairs Office may grant a change in legal status from probationary topermanent. The suspended constitution specifies the President, Prime Minister, and President of the National Assembly must take an oathwhen assuming office on the holy book of his or her religion. By law, other senior government officials are also required to take religiousoaths upon entering office. The CNSP also maintained the prohibition against open air, public proselytization events by all religiousgroups due to national security concerns. There is no legal restriction on private, peaceful proselytization or conversion of an individualfrom one faith to another if the group sponsoring the conversion is registered with the government. Under the Bazoum administration,there were no restrictions on the issuance of visas for visiting religious representatives, although the long-term residency of foreignreligious representatives must be approved by the Ministry of Interior. It is not clear whether this policy remains in effect under the CNSP.Malregistration – since 26th July 2023, a military junta has ruled over Niger following the overthrow of President Mohamed Bazoum andthe suspension of the 2017 revised constitution. This transition to military rule makes vulnerable the registration laws legalising andprotecting religious or belief communities. Boko Haram and other Islamist insurgents that operate in the remote regions of Niger alsoundermine the territorial authority of the central government to protect registered religious or belief communities.133Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, government regulation of places of worship, increased state restrictions on public religiousactivity since 2019, probationary legal status (temporary registration), religious conversion are only legal if the religious group receivingthe convert is registered with the government, large religious gatherings require a government permit, open-air proselytising events areprohibited. Since seizing power, the CNSP has not enforced the law passed by the Bazoum administration that provided guidance onsermons. The CNSP has, however, used state-controlled media outlets to broadcast sermons from “approved imams or preachers” inwhich they discouraged violence or any attempt to criticise the CNSP. The CNSP also released preachers or imams arrested during previousadministrations in for violating preaching laws that were then in effect. The CNSP deposed the Bazoum administration before it achievedits stated intent to fully implement the 2019 National Worship Strategy. By year’s end, the CNSP had not given any indication of plans for aworship strategy. The former Ministry of Interior used its authority under the National Worship Strategy to “screen preachers, in a bid toprevent risks of instability and insecurity that could be motivated by some preaching.” The Bazoum administration encouraged preachersto focus on promoting national unity, brotherhood, and peaceful coexistence in their sermons, through the media, or in public places suchas market stalls or occasional ceremonies. The Bazoum administration ensured there was an adequate number of designated areas forwomen and persons with disabilities to pray in public and government-owned buildings; the CNSP has maintained the designated spacesand has respected both Muslim and Christian holidays, as required by the previous laws.Human rights instruments: Niger is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, andthe UNDRIP; Niger did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (not free; subject to registration); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoralservices (free); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (not free; subject to registration; restricted); public expression andobservance (free); receiving donations (free); religious buildings (free); religious instruction (not free; restricted); religious literature(free); religious and worship services (free); religious trade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of religion wasaffirmed in the latest revised constitution from 2017 however this constitution wassuspended following the overthrow of former President Mohamed Bazoum followedby the takeover of a military junta headed by Abdourahamane Tchiani.2024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveNigeria, Federal Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsDismantlement of the present apparatus of restrictions and policies put in place to inhibit certain forms of religiousactivity; establishment of a recognition system whose decisions about recognition and registration permeate nationally inorder to resolve inconsistencies between states that continue to plague the country’s unity; establish a recognition agencythat is able to act independent of government to manage recognition.Secularity: the Nigerian federal government is secular but Islam is the de facto statereligion of Kano state; theism was affirmed in the latest revised constitution from 2011.Mandatoriness of registration: optional and malregistration.Registration policy: stipulatory registration – there is no federal law that mandates the registration of religious or belieforganisations to operate legally in Nigeria. However, some states such as Katsina and Kaduna have laws requiringpreachers, places of worship and religious schools to gain licences to operate. The Companies and Allied Matters Act(CAMA) authorises the federal government to intervene in the management of private entities, including religious ones,and gives it broad and discretionary powers to withdraw, cancel, or revoke the certificate of any business or association;suspend and remove trustees (and appoint any one of their choice to manage the organization “in the public interest”);take control of finances of any association; and merge two associations without the consent and approval of their members.Malregistration – the recent insurgency in the southeast of the country means the federal Nigerian government may nothave the ability to enforce its registration laws throughout the country.134Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, the new Companies and Allied Matters Act has the potential to place somesmaller religious organisations under the control of the government. Katsina and Kaduna States have laws requiringlicenses for preachers, places of worship, and religious schools. In Katsina State, the law establishes a board with theauthority to regulate Islamic schools, preachers, and mosques, including by issuing permits, suspending operations, andimprisoning or fining violators. The Katsina law stipulates a punishment of one to five years in prison, a fine of up to500,000 naira ($550), or both for operating without a license. In Kaduna State, the Interfaith Preaching Council issuespermits to those who wish to preach in public and regulates against the use of foul, demeaning, or derogatory languageagainst individuals or other religions based on recommendations from the local government interfaith committee.Violators of the law are subject to fines and/or two to five years’ imprisonment. Other states and local government areasestablish their own modalities for licensing public preachers but do not license religious organizations. The government’sban of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) as an illegal political organisation remained in place, while other Shia groupscontinued their activities without hindrance, according to the Rassulul A’azam Foundation, the largest registered Shiareligious organization in the country. The Kano State Films and Censors Board, a government organization responsible forregulating music and film, continued to require poets and singers to obtain a license to perform all new material. Indeciding on licenses, the board took into account the views of Kano’s Ulama Council, an informal gathering of respectedMuslim clerics representing each of Kano’s various Muslim groups, to which the state government often defers on mattersthat could affect public peace. The Lagos State Films and Video Censors Board regulated cinematography and prohibited theproduction of films that it determined would undermine public order.Human rights instruments: Nigeria is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, and the UNCRC;Nigeria abstained from voting on the UNDRIP; Nigeria did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (not free; subject to registration); hieroncy (not free; states run according to Sharia law prohibited non-Islamicitems from importation); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (not free;restricted); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (not free; subject to licensing; restricted); publicexpression and observance (not free; restricted); receiving donations (free); religious buildings (not free; subject tolicensing); religious instruction (not free; restricted); religious literature (not free; subject to licensing); religious andworship services (not free; restricted); religious trade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of religion wasaffirmed in the latest revised constitution from 2011.2024 RoRB Classification: ReceptiveNorth Macedonia,Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsEstablish a recognition system that is able to provide existential recognition and legal registration to entities simultaneously and at different levels of activity; establish a recognitionagency to manage and deal with this recognition system in a way that is autonomous from state control in order to avoid corruption and politicisation of the recognition andregistration procedures; revoke the restriction tools identified such as nationality quota and nominal restriction.Secularity: North Macedonia is officially a secular state (the Macedonian Orthodox Church was disestablished in 1921but is still recognised as the national church); however, a constitutional amendment gave automatic tax exemptionand other privileges to the Macedonian Orthodox Church – Archdiocese of Ohrid (MOC-OA), the Roman CatholicChurch, Islamic Religious Community in North Macedonia (IRC), Jewish Community, and the Evangelical MethodistChurch in Macedonia (EMC); smaller religious groups stated that the MOC-OA receives the most favourable treatmentby the government.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: stipulatory registration – Macedonian law does not mandate that religious or belief organisations need to register with the government in order to operate legallyin the country. Religious or belief organizations may choose to register as a “church,” a “religious community,” or a “religious group.” The law treats these three categories equally,bestowing the same legal rights, benefits, and obligations on all of them. The government recognizes 43 religious organizations, including the five named in the constitution. Therecognized organizations include 20 churches, 10 religious communities (four Christian, four Muslim, one Hindu, and one Jewish), and 13 religious groups (seven Christian and sixMuslim). Once registered, a church, religious community, or religious group is exempt from property taxes on the property of the community only; they pay all other taxes, such asvalue-added tax and personal income tax on the salaries of their leaders. Groups are eligible to apply for restitution of properties nationalised during the Socialist era (provided thegroup or community existed and owned property during that era), government funding to preserve religious objects or structures designated as cultural heritage, and constructionpermits for preservation of shrines and cultural sites. Unregistered groups may hold religious services or other meetings and proselytise, but they may not engage in some activitiessuch as establishing schools or receiving donations that are tax-deductible for the donor, and such groups are not tax exempt. The Skopje Basic Civil Court accepts religiousregistration applications and has eight business days to determine whether an application meets the legal criteria. The criteria include a physical administrative presence within thecountry, an explanation of its beliefs and practices that distinguish it from other religious organizations, and a unique name and official insignia. The organisation’s application mustalso identify a supervisory body in charge of managing its finances and submit a breakdown of its financial assets and funding sources, as well as minutes from its founding meeting.The law allows multiple groups of a single faith to register. Leaders or legal representatives of registered religious groups must be citizens of the country. The court forwards approvedapplications to the CRRCG, the government body responsible for fostering cooperation and communication between the government and registered religious groups, which adds theorganization to its registry. The CRRCG has no oversight or ability to influence the registration process. If the court denies the application, the organization may appeal the decision tothe State Appellate Court. If the appellate court rules against the appeal, the organization may file a human rights petition with the Constitutional Court, which is the highest court inthe country having jurisdiction over human rights cases. If the Constitutional Court denies the petition, the organization may further appeal the case to the European Court of HumanRights (ECHR). Foreigners who seek to enter the country to carry out religious work or perform religious rites must obtain a work visa before arrival, a process that normally takesapproximately four months. The CRRCG maintains a register of all foreign religious workers and approves temporary residence permits and work visa applications for missionariesand religious workers on behalf of registered churches, religious communities, and religious groups. The Ministry of Labor and Social Policy verifies their compliance with thecountry’s labor laws and the Ministry of Interior reviews security aspects. Foreign religious workers must be approved by the CRRCG and the two ministries in order to work in thecountry. Unregistered groups may apply for work permits and visas for their workers according to the normal procedure. Work visas are valid for six months, with the option to renewfor an additional six months. Subsequent renewals are valid for one year. The CRRCG and the two ministries must also approve registration renewal requests. There is no limit to thenumber of visa renewals for which a religious worker may apply.Recognition policy: an amendment to the constitution cites five religious groups that automatically receive tax exemptions and other benefits: the MOC-OA, IRC, Catholic Church,Evangelical Methodist Church in Macedonia (EMC), and the Jewish Community. It stipulates these five groups, as well as other registered groups, are separate from the state, equalbefore the law, and free to establish secondary schools, charities, and other social institutions. The law allows other religious groups to obtain the same legal rights and status as thesefive groups by applying for government recognition and registration through the courts.135Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, government interference in the internal affairs of religious groups is reported, nationality quota, nominal restriction, someinformational requirements such as "an explanation of [the group's] beliefs and practices that distinguishes it from other religious organisations" is ambiguous and could be easilymisused against groups unfavoured by the state, vertical registration system is in effect. An interagency working group led by the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) continued to review draftamendments to the 2007 Law on the Legal Status of a Church, Religious Community, and Religious Groups. The amendments, pending since 2021, would enable larger religiouscommunities’ subdivisions, such as individual churches and mosques, to acquire the status of legal entities. This in turn would enable the government to support religious groups’projects when doing so was deemed to be in the public interest, such as assisting with the preservation of culturally or historically significant religious sites, an authority thegovernment lacks. The MOC-OA and the IRC have requested this change since 2020. The Skopje Basic Civil Court reported it reviewed six requests during the year related to registeringchurches and religious communities or groups. Three of those requests, including two received in 2022 and one in 2023, were from already registered groups seeking to change data,such as the name of a group’s leader, legal representative, or headquarters. Two other requests, received in 2023, were applications to register new religious groups – the World StarChurch, and the Tetovo Bektashi Headquarters in North Macedonia. The sixth request was a carryover from 2022 to register a new religious community – the Ahmadiyya MuslimJamaat in Pehchevo, a small group with approximately one hundred members of primarily Roma ethnic background. The court resolved a request from one of the already registeredgroups during the year, but no further information was available about the court’s ruling or the group involved. The other five requests were pending at year’s end. The governmentand the Tetovo Bektashi Community continued to differ on that religious group’s registration. Although that group submitted the required documents for new registration inSeptember, the Skopje Basic Civil Court postponed a hearing on the issue in October, and no further action was taken during the year. The Community submitted its new request inaccordance with a 2020 appellate court ruling and a 2018 ECHR ruling that the group be allowed to register and be recognized as a religious group. The Tetovo Bektashi Communitycontinued to say its non-registered status restricted its ability to acquire or use property, such as the Harabati Baba Teqe complex, for religious activity. The IRC said it remainedconcerned with the functioning of two registered groups it considered “suspicious Muslim organizations” – a Salafi group in Skopje and an Ahli Sunnah Wal Jemaah group inKumanovo. The IRC asked the government to de-register these two groups and help limit their ability to spread “radical views” that did not match local traditions. The IRC said theydid not object to registration of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat in Pehchevo because the IRC viewed that group more as a secular organization focused on the humanitarian needs of itsmembers. Members of the unregistered Tetovo Bektashi Community and members of the government registered BRC continued to dispute the IRC’s claim to full ownership of theHarabati Baba Teqe shrine in Tetovo and the IRC’s plans to renovate it. The shrine is the traditional headquarters of the Tetovo Bektashi Community. The IRC again stated municipalauthorities continued to deny construction permits for a mosque in the ethnically and religiously mixed village of Lazhec due to opposition from its Orthodox residents, as well as forthe reconstruction of a mosque in Strumica and the central mosque in Prilep, on the grounds the latter two were cultural monuments under government, not IRC, jurisdiction. TheMOC-OA said the municipality of Tetovo’s new administration continued to ignore its earlier commitments to collect garbage at the local cemetery’s entrance and to permitconstruction of a church at the cemetery in the neighboring village of Falishe. Smaller Protestant churches continued to say the government extended more privileges to the MOC-OAand the IRC and these two larger groups had more rights than other religious groups. For example, the smaller churches said they continued to have more difficulty building churchesbecause local authorities were more accommodating to the MOC-OA on zoning and construction issues. They also said government officials met often with only the fiveconstitutionally recognized groups and did not always include the smaller groups in public events. MOC-OA and IRC leaders said complaints of government favoritism were amisperception due to their communities’ larger size and broader presence in the country. IRC leaders said they cultivated good relations with the government for a third year in a row,but some ministries and the judiciary continued to treat the IRC unfavorably. As an example, the IRC said that during the year, the MOI and the Skopje Criminal Court did not completetheir investigations of earlier incidents affecting the Islamic community and its leadership, such as the 2015 “coup attempt” within the IRC and the 2019 attempt to violently take overthe IRC headquarters. In September, the IRC said the government continued to grant the MOC-OA unique privileges, such as providing it with public properties free of charge, as wellas delaying decisions affecting other religious groups when the MOC-OA did not agree. Both the MOC-OA and the IRC also said that despite religious workers’ key role in ministeringto those in prison or hospitals, the Ministries of Health, Justice, and Defense did not always allow priests and army chaplains access to prisoners and patients. The MOC-OA and IRCsaid the government often justified these actions by citing the separation of state and religion.Human rights instruments: North Macedonia is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP; NorthMacedonia did not vote on the UDHR; North Macedonia is partied to the ECHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free); private expression and observance (free); proselytism(free); public expression and observance (free); receiving donations (free); religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religious literature (free); religious and worshipservices (free); religious trade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of religion was affirmed in the latest revisedconstitution from 2011.2024 RoRB Classification: ReceptiveNorway,Kingdom ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsThe actions of the Norwegian government by deregistering the Jehovah’s Witnesses, using state funding as a tool to influence religious groups and theproposed changes to the Religious Communities Act of 2021 are concerning and need to be monitored closely for their compliance with FoRB. needs toestablish a recognition system that is able to provide existential recognition and legal registration to entities simultaneously and at different levels ofactivity and is inclusive of all belief systems; establish a recognition agency to manage and deal with this recognition system in a way that is autonomousfrom state control in order to avoid corruption and politicisation of the recognition and registration procedures; refrain from forcibly deregisteringreligious groups such as the Jehovah’s Witnesses as occurred in 2023.Secularity: Norway is officially a secular state (the Church of Norway, an evangelical Lutheran church, wasdisestablished in 2012); however, the Church of Norway receives special status as the national church andwas recognised in the latest revised constitution from 2016 as the “Norwegian National Church” and is to“be supported by the State”; theism is affirmed in the monarchical oath; the monarch of Norway must bea member of the Church of Norway.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: stipulatory registration – religious or belief organisations are not mandated to register with the Norwegian government in order tooperate legally in the country. However, to register, a faith or life-stance organization must notify the government and provide its creed and doctrine,activities, names of board members, names and responsibilities of group leaders, operating rules – including who may become a member – voting rights,and the processes for amending statutes and dissolution. A group must report annually the national total number of members. If a religious group doesnot register, it does not receive financial support from the government.Recognition policy: by law, the national government and local municipalities provide direct financial support to the Church of Norway. The nationalgovernment provides an annual block grant that covers the cost of salaries, benefits, and pension plans of church employees. The national governmentmay provide additional support for other projects. By law, localities provide partial funding for the maintenance of church properties, such as Church ofNorway buildings and cemeteries, which other religious communities are required to fund on their own. All registered faith and life-stance organizationsare eligible to apply for financial support from the government, as outlined by the Religious Communities Act. The government pays prorated subsidies to740 such organizations based on their current year membership when compared with membership in the Church of Norway. According to the ReligiousCommunities Act, religious and life-stance communities with at least 50 registered members may apply for state subsidies. Faith and life-stanceorganizations must provide annual reports detailing activities, opportunities for children and youth, the use of state subsidies, marital lawadministration, and minimum 40-percent gender (male and female) representation in the administrative and governing bodies of religious groups, aswell as any funds received from abroad. The law stipulates the government may refuse applications for subsidies from organizations that receive fundingfrom foreign states that “do not respect religious freedom.” The law does not further define what constitutes a state that does not respect religiousfreedom, and the government does not publish a list of such countries. Approval of state subsidies for religious and life-stance communities is made atthe county level. Members of minority religious groups must apply for annual leave from work to celebrate religious holidays; many Christian religiousholidays are official holidays. The 2021 Religious Act instructs employers to provide employees two days off work annually to observe religious holidays.Under the Labor Law, employers may refuse additional days off, even if those days are made up during other holidays.136Key restriction tools imposed: membership quota (but this is imposed as part of a mandatory registration order and is only used for groups that seekstate funding so is permissible), non-recognition of all religions and denominations except the Church of Norway (hypervertical system). The Office ofthe County Governor of Oslo’s decisions of 2021 and 2022 to deny annual government subsidies to the Jehovah’s Witnesses, decisions the Ministry ofHealth upheld in January, put in place a process that ultimately led to the deregistration of the group, effective in April. Deregistration removed thegroup’s eligibility for state religious grants and its ability to conduct state-recognized marriages for the year. The decision leading to the deregistrationwas based on the group’s practice of “shunning,” a collective action taken when a member deviates from certain beliefs or requirements. Christian,Muslim, and humanist chaplains served as officers in the military. Religious and humanist groups could provide chaplains at their own expense tohospitals, universities, and prisons. The government provided 2.434 billion krone ($239 million), or 700 krone ($69) per member, to the Church ofNorway for salaries and operating expenses during the year, including for pensions and benefits of church employees and clergy. The governmentprovided other registered religious and life-stance organizations approximately five billion krone ($491.8 million) in total, or 1,419 krone ($140) perregistered member. The Church of Jesus Christ continued to be the only major religious community choosing to decline government funding. Accordingto law, the Church of Norway received additional local funding for the maintenance of church properties, such as church buildings and cemeteries, whichother religious communities had to fund on their own. During the year, the government provided 181.1 million krone ($17.8 million) in subsidies forChurch of Norway buildings. The Humanist Association continued to criticise this practice and stated that, to ensure equal treatment, maintenance ofproperties should be a municipal responsibility. The Ministry of Children and Families and STL acknowledged that some restrictions and registrationrequirements posed barriers to smaller organizations to register for funding. Most religious organizations and life-stance communities registered andreceived government funding, channeled through the municipality where the organization is registered. STL and the Oslo Coalition on Freedom ofReligion or Belief raised concerns that the government’s ability to approve or deny financial support for an organization based on review of itsapplication or an assessment of that group’s religious practices created the opportunity for the government to influence an organization’s religiousbeliefs or practice. On July 6, the Ministry of Children and Families published proposed changes to the Religious Communities Act of 2021. Proposedchanges included enforcing the act’s requirement of a minimum 40-percent gender representation in the administrative and governing bodies ofreligious groups, updating membership requirements needed to access state religious grants, and developing the ministry’s basis for refusing grants toorganizations. Religious organizations raised concerns that the changes could target specific groups, reduce the amount of state subsidies they receive,and potentially lead to their deregistration as officially registered faith entities. The Humanist Association said it was unusual to amend a law that hadbeen in effect for such a short period of time. They stated many groups would not be able to meet the membership threshold number needed to accessstate grants, and that the proposed changes could lead to increased inequality between government treatment of the Church of Norway and otherreligious and life-stance communities. At year’s end, the proposed changes remained pending but were expected to be considered by parliament in 2024.Human rights instruments: Norway is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP;Norway voted in favour of the UDHR; Norway is partied to the ECHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free); private expression andobservance (free); proselytism (free); public expression and observance (free); receiving donations (free); religious buildings (free); religious instruction(free); religious literature (free); religious and worship services (free); religious trade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Implicit protection against discrimination on the basis of religion was affirmed in the latestrevised constitution from 2016.2024 RoRB Classification: CensoriousOman,Sultanate ofFoRB Claim: Partial claim is made that excludes the right toproselytise.RecommendationsDismantlement of the present apparatus that misuses recognition as a means to censor religion; repeal restrictive laws that seek to censor all forms of religious activity, bothIslamic and non-Islamic; to become Receptive, the Omani government would need to establish a recognition system inclusive of all belief systems with the capacity to bestowboth existential recognition and legal registration simultaneously; the disestablishment of Islam would have to take place to ensure the recognition system was enshrinedwith equality if the government could not prove in practice that it would not treat Islam any different from other belief systems.Secularity: Islam is the state religion; theism is affirmed in the monarchical oath; according to the BasicLaw, the Sultan must be a Muslim, and the Crown Prince must be a Muslim and a legitimate son ofOmani Muslim parents.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: broad mandatory registration – by law, all religious or belief organisations must register with the government to operate legally in Oman. Although the lawdoes not specify the requirements, in practice, the Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs (MERA) sets the rules, regulations, and criteria for religious groups to obtainministerial approval. Groups associated with existing faiths or denominations must operate under the existing registration for their associated group. New, non-Muslimreligious groups must register with MERA under the patronage of a government-recognized sponsor. The sponsors are responsible for recording and submitting to MERA astatement of the group’s religious beliefs and the names of its leaders. Although MERA does not publish a complete list of recognized or registered religious groups, for non-Muslim groups, the ministry recognizes the Protestant Church of Oman (a partnership between the Reformed Church of America and the Anglican Church), the Catholic Churchin Oman, the al-Amana Center (an interdenominational organization affiliated with the Reformed Church of America), the Hindu Mahajan Temple, and the Anwar al-GhubairaTrading Company in Muscat (Sikh) as official sponsors. MERA must also grant its approval for new Muslim groups to form. Muslim groups must register with MERA as well, butthe government – as the benefactor of the country’s mosques – serves as their sponsor. All individuals who deliver sermons to recognized religious groups must register withMERA. The licensing process for imams prohibits unlicensed lay members from preaching sermons in mosques, and licensed imams must deliver sermons within “politicallyand socially acceptable” parameters. Lay members of non-Muslim groups may lead prayers if they are specified as leaders in their group’s registration application. The lawrestricts collective worship by non-Muslim groups to houses of worship on land specifically donated by the government for the purpose of collective worship. The law prohibitspublic proselytizing by all religious groups, although the government authorises certain “Islamic propagation centers.” The law states the government must approve anyconstruction or leasing of buildings by religious groups. New mosques must be built at least one kilometre (0.6 miles) from existing mosques. Foreigners on tourist visas whoare not clergy may not preach, teach, or lead worship, even privately, unless they are sponsored by a recognised religious group, register with MERA, and receive a governmentpermit. Visa regulations permit foreign clergy to enter the country to teach or lead worship under the sponsorship of registered religious groups, which must apply to MERA forapproval before the visiting clergy member enters the country.137Key restriction tools imposed: an operating licence must be obtained for those wishing to provide sermons in registered religious groups (including for imams) and for whichthere are ambiguous qualifications, registration procedures are based on a restrictive sponsorship system which sometimes precedes registration itself (e.g. new non-Muslimgroups must receive sponsorship before they can begin registration procedures), non-recognition for any non-Islamic religion, state definition of religion, there are differentprocedures of sponsorship for Muslim and non-Muslim religious groups, anti-discrimination laws only protect Islam and other religions considered to be Abrahamic by thegovernment. MERA continued to provide rules, regulations, and criteria for new religious groups to receive ministerial approval, according to religious groups. MERAconsidered criteria such as a group’s size and leadership structure but did not evaluate the specifics of a group’s theology or belief systems. Religious groups said MERAconsulted with existing religious communities from a similar faith tradition in an advisory role before ruling on the application of a new religious group. Representatives ofreligious groups said MERA officials communicated frequently with them to help navigate the registration process. During the year, MERA formally approved registration forthe Church of Jesus Christ and the Sikh community and identified suitable, permanent places of worship for both groups, according to MERA and leaders of both groups. MERAalso began discussions with the Buddhist community, which remained unregistered and without a permanent place of its own for worship. The Sri Lankan embassy continuedto host Buddhist religious services and ceremonies on its compound. Christian groups without their own dedicated places of worship shared existing facilities. MERA continuedto monitor sermons at mosques to ensure imams did not discuss political topics. The government required all imams to preach sermons within what the governmentconsidered politically and socially acceptable parameters, and provided a list of acceptable topics along with standardised and approved Friday sermons for Ibadhi and Sunniimams. MERA did not monitor mosques under the purview of the Diwan (Royal Court), such as the Grand Mosque in Muscat, which were funded and overseen directly by theDiwan. There were no reports of sermons being monitored in Christian or other non-Islamic services. Open Doors reported church services were “strictly monitored to recordany political statements and if any Omani nationals were attending,” and said authorities could monitor the online activities of both individual Christians and churches. TheNGO also said Christian evangelistic activities among Muslims was forbidden. Christian groups, however, did not report any cases of abuse or monitoring by the authoritiesduring the year. Authorities continued to block the importation of certain publications, including religious texts, that lacked the necessary permit. Some members of religiouscommunities said shipment of their books were delayed, but there were no reports of authorities confiscating shipped materials. There were no reports of customs officialsconfiscating personal religious materials from travelers entering the country. The government also continued to require religious groups to notify MERA before importingreligious materials and to submit a copy of the material to MERA for review. Religious minority leaders said MERA did not review all imported religious material for approvalbut was more likely to inspect large shipments. They said non-Muslims were often able to import small amounts of literature without government scrutiny. Religious groupscontinued to need MERA approval to publish religious texts in the country or disseminate religious publications outside their membership. Religious groups said they did notattempt to share material with the public outside their places of worship. The government continued to fund the salaries of some Ibadhi and Sunni imams, but Shia and non-Muslim religious leaders were privately funded. Some smaller Christian denominations reported overcrowding improved at their places of worship during the year after MERAallocated government owned land free of charge or identified, approved, and in some cases provided facilities for their use. In coordination with the Ministry of Housing andUrban Planning, MERA identified additional government-approved facilities for minority religious groups to use on their own and coordinated shared use of facilities if needed.Some groups, such as the Church of Jesus Christ, elected to pay for new buildings themselves to meet their needs. For groups that lacked the funds to build their own facilities,MERA located and offered existing meeting spaces at no cost. Non-Muslims who worshipped in private homes continued to say the government generally did not interfere withtheir groups’ informal meetings despite legal prohibitions on holding religious meetings outside of government-approved locations. MERA approved religious celebrations fornon-Muslim groups in commercial or public areas such as hotels or common event spaces on a case-by-case basis. For example, Hindu groups hosted Diwali celebrations onNovember 12. According to members of the legal community, judges often took into account the religious affiliation of parents during custody hearings. Members of the legalcommunity said courts favored Muslim family members in such cases, citing that Islam was the official religion in the country. The government-appointed Grand Mufti andsenior Ibadhi cleric, Ahmad al-Khalili, remained the only cleric able to speak publicly on religious, political, and social issues outside the designated government parameters.For example, following the October 7 Hamas terrorist attack on Israel, he issued a statement on social media on October 8 calling on “all Islamic countries, people, andindividuals to stand by the martyrs in Gaza.” On October 11, The Grand Mufti saluted the “valiant Palestinian resistance” and said he admired their “commitment to adhere toIslamic teachings.” Al-Khalili’s posts on social media also frequently disparaged atheism and atheists. Government officials said the Grand Mufti did not always represent thegovernment’s views. According to religious minority leaders, the Royal Oman Police continued to collect religious affiliation information from expatriates applying for workvisas. The applicants selected their preferred religious affiliation from a drop-down menu on the visa form. There were no reports of this information influencing visadecisions.Human rights instruments: Oman is partied to the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP; Oman is notpartied to the ICCPR; Oman did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (not free; restricted); hieroncy (not free; restricted); monasticism (not free; restricted); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free; restricted); pastoralservices (not free; restricted); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (not free; illegal except for certain Islamic propagation centres); public expression andobservance (not free; restricted); receiving donations (not free; restricted); religious buildings (not free; restricted); religious instruction (not free; restricted); religiousliterature (not free; restricted); religious and worship services (not free; restricted); religious trade (not free; restricted).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of religion was affirmed in the BasicLaw last revised in 2011.2024 RoRB Classification: TerminalPakistan, Islamic Republic ofFoRB Claim: Partial claim is made that excludes AhmadiMuslims and the right to proselytise.RecommendationsDismantlement of the present abuse of recognition and the vast apparatus that the government wields to perpetuate Terminal restrictions on religious activity;establishment of a new recognition system that treats all belief systems equally and bestows both existential recognition and legal registration through distinctprocedures and across multiple levels of activity; the disestablishment of Islam may need to occur in order to ensure the system’s equality if the governmentcannot prove in practice its equal treatment to religions; ongoing issues of normativism and societal intolerance of alternative belief identities should be resolvedthrough more sophisticated means of religious education and the use of mutual recognition as a message spread by government on the importance of religiouspluralism.Secularity: Islam is the state religion; theism was affirmed in the latest revisedconstitution from 2018 and in the oaths of all senior officials; the law requires thePresident and the Prime Minister to be Muslim.Mandatoriness of registration: non-registration.Registration policy: non-registration – Pakistani law does not set out provisions in law for the registration of religious or belief organisations. The constitutionstates that no person shall be required to take part in any religious ceremony or attend religious worship relating to a religion other than the person’s own.Recognition policy: the constitution defines “Muslim” as a person who “believes in the unity and oneness of Almighty Allah, in the absolute and unqualifiedfinality of the Prophethood of Muhammad… the last of the prophets, and does not believe in, or recognize as a prophet or religious reformer, any person whoclaimed or claims to be a prophet after Muhammad.” It also states that “a person belonging to the Christian, Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, or Parsi community, aperson of the Qadiani group or the Lahori group (who call themselves Ahmadis), or a Baha’i, and a person belonging to any of the scheduled castes” is a “non-Muslim.” According to the constitution and the penal code, Ahmadis may not call themselves Muslims or assert they are adherents of Islam. The penal code bansthem from “posing as Muslims,” using Islamic terms, carrying out Islamic customs, preaching or propagating their religious beliefs, proselytizing, or “insultingthe religious feelings of Muslims.” The punishment for violating these provisions is imprisonment for up to three years and a fine, the amount of which is at thediscretion of the sentencing judge. The constitution provides for “freedom to manage religious institutions.” It states every religious denomination shall havethe right to establish and maintain its own institutions. The constitution states that no person shall be compelled to pay any special tax for the propagation ormaintenance of a religion other than the person’s own. The government collects a mandatory, automatic 2.5 percent zakat (tax) from Sunni Muslims who holdsavings accounts in banks. It distributes the funds through a government-run charity as stipends for poor families and students, payment for medical treatment,and support to Sunni mosques and madrassahs registered with the government. Sunni Muslims who want to distribute zakat themselves may request anexemption, and Shia Muslims are exempted by filling out a declaration of faith form. Shia and Ahmadi Muslim communities run their own charity programs. Theconstitution mandates that the government take steps to enable Muslims, individually and collectively, to order their lives in accordance with the fundamentalprinciples and basic concepts of Islam and to promote the observance of Islamic moral standards. It directs the state to endeavor to secure the properorganization of Islamic tithes, religious foundations, and places of worship. The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony is responsible fororganising participation in the Hajj and other Islamic religious pilgrimages. Authorities also consult the ministry on matters such as blasphemy and Islamiceducation. The ministry’s budget covers assistance to indigent minorities, repair of minority places of worship, establishment of minority-run smalldevelopment projects, celebration of minority religious festivals, and provision of scholarships for religious minority students. The law prohibits publishing anycriticism of Islam or its prophets or insults to others’ religious beliefs. The law bans the sale of Ahmadi religious literature. The provincial and federalgovernments have legal responsibility for certain minority religious properties abandoned during the 1947 partition of British India. The federal governmentsupervises and controls both religious and secular properties abandoned during partition via the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB), which holds in trustsome 200 Sikh gurdwaras and 150 Hindu temples across the country. The Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (PSGPC) is responsible for maintaininggurdwaras. There is no specific language in the law authorizing civil or common law marriage; religious authorities sign marriage certificates, which areregistered with the local marriage registrar. The provincial-level Sindh Hindu Marriage Act and the national-level Hindu Marriage Act (applying to federalterritory and all other provinces) codify legal mechanisms to formally register and prove the legitimacy of Hindu marriages. In addition to addressing a legal gapby providing documentation needed for identity registration, divorce, and inheritance, the Hindu Marriage Acts allow marriages to be voided when consent “wasobtained by force, coercion, or by fraud.” The acts allow for the termination of the marriage upon the conversion of one party to a religion other than Hinduism.The Sindh provincial government has legislation allowing couples to seek divorce and granting Hindu women the right to remarry six months after a divorce or aspouse’s death. The Sindh Hindu Marriage Act also applies to Sikh marriages. The Punjab Sikh Anand Karaj Marriage Act allows local government officials in thatprovince to register marriages between a Sikh man and Sikh woman solemnized by a Sikh Anand Karaj (“Blissful Event,” or wedding ceremony) marriageregistrar. Some court judgments have considered the marriage of a non-Muslim woman to a non-Muslim man dissolved if she converts to Islam, although themarriage of a non-Muslim man who converts remains recognized. The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) designates religious affiliation onpassports and requires religious information on national identity card and passport applications. Those wishing to be listed as Muslims must swear they believeMuhammad is the final prophet and must denounce the Ahmadi movement’s founder as a false prophet and his followers as non-Muslim. There is no option tostate “no religion.” National identity cards are required for all citizens upon reaching the age of 18. Identification cards are used for voting, pensiondisbursement, social and financial inclusion programs, and other services.138Key restriction tools imposed: non-recognition for any religion or denomination other than Islam or traditional forms of Islam (excluding Islamic new religiousmovements), prohibition of the Ahmadi Muslim community (Ahmadis may not call themselves Muslims or assert they are adherents of Islam), both passports andnational identity cards display a person's religious affiliation.Human rights instruments: Pakistan is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC,and the UNDRIP; Pakistan voted in favour of the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (not free; restricted); hieroncy (not free; illegal); monasticism (not free; restricted); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free; restricted); pastoralservices (not free; restricted); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (not free; restricted); public expression and observance (not free;restricted); receiving donations (not free; restricted); religious buildings (not free; restricted); religious instruction (not free; restricted); religious literature(not free; restricted); religious and worship services (not free; restricted); religious trade (not free; restricted).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of religion wasaffirmed in the latest revised constitution from 2018.2024 RoRB Classification: RestrictivePalau, Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsEstablish a recognition system that has the capacity to bestow both existential recognition and legalregistration simultaneously without discrimination of belief systems and has the capacity to bestowthese forms of recognition at multiple levels of operation and activity; remove all forms of politicisationin the registration process and remove any ambiguity existent in the legislation; revoke the mandatoryregistration rule.Secularity: Palau is a secular state; theism was affirmed in the revised latestconstitution from 1992.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: stipulatory registration – Palauan law does not mandate that all religious or belieforganisations register to operate legally in the country, but registered groups become tax-exempt.Religious groups may obtain charters as nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) from the registrar ofcorporations in the Office of the Attorney General. As NGOs, religious groups and mission agencies areexempt from paying taxes. To obtain a charter, a group must submit a written petition to the registrar ofcorporations and pay a filing fee of $250. The registrar of corporations reviews the application forstatutory compliance and then requests the President sign a charter for the NGO. Foreign missionariesmust obtain permits from the Division of Immigration, which is under the Bureau of Customs and BorderProtection of the Ministry of Finance; there are no application fees. Applicants must provide police andmedical clearances, and applications must include letters from the assigning church in the sendingforeign country and the local accepting church. The permits are valid for a maximum of two years andmay be renewed. The government continued to require missionaries or employees of religious missionsto earn $15,000 annually in order to bring dependents to the country. A couple serving in a mission whojointly earned $15,000 annually was also eligible to bring dependents to the country.139Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, completion of registration is dependent upon presidentialsignature (a form of authoritative decree restriction tool), the registration fee charged ($250) exceeds the$100 threshold set by RoRB standards.Human rights instruments: Palau is partied to the UNCRC; Palau signed the ICCPR andthe ICESCR but has not ratified either of these instruments; Palau was absent duringvoting on the UNDRIP; Palau did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (not free; subject to registration); nuptial, initiatoryand burial rites (not free; subject to registration); pastoral services (not free; subject to registration);private expression and observance (free); proselytism (free); public expression and observance (free);receiving donations (not free; subject to registration); religious buildings (not free; subject toregistration); religious instruction (not free; subject to registration); religious literature (not free;subject to registration); religious and worship services (not free; subject to registration); religious trade(not free; subject to registration).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of religion wasaffirmed in the latest revised constitution from 1992.2024 RoRB Classification: ReceptivePanama, Republic ofFoRB Claim: Partial claim is made that constrictsFoRB to “respect for Christian morality.”RecommendationsEstablish a revitalised recognition system that has the capacity to bestow both existential recognition and legal registration to all beliefsystems and their derivatives sufficiently and appropriately and at multiple levels of operation and activity; remove any instances ofpoliticisation of registration; revoke the policy of non-recognition for all non-Catholics groups; to become Dynamic, the Panamaniangovernment would need to establish a recognition agency that would manage the newly established recognition system independentlyfrom government.Secularity: Panama is officially a secular state (the Roman CatholicChurch was disestablished in 1904); however, the latest revisedconstitution from 2004 recognised Roman Catholicism as the religion“practised by the majority of Panamanians” privilege (Catholicism);theism was affirmed in the same revised constitution from 2004.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: stipulatory registration – Panamanian law does not mandate that religious or belief organisations need to registerwith the government before they can conduct activities legally in the country. The constitution grants legal status to religious groups,which permits them to manage and administer their property within legal limits. If groups decline to register, they may not apply forgrants or subsidies. To register, a group must submit to the Ministry of Government a power of attorney, charter, names of its boardmembers (if applicable), a copy of the internal bylaws (if applicable), and a four-balboa ($4) processing fee. Once the Ministry ofGovernment approves the registration, the religious association must record the ministry’s resolution in the Public Registry.Registered religious associations must apply to the Directorate of Internal Revenue of the Ministry of Economy and Finance to receiveclearance for duty-free imports. If the National Assembly and cabinet approve, the government may allot publicly owned properties toregistered religious associations. Under the law, no taxes apply to income derived from religious activities such as church or burialservices, or charitable events. Registered religious groups include the Roman Catholic Church, Greek Orthodox Church, RussianOrthodox Church, Episcopal Church, Methodist Church, Evangelical Methodist Church, the Baha’i Faith, Soka Gakkai International(Buddhist), Church of Jesus Christ, Muslim Congregation of Colon, Muslim Congregation of Panama City, Muslim Congregation ofCocle Province, Muslim Congregation of Chiriqui Province, Jewish Kol Shearith Israel Congregation, Jewish Shevet Ahim Congregation,Jewish Beth El Congregation, Baptist Church, Hossana Evangelical Church, Casa de Oracion (house of prayer) Cristiana EvangelicalChurch, Pentecostal Church, Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church, Crossroads Christian Church, Ministry of the Family Christian Church,Seventh-day Adventist Church, the Church of Scientology, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and the Babalaos. Rastafarians, which have a smallcongregation scattered across three provinces that does not own property, have not applied to register. By law, Indigenous tribescontrol their own autonomous lands within the country, which are called comarcas (territorial divisions similar to U.S. Native Americantribal nations). According to the law, tribal autonomy permits individuals to practice religion and maintain cultural traditions withoutstate interference. Immigration law grants foreign religious workers temporary missionary worker visas that they must renew everytwo years, for up to a total of six years. The two-year renewal requirement does not apply to Roman Catholic and Orthodox Christianpriests and nuns, who receive six-year renewable visas, and which only require them to “respect Christian morality.” Clergy of otherreligious groups, as well as other religious workers, may also apply for the special six-year visa. However, these workers must submitadditional documents. These additional documents include a copy of their organization’s bylaws, a Ministry of Government-issuedregistration certificate, and a letter from the organization’s leader in the country, which certifies the religious worker will be employedat its place of worship. Applicants from all religious denominations must pay a 250-balboas ($250) fee.140Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, non-recognition for all non-Catholic religions and denominations.Human rights instruments: Panama is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC,and the UNDRIP; Panama voted in favour of the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free); privateexpression and observance (free); proselytism (free); public expression and observance (free); receiving donations (free); religiousbuildings (not free; subject to registration); religious instruction (free); religious literature (free); religious and worship services(free); religious trade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of religion wasaffirmed in the latest revised constitution from 2004.2024 RoRB Classification: ReceptivePapua New Guinea, Independent State ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsEstablish a revitalised recognition system that has the capacity to bestow both existential recognition and legalregistration to all belief systems and their derivatives sufficiently and appropriately and at multiple levels of operation andactivity; to become Dynamic, the Papua New Guinean government would need to establish a recognition agency that wouldmanage the newly established recognition system independently from government.Secularity: Papua New Guinea is officially a secular state; however, the latest revised constitutionfrom 2016 made reference to “Christian principles” that citizens are to “guard and pass on” tothe next generation; theism was affirmed in this same revised constitution from 2016.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: stipulatory registration – religious or belief organisations are not required by law to register withthe government to operate legally in Papua New Guinea. However, to hold a bank account, own properties in thereligious group’s name, maintain limited individual liability, and apply to the Internal Revenue Commission (IRC) forexemption on income tax and to the Department of Treasury for exemption of import duty, religious or belieforganisations must be registered. To register, groups must provide documentation, including a list of board orexecutive committee members and a constitution. Foreign missionary groups are permitted to proselytise and engagein other missionary activities. Religious workers receive a three-year, special exemption visa from the government.Applications for the visa require a sponsor letter from a religious group in the country and an approved work permitfrom the Immigration and Citizenship Authority.141Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, the registration benefit of "limited individual liability" implies thatindividual members or leader of unregistered groups do have individual liability for the actions of their group,unstructured recognition system. As of year’s end, the government had not released the results of a nationwide poll from2021 on a proposed constitutional amendment that would define the country as Christian, and the proposed amendmenthad not been introduced in parliament. In 2021, media outlets reported Prime Minister Marape said the change wouldnot take away personal rights as enumerated in the constitution, but it would reflect the fact that a majority of citizens inthe country practice Christianity. Political opponents, civil society groups, and some religious groups, including theCouncil of Churches, Catholic Church, Evangelical Lutheran Church, and the Evangelical Alliance, continued to object tothe proposed amendment, saying the country did not have an exclusive ethnic or religious affiliation and that thecontroversy could potentially cause a “holy war” among the largest faith groups for supremacy of one denominationover the others and against religious minorities. Opponents to the proposed amendment said if the country weredeclared Christian, the government would be obliged to identify which denomination was the state church. Somereligious opponents of the amendment also continued to say it would undercut the sentiment that all persons arechildren of God. Parliamentary sessions and most government meetings continued to begin and end with Christianprayers, but according to parliament officials, persons of different faiths were able to abstain with no repercussions. TheSpeaker of the House selected a member of parliament to start the sessions with a Christian prayer. According to seniorgovernment officials, some national government agencies continued to tell public servants they had to attend weeklymorning devotions for 10 to 20 minutes; the specific day of the devotion varied by region and agency. Pastors fromdifferent Christian denominations led the morning devotional sessions. Individuals choosing to opt out of theseactivities could do so without negative consequences, according to the same government officials.Human rights instruments: Papua New Guinea is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC;Papua New Guinea was absent during voting on the UNDRIP; Papua New Guinea did not vote onthe UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services(free); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (free); public expression and observance (free); receivingdonations (free); religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religious literature (free); religious andworship services (free); religious trade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of religion was affirmed inthe latest revised constitution from 2016.2024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveParaguay, Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsRevoke the rule of mandatory registration, reregistration and annualisation as restriction tools; establish a revitalisedrecognition system that has the capacity to bestow both existential recognition and legal registration to all belief systems andtheir derivatives sufficiently and appropriately and at multiple levels of operation and activity; to become Dynamic, theParaguayan government would need to establish a recognition agency that would manage the newly established recognitionsystem independently from government.Secularity: Paraguay is officially a secular state (the Roman Catholic Church was disestablished in1992); however, the latest revised constitution from 2011 recognised “the predominant role of theCatholic Church in the historical and cultural formation of the nation” and that the relations betweenthe state and the Roman Catholic Church are based on “independence, cooperation, and autonomy”;theism was affirmed in the latest revised constitution from 2011.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: broad mandatory registration – Paraguayan law mandates that all religious or belief organisations register with theVice Ministry of Worship (VMW) to operate legally in the country. Religious or belief organisations must submit annual reports stating theorganisation’s key leadership and functions. Organizations must complete a form containing 14 items, provide supporting documents tothe VMW, and pay a fee of 140,000 guaranies ($19) to register. The form requests basic information, including entity name, mission orvision, history in the country, addresses of houses of worship, membership size, and types of activities. The VMW also requires thecertification of a legal representative and the entity’s bylaws as supporting documentation for registration. VMW regulations require thatnames of religious entities be sufficiently distinguishable to avoid confusing worshippers. Once registered, religious and philosophicalgroups must update their registration on an annual basis and pay an annual fee of 70,000 guaranies ($10). Religious groups that registerare entitled to tax exemptions. The VMW may apply monetary and non-monetary administrative sanctions against organizations that failto register, including ordering the suspension of religious services and a fine of 2,200,000 guaranies ($300). The National Anti-Money-Laundering Secretariat requires that all religious organizations register as non-financial agents. Religious groups must demonstrate legalstatus as a nonprofit organization and agree to annual recertification. Annual recertification requires groups to resubmit the registrationform with updated information. Groups that fail to update their registration annually must pay a fine of 440,000 guaranies ($61).Religious leaders must submit to financial and criminal background checks. Foreign missionaries who are members of registered religiousgroups are eligible for no-cost residency visas from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Missionaries must also register annually with theVMW to receive official documentation identifying their status. Missionaries choosing not to register may enter the country on touristvisas.142Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, annual reregistration (fees are $9 which is half the original fee which is in alignment withRoRB standards on registration fees), excessive informational requirements, in-person completion of registration remains a majorobstacle (e.g. having to travel to Asunción to pay registration fees and pick up a registration certificate), mandatory reregistration(through a process called recertification), monitorial requirements (including an annual report), nominal restrictions (e.g. new groupsmay not called themselves 'Catholic' due to a lack of distinction from Catholic Church), non-recognition for all non-Catholic religionsand denominations. The VMW continued to focus on raising public awareness of the registration law through local radio, social media,and maintaining a continuous dialogue with all religious institutions; it stated it continued to implement the registration law consistentlyacross all religious groups. According to the VMW, once it received all required information and documents from a religious group, itcompleted the review process in 15 days. During the year, the VMW reported 49 new groups registered, bringing the total number ofreligious groups registered with the government to 670. According to the VMW, approximately 90 percent of all religious groups in thecountry were registered at year’s end. Although the VMW continued to offer electronic (email) registration, the requirement to travel toAsuncion to pay registration fees and pick up proof of registration remained a major barrier for submitting and renewing applications.VMW officials acknowledged the barrier and stated they were working on building an online registration system that would include apayment platform. Members of the Church of Jesus Christ decided not to register because they found the government registration processtoo cumbersome. The VMW continued to say it would be unable to approve ICCAN’s registration due to the inclusion of “Catholic” in itstitle, which the VMW asserted resulted in ICCAN’s name not being sufficiently distinguishable from the Roman Catholic Church. As ofyear’s end, ICCAN had not filed a complaint against VMW’s ruling. The government continued to support chaplaincy programs in thearmed forces that were open to all religious groups. The programs included the training of clergy to provide services to members of thearmed forces deployed either in combat zones or on peacekeeping missions. The government also continued to allow all registeredreligious groups to operate and provide their services in prisons for both adults and youth. During the year, however, only Roman Catholicand Protestant groups used this option. On June 30, the VMW hosted a National Interreligious Symposium open to all religious groupswith a presence in the country, regardless of registration status, on the topic of “Education on Family Values.” On December 1, the VMWhosted a second Symposium on the topic of “Values of Caring for the Elderly.”Human rights instruments: Paraguay is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP;Paraguay voted in favour of the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (not free; subject to registration); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free);pastoral services (free); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (free); public expression and observance (free);receiving donations (free); religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religious literature (free); religious andworship services (free); religious trade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of religion was affirmed in the latestrevised constitution from 2011.2024 RoRB Classification: ReceptivePeru, Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsEstablish distinct provisions for existential recognition separate from legal registration; establish a recognition agency that manages the establishedrecognition system independently of government; revoke state privilege or apply it to all religious groups.Secularity: Peru is officially a secular state (the Roman Catholic Church was disestablished in 1993);however, the latest revised constitution from 2021 recognises the Catholic Church as “an importantelement in the historical, cultural, and moral formation of Peru, and lends the church its cooperation”;theism was affirmed in the same revised constitution.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: unconditional registration – religious or belief organisations do not need to register with the government in order to operate legally inPeru. Registration with the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) is optional. The stated purpose of the registry is to promote a religious group’s integrity and to facilitatea productive relationship with the government. There is no minimum number of members required for a religious entity to register, but groups must havebeen resident in the country for at least seven years to qualify. Religious groups do not have to register to obtain institutional benefits, but registration grantsthem legal status (as a business or nongovernmental organization) and allows them to engage directly with the government in that capacity, facilitatingcommunication and potential requests for institutional benefits. Government regulations allow all religious groups, registered or not, to apply for taxexemptions and worker or resident visas directly with the pertinent government institutions. Registration is free, the process usually takes one week, and theMOJ helps groups complete the application forms. By law, the military and prison system may employ only Catholic clergy as chaplains, but other faiths andreligious groups may provide counsel to members of the military or prisoners. By law, all individuals employed by the armed forces, police, prisons, hospitals,and other public institutions, regardless of their religious affiliation, may practice their religion and request and benefit from the religious assistance ofsomeone of the same faith. The MOJ is responsible for engaging with religious groups, through the Office of Catholic Church Affairs or the Office ofInterconfessional Affairs for all other religious groups. Foreign religious workers, including Catholics, must apply for a visa through the National MigrationDirectorate (SNM) within the Ministry of Interior. If the religious group is registered with the MOJ, the SNM accepts this as proof the applicant group is areligious organization. If the group is not registered with the MOJ, the SNM makes its decision on a case-by-case basis.Recognition policy: an agreement (concordat) between the government and the Holy See confers on Catholic Church workers certain institutional privilegesin education, taxation, and immigration. A religious freedom law exempts Catholic Church buildings, houses, and other real estate holdings from propertytaxes. Other religious groups often must pay property taxes on their schools and clerical residences, depending on the municipal jurisdiction and whether thegroup seeks and/or receives tax-exempt status as a nonprofit organization. The law further exempts Catholic religious workers from taxes on internationaltravel. The government also exempts all work-related earnings of Catholic priests and bishops from income taxes.143Key restriction tools imposed: Catholic buildings and offices are exempt from taxation while even registered non-Catholic groups must still pay propertytaxes, different government offices deal with Catholic and non-Catholic registration procedures which implies procedures are different for whether a groupidentifies as part of the Catholic Church or not, it is essential that all groups are given the opportunity to establish bilateral cooperation agreements with thestate, non-recognition for all non-Catholic religions and denominations at the present time. During the year, the government’s registry listed 168 non-Catholic groups, compared with 174 in 2022. The reduction was reportedly due to groups opting not to maintain their registration rather than decisions by thegovernment to deregister any religious groups. The Union of Evangelical Christian Churches of Peru, a group that represents more than 20 evangelicalchurches, registered for the first time during the year. According to the MOJ, the government accepted and approved applications from all interested religiousgroups except for two, the International Stars and Sand Mission and the Jesus Christ the Missionary Ecumenical Foundation Church. Neither group met therequirement to have been based in the country for seven years. According to the MOJ’s Office of Catholic Affairs, the government provided an annual grant ofapproximately 2.6 million soles ($707,000) to the Catholic Church for stipends to Archbishops and pastors, in accordance with the concordat with the HolySee. The MOJ Director of Catholic Affairs said this annual amount had not changed since 1991. Financial aid provided by the government was distributedamong the 45 ecclesiastical jurisdictions around the country to support the maintenance and repair of Catholic infrastructure considered to hold significantcultural and historical value. Government funding also supported seminars, scholarships, and the payment of personal subsidies to some Catholic clergy andlaypersons employed by the Church. These individuals represented approximately 7 percent of the Catholic clergy and pastoral agents nationwide. Thegovernment did not provide stipends to other religious groups. The Interreligious Council met with the MOJ to advocate egalitarian treatment of religiousgroups, such as providing equal access to government benefits for all religious groups – including tax exemptions on income, imports, property, and sales,visas for religious workers, and the opportunity to serve as military chaplains. These were all benefits for which the Catholic Church automatically qualifiedbut for which other religious groups must apply. Non-Catholic religious leaders continued to say it was difficult for non-Catholic soldiers to find and attendnon-Catholic religious services because only Catholic chaplains could serve in the military. Evangelical missionaries noted longer waiting periods for visasduring the year, citing a lack of transparency in processing and approval procedures. They also stated that, while the registration process facilitatedcommunication with the government, the government continued to view evangelical groups as associations, not as churches, and did not afford them thesame privileges as the Catholic Church. Outside of Lima, the evangelical missionaries said, the Catholic Church had substantial influence in societal andpolitical dealings and more leeway – for example, through a centuries-old network of organizations from grassroots to the top levels of power, widely andimmediately recognizable by citizens – in overcoming obstacles to their local initiatives.Human rights instruments: Peru is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP; Peruvoted in favour of the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (not free; subject to registration); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free); privateexpression and observance (free); proselytism (free); public expression and observance (free); receiving donations (free); religious buildings (free);religious instruction (free); religious literature (free); religious and worship services (free); religious trade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of religion was affirmed in thelatest revised constitution from 2021.2024 RoRB Classification: ReceptivePhilippines, Republic of theFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsEstablish separate procedures for religious entity registration and then for existential recognition and legalregistration, all distinguished from the procedures established for secular and corporate entities; revoke the triennialreregistration policy and the other identified restriction tools such as secondary procedures, dual registration andexcessive informational requirements; to become Dynamic, the Filipino government would need to establish arecognition agency that would manage the newly established recognition system independently from government.Secularity: The Philippines is a secular state (the Roman Catholic Church wasdisestablished in 1898); theism was affirmed in the latest constitution from 1987.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: stipulatory registration – Philippine law does not mandate that religious or belief organisationsregister with the government in order to operate legally. The law requires organized religious groups to register withthe Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to establish tax-exemptstatus. Religious groups must submit their articles of faith and bylaws to the SEC to register as religious corporations.The SEC requires religious corporations to submit annual financial statements. The law does not specify penalties forfailure to register with the SEC. To register as a non-stock, nonprofit organization, religious groups must meet thebasic requirements for corporate registration with the BIR and request a tax exemption from the BIR. The basicrequirements for registration include a name verification of the religious corporation, articles of incorporation andbylaws, the name of a director, list of members, and a list of financial contributors. The BIR provides tax exemptions toestablished religious corporations that are then reviewed for renewal every three years. The BIR may fine religiouscorporations for the late filing of registrations or for failing to submit registration datasheets and financial statements.The NCMF’s Bureau of Pilgrimage and Endowment is responsible for administering logistics for the Hajj, such asobtaining flight schedules, administering vaccines, coordinating with the Department of Foreign Affairs to process Hajjpassports, filing Hajj visa applications at the Saudi Arabia embassy, and conducting pre-departure orientations forpilgrims. The NCMF also administers the awqaf (an endowment for the upkeep of Islamic properties and institutions)and continues to oversee the establishment and maintenance of Islamic centers and other projects.144Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, dual registration (both the Securities and Exchange Commission and theBureau of Internal Revenue are involved in registration, excessive informational requirements (e.g. a list of members),fines imposed for non-compliance of stringent registration procedures, monitorial requirements (annual financialstatements), secondary procedure, reregistration every three years. Muslim officials continued to report that whileMuslim prisoners were allowed to engage in religious observances, Roman Catholic masses were often broadcast byloudspeaker to the entire prison population.Human rights instruments: the Philippines is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, theUNCRC, and the UNDRIP; the Philippines favoured in favour of the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services(free); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (free); public expression and observance (free);receiving donations (free); religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religious literature (free); religiousand worship services (free); religious trade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of religion wasaffirmed in the latest constitution from 1987.2024 RoRB Classification: ReceptivePoland,Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsRevoke state privilege for the Catholic Church except if such privileges are also equally bestowed to all religious denominations; establish arevitalised recognition system that has the capacity to bestow both existential recognition and legal registration to all belief systems and theirderivatives sufficiently and appropriately and at multiple levels of operation and activity; to become Dynamic, the Polish government would needto establish a recognition agency that would manage the newly established recognition system independently from government; revoke theexcessive informational requirements and the membership quota.Secularity: Poland is officially a secular state (the Roman CatholicChurch was disestablished in 1947); the Roman Catholic Church isthe only religious denomination to be mentioned in the constitutionin reference to its concordat with the government; theism wasaffirmed in the latest constitution from 1997.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: stipulatory registration – Polish law does not mandate that religious or belief organisations register with the government tooperate legally in the country. Religious groups not covered by specific legislation may register with the Minister of Interior and Administration(MIA), but registration is not obligatory. To register, the law requires a group to submit a notarised application with the personal information of atleast 100 citizen members; details regarding the group’s activities in the country; background on the group’s doctrine and practices; a charter andphysical address; identifying information about its leaders; a description of the role of the clergy, if applicable; and information on funding sourcesand methods of new member recruitment. If the ministry rejects the registration application, religious groups may file another application with theministry or appeal to an administrative court. By law, the permissible grounds for refusal of an application are failure to meet formal requirementsor inclusion in the application of provisions that may violate public safety and order, health, public morality, parental authority or freedom, andrights of other persons. Unregistered groups may worship, proselytise, publish, or import religious literature freely and bring in foreignmissionaries, but they have no legal recognition and are unable to undertake certain functions such as owning property or holding bank accounts intheir name. In addition to having the right to own property and open bank accounts, the 190 registered and statutorily recognized religious groupsand organizations receive other privileges not available to unregistered groups, such as the right to teach religion in schools and selective taxbenefits, including exemptions from import tariffs and property and income taxes on their educational, scientific, cultural, and legal activities. Theirofficial representatives are also exempt from income and property taxes.Recognition policy: in accordance with the law, the government and the Roman Catholic Church participate in the Joint Government-EpiscopateCommittee, cochaired by the MIA and a bishop, currently the Archbishop of Krakow, which meets regularly to discuss Catholic Church-staterelations. The government also participates in a joint government-Polish Ecumenical Council committee, cochaired by an MIA undersecretary andthe head of the Polish Ecumenical Council (an association composed of seven denominations and two religious associations, all of them non-RomanCatholic Christian), that meets to discuss issues related to minority Christian churches operating in the country. In addition, there are separate jointcommittees consisting of government representatives and representatives of the Evangelical Alliance, Lutheran Church, and Polish OrthodoxChurch. Separate laws govern the relationship of each of 15 religious groups with the state, outlining the structure of that relationship andprocedures for communal property restitution. The 15 religious groups are the Roman Catholic Church, Polish Orthodox Church, Evangelical-Augsburg (Lutheran) Church, Evangelical Reformed Church, Methodist Church, Baptist Church, Seventh-day Adventist Church, Polish NationalCatholic Church, Pentecostal Church, Union of Jewish Communities in Poland, Mariavite Church, Old Catholic Mariavite Church, Old EasternOrthodox Church, Muslim Religious Union, and Karaim Religious Union. Marriages performed by officials from 11 of these groups do not requirefurther registration at a civil registry office; however, the Mariavite Church, Muslim Religious Union, Karaim Religious Union, and Old EasternOrthodox Church do not have that right. There are an additional 170 registered religious groups and five aggregate religious organizations (thePolish Ecumenical Council, Polish Buddhist Union, Biblical Society, Evangelical Alliance, and Council of Protestant Churches) for which there are noindividual statutes defining their relationship with the state. The status of these groups and organizations is regulated under the Law on Guaranteesfor Freedom of Conscience and Religion.145Key restriction tools imposed: excessive informational requirements are requested as part of registration procedures (including personalinformation of at least 100 citizen members), it is essential that all religious groups are given access to bilateral cooperation agreements,membership quota. Citing various deficiencies in the applications, the MIA denied the registration of four religious groups during the year: theChurch of the Risen (applied in 2020), the Shekinah Christian Church (applied in 2021), Vedic Society Religious Union (applied in 2021), and the“Wisdom of Nature” Church (applied in 2022). In addition, ruling the applicants did not meet the criteria for registering as a religious group, theMIA discontinued the administrative proceedings to register the Kriya Yoga Spiritual Path (applied in 2019), “Tsechen Menri Ling” organization(applied in 2021), and Church of People of the Sun (applied in 2021) and refused to initiate the registration procedure for the Polish Union of EarlyBuddhism (applied in 2022). During the year, the MIA removed the Hatha Yoga Union “Gate to Yoga” group from the registry at the request of thegroup. In January, the MIA upheld its earlier decision to discontinue the registration procedure of the Self-Family group (also known as FriendshipFamily, which applied in 2020). In March, the group filed an appeal with the Warsaw Administrative Court. On April 6, the MIA sent a response to thecourt, requesting that it dismiss the complaint. At year’s end, the court had not ruled on the case.Human rights instruments: Poland is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, andthe UNDRIP; Poland abstained from voting on the UDHR; Poland is partied to the ECHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free); private expression andobservance (free); proselytism (free); public expression and observance (free); receiving donations (free); religious buildings (free); religiousinstruction (free); religious literature (free); religious and worship services (free); religious trade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of religion wasaffirmed in the latest constitution from 1997.2024 RoRB Classification: RestrictivePortugueseRepublicFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsReorganise the CLR as a recognition agency independent of government control yet retaining the authority of government in matters ofreligious freedom and religious recognition; revoke the existence of vertical recognition and longevity quotas.Secularity: Portugal is a secular state (the Roman Catholic Church was disestablished in1910); the Roman Catholic Church receives exclusive privileges and special status.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: pseudo-mandatory registration – although Portuguese law states that registration for religious or belieforganisations with the government is not mandatory, the fact that only clergy belonging to registered religions may provide pastoral careto members in prisons, hospitals and military facilities makes registration in effect mandatory as the performance of pastoral care toreligious adherents is a fundamental religious function. All religious groups with an organized presence in the country may apply forregistration with the registrar of religious corporate bodies in the Ministry of Justice (MOJ). According to the Religious FreedomCommission (CLR), there are 99 registered religious groups in the country, compared to 92 in 2022, and 50 in 2011. The requirements forregistration include providing the organization’s official name, which must be distinguishable from all other religious corporate bodies inthe country; the organizing documents of the church or religious community associated with the group applying for registration; theaddress of the organization’s registered main office in the country; a statement of the group’s religious purposes; documentation of theorganization’s assets; information on the organization’s formation, composition, rules, and activities; provisions for dissolution of theorganization; and the appointment method and powers of the organization’s representatives. Subsidiary or affiliated organizations maybe included in the parent group’s application; if not included, they must register separately. The MOJ may reject a registration applicationif it fails to meet legal requirements, includes false documentation, or violates the constitutional right of religious freedom. If the MOJrejects an application, religious groups may appeal to the CLR within 30 days of receiving the ministry’s decision. Religious groups mayregister as religious corporations and receive tax-exempt status. Registered groups have the right to minister in prisons, hospitals, andmilitary facilities; provide religious teaching in public schools; access broadcasting time on public television and radio; and receivenational recognition of religious holidays. The government certifies religious ministers, who receive all the benefits of the social securitysystem. Chaplaincies for military services, prisons, and hospitals are state-funded positions open to all registered religious groups,although chaplains are predominantly Catholic. A taxpayer may allocate 5 percent of income tax payments to any registered religiousgroup. Religious groups may organise in a variety of forms that have national, regional, or local character. A denomination may organizeas one national church or religious community or as several regional or local churches or religious communities. An international churchor religious community may establish a representative organization of its adherents separate from the branch of the church or religiouscommunity existing in the country. A registered church or religious community may create subsidiary or affiliated organizations, such asassociations, foundations, or federations. Religious groups may also register as unincorporated associations or private corporations,which allows them to receive the same benefits granted to religious corporations. The same process as for religious corporations appliesfor registering as unincorporated associations or private corporations. There are no practical differences between them other thaninternal administration. Unregistered religious groups are not subject to penalties and may practice their religion but do not receive thebenefits associated with registration. By law, religious groups registered in the country for at least 30 years or “internationallyrecognized” for 60 years may obtain the higher registration status of a “religion settled in the country.” To show they qualify for thisstatus, religious groups must demonstrate an “organized social presence” for the required length of time. These groups receivegovernment subsidies based on the number of their members; may conclude “mutual interest” agreements with the state on issues suchas education, culture, or other forms of cooperation; and may celebrate marriages that are recognized by the state legal system. Thegovernment has mutual interest agreements with Jewish and Islamic religious bodies and a concordat with the Holy See that serves thesame function for the Catholic Church.Recognition policy: the CLR is an independent, consultative body to parliament and the government, established by law. Its membersinclude two representatives of the Portuguese Episcopal Conference (Roman Catholic); representatives of three religious groups (theEvangelical Alliance, the Islamic Community of Lisbon, and the Jewish Community of Lisbon) appointed by the MOJ; and five laypersons,three of whom are affiliated with the Ismaili Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhist communities. The Council of Ministers appoints its president.The CLR reviews and opines on all matters relating to the application of the law on religious freedom, including proposed amendments.The CLR notifies the relevant authorities, including the President, parliament, and other government officials, regarding cases involvingreligious freedom and discrimination, such as restrictions or prohibitions on the right to assemble or hold religious services, destructionor desecration of religious property, assaults on lay members and clergy, incitement of religious discord, hate speech, and violations ofthe rights of foreign missionaries. Most prisons, state and private hospitals, and military services designated Catholic priests to providechaplaincy services, but these positions were open to clergy of all religious groups.146Key restriction tools imposed: excessive informational requirements, it is essential that bilateral cooperation agreements with thePortuguese state are made available to all religious groups, religion settled in the country (including ambiguous qualifications andlongevity quotas), subsidiary and affiliated organisations with a religious groups must undergo separate registration procedures if theyare not registered when their parent organisation is registered.Human rights instruments: Portugal is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP;Portugal did not vote on the UDHR; Portugal is partied to the ECHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (not free; subject toregistration); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (not free; broadcasting subject to registration); public expressionand observance (free); receiving donations (free); religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religious literature (free);religious and worship services (free); religious trade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of religion was affirmed in thelatest revised constitution from 2005.2024 RoRB Classification: CensoriousQatar, State ofFoRB Claim: Partial claim is made that excludes the right to proselytise andconstricts FoRB to a sharia interpretation.RecommendationsComplete dismantlement of the present apparatus that censoriously restricts religious activity; repeal the series of laws that censor non-Islamic religion and belief; revoke therule of mandatory registration for non-Islamic groups; to become Receptive, establish a recognition system that is inclusive of at least all established or traditional beliefsystems and be able to bestow existential recognition and legal registration simultaneously and at different levels of activity; to become Dynamic, this system would need toalso be inclusive of NRMs or non-traditional belief systems.Secularity: Islam is the state religion; state privilege (Wahhabism); blasphemy laws only protect religions consideredAbrahamic including only Christianity, Islam and Judaism; theism is affirmed in the monarchical and ministerial oaths; theEmir must be Muslim.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: broad mandatory registration – all non-Islamic religious or belief organisations must register with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) to operate legally in Qatar. The lawonly recognises expatriates as belonging to non-Islamic groups. The only registered religious groups are Sunni and Shia Muslims and eight Christian denominations: the Roman Catholic,Anglican, Greek Orthodox, Syrian Orthodox, Coptic Orthodox, Maronite, evangelical Protestant, and the Interdenominational Christian Churches. Protestant denominations other than theregistered eight denominations, including nondenominational house churches, may register with the MFA with the CCSC’s support. Registered groups may hold bank accounts in theorganisation’s name, apply for property to build worship spaces (or have already built structures, such as private villas, recognized as worship spaces), import religious texts such as Bibles orQurans, and publish religious newsletters or flyers for internal distribution. Unregistered entities are unable to open accounts, solicit funds, acquire religious texts from outside the country,publish religiously themed newsletters or pamphlets, or legally hire staff. Unregistered religious groups are illegal, but authorities generally permit them to practice their faith in private. Thelaw restricts public worship for non-Islamic faiths. It prohibits non-Muslim religious groups from displaying religious symbols, which includes banning Christian congregations fromadvertising religious services or placing crosses outdoors where they are visible to the public. The law criminalizes establishing or running an organization aimed at opposing or challengingIslam or promoting another religion and provides for punishment of up to 10 years in prison. Proselytizing on one’s own accord for any religion other than Islam may result in a sentence of up tofive years’ imprisonment. The law calls for two years’ imprisonment and a fine of 10,000 riyals ($2,700) for possession of written or recorded materials or items that support or promotemissionary activity. The government regulates the publication, importation, and distribution of all religious books and materials. The government reviews, censors, or bans foreign newspapers,magazines, films, and books for objectionable sexual, religious, and political content. Registered religious groups may publish newsletters without government censorship but may onlydistribute them internally within their respective communities. Public bookstores are not allowed to sell Bibles. To import religious materials, groups must submit one copy to the Ministry ofCulture and receive written approval before making large orders or risk having the entire shipment confiscated. The only religions registered to have their own places of worship are Islam andChristianity. All mosques and Islamic institutions in the country, including Shia husseiniyas (congregation halls), must be registered with the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs(MEIA). The law designates the MEIA minister as the final authority for approving Islamic religious centers. The MFA approves Christian churches in coordination with the private office of theEmir. The Office of the Secretary General of the MFA, working in coordination with the director of the MFA’s Human Rights Department, is responsible for handling church affairs. A non-Muslim woman is not required by law to convert to Islam when marrying a Muslim; however, the law considers offspring of such a marriage to be Muslim. The law dictates that a non-Muslimman marrying a Muslim woman must convert to Islam. Marriages between two Muslims are performed at the Sharia Court in the Supreme Judicial Council. Marriages for religious minoritiesregistered with the MFA – currently only Christian churches – may be performed by clergy recognized by the MFA and then registered with the Office of Land Registration and Legalization atthe Ministry of Justice. Religious minorities not registered or not recognized by the MFA – including members of the Baha’i, Hindu, Sikh, and Jewish faiths, and atheists – must get marriedabroad to receive marriage certificates and then undertake a legal process, first in the foreign country and then in Qatar, culminating with the MFA attesting to the certificate. There is no civilmarriage.147Key restriction tools imposed: criminalisation of unregistration (illegal for unregistered groups to hold religious services and to import their literature), religion by default, state definition ofreligion, restrictive system of patronage in which groups must belong to a patron organisation to operate legally, state-sanctioned religious organisations, strict state regulation of religiousactivity (e.g. the state oversees construction of mosques, hiring of imams, and provides guidance for sermons), unofficial prohibition of the Baha'i Faith, vertical recognition (Islam statereligion, recognised groups and unrecognised groups; a form of verticalism). Conversion to another religion from Islam is defined by the law as apostasy and is illegal, although there havebeen no recorded punishments for apostasy since the country’s independence in 1971. According to the penal code, all individuals regardless of religious affiliation seen eating or drinkingduring daylight hours during Ramadan are subject to a fine of 3,000 riyals ($800), three months’ imprisonment, or both. By law, a deceased person must be either buried within the country orthe body repatriated to the home country. The law does not permit cremation. On March 20, the Baha’i International Community, which represents the worldwide Baha’i Community, issued astatement addressed to the UN Human Rights Council and reminding Qatari authorities “of their obligations to guarantee the rights of all to freely practice the religion of their choice withoutany fear of punishment.” Making reference to the UN special rapporteur on freedom of religion and belief’s emphasis on the role of the state in protecting the rights of religious minorities, theBaha’i International Community wrote that “Qatar is slowly pursuing a number of actions which will ultimately lead to the eradication of one of its religious minorities from society: themembers of the Baha’i Faith, many of whom were born in Qatar and whose families have been there for generations.” According to the statement, “many Baha’is find out that they have beenblacklisted when they seek to renew their residency permits or try to obtain a certificate of good conduct in order to change jobs” and, “in reality, their only ‘crime’ is their belief in the Baha’iFaith!” The statement mentions the Baha’i International Community’s repeated but failed attempts to meet with government authorities. In November 2023, the government gave permissionto the Evangelical Church Alliance in Qatar (ECAQ) to build a church at the Mesaymeer Religious Complex, also known as “Church City” and located on government-owned land, allocating aplot of land for construction of the church. Sixty villa churches were registered with the Ministry of Interior as worshipping under ECAQ’s umbrella. During the year, the government reiteratedit would consider requests from nonregistered religious groups to acquire a place of worship if they applied to register but, as in previous years, it said none had done so. Members of the Hinducommunity stated they were largely pleased that there was no government interference in the community’s private expressions of faith; however, they said they would like a formallyrecognized place of Hindu worship. The MEIA continued to hire Sunni and Shia clerics and assign them to specific mosques. The ministry continued to provide, on an ad hoc basis, thematicguidance for Friday sermons, focusing mainly on Islamic rituals and social values, with clear restrictions against using pulpits to express political views or to attack other faiths. The ministryreviewed the content of all sermons but did not require clerics to obtain prior approval of their sermons. The government reserved the right to take judicial action, ranging from counseling tosuspension or dismissal, of individuals who did not follow the guidance. Representatives of the Islamic Cultural Center in Doha (Fanar Mosque) reported they provided some points on Islamicteaching on the dignity of persons with disabilities for sermons. According to the MEIA, as of 2021 (the latest figure available), there were approximately 2,300 mosques in the country.Government officials estimated as many as 10 of these were Shia mosques, although online sources stated the number was closer to 15. Officials stated the MEIA did not allow foreign fundingfor the building or upkeep of Shia mosques or other community facilities. According to members of the Hindu community, because the law did not permit cremation, which Hinduismtraditionally requires within 24 hours of a death, funeral rites, called antyesti, were difficult to arrange. Although the law prohibits Christian groups from advertising religious services,Christian churches continued to post hours of services and other information on publicly accessible websites; however, the government continued to prohibit them from publishing suchinformation in local newspapers or on public bulletin boards. Church leaders and religious groups said individuals habitually practiced self-censorship when expressing religious views onlineand relied mostly on word of mouth, church websites, social media platforms, and email newsletters to distribute information about religious groups’ activities. The government maintainedits policy of reviewing, censoring, or banning newspapers, magazines, books, and social media for “objectionable” religious content, such as an attack on Islamic values or depictions of theProphet Muhammad. The government-controlled internet service provider, Ooredoo, censored religious internet content through a proxy server that monitored and blocked websites, email,and voice over internet protocol platforms, including Skype and FaceTime. Journalists and publishers said they continued to practice self-censorship due to political or economic pressuresregarding material the government might consider denigrating to Islam. The Mesaymeer Religious Complex continued to provide worship space for the eight registered Christiandenominations, with clear government instructions that Christian symbols such as crosses, steeples, and statues were not permitted on the exterior of church buildings. The Anglican Centerwithin the Mesaymeer Religious Complex housed several other smaller denominations and offered space to 88 congregations of different denominations and languages. According to churchleaders, approximately 100,000 expatriate Christians continued to attend weekly services at the Mesaymeer Religious Complex. Representatives of the CCSC reported overcrowding in sevenbuildings in the complex, and they noted difficulties with parking, access, and time-sharing of worship space. In addition to the permanent buildings, the government allowed the churches toerect tents during Easter and Christmas outside the primary complex to accommodate additional congregants. The government continued to enforce strict security measures at the complex,including closing parking lots, setting a curfew on church access, using metal detectors, and x-raying bags. Ministry of Interior security personnel asked churchgoers to show identification atthe gates because non-Christians, whether expatriates or citizens, were prohibited access to the complex. The government continued its ban on worship outside the complex. The CCSCcontinued to report that Christian clergy were allowed to visit members of their congregations when they were hospitalized and to conduct monthly trips to both male and female prisons tomeet with incarcerated Christians. Church leaders again reported the government limited their ability to collect and distribute funds for charity, including through restrictions on the numberand type of bank accounts churches could hold, as well as through reporting requirements on donors and on contractors doing business with churches. Some smaller unregistered churchesreportedly used the personal accounts of religious leaders for church activities. During the year, representatives of the Baha’i Faith community reported they were experiencing increasedgovernment intimidation. A Baha’i community leader stated that several Baha’i foreign residents were denied security clearances or certificates of good conduct by the government whenoffered new jobs and indicated that they believed this was because of their religious beliefs. Another was fired from his job without notice. Many said they had to leave the country, with oneBaha’i characterizing the government’s actions towards this group as “economic strangulation.” Members of the Baha’i Faith community said they continued to seek internal lines ofcommunication with the government to resolve tension but were unable to meet with government officials during the year.Human rights instruments: Qatar is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP; Qatar did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (not free; illegal to convert from Islam); hieroncy (not free; preapproval required); monasticism (not free; restricted); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free;restricted); pastoral services (not free; restricted); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (not free; both public and private non-Islamic forms are illegal);public expression and observance (not free; restricted); receiving donations (not free; restricted); religious buildings (not free; the only religions allowed places of worship areIslam and Christianity); religious instruction (not free; restricted); religious literature (not free; restricted; preapproval required); religious and worship services (not free;subject to registration); religious trade (not free; restricted).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of religion was affirmed in the latest constitution from 2003.2024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveRomaniaFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsEstablish a reorganised recognition system that is based on horizontal recognition rather than vertical; establish a recognition agency that would manage the reorganisedrecognition system in a way that is independent of the government; ongoing discrimination and harassment against religious minorities should be resolve through moresophisticated means of religious education, mutual recognition of religion and belief, and government campaigns supporting diversity and religious pluralism; revoke therestriction tools identified in the current registration system.Secularity: Romania is officially a secular state (the Romanian OrthodoxChurch was disestablished in 1947 but is still recognised as the nationalchurch); however, the law on religious freedom recognises the “importantrole of the Romanian Orthodox Church,” as well as the role of “otherchurches and denominations as recognised by the national history” of thecountry; theism is affirmed in the presidential oath.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: pseudo-mandatory registration – although Romanian law does not formally mandate that religious or belief organisations register with the governmentin order to operate legally in the country, registration is required for religious or belief organisations to publish or import religious literature which is a fundamental function ofa religious group and so registration becomes in effect mandatory. The provisions of the law devoted to religion stipulate a three-tier system of religious classification, with“religious denominations” at the highest level, followed by “religious associations” and “religious groups” at the most basic level. Organizations in the top two tiers are legalentities, while religious groups are not. Civil society associations established under separate provisions of the law governing associations and foundations may also engage inreligious activities and have the status of legal entities. The constitution states religious denominations shall be autonomous and enjoy state support, including the facilitationof religious assistance in the army, hospitals, penitentiaries, retirement homes, and orphanages. Only clergy members of recognized religious denominations may be hired bythe government as military or prison chaplains. Regulations state clergy members of religious associations may be granted access to prisons on a case-by-case basis in certainconditions. There are no similar regulations for religious groups. The law forbids public authorities or private legal entities from asking individuals to specify their religion,except for the census. By law, there are 18 religious organizations recognized as “religious denominations,” all of which were in existence at the time the law on religion wasenacted in 2006: the ROC, Orthodox Serb Bishopric of Timisoara, Roman Catholic Church, Greek Catholic Church, Old Rite Russian Christian (Orthodox) Church, Reformed(Protestant) Church, Christian Evangelical Church, Romanian Evangelical Church, Evangelical Augustan Church, Evangelical Lutheran Church, Unitarian Church, BaptistChurch, Pentecostal Church, Seventh-day Adventist Church, Armenian Apostolic Church, Federation of Jewish Communities, Muslim Denomination (Islam), and Jehovah’sWitnesses. Additional organizations seeking recognition as religious denominations must demonstrate 12 years of continuous activity after 2006A religious association is theneligible to apply for the status of religious denomination if it has a membership of at least 0.1 percent of the population as counted in the most recent census (i.e., approximately19,000 persons per the 2021 census). The law defines a religious association as an organization of at least 300 citizens who share and practice the same faith and has attainedlegal status through registration with the Registry of Religious Associations in the office of the clerk of the court where the main branch of the association is located. Toregister, religious associations must submit to the government their founding members’ personal data (e.g., names, addresses, personal identification numbers, andsignatures), which the law says the government may not share with other public institutions or use in any other way. To operate as religious associations, organizations alsorequire approval from the National Secretariat for Religious Denominations, which is under the authority of the Office of the Prime Minister. The law defines a religious groupas a group of individuals sharing the same beliefs. Religious groups do not have to register to practice their religion, including in public, and do not need approval from thenational secretariat to operate. Civil society associations engaged in religious activities function like secular associations and foundations; however, they do not receive thesame benefits as religious denominations or religious associations. These associations do not require approval from the National Secretariat for Religious Denominations tooperate. Their registration falls under the provisions of law governing the establishment of foundations, associations, and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), whichrequire a minimum membership of three individuals. Such civil society associations are not required to submit members’ personal data. Under the constitution, each of thecountry’s 18 recognized ethnic minorities, including Jews, who in some laws are categorized as an ethnic group and in others as a religious group, is entitled to a representativein the Chamber of Deputies. For a deputy to be elected, however, an organization is required, to receive votes equal to 5 percent of the national average number of votes cast bydistrict and any citizen, regardless of religious affiliation, may vote for them. The list of organizations that benefit from these provisions is limited to those belonging to theNational Council of Minorities, which consists of organizations already in parliament. Religious denominations are eligible for state financial and other support. They have theright to teach religion classes in public schools, receive government funds to build places of worship, pay clergy salaries partially with state funds, broadcast religiousprogramming on radio and television, and apply for broadcasting licenses for their own stations. Under the law, the amount of state funding a denomination receives isdetermined by the number of adherents reported in the most recent census, as well as by “the religious denomination’s actual needs,” which the law does not define. Religiousassociations do not receive government funding and do not have the right to teach religion in public schools, but both they and religious denominations receive tax exemptionson income and buildings used for religious, educational, or other social purposes. Religious groups do not receive either government funding or tax exemptions. Both religiousdenominations and religious associations may own or rent property, publish or import religious literature, proselytise, establish and operate schools or hospitals, owncemeteries, and receive tax exemptions on income and buildings used for religious, educational, or other social purposes. Religious groups have no legal status to engage insuch activities. Civil society associations engaged in religious activities may engage in religious worship and own cemeteries. While they do not receive the same tax exemptionsor other benefits granted to religious denominations and religious associations, they may receive the tax advantages and other benefits accruing to civil society associationsand foundations. Legal provisions allow local authorities to fund places of worship and theological schools belonging to religious denominations, including providing fundingfor staff salaries and building maintenance, renovation, and conservation or construction of places of worship. The government funds theological schools through the samemechanism available for other pre-university schools. No similar provisions exist for religious associations or other associations engaged in religious activities; however, theseassociations may receive funding through legal provisions for civil society associations and foundations. The law allows clergy from recognized religious denominations tominister to military personnel. Clergy may function within the Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Interior, Intelligence Service, Foreign Intelligence Service, Protection and GuardService, Special Telecommunications Service, and General Directorate for Penitentiaries. Under various other arrangements, clergy of recognized religious denominations, andin some cases religious associations, may enter hospitals, orphanages, and retirement homes to undertake religious activities. Religious denominations and religiousassociations may undertake activities in penitentiaries, subject to approval by the institution’s director. The law forbids proselytizing in public and private schools. If teachersproselytise, the school management determines the appropriate disciplinary action based on the conclusions of an internal committee. The religion of a child who has turned 14may not be changed without the child’s consent; after age 14, individuals have the right to choose their religion. The law allows religious workers from legally recognizedreligious organizations to enter and remain in the country under an extended-stay visa. Visa applicants must receive approval from the State Secretariat for Religious Affairsand submit evidence they represent religious organizations legally established in the country. The secretariat may extend such visas for up to five years. There is no quota orother limit on the total number of visas for foreign religious workers.148Key restriction tools imposed: different registration procedures exist for different categories of religious groups each of which also possess different benefits of registration,excessive informational requirements (including having to submit the personal data of members), longevity quota, membership quota (300 citizens), onerous registrationprocedures, vertical recognition (verticalism). As of year’s end, the government had not approved any applications for religious association status, compared with approvingfour such applications in 2022. As of year’s end, 44 entities were registered as religious associations. The religious association Assemblies of God – Romania reported that thegovernment did not grant it religious denomination status despite submitting the required documentation in 2022. The State Secretariat for Religious Denomination reportedthe decision was delayed because repeated changes in the government impeded the required interagency process and Cabinet decision. Some small religious groups continuedto state they viewed the 300-person membership requirement and the need to submit their founding members’ personal data for registration as a religious association asdiscriminatory because other types of associations required only three members and did not have to submit members’ personal data. They again criticized the three-tierclassification system for religious organizations, particularly the minimum number of members required, pointing out that some denomination previously registered havefewer members. The government reported all military chaplains continued to be Romanian Orthodox priests, with the exceptions of one Roman Catholic priest and one pastorfrom the Evangelical Alliance. The Seventh-day Adventist Church reported several public hospitals rejected requests by Seventh-day Adventist employees to take a day off onSaturday. The State Secretariat for Religious Denominations continued to provide funding for cultural events organized by religious denominations and for publication ofseveral books on the history and heritage of religious groups in the country.Human rights instruments: Romania is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, and the UNCRC; Romania wasabsent during voting on the UNDRIP; Romania did not vote on the UDHR; Romania is partied to the ECHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (not free; subject to registration for propagational use); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (not free;subject to registration); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (not free; subject to registration); public expression and observance (free); receiving donations(free); religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religious literature (not free; subject to registration); religious and worship services (free); religious trade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of religion wasaffirmed in the latest constitution from 2003.2024 RoRB Classification: TerminalRussian FederationFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsDismantlement of the present abuse of recognition and registration that are used roundly to restrict religious activity; establish a reorganised recognition system that is inclusive of all belief systems and their derivatives; remove stateprivilege for the Russian Orthodox Church, especially to disable its political power and its power to influence laws on religious groups; revoke restriction tools and related policies identified as part of this report that unjustly control religiousactivity.Secularity: Russia is officially a secular state (the Russian Orthodox Church was disestablished in 1917 but is recognised today as thenational church); however, the law recognises the “special role” of Russian Orthodox Christianity in the country’s “history and theformation and development of its spirituality and culture”; Buddhism, Christianity, Islam and Judaism are also recognised in law asthe “traditional” religions of Russia; theism was affirmed in the latest revised constitution from 2014.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: broad mandatory registration – Russian law mandates that all religious or belief organisations with a membership of ten people or more must register with the government to operate legally in Russia. The law createsthree categories of religious associations with different levels of legal status and privileges: “religious groups,” “local religious organizations” (LROs), and “centralized religious organizations” (CROs). Religious groups or organizations maybe subject to legal dissolution or deprivation of legal status by a court decision on grounds including violations of standards set forth in the constitution or protection of public security. A “religious group” is the most basic unit and does notrequire registration with the government. When a group first begins its activities, however, it must notify authorities, typically the regional ministry of justice, of the location of its activity, its rites and ceremonies, and its leader(s) andmembers. A religious group may conduct worship services and rituals and teach religion to its members with requisite notification to authorities. It does not have legal status to open a bank account, own property, issue invitations to foreignguests, publish literature, receive tax benefits, or conduct worship services in prisons, state-owned hospitals, or the armed forces. To hold services, a religious group may use property bought by its members for the group’s use, residentialproperty owned or rented by its members, or public spaces rented by its members. A law that took effect in December 2022 expands the scope of the country’s foreign agent law, which previously required the government to show that anindividual or organization had received financial or material assistance from a foreign source. According to some Russian scholars, the new law is vaguer than the previous law in the definition of a “foreign influence,” defining foreigninfluence as “the provision of support by a foreign source to a person or influencing a person including by coercion, persuasion, or other means.” The law requires organizations falling under its coverage to publicly identify themselves asforeign agents, which critics say is intended to discredit them. An LRO may register with the Justice Ministry if it has at least 10 citizen members who are 18 or older and are permanently residing in the region where the LRO applies to register.LROs have legal status and may open bank accounts, own property, issue invitation letters to foreign guests, publish literature, receive tax benefits, and conduct worship services in prisons, hospitals, and the armed forces. CROs may registerwith the ministry at the regional or federal level by combining at least three LROs of the same denomination. LROs and CROs may invite foreign citizens to carry out professional religious activities. LROs and CROs may produce, acquire,export, import, and distribute religious literature in printed, audio, or video format, as well as “other religious items.” By law, LROs and CROs may not participate in political campaigns or the activities of political parties or movements orprovide material or other aid to political groups. This restriction applies to religious organizations but not to their individual members. To register as an LRO or CRO, an association must provide the following: a list of the organization’sfounders and governing body with addresses and “internal passport” data (the mandatory identity document for all citizens older than the age of 14 residing in the country); the organization’s charter; the minutes of the founding meeting;certification from the CRO (in the case of LROs); a description of the organization’s doctrine, practices, history, and attitudes toward family, marriage, and education; the organization’s legal address; a certificate of payment of governmentdues; and the charter or registration papers of the governing body in the case of organizations whose main offices are located abroad. Authorities may deny registration for reasons including incorrect paperwork, failure to meet administrativerequirements, national security reasons, or placement on the list of extremist or terrorist organizations. Denial of registration may be appealed in court. By law, CROs and LROs receiving funding from abroad must report an account of theiractivities, a list of leaders, the source of foreign funding, and plans for how the organization intends to use the foreign funds or property obtained through foreign funding. Reports are annual by default, but the Justice Ministry may requireadditional ad hoc reports. The Expert Religious Studies Council, a committee established by the Ministry of Justice to advise it on religious groups, has wide powers to investigate religious organizations. Some of the council’s powers includereviewing organizations’ activities and literature and determining whether an organization is “extremist.” The law provides several examples of extremist activities, such as “incitement to violence,” but does not precisely define howorganizations or religious materials may be classified as “extremist.” The council also advises the ministry on the issue of granting religious organization status to a religious group. Foreign religious organizations (those created outside ofthe country under foreign laws) have the right to open offices for representational purposes, either independently or as part of religious organizations previously established in the country, but they may not form or found their own religiousorganizations in the country and may not operate houses of worship. The government (the Ministry of Justice or the Prosecutor General’s Office) oversees a religious organization’s compliance with the law and may review its financial andregistration-related documents when conducting an inspection or investigation. With advance notice, the government may send representatives to attend a religious association’s events, conduct an annual review of compliance with theassociation’s mission statement on file with the government, and review its religious literature to decide whether the literature is extremist. The law contains ongoing reporting requirements on financial and economic activity, fundingsources, and compliance with antiterrorist and anti-extremist legislation. The government may obtain a court order to close those associations that do not comply with reporting or other legal requirements. The law allows the government tolimit the places where prayer and public religious observance may be conducted without prior approval. LROs and CROs may conduct religious services and ceremonies without prior approval in buildings and facilities or on lands owned orrented by these associations, as well as in cemeteries, crematoria, places of pilgrimage, and living quarters. Baptism ceremonies in rivers and lakes, as well as services conducted in parks, open spaces, or courtyards, do not fall under thisexemption. In these cases, LROs and CROs must seek government approval at least one week in advance and provide the government with the names of organizers and participants, as well as copies of any written materials to be used at theevent. A prime ministerial decree requires religious organizations to conform to specific counterterrorism measures to qualify for safety permits for their real property. Among other requirements, all facilities must be guarded during servicesby members of public organizations. A public organization is defined as a membership-based organization of individuals who associate on the basis of common interests and goals stipulated in the organization’s charter. Facilities withmaximum building occupancy limits of between 500 and 1,000 persons must have “panic buttons” and video surveillance systems. Buildings with occupancy limits of more than 1,000 must be guarded by private security guards or NationalGuard personnel. Religious groups are responsible for defraying the costs of these measures. The penalty for noncompliance is a fine of up to 100,000 rubles ($1,100). The Ministry of Defense chaplaincy program only allows for chaplainsrepresenting the four traditional religions, and the program requires members of a religious group to comprise at least 10 percent of a military unit before an official chaplain of that group is appointed. Chaplains are neither enlisted norcommissioned but are classified as assistants to the commander. Chaplains are full-time employees of the Ministry of Defense, paid from the defense budget. There are approximately 250 ROC chaplains in the program. Federal law defines“missionary activity” as the sharing of one’s beliefs with persons of another faith or nonbelievers with the aim of involving these individuals in the “structure” of the religious association. According to the law, to share beliefs outside ofofficially sanctioned sites (which include buildings owned by a religious organization, buildings whose owners have given permission for activities to take place, pilgrimage destinations, cemeteries and crematoria, and indoor spaces ofeducational organizations historically used for religious ceremonies), an individual must have a document from a religious group or registered organization authorizing him or her to share beliefs. The law explicitly prohibits sharing of anybeliefs on another organization’s property without permission from that organization. It also prohibits missionary activity in residential buildings and the rezoning of any building from residential to nonresidential for the purpose ofconducting religious activities. Materials disseminated by missionaries must be marked with the name of the religious association providing the authorization. Violations of the law regulating missionary activity may be punished by a fine of5,000 to 50,000 rubles ($56 to $560) for individuals and 100,000 to 1,000,000 rubles ($1,120 to $11,200) for legal entities, which includes LROs and CROs. Foreign citizens or stateless persons who violate restrictions on missionary activitiesmay be fined 30,000 to 50,000 rubles ($340 to $560) and are subject to deportation. Within the Ministry of Justice, the Scientific Advisory Board reviews religious materials for extremism. Composed of academics and representatives of thefour traditional religions, the board reviews materials referred to it by judicial or law enforcement authorities, private citizens, or organizations. If the board identifies material as extremist, it issues a nonbinding advisory opinion, which isthen published on the ministry website and forwarded to the prosecutor’s office for further investigation. In addition to the Scientific Advisory Board, regional board experts also may review religious materials for extremist content.Prosecutors may present material to a court and petition the court to declare it extremist, but a court may, on its own accord, declare as extremist materials introduced during the consideration of administrative, civil, or criminal cases. By law,publications declared extremist by a federal court are automatically added to the federal list of extremist materials. Courts may order internet service providers to block access to websites containing materials included on the federal list ofextremist materials. Courts review and reissue lists on a regular basis. If the courts determine the material is no longer “extremist,” the Justice Ministry is required to remove it from the lists within 30 days. Very rarely, in response to a legalchallenge, courts may reverse a decision to designate material as extremist. The law makes it illegal to declare the key texts (holy books) of the four traditional religions in their “original languages” – Old and New Testaments of the Bible,Quran, and Tibetan Buddhist Kangyur (Kanjur) – to be extremist. The law does not define what constitutes an original language nor does it specify that foreign-language translations of these texts may not be declared extremist. A 2022 lawfacilitates the ability of federal authorities to counter “extremist activities.” The law authorizes the creation of a confidential information database of extremist materials to provide the government with operational-search activities,investigative actions carried out as part of countering extremist activity, and the organization of preventive measures aimed at preventing extremism. The law also establishes a “unified register” of information about individuals involved inthe activities of an extremist or terrorist organization. The unified register includes information about any individual who was a founder, member of a collegial governing body, head, deputy head, head of a regional or other structural unit,deputy head of a regional or other structural unit, participant, member, or employee of an extremist or terrorist organization. According to news articles, the database was scheduled to be operational by July. According to the administrativecode, mass distribution, production, or possession with the aim of mass distribution of extremist materials by private individuals may result in 15 days’ imprisonment or a fine of 1,000 to 3,000 rubles ($11 to $33), or 2,000 to 5,000 rubles ($22to $55) for public officials, as well as confiscation of these materials. Courts may suspend for 90 days the operations of legal entities found to be in possession of extremist materials and fine them 100,000 to 1,000,000 rubles ($1,100 to$11,200). Individuals who produce materials later deemed extremist may not be punished retroactively but must cease production and distribution of those materials. The law prohibits individuals suspected of financing terrorism, or whoseactions have been deemed extremist by a court, from leading or taking part in religious groups. The amendments also impose extra training and recertification requirements on clergy, religious teachers, and missionaries who have beentrained abroad. Such personnel must take part in a course in “state-confessional relations in the Russian Federation” and be recertified by a CRO. The law allows the transfer of state and municipal property of religious significance to religiousorganizations, including land, buildings, and movable property. The law grants religious organizations using state historical property for religious purposes the right to use such property indefinitely. The law prohibits the transfer of livingquarters for religious use and the use of living quarters for religious activity, unless the activity is a part of a “service, rite, or ceremony.” The law allows religious organizations to use buildings that were not originally authorized for religiouspurposes if they are part of a property that serves a religious purpose. The law allows, for example, a group to establish a Sunday school in a warehouse on the property of a church. If such a structure does not meet legal requirements or is notbrought into legal compliance by submitting proper paperwork by 2030, the law specifies it shall be demolished. The law states foreigners or stateless individuals whose presence in the country the government deems “undesirable” areforbidden from becoming founders, members, or active participants in the activities of religious organizations. The same is true for individuals whose activities are deemed extremist by the courts or who are subject to prosecution under thelaw on combating money laundering and the financing of terrorism. The law restricts any foreign national or stateless person from entering the country if he or she “participates in the activities of the organizations included in the list oforganizations and individuals in respect of whom there is information about their involvement in extremist activities or terrorism.” Foreigners engaging in religious work require a contract with a legally registered religious organization and awork visa. Religious work is not permitted on “humanities visas,” which allow foreigners to enter the country to strengthen academic or cultural ties or take part in charitable work. There are no missionary visas. The law grants religiousorganizations the exclusive right to manage pilgrimage activities.Recognition policy: the Supreme Court has banned the activities of several religious organizations on the grounds of “extremism” and “terrorism,” including a regional branch of Falun Gong, Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Mejlis of the CrimeanTatars, Hizb ut-Tahrir (“Party of Liberation”), Nurdzhular (a Russification of the Turkish term “followers of Said Nursi”), Tablighi Jamaat, and the Fayzrakhmani Islamic community. These organizations are on the Federal List of ExtremistOrganizations or the Federal List of Terrorist Organizations. Designations as extremist or terrorist organizations may be appealed in court. By law, officials may prohibit the activity of a religious association on grounds such as violating publicorder or engaging in “extremist activity.” The law criminalizes a broad spectrum of activities as extremist, including “assistance to extremism,” but it does not precisely define extremism or require that an activity include an element ofviolence or hatred to be classified as extremist. Anti-extremism laws stipulate that speech or actions aimed at “inciting hatred or enmity” based on group affiliation (including religion) are punishable by administrative penalties for first-timeoffenses if the actions do not contain a criminal offense. These penalties include administrative arrests of up to 15 days and administrative fines of up to 20,000 rubles ($220) for individuals and up to 500,000 rubles ($5,600) for legal entities.Individuals are held criminally liable if they commit multiple offences within a one-year period or for the first offense if they threaten to use violence or use their official position to incite hatred. The criminal penalties include fines up to600,000 rubles ($6,700), compulsory labor for up to five years, and imprisonment for up to six years. Participating in or organizing the activity of a banned religious organization designated as extremist is punishable by a fine of up to800,000 rubles ($9,000) and imprisonment for a term of six to 10 years, with deprivation of the right to hold “certain positions” or engage in “certain activities” (not well specified but including a prohibition on running for public office) forup to 10 years and restrictions on freedom for a period of one to two years. These restrictions may include house arrest or constraints on travel within the country. For persons with “official status,” a term that applies to anyone working forthe government or state-owned entities as well as to persons in management roles at commercial entities or NGOs, the prescribed prison term is seven to 12 years or a fine of up to 700,000 rubles ($7,900). First-time offenders who willinglyforsake their membership in banned religious organizations are exempt from criminal liability if they committed no other crimes as defined by the law. A law the State Duma passed in September in the first reading (of three) introducesliability for “public justification or propaganda of extremism.” The law defines the justification of extremism as “a public statement recognizing extremist ideology and practices as correct and in need of support and emulation.” The lawdefines “propaganda” of extremism as “the dissemination of information aimed at radicalizing a person to adopt an extremist ideology, convincing a person of its appeal, or convincing a person that it is permissible to carry out extremistactivities.” This crime carries a fine of 100 to 300 thousand rubles ($1-$3,400) or imprisonment for up to five years. Local laws in several administrative regions, including the republics of Kabardino-Balkaria and Dagestan, ban “extremistIslamic Wahhabism” but do not define the term. Authorities impose administrative or criminal penalties (the former entail a maximum sentence of 15 days in prison, while sentences for the latter may be much longer) for violating these laws,in accordance with federal legislation. By law, the government may designate an international religiously affiliated organization or foreign religious group “undesirable.” The designation allows the closure of foreign and internationalorganizations on the grounds of “presenting a threat to the foundation of the constitutional order of the Russian Federation, the defense capability of the country, or the security of the state.” The designation may also lead to fines or jail timefor organization members. Religious organizations designated undesirable include seven Falun Gong-associated organizations (World Organization to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong; Coalition to Investigate the Persecution ofFalun Gong in China; Global Mission to Rescue Persecuted Falun Gong Practitioners; Friends of Falun Gong; Doctors Against Forced Organ Harvesting; Dragon Springs Buddhist; and the European Falun Dafa Organization), the World Instituteof Scientology Enterprises International and the Church of Spiritual Technology (from the United States), the New Generation International Christian Movement and the New Generation Evangelical Christian Church (from Latvia), and theNew Generation Spiritual Directorate of the Evangelist Christians and the New Generation International Biblical College (from Ukraine). Since the country’s 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russian authorities have labeled as undesirablethe All-Ukrainian Spiritual Center Renaissance Religious Organization (in November 2022) and its charitable arm, the Transformation Center Church International (in June 2023). A law adopted in April distinguishes between citizens frombirth and naturalized citizens. The law makes it possible for authorities to strip naturalised citizens of their citizenship if they participate in “actions that pose a threat to Russia’s national security,” including acts of extremism or terrorism orbeing part of an “undesirable organization.” The law criminalizes “offending the feelings of religious believers,” including atheists and followers of “nontraditional religions.” Actions “in public demonstrating clear disrespect for society andcommitted with the intent to insult the feelings of religious believers” are subject to fines of up to 300,000 rubles ($3,400), compulsory labor for up to one year, and imprisonment for up to one year. If these actions are committed in places ofworship, the punishment may include a fine of up to 500,000 rubles ($5,600), compulsory labor for up to three years, and a prison sentence of up to three years.149Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, broad grounds for deregistration and dissolution of groups is likely to be misused against groups unfavoured by the state, broad grounds for the denial of registration are also likely to bemisused against unfavoured groups, excessive informational requirements, many "basic religious activities" require registration to be conducted legally, membership quota, non-recognition for any religion or denomination other thanthe Russian Orthodox Church, preapproval, state definition of religion, state supervision, vertical registration is in effect (verticalism) in which there exists three separate categories of registered religious groups. Religious groups andhuman rights NGOs again reported authorities investigated, detained, arrested, imprisoned, tortured, and physically abused persons on account of their religious belief or affiliation. Authorities continued to accuse minority religiousgroups of extremism and terrorism. In January, the SOVA Center reported that the Ministry of Justice added the honorary representative of the Dalai Lama in Russia – the Supreme Lama of Kalmykia, Telo Tulku Rinpoche (ErdniOmbadykov) – to the register of individuals acting as a foreign agent. The stated reason for including him in the list was because he “spoke out against the special military operation in Ukraine and openly spoke in support of Ukraine.” InAugust, the government ordered the dissolution of the SOVA Center for Information Analysis, a Moscow-based human rights organization that focused on monitoring hate crimes, nationalism, xenophobia and racism, freedom ofreligion and belief, and anti-extremism legislation. Authorities contended they took this action because the SOVA Center was operating in areas of the country outside the jurisdiction where it was registered, the Moscow Region. Theorganization’s leaders subsequently created the SOVA Research Center (SOVA Center) to replace it.Human rights instruments: Russia is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, and the UNCRC; Russia abstained from the UNDRIP; Russia didnot vote on the UDHR; Russia is not partied to the ECHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (not free; restricted); hieroncy (not free; subject to registration; prohibited for unfavoured groups); monasticism (not free; subject to registration); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free; subject to registration); pastoralservices (not free; subject to registration); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (not free; restricted); public expression and observance (not free; restricted); receiving donations (not free; subject to registration); religiousbuildings (not free; subject to registration); religious instruction (not free; subject to registration; restricted); religious literature (not free; subject to registration; restricted); religious and worship services (not free; subject to registration;restricted); religious trade (not free; subject to registration; restricted).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of one’s “attitude to religion” was affirmed in the latest revisedconstitution from 2014.2024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveRwanda, Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsRepeal laws and policies unduly and inappropriately restricting reasonable religious activity; revoke the rule of mandatory registration; establish arevitalised recognition system that has capacities for both legal registration and existential recognition, provisions which should be extended to allbelief systems, and offered at multiple levels of activity; to become Dynamic, the Rwandan government would need to establish a recognition agencythat would manage the newly established recognition system independently from government (achieved by the government's relinquishment of itscontrol of the agency following its establishment and its bestowal of state authority).Secularity: Rwanda is a secular state; theism is affirmed in allpresidential, ministerial and military oaths.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: broad mandatory registration – Rwandan law mandates that all religious or belief organisations must register with the RwandaGovernance Board (RGB) to operate legally in the country. Under the law determining the organization and functioning of FBOs, which includereligious groups and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) associated with religious groups, any organization, umbrella organization, or ministrythat intends to begin operations must obtain legal status from the RGB. The law provides that a religious group or NGO must submit the following toobtain legal status: an application letter addressed to the RGB; notarized statutes governing its organization; the address of its head office and thenames of its legal representative and deputy, their duties, full address, and criminal records; a document certifying the legal representative anddeputy were appointed in accordance with its statutes; a brief notarized statement explaining its doctrine; a notarized declaration of theorganization’s legal representatives consent to the responsibilities assigned to them; notarized minutes of the group’s general assembly thatestablished the organization, approved its statutes, and appointed members of its organs; a notarized document describing the organization’sannual action plan and source of funding; a document indicating the organization’s building or meeting space meets the requirements of thebuilding code of the area of operation; a letter issued by district authorities agreeing to collaborate with the organization; a partnership documentissued by an umbrella organization of the organization’s choosing; and proof of payment of a nonrefundable application fee. The law states the RGBmust either issue a certificate of legal personality within 60 days of the date of receipt of the application or, in case of denial, send a written noticeexplaining the reasons for the denial within 30 days of the date of receipt of the application. Under the law, FBOs that held legal personality as ofSeptember 10, 2018, when the law was passed, are not required to reapply but have to harmonize their functioning and statutes with the revised lawand submit the revised statutes to the RGB within 12 months of the law’s enactment. Under the law, if the RGB denies a group’s application for legalstatus, the group may reapply when the reason for denial no longer exists. The law regulates public meetings and states any person who holds ameeting or demonstration in a public place without prior authorization is subject to eight days’ to six months’ imprisonment, a fine of 100,000 toone million Rwandan francs ($80 to $800), or both. Penalties increase if the illegal meeting or demonstration is found to have threatened security,public order, or health. The law states religious sermons must be delivered in designated facilities that meet the requirements of the law, and an FBOintending to organize a special public gathering must seek authorization from the competent authority. Under the law, FBOs are prohibited fromcausing noise pollution. Offenders are subject to a fine of 100,000 to one million Rwandan francs ($80 to $800), and repeat offenders are subject toincreased fines and up to one month’s imprisonment. By law, groups may not use their faith, religious practices, or preaching to jeopardize nationalunity, peace and security, public order and health, good morals, good conduct, freedom, or the fundamental rights of others. Every foreignmissionary must have a temporary resident permit and a foreign identity card. Specific requirements to obtain the permit (which is valid for twoyears and renewable) include a signed curriculum vitae, an original police clearance from the country of prior residence, an authorization letter fromthe parent organization, and a fee of 100,000 Rwandan francs ($80).150Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, excessive informational requirements are requested as part of registration procedures, fines andimprisonment for unauthorised public gatherings, restrictive qualifications are required for preachers and religious leaders. During the year thegovernment continued to enforce requirements, imposed since 2018 related to basic infrastructure, health, safety, and noise pollution standards forhouses of worship. During the initial enforcement of these requirements in 2018, authorities closed almost 9,000 places of worship, and more than6,000 remained closed at year’s end. Some groups that closed because they could not meet the infrastructure requirements consolidated to becomelarger and better resourced organizations that were better able to meet the standards. Some pastors lamented it was more difficult to maintaincommunity cohesiveness with such expanded membership. Religious leaders said they acknowledged the importance of basic infrastructure (toilets,for example) for houses of worship, but that it was not appropriate for certain very specific requirements such as mandatory numbers of parkingspaces or minimum sizes for plots of land to be applied in the same way in urban and rural contexts. The government continued to enforce a policyfirst announced in 2022 prohibiting mosques from announcing calls to prayer via loudspeaker in the morning on the grounds the loudspeakerscontravened public noise ordinances. Government officials suggested the call to prayer could be delivered at a lower volume, consistent withordinances, or via radio or other technological tools, reiterating noise ordinances equally applied to all activities, to include concerts, parties, andother social events, whether of a religious or nonreligious nature. There were reports the government consistently monitored the internal leadershipaffairs of religious organizations so it could intervene in their processes if they were poised to take any actions the government viewed as contrary tothe country’s laws, policies, or interests. Some religious leaders and members of religious communities, as well as many members of the public, saidthe government needed to prevent the formation of, or intervene in, organizations that were religious in name only, functioning as de facto schemesfor charismatic, individual leaders to extract financial support from poor and sometimes less educated citizens, while providing no substantial socialsupport or faith community. Independent religious groups continued to face difficulties establishing themselves because many requirements forobtaining official registration – for example, purchasing or renting property – were difficult to fulfill for groups that did not already have legalstatus or significant financial means.Human rights instruments: Rwanda is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, and the UNCRC; Rwandawas absent during voting on the UNDRIP; Rwanda did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (not free; subject to registration); monasticism (not free; subject to registration); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites(not free; subject to registration); pastoral services (not free; subject to registration); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (notfree; subject to registration); public expression and observance (free); receiving donations (not free; subject to registration); religious buildings(not free; subject to registration); religious instruction (not free; subject to registration); religious literature (not free; subject to registration);religious and worship services (not free; subject to registration); religious trade (not free; subject to registration).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of religion was affirmed in thelatest revised constitution from 2015.2024 RoRB Classification: ApatheticSaint Christopher and Nevis, Federation ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsEstablish procedures for existential recognition distinguished from those legal registration; develop allunstructured areas of the registration system.Secularity: Saint Kitts and Nevis is a secular state; theism was affirmed in the latestconstitution from 1983.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: stipulatory registration – religious or belief organisations are not mandated by law toregister with the government in order to operate legally in Saint Kitts and Nevis. The Ministry of Ecclesiasticaland Faith-based Affairs is responsible for registering religious groups. The registration process for religiousgroups is not yet standardized. Religious groups are not required to register but doing so provides the governmentwith a database of contacts through which it disseminates information on government policy for religious groups.Registration can be processed through the registrar general and allows religious groups to act as charities and toimport religious items duty-free. A religious organization can be formed with a minimum of two persons.According to enacted legislation, the evangelical community has legal standing and the right to own land. In June,the government announced the 2023 Rastafarian Rights Recognition Bill, which provided the Rastafariancommunity with legal rights to access medical cannabis, established tax concessions, and created a legalframework for registration. After Parliament approved the legislation, the Prime Minister, according to mediareports, stated “We stand resolute in our decision to raise the level of equality and equity within our Federationand this is just one of the many steps forward in that direction as we continue to work towards becoming asustainable island state… we must be mature enough to recognize that wrongs were done and we have theopportunity to correct some of those wrongs…I would like to apologize to the Rastafari community.”151Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation.Human rights instruments: Saint Kitts and Nevis is partied to the UNCRC; Saint Kittsand Nevis is neither partied to the ICCPR nor the ICESCR; Saint Kitts and Nevis wasabsent during voting on the UNDRIP; Saint Kitts and Nevis did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoralservices (free); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (free); public expression and observance(free); receiving donations (free); religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religious literature(free); religious and worship services (free); religious trade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of religion wasaffirmed in the latest constitution from 1983.2024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveSaint LuciaFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsTo become Receptive, establish a revitalised recognition system that can provide both existential recognition in addition to legalregistration simultaneously, to all belief systems and their derivatives, and at different levels of recognition; to become Dynamic,establish a recognition agency that has the capacity to manage the re-established recognition system in a way that is independent ofthe government; ongoing discrimination levied towards Rastafarians and Muslims are issues that should be resolved through greaterreligious education and mutual recognition; revoke excessive informational requirements and abolish the conditional mandatoryregistration order.Secularity: Saint Lucia is a secular state; theism wasaffirmed in the latest constitution from 1978.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: conditional mandatory registration – by law, religious or belief organisations cannot register with thegovernment unless or until the group membership reaches 250 or more members and while unregistered organisations may operate,their religious leaders cannot legally officiate and register births, marriages or deaths which is a fundamental religious function. TheMinistry of Equity, Social Justice and Empowerment is responsible for religious affairs and implements the government’s FBO policy.To register, groups must provide contact information, their establishment date and history, declaration of belief, number ofmembers, location of meeting place, and income sources. FBOs are encouraged to seek incorporation as a bona fide nonprofitorganization under the Companies Act. Registered groups are eligible to receive associated benefits. Unregistered groups may or maynot have recognition status with the government. An unregistered group that submits a “notification of existence,” which includesidentifying the group’s leadership, will receive correspondence acknowledging the group’s existence. After receiving the notificationof existence, a group is then able to incorporate under the Companies Act. After incorporation, the entity becomes a legal person fortaxation purposes including for land registration and deeds of sale. Registration costs 500 Eastern Caribbean dollars ($185). Afterregistration with the ministry and incorporation as a legal entity, a religious group may apply for concessions, including duty-freeconcessions on certain imported goods, departure tax and ticket tax waivers from the Saint Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority, andexemption from work permits. Formal government registration also allows registered religious groups legally to register births,marriages, and deaths officiated by religious leaders. The government’s registration policy defines the process of obtaining work andlabor permits for missionaries. Immigration authorities grant work permits for individuals entering the country to conductmissionary work in exchange for the payment of a weekly fee of 200 Eastern Caribbean dollars ($74). Providing that they abide by thelaw, foreign missionaries face no other restrictions or obligations.152Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, excessive informational requirements are vulnerable to being misused againstgroups unfavoured by the state, registration costs $190 which exceeds the $100 threshold set by RoRB standards, the registrationbenefit of "legal marriage officiation" is impermissible to RoRB standards, foreign missionaries must pay a $74-a-week fee toperform proselytising activities, according to some registered groups registration is not a guarantee of freedom to performfunctions or to receive benefits promised by registration. A blasphemy law exists but is not enforced.Human rights instruments: Saint Lucia is partied to the UNCRC and the UNDRIP; SaintLucia signed both the ICCPR and the ICESCR but has not ratified either; Saint Lucia didnot vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free; subject to registration); pastoralservices (free); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (free); public expression and observance (free); receivingdonations (free); religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religious literature (free); religious and worship services(free); religious trade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of “creed” wasaffirmed in the latest constitution from 1978.2024 RoRB Classification: ReceptiveSaint Vincent andthe GrenadinesFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsEstablish a revitalised recognition system that bestows both existential recognition and legal registration, to allbelief systems, and at multiple levels of operation; establish a recognition agency independent of government tomanage the recognition system in order to be classified Dynamic.Secularity: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is a secularstate; theism was affirmed in the latest constitution from1979.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: stipulatory registration – by law, religious or belief organisations are not required to registerwith the government to operate legally in the country. The constitution permits freedom of association, and thereare no regulations regarding freedom to organize and worship. Religious organizations may, but are not requiredto, register as nonprofit religious institutions with the Ministry of Education, National Reconciliation,Ecclesiastical Affairs, and Information to qualify for tax exemptions. Religious organizations may also register ascorporations, requiring an application to the same ministry and the issuance of a certificate of incorporation byparliament. According to government officials, there were 150 religious groups, with approximately 500 registeredreligious nonprofit organizations representing various denominations. Because registration requires financialreporting that some groups found onerous, many religious organizations did not register. During the year, thegovernment registered three new religious groups. According to a government official, the government engagedregularly with representatives of existing registered religious groups to strengthen relationships with these groups.According to government officials, during the year, the Ministry of Education, National Reconciliation,Ecclesiastical Affairs, and Information regularly engaged with religious groups as part of the government’soutreach efforts and to maintain an up-to-date database of religious groups and marriage officers. The officialstated it was challenging to keep track of smaller churches which may not report when they shut down. All religiousgroups were invited to participate in the National Day of Prayer event held in October.153Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation.Human rights instruments: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is partied to theICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP; Saint Vincent and the Grenadinesdid not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services(free); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (free); public expression and observance (free);receiving donations (free); religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religious literature (free);religious and worship services (free); religious trade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of “creed” wasaffirmed in the latest constitution from 1979.2024 RoRB Classification: ReceptiveSamoa, IndependentState ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsEstablish a revitalised recognition system that has the capacity for both existential recognition and legalregistration bestowed nationwide, is offered to all belief systems and their derivatives and is bestowed atmultiple levels of activity; revoke laws providing undue powers to village councils and the policy of thenon-recognition of any religion other than Christianity; establish a recognition agency to manage therecognition system independent of government to become dynamic.Secularity: Christianity is the state religion; the latest revised constitution from 2017described Samoa as “a Christian nation founded on God the Father, the Son and theHoly Spirit”; theism was affirmed in the same revised constitution.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: stipulatory registration – Samoan law does not mandate that religious or belieforganisations register with the government to operate legally. Religious groups have the option to registeras a charitable trust or incorporated society with the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Labor.Registration is free. Becoming a registered entity entitles groups to receive tax exemptions and legalstatus. Unregistered religious groups may not formally buy property or pay employees. Individuals orgroups may establish a place of worship on community or private land but must obtain approval from theextended family that has claims to the land, as well as from the village council. The CongregationalChristian Church strongly supported the amendment parliament enacted in August 2022 that rescindedthe legal requirement that religious clergy pay income tax. Repeal had been an election promise by theruling FAST Party. The government had not enforced the income tax requirement since assuming office in2021. Villages tended to have one primary Christian church that village chiefs traditionally chose based onthe denomination of their extended families. Many villages, however, such as Vaitele and Vailima,reportedly had multiple churches serving different denominations and coexisting peacefully. The Ministryof Police, Prisons, and Corrections Services continued to designate clergy from the CongregationalChristian, Catholic, and Methodist Churches to act as voluntary chaplains on a rotational basis to provideprisoners with consistent access to spiritual guidance and counseling. Prisoners could also request accessto counselors of other faiths. There continued to be reports that many public schools included Christianprayers in their daily routines. Public ceremonies typically began with a Christian prayer.154Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, non-recognition for any religion other than Christianity.Human rights instruments: Samoa is partied to the ICCPR and the UNCRC; Samoa is notpartied to the ICESCR; Samoa abstained from voting on the UNDRIP but has sinceendorsed it; Samoa did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoralservices (free); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (free); public expression andobservance (free); receiving donations (free); religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free);religious literature (free); religious and worship services (free); religious trade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of religion wasaffirmed in the latest revised constitution from 2017.2024 RoRB Classification: ReceptiveSan Marino, Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsEstablish a revitalised recognition system that is able to bestow existential recognition and legal registrationsimultaneously as well as to all belief systems equally and at multiple levels of activity; establish a recognition agencythat is independent of government to deal with the revitalised recognition system.Secularity: San Marino is officially a secular state; however,the Roman Catholic Church receives exclusive privilege.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: stipulatory registration – religious or belief organisations are not required by law to register withthe government in order to operate legally in San Marino. To obtain legal recognition, religious organizations arerequired to submit to the government evidence of nonprofit activities and annual reports, which include their budget,and the procedure required by the association for its approval. The government may periodically audit and inspectorganizations, require them to submit additional documentation, and investigate any complaints from organizationmembers or third parties. According to the most recent data from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in 2022, 189 nonprofitorganizations, the same number as in 2021, received contributions from taxpayers in accordance with the law. Thegovernment did not indicate how many of these organizations were religious, but among them were the CatholicChurch, a number of Catholic associations, the Orthodox Church, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and the Baha’i Faith.Recognition policy: a concordat signed in 1992 between the government and the Holy See provides that Catholicchaplains deliver spiritual assistance to hospital patients, retirement home residents, and prison inmates. A fundestablished under the concordat in 1993 and drawn from citizens’ voluntary income tax allocations supports the CatholicChurch’s humanitarian, welfare, and social activities as well as the maintenance of religious sites. The law allowstaxpayers to allocate 0.3 percent of their income tax payments to the Catholic Church or to other religious or seculargroups recognized as nonprofit organizations. Taxpayers need not be members of a group to earmark a contribution.Religious organizations must be legally recognized in the country to receive this benefit. Catholic symbols remaincommon in government buildings, including schools and courtrooms. Crucifixes continued to hang on courtroom andgovernment office walls. The government continues to maintain a public meditation and prayer site in the capital for useby worshippers of any religion.155Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, monitorial requirements are conducted "periodically" but RoRBstandards state that such requirements should only be conducted at the highest frequency "annually".Human rights instruments: San Marino is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, theUNCRC, and the UNDRIP; San Marino did not vote on the UDHR; San Marino is partiedto the ECHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services(free); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (free); public expression and observance (free); receivingdonations (free); religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religious literature (free); religious andworship services (free); religious trade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of religion wasaffirmed in a law from 1974.2024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveSão Tomé andPríncipe, DemocraticRepublic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsTo become Receptive, revoke present restrictive policies in the registration process such as retributions for unregistration,authorisation in preregistration, mandatory registration and membership quotas; also to achieve Receptive status, establish arevitalised recognition system that is able to bestow existential recognition and legal registration simultaneously as well as to all beliefsystems equally and at multiple levels of activity; to achieve Dynamic status, establish a recognition agency that is independent ofgovernment to deal with the revitalised recognition system.Secularity: São Tomé and Príncipe is a secular state.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: broad mandatory registration – by law, all religious or belief organisations must register with the government tooperate legally in São Tomé and Príncipe. Religious groups must register with the government. If a religious group does not register, itis subject to fines and possible expulsion if it is a foreign religious group. To register, a group must send a letter requestingauthorization to the Ministry of Justice, Public Administration, and Human Rights. Once the group obtains authorization, it mustsubmit the following documents to a notary public: the ministry’s approval letter; the group’s statutes; the minutes or report from ameeting attended by at least 500 representatives of the group and signed by its president and secretary; copies of the national identitycards of those who attended this meeting; a list of board members; and a certificate from the registrar’s office attesting that no existingorganization has the same name. After a payment of 1,000 dobras ($45) for notarial fees, an announcement is published in thegovernment gazette, and the group may then operate fully as a registered group. Once registered, a religious group does not need toregister again. Registered religious groups receive the same benefits, such as tax exemptions, as registered nonprofit organizations.According to the government, there are 33 registered religious groups in the country. During the year, the government did not receiveany registration requests for new religious groups. Government officials stated that only two religious groups had ever been deniedregistration and that this was due to their practice of child marriage, which is illegal.Recognition policy: in August 2023, the National Assembly approved a government agreement with the Holy See, which the Presidentsigned in September. At the end of the year, it remained pending the Holy See’s ratification. The extensive agreement covers suchmatters as the status of Catholic Church properties, the right to build schools and conduct social services, the nontaxable nature ofcontributions to the church, and the right of the church to conduct legally recognized marriages.156Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, deportation of foreign nationals engaged in unregistered religious activities, excessiveinformational requirements (the national identity cards of at least 500 members), fines for those participation in activities organised byunregistered religious groups, membership and signature quota (at least 500 members who attended the group's launch meeting),nominal restriction, public objection restriction tool, secondary procedure is required to complete registration. Officials of the Seventh-day Adventist Church reported that recruitment exams for government jobs taking place on Saturdays conflicted with worship services,limiting possible job opportunities for church members.Human rights instruments: São Tomé and Príncipe is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR,the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP; São Tomé and Príncipe did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (not free; subject to registration); monasticism (not free; subject to registration); nuptial, initiatory andburial rites (not free; subject to registration); pastoral services (not free; subject to registration); private expression and observance(free); proselytism (not free; subject to registration); public expression and observance (free); receiving donations (not free; subject toregistration); religious buildings (not free; subject to registration); religious instruction (not free; subject to registration); religiousliterature (not free; subject to registration); religious and worship services (not free; subject to registration); religious trade (not free;subject to registration).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of religion wasaffirmed in the latest revised constitution from 2003.2024 RoRB Classification: TerminalSaudi Arabia,Kingdom ofFoRB Claim: No claim is made; no legal recognition orprotection of freedom of religion was given in the revisedBasic Law from 2013.RecommendationsComplete dismantlement of the present apparatus of laws persecuting non-Muslims and non-Islamic religious activity; establish arecognition system that is inclusive of all belief systems and is able to provide both existential recognition and legal registration;revoke the present hegemony of the Wahhabi interpretation of Islam that no only subjugates non-Wahhabi forms of Islam as well as allnon-Islamic belief systems.Secularity: Sunni Islam is the state denomination; Wahhabism is given special status bythe government; the Quran and the Sunna are the constitution; non-Muslim foreignersmust convert to Islam before they are eligible to naturalise.Mandatoriness of registration: non-registration.Registration policy: non-registration – there are no provisions in law for the registration of non-Islamic religious or belieforganisations. The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call, and Guidance (MOIA) vets, employs, and supervises Sunni Muslim clerics. Thosewho preach at government-owned mosques are government employees who receive a monthly stipend. The ministry issues generalguidelines by which all preachers must abide and directives to cover specific topics. The MOIA oversees clerics via video monitoring andspot inspections and is known to fire preachers who disobey or avoid instructions and sermon topics. The MOIA must approve clericstraveling abroad to proselytize, and those clerics operate under MOIA supervision while abroad. The stated purpose of this regulation isto limit the ability of religious scholars to travel or to preach overseas and to prevent the actual or apparent interference by clerics inthe domestic affairs of other states. The press law requires all online newspapers and bloggers to obtain a license from the ministry.The law bans publishing anything “contradicting sharia, inciting disruption, serving foreign interests that contradict nationalinterests, or damaging the reputation of the Grand Mufti, members of the Council of Senior Religious Scholars, or senior governmentofficials.”Recognition policy: the government requires noncitizen legal residents to carry an identity card, which among other descriptors,contains a religious designation of “Muslim” or “non-Muslim.” Some residency cards, including some issued during the year,indicated other religious designations, such as “Christian.”157Key restriction tools imposed: any non-Islamic religious public expressions or activities are strictly prohibited, hyperverticalrecognition system is in place, Islamic new religious movements are also likely to face prohibitions of their activities, non-recognitionfor any non-Sunni religion or denomination, the missionary work of clerics must be approved and supervised by the MOIA, non-citizenlegal residents are required to carry an identity card that displays either their religious affiliation or simply the designations "Muslim"or "non-Muslim". The government continued to prohibit the public practice of any non-Islamic religion. In practice, there wasincreased but still limited tolerance of private, non-Islamic religious gatherings and public displays of non-Islamic religious symbols,and religious practitioners at variance with the government-promoted form of Sunni Islam remained vulnerable to detention,harassment, and, for noncitizens, deportation. The counterterrorism law criminalizes, among other things, “calling for atheist thoughtin any form or calling into question the fundamentals of the Islamic religion.” It criminalizes “anyone who challenges, either directlyor indirectly, the religion or justice of the King or Crown Prince.” The law also bans publications that “contradict the provisions ofIslamic law,” and other acts including non-Islamic public worship, public display of non-Islamic religious symbols, conversion by aMuslim to another religion, and proselytizing by a non-Muslim. The law permits death as punishment for blasphemy against Islam.Courts have not sentenced individuals to death for blasphemy since 1992. Punishments for blasphemy may include lengthy prisonsentences. Criticism of Islam, including expression deemed offensive to Muslims, is forbidden by law on the grounds of preservingsocial stability. The Basic Law requires the state to protect human rights in accordance with sharia. The Human Rights Commission(HRC), a government entity, is tasked with protecting, enhancing, and ensuring implementation of international human rightsstandards “in light of the provisions of sharia,” and is tasked to follow up on citizen complaints. There are no formal requirementsregarding the composition of the HRC. During the year, the commission had 18 voting board members from various parts of thecountry. The law criminalizes the publication or downloading of offensive sites, and authorities routinely blocked sites containingmaterial perceived as harmful, illegal, offensive, or anti-Islamic. Social media users who post or share content considered to attackreligion face imprisonment for up to five years under the Cyber Crimes Law. Those found guilty of distributing content online deemedto disrupt public order, public morals, or religious values may also be subject to a fine up to three million riyals ($800,000).Human rights instruments: Saudi Arabia is partied to the UNCRC and the UNDRIP; SaudiArabia is neither partied to the ICCPR nor the ICESCR; Saudi Arabia abstained from votingon the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (not free; illegal to convert from Islam; being Muslim is intertwined with citizenship); hieroncy (not free; non-Islamicmaterials are illegal for propagational use); monasticism (not free; illegal); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free; illegal);pastoral services (not free; illegal); private expression and observance (not free; restricted); proselytism (not free; non-Islamic formsare illegal); public expression and observance (not free; non-Islamic expression is illegal); receiving donations (not free; restricted);religious buildings (not free; restricted); religious instruction (not free; non-Islamic instruction illegal); religious literature (not free;distribution of non-Islamic literature illegal); religious and worship services (not free; non-Islamic services highly restricted);religious trade (not free; non-Islamic forms illegal).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: No protection against discrimination on the basis of religion was affirmed inthe latest revision of the Basic Law from 2013.2024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveSenegal, Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsTo attain Receptive status, revoke two-step and three-step authorisations for religious groups and foreign religiousgroups; also, dissolve the implementation of any longevity quotas; also to attain Receptive status, establish a revitalisedrecognition system that has within provisions for both existential recognition and legal registration, is inclusive of allbelief systems, and can be apply recognition and registration at multiple levels of activity and operation; to attainDynamic status, establish a recognition agency that is independent of government to manage the recognition system.Secularity: Senegal is a secular state; theism is affirmed in thepresidential oath.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: broad mandatory registration – Senegalese law requires all religious or belief organisations toregister with the Ministry of Interior and to gain subsequent authorisation from the Ministry of Women, Family, Gender,and Child Protection to operate legally in the country. By law, all faith-based organizations, including religious groupsand NGOs representing religious groups, must register with the Ministry of Interior to acquire legal status asassociations. To register, organizations must provide documentation showing they have existed for at least two years; amission statement; bylaws; a list of goals, objectives, activities, or projects implemented; and proof of previous andfuture funding. They must also pass a background check. Registration enables a group to conduct business, ownproperty, establish a bank account, receive financial contributions from private sources, and receive applicable taxexemptions. There is no formal penalty for failure to register other than ineligibility to receive these benefits. Registeredreligious groups and nonprofit organizations are exempt from taxation on donations received. The law requiresassociations, including religious groups and NGOs affiliated with them, to obtain authorization from the Ministry ofWomen, Family, Gender, and Child Protection to operate. The legal registration requirement allows the government tomonitor organizations engaged in social development and to identify any programs these organizations implement toensure they operate according to the terms of their registration. Foreign NGOs, including those affiliated with religiousgroups, must also obtain authorization from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. To maintain their authorization, eachassociation and domestic and foreign NGOs must submit an annual report, including a financial report, and activityreports every three months, which the ministries use to monitor for irregularities and potential threats against nationalsecurity. In addition, all NGOs must also be part of the government-NGO Strategic Partnership Council, set to be chairedby the Prime Minister but which had not begun operations by year’s end.158Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, dual registration (with both the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry ofWomen, Family, Gender and Child Protection; for foreign groups, there is a third registration procedure with theMinistry of Foreign Affairs required), excessive informational requirements (proof of funding) are intertwined with alongevity quota (at least two years), secondary and tertiary procedures, there is an ad hoc system for state funding,monitorial. The government continued to provide direct financial and material assistance to religious groups for useprimarily in maintaining or rehabilitating Islamic and Christian places of worship and related infrastructure or forunderwriting special events. Government assistance funded a highway to the Mouride Sufi holy city of Touba and a roadlinking a new conference center to the Great Mosque in Kaolack, as well as support for prominent religious events, suchas the Sufi Grand Magal pilgrimage to Touba in September, the Sufi Gamou celebration in Tivaouane in October, Hajjpilgrimages for Muslims, and Catholic pilgrimages to the Holy Land and Rome. There continued to be no formalprocedure for applying for assistance. All major religious groups continued to have access to the funds and competed forthem on an ad hoc basis. President Sall occasionally visited and supported beneficiaries of the funds, particularly on theeve of Islamic religious celebrations.Human rights instruments: Senegal is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC,and the UNDRIP; Senegal did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services(free); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (free); public expression and observance (free); receivingdonations (not free; subject to registration); religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religious literature(free); religious and worship services (free); religious trade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of religion wasaffirmed in the latest revised constitution from 2016.2024 RoRB Classification: ReceptiveSerbia, Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsDismantle the present system that adopts partial recognition; establish a revitalised recognition system that bestows existential recognition and legal registration to all beliefsystems and their derivatives; establish a recognition agency that manages this recognition system in a way that is independent of the government’s control; reduce theintrusiveness of informational requirements.Secularity: Serbia is officially a secular state (the Serbian Orthodox Church wasdisestablished in 1920); however, the Serbian Orthodox Church receives exclusiveprivileges as the national church; the law also identifies the Roman CatholicChurch, Evangelical Christian Church, Islamic community, Jewish community,Reformed Christian Church, Serbian Orthodox Church, and Slovak EvangelicalChurch as “traditional” religions and are given special treatment by the state.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: stipulatory registration – Serbian law does not mandate that religious or belief organisations must register in order to legally conduct activitiesfundamental to religious observance. Although the law does not require religious groups to register, but it treats unregistered religious organizations as informal groups thatdo not receive any of the legal benefits afforded registered religious groups. Only registered religious groups may build new places of worship, own property, apply for propertyrestitution, or receive state funding for their activities. Registration is also required to open bank accounts and hire staff. Registered clerics of registered groups are entitled togovernment support for social and health insurance and a retirement plan. According to government sources, approximately 2,400 persons from 19 registered churches orreligious communities used these benefits, which account for approximately 30 percent of the budget of the Directorate for Cooperation with Churches and ReligiousCommunities of the Ministry of Justice. The law also exempts registered groups from property and administrative taxes and from filing annual financial reports. To obtainregistration, a religious group must submit the names, identity numbers, copies of notarised identity documents, and signatures of at least 100 citizen members; its statutesand a summary of its religious teachings, ceremonies, religious goals, and basic activities; and information on its sources of funding. The law prohibits registration if anapplicant group’s name includes part of the name of an existing registered group. The Ministry of Justice maintains the Register of Churches and Religious Communities andresponds to registration applications. If the Ministry of Justice rejects a registration application, the religious group may appeal the decision in court. There are 26“nontraditional” religious groups registered with the government, the same number as in 2022, including Christian groups, Buddhists, and the International Society forKrishna Consciousness. Several of these organizations are umbrella groups that oversee many individual churches, sometimes of slightly differing affiliations. According to theconstitution, the Constitutional Court may ban a religious community for activities infringing on the right to life or health, the rights of the child, the right to personal andfamily integrity, public safety, and public order, or if it incites religious, national, or racial intolerance. The constitution also states the Constitutional Court may banassociations that incite religious hatred. The Directorate for Cooperation with Churches and Religious Communities manages all matters pertaining to the cooperation of thestate with churches and religious communities. These include assistance to national minorities in protecting the religious traditions integral to their cultural and ethnicidentity, cooperation between the state and SOC dioceses abroad, support for religious education, and support for and protection of the legal standing of churches and religiouscommunities. The Ministry for Human and Minority Rights and Social Dialogue is tasked with combating misperception and hate, including against religious communities,through organizing roundtables, discussions, and other forms of dialogue, public messaging, and assessing related legislation.Recognition policy: the law grants special treatment to seven religious groups the government defines as “traditional.” These are the SOC, Roman Catholic Church, SlovakEvangelical Church, Reformed Christian Church, Evangelical Christian Church, Jewish community, and Islamic community. The Islamic community is divided between theIslamic Community of Serbia, with its seat in Belgrade, and the Islamic Community in Serbia, with its seat in the city of Novi Pazar, in the southwest Sandzak region. BothIslamic communities are registered with the government and may conduct most normal business, such as receiving financial assistance from the government, receivinghealth-care and pension benefits for clergy, maintaining tax-exempt status, holding bank accounts, owning property, and employing staff. Neither group, however, hasabsolute authority over matters regarding the entire Islamic community. Under the law, “church” is a term reserved for Christian religious groups, while the term “religiouscommunity” refers to non-Christian groups and to some Christian entities. The seven traditional religious groups recognized by law are automatically included in the Registerof Churches and Religious Communities. In addition to these groups, the government grants traditional status, solely in Vojvodina Province, to the Diocese of Dacia Felix of theRomanian Orthodox Church, which has its seat in Romania and an administrative seat in the city of Vrsac, in Vojvodina. The law also grants the seven traditional religiousgroups, but not other registered religious groups, the right to receive value-added tax refunds on all purchases enumerated under law and to provide chaplain services tomilitary personnel. The constitution states parents and legal guardians shall have the right to ensure the religious education of their children in conformity with their ownconvictions. The law provides for religious education in public schools, and students in primary and secondary schools must attend either religious or secular civic educationclass. Parents choose which option is appropriate for their child. Religious education is available only for members of the seven traditional churches/religious communities.Smaller “nontraditional” religions are generally not covered in school curriculums. All children are required to complete secular primary school. Parents may request tohomeschool their children and may do so if their school administration approves the request. Parents can further educate their children in religious schools, at home, or withinchurches and religious communities in addition to their secular primary school education. Students can attend religious schools for secondary school and beyond withoutrestriction. The curriculum taught in the religion classes varies regionally, reflecting the number of adherents of a given religion in a specific community. The Ministry ofEducation (MOE) requires a minimum of 15 students for a school to offer any elective course, including religion classes. The ministry can approve a group with smaller numbersof students at the request of the relevant school administration. The ministry typically approves these requests, although it requires the class be composed of at least fivestudents. When individual schools do not meet the above minimum number, the ministry attempts to combine students into regional classes for religious instruction.According to the ministry, 477,985 students in elementary and high schools attended religious education classes during the 2023-24 school year. There were approximately1,800 religious teachers in the education system.159Key restriction tools imposed: automatic registration for groups belonging to recognised religions, excessive informational requirements, legislation implies that unregisteredreligious groups are mandated to provide the government with annual financial reports to remain legal, nominal restriction, signature quota, weaponisation of the term"traditional" to exclude new religious movements and minority religions. In June, the government granted 472 million dinars ($4.4 million) to the SOC for completion of theTemple of St. Sava in Belgrade. On September 14, the government granted a further 531 million dinars ($5 million) to the SOC for construction of the Temple of St. Sava inBelgrade, and to the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Timisoara (Romania), the Diocese of Buda in Szentadre (Hungary), and Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Western Europe in Paris(France). Representatives of some churches and religious communities and civil society said the funding was an example of the government’s preferential treatment of the SOC.The country’s military did not provide chaplains or chaplain services for members of nontraditional or unregistered religious groups. The two Islamic organizations remaineddivided since their separation in 2007. In January 2021, the Islamic Community of Serbia, which has its seat in Belgrade and was registered in 2006, filed a lawsuit against thegovernment before the European Court of Human Rights for its 2007 decision to register the separate Islamic Community in Serbia, with its seat in Novi Pazar. This lawsuitremained in progress at year’s end. The Islamic Community of Serbia stated the Islamic Community in Serbia’s name was too closely linked to its own and therefore, per itsinterpretation of the law, should not have been registered. In late 2022, a leadership dispute emerged within the Islamic Community of Serbia between Sandzak-based leaderson one side and Belgrade-based leaders on the other. The origin of the conflict was not clear, but both parties claimed that the other had exercised authority contrary toregulations and the decisions of the community’s bodies and institutions. The Ministry of Justice stated it was unable to proceed with registering Aleksandar Albahari as thelegal representative of the Federation of Jewish Communities because of a pending legal case pertaining to the 2018 election of Igor Ginzberg as the federation’s president.Continued disagreements within the Jewish community regarding the legal leader of the federation hampered implementation of the Holocaust-era Heirless and UnclaimedProperty Law, and the federation failed to make its legally obligated annual payments to the country’s Holocaust survivors. In December, the federation voted to appoint aworking body to manage its affairs for a one-year period, temporarily resolving the impasse that had disrupted the federation’s operations. The government did not explicitlyprovide support for travel for religious reasons, such as Hajj and Umrah travel for Muslims and government-sponsored travel to Rome or the Middle East for Christians. Thefunds the Directorate for Cooperation with Churches and Religious Communities allocated to religious communities, however, could be used for such purposes. The nationaltelevision service, Radio Television of Serbia, continued to broadcast a daily, 10-minute Religious Calendar program regarding the teachings, history, and spiritual and materialheritage of the major monotheistic religions.Human rights instruments: Serbia is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP; Serbiadid not vote on the UDHR; Serbia is partied to the ECHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free); private expression and observance (free);proselytism (free); public expression and observance (free); receiving donations (not free; subject to registration); religious buildings (not free; subject to registration);religious instruction (free); religious literature (free); religious and worship services (free); religious trade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of religion was affirmed in the latestrevised constitution from 2006.2024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveSeychelles,Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsOpportunities to gain existential recognition must be expanded to all belief systems and religions and their respectivecommunities; resolve some of the identified persistent issues within the present system; to become classified Receptive,establish a reorganised recognition system that bestows existential recognition and legal registration to all belief systems andtheir derivatives; to become classified Dynamic, establish a recognition agency that manages this recognition system in a waythat is independent of the government’s control.Secularity: Seychelles is a secular state; through separate acts of incorporation, thegovernment recognises the Anglican Church, the Baha'i Faith, Roman Catholic Church,Seventh-day Adventist Church and three Islamic groups (including the Quran and SunnahSociety of Seychelles, Islamic Society of Seychelles, and Islamic Foundation of Seychelles);theism was affirmed in the latest revised constitution from 2017.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: pseudo-mandatory registration – although the law in Seychelles does not explicitly mandate that religious orbelief organisations must register with the government to operate legally in the country, clergy from unregistered religious groupsmay not provide spiritual counsel to members in prison which is a basic religious function. Although no penalties are prescribed forunregistered groups, only those registered as corporate bodies or associations have legal status and certain rights, such as to haveairtime for religious programming on the national broadcast media, Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation (SBC), or permission toprovide spiritual counsel in prison and interact with government. In 2022, the government amended the Registration Act tointroduce new criteria for registering heads of religious groups and to establish mechanisms to detect financial fraud, terroristfinancing, and money laundering through religious groups. The amendment requires all associations, including religiousassociations, to submit new documentation and financial returns by July 31 each year, maintain up-to-date registries of theirmembership, and retain their financial records for seven years. It also requires the Registrar of Associations to maintain a publiclyavailable list of all registered associations, including religious ones. The law prohibits religious groups from obtaining commercialradio or television licenses. The SBC provides airtime to registered religious groups on national radio and on national television fora daily early morning program and to broadcast religious services upon request. The SBC’s policy grants equal access to radio andtelevision programming for all registered faith-based groups. Religious groups may publish newspapers and magazines.160Key restriction tools imposed: broadcasting is made a registration benefit despite being a basic religious activity whose freeconduct should not need be dependent upon a group having gained registered status, excessive informational requirements,membership quota (7 members), preapproval, secondary procedure as part of the registration process. In November, the FinancialIntelligence Unit launched an awareness campaign to encourage all associations to register under the Beneficial Ownership Act. Thegovernment stated the 2022 amendment to the Registration Act improved its transparency and put it in compliance with the 2020Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act. SIFCO members said while they supported the amendment outof concern that without tighter regulations, fraudulent religious groups could too easily register as associations, they felt therequirements were too cumbersome. SIFCO members continued to express concern that the relatively large number of registeredreligious groups (currently more than 100) in a country with a small population was a sign of division. SIFCO also continued toexpress concern about the registration process itself, by which some religions were registered as corporate bodies and others asassociations, with differing requirements for registration. The SBC continued to broadcast religious programming for holidays suchas Christmas, the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, and the feast of the Immaculate Conception. The SBC also continued to broadcast90-minute Catholic and Anglican services weekly on the radio and provided airtime for short television programs on its channels toall other groups for prayer services, including regular Friday prayers for Muslims. The SBC continued to review and approve allreligious programing to ensure hate speech was not broadcast. Other religious programming consisted of 15-minute prerecordedprayers by Muslim, Hindu, Baha’i, Seventh-day Adventist, Catholic, and Anglican groups every two weeks. Faith-based groupsseeking to broadcast on the SBC were required to produce their own content, but few did so. Private radio and television stations didnot feature religious programs. Various religious groups stated they continued to engage with prison authorities to carry outspiritual and religious activities in prisons.Human rights instruments: Seychelles is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, and the UNCRC;Seychelles was absent during voting on the UNDRIP; Seychelles did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (not free;subject to registration); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (not free; broadcasting is subject to governmentpreapproval); public expression and observance (free); receiving donations (not free; subject to registration); religiousbuildings (not free; subject to registration); religious instruction (free); religious literature (free); religious and worshipservices (free); religious trade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Implicit protection against discrimination on the basis of religion was affirmed inthe latest revised constitution from 2017.2024 RoRB Classification: ReceptiveSierra Leone,Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsTo be classified Receptive, establish differentiated provisions for existential recognition and legalregistration by reorganising the present recognition system so that it has the capacity to make suchprovisions; to be classified Dynamic, establish a recognition agency that is independent of governmentcontrol to manage the recognition system; revoke the secondary procedure in the registration process andthe annual reregistration order.Secularity: Sierra Leone is a secular state; theism isaffirmed in the presidential oath.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: stipulatory registration – Sierra Leonean law does not mandate that religious or belieforganisations register with the government to operate legally in the country. The Ministry of Social Welfare(MSW) is responsible for religious activities, including registering religious organizations. Groups seekingto register must submit the required forms to the ministry, together with proof of police clearance, evidenceof funding, a list of donors and other organizations they work with, and annual work plans to qualify for taxexemptions and duty concessions. The registration must be renewed annually. There is no penalty fororganizations that choose not to register, but registration is required to obtain tax exemptions and waiverswhen importing religious materials. According to government regulations, religious organizationsintending to engage in charitable activities must establish a separate unit to carry out such functions andregister that entity as a nongovernmental organization (NGO) with the Sierra Leone Association of Non-Governmental Organizations. Religious groups may also register with the Inter-Religious Council, theumbrella NGO responsible for interreligious affairs in the country.161Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, annual reregistration to maintain registered status and itsbenefits, a secondary procedure is part of the registration process. The MSW did not provide funding itpromised in 2020 to finalize the code of conduct drafted that year by the IRCSL to regulate religious bodiesand how they work together, according to IRCSL secretary general Jesse Fornah. Fornah said one reason theIRCSL wanted the code of conduct was its concern about the proximity of churches to mosques which led inthe past to religious disputes, especially when a new church or mosque was erected near an existingreligious structure of the other faith. The proposal remained in the deliberative stage at year’s end. IRCSLvice president Sheikh Alhaji Murtala said the IRCSL asked the MSW director of social and religious affairs inMarch to help mediate a continuing land dispute that began in 2022 when a Pentecostal group was givenland adjacent to a mosque to build a church. Although the IRCSL intervened in the dispute initially, Murtalasaid the IRCSL since determined that the matter was out of its purview and consequently urged the nationalgovernment to get involved to continue the mediation.Human rights instruments: Sierra Leone is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC,and the UNDRIP; Sierra Leone did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoralservices (free); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (free); public expression andobservance (free); receiving donations (free); religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free);religious literature (free); religious and worship services (free); religious trade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of religion wasaffirmed in the latest revised constitution from 2008.2024 RoRB Classification: CensoriousSingapore,Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsDismantlement of the present apparatus of laws restricting religious activity must take place for Singapore to rise to Restrictive status; also, crucially, reverse of all religious prohibitions (e.g.those imposed against Jehovah’s Witnesses); restrictions and the use of subjective language in the legislation as a means for restriction would need to be revoked in order for the country to riseto Receptive status; restrictions on religious literature and the fines and imprisonment imposed for unregistered groups must also be abolished; establish a reorganised recognition system thatextends both existential recognition and legal registration to all belief systems and their derivatives equally.Secularity: Singapore is a secular state; the government recognises the Baha’i Faith, Buddhism, Christianity,Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Judaism, Sikhism, Taoism and Zoroastrianism.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: conditional mandatory registration – Singaporean law mandates that all religious or belief organisations with a membership higher than ten adults must register with thegovernment. The law requires all associations of 10 or more persons, including religious groups, to register with the government. Registration confers legal identity, which allows registeredgroups to own property, hold public meetings, and conduct financial transactions. Registered religious groups may apply to establish and maintain charitable and humanitarian institutions,which enables them to solicit and receive funding and tax benefits, such as income tax exemptions. Registered societies are subject to potential deregistration by the government on a variety ofgrounds, such as having purposes prejudicial to public peace, welfare, or good order. Deregistration makes it impossible to maintain a legal identity as a religious group, with consequencesrelated to owning property, conducting financial transactions, and holding public meetings. A person who acts as a member of or attends a meeting of an unregistered group may be punishedwith a fine of up to 5,000 SGD ($3,800), imprisonment of up to three years, or both. Prisoners, including those in solitary confinement, are allowed access to chaplains of registered religiousgroups. Members of unregistered or banned religious groups, including Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Unification Church, International Society for Krishna Consciousness, Christian Conference ofAsia, and the South Korea-based Shincheonji Church, do not have this right. Citizens must obtain a permit prior to speaking at indoor gatherings open to the public if the topic refers to race orreligion, and such events are only permitted if outside of the hearing or view of nonparticipants. Indoor, private (invitation-only) events are not subject to the same restrictions. Organizers ofprivate events, however, must prevent inadvertent access by uninvited guests or they may be cited for noncompliance with the rules regarding public gatherings. By law the government mayprohibit publications that are considered objectionable because they describe, depict, express, or deal with matters of race or religion (among other things) in such a manner that the availabilityof the publication is likely to cause feelings of enmity, hatred, ill will, or hostility among racial or religious groups. The government may prohibit the importation of publications, includingreligious publications, under the law. For offenses involving the publication of material deemed objectionable, an individual may be subject upon conviction to a fine not exceeding 5,000 SGD($3,800), imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months, or both. A person in possession of a prohibited publication may be fined up to 2,000 SGD ($1,500) and imprisoned for up to 12months for a first conviction. The government prohibits all written materials published by the International Bible Students Association and the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, thepublishing arms of Jehovah’s Witnesses. The Ministry of National Development and the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) establish guidelines on land development and use of space forreligious activities. The URA regulates all land usage and decides where organizations may be located; a religious group seeking a new place of worship must apply to the URA for a permit. URAguidelines regulate the use of commercially and industrially zoned space for religious activities and religious groups; they apply equally to all religious groups.Recognition policy: the government maintains a decades-long ban on Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Unification Church. The government banned Jehovah’s Witnesses in 1972 on grounds thereligion was prejudicial to public welfare and order because the group objected to serving in the military, reciting the national pledge, or singing the national anthem. A 1996 decision by theSingapore Appeals Court upheld the ban and stated that individuals (including Jehovah’s Witnesses) have the right to profess, practice, and propagate their own beliefs but may not act asmembers of an unlawful society or attend meetings of such banned groups. In practice, the government does not arrest members of Jehovah’s Witnesses for attending or holding meetings inprivate homes but does not allow them to hold public meetings or publish or import their literature. The government banned the Unification Church in 1982 on grounds it was a “cult” that couldhave detrimental effects on society. The law authorizes the Minister of Home Affairs to issue a “restraining order” against persons of authority within a religious group who cause feelings ofenmity or hostility between different religious groups, promote political causes, carry out subversive activities, or encourage disaffection against the government under the guise of practicingreligion. A restraining order places various restrictions on public activities in which a religious authority can participate. The Minister of Home Affairs may issue a restraining order against areligious organization if there is any foreign influence in the group that undermines religious harmony in the country. Subjects of a restraining order must also remove any online contentdeemed offensive. Only citizens or permanent residents may fill key leadership roles in religious organizations, and religious organizations must disclose foreign donations of 10,000 Singaporedollars (SGD) ($7,600) or more and disclose any affiliation to foreign groups that may be able to exert influence on the organization. The country has two advisory groups on topics related toreligious freedom, the Presidential Council for Religious Harmony (PCRH) and the Presidential Council for Minority Rights (PCMR). The PCRH reports on matters affecting the maintenance ofreligious harmony and considers cases referred by the Ministry of Home Affairs or Parliament due to concerns the case could cause religious tensions. The President appoints the PCRH’s 10members, seven of whom represent the Buddhist, Catholic, Hindu, Muslim, Protestant, Sikh, and Taoist communities and three, including the chair, who do not represent any religious group.The PCMR acts within the legislative process and examines all legislation to ensure it does not disadvantage specific religious or racial groups. The PCMR also considers and reports on mattersconcerning any religious or racial group that Parliament or other government entity refers to it. The constitution states Malays are “the indigenous people of Singapore” and requires thegovernment to protect and promote their interests, including religious interests. The Islamic Religious Council (MUIS), a statutory board established under the Ministry of Culture, Community,and Youth (MCCY), administers affairs for all Muslims in the country and protects their interests, including for Sunnis and minority groups, such as Shia. MUIS further advises the president onmatters relating to the practice of Islam in the country. The government appoints all members of the MUIS. The government also appoints the members of the Hindu Endowments Board, HinduAdvisory Board, and Sikh Advisory Board. These councils under the MCCY manage various aspects of their faith communities, mainly practiced by the Indian minority. The law allows membersof the Muslim community, irrespective of their school of Islam or ethnicity, to have personal status issues governed by Islamic law “as varied where applicable by Malay custom.” Ordinarily theShafi’i school of law is used, but other accepted schools of Islamic law may be used as appropriate. The President appoints the president of the sharia court. A breach of a sharia court order is acriminal offense punishable by imprisonment of up to six months. Sharia courts have exclusive jurisdiction over marriage issues where both parties are Muslims or were married under Muslimlaw. Sharia courts have concurrent jurisdiction with secular courts over disputes related to custody of minors and disposition of property upon divorce. Sharia courts do not have jurisdiction overpersonal protection orders or applications for maintenance payments. Appeals within the sharia system go to an appeals board, the ruling of which is final and may not be appealed to any othercourt. The law allows Muslim men to practice polygamy, but the Registry of Muslim Marriages may refuse requests to marry additional wives after soliciting the views of existing wives,reviewing the husband’s financial capability, and evaluating his ability to treat the wives and families fairly and equitably. By law, the President appoints a “male Muslim of good character andsuitable attainments” as the Registrar of Muslim Marriages. According to Singapore’s sixth report to the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination, “polygamousmarriages are rare in Singapore and have steadily decreased from 0.4 per cent in 2010 to 0.18 per cent of Muslim marriages in 2020.” Under the law, certain criminal offenses apply only to thosewho profess Islam. This includes publicly teaching or expounding any doctrine relating to Islam in a manner contrary to Islamic law, which carries a maximum fine of 2,000 SGD ($1,500),maximum imprisonment of 12 months, or both. It is also a criminal offense for Muslims to cohabit outside of marriage, but there has been no report of the government enforcing that law indecades. According to legal experts, Islamic law governs Muslims in the context of inheritance issues by default, but under certain circumstances, civil law takes precedence when invoked.Islamic law may result in a man receiving twice the share of a woman’s inheritance of the same family relational level. Under Islamic law, a man may also incur financial responsibilities for hisfemale next of kin, although this provision is not codified in the country’s secular law. The government may detain individuals considered security threats, including those expressing religiousmotivations, under internal security laws and regulations. The individuals receive religious, psychological, and social rehabilitation through state and civil society groups, including theReligious Rehabilitation Group (RRG). All groups, including the RRG, must concur that a detainee is successfully rehabilitated before authorities can approve a release.162Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, broads grounds for which deregistration may occur could easily be misused against religious groups unfavoured by the state, fines (up to $3,800)and imprisonment (up to 3 years) for those attending or leading unregistered groups, possibly inverted membership quota, prohibition of Jehovah's Witnesses and the Unification Church, statedefinition of religion, stringent restrictions on religious literature. The official website of the Jehovah’s Witnesses reported that, as of December, 11 Jehovah’s Witnesses were being held in thearmed forces’ detention facility for refusing on religious grounds to complete national service, compared with 14 members held the previous year. In July, media outlets reported that authoritiescharged a 65-year-old man under the Administration of Muslim Law Act for teaching a “deviant doctrine” and for operating an Islamic school without registration. MUIS filed a police reportagainst the man in 2021. Authorities had previously presented the case to the Fatwa Committee, a panel of prominent Islamic scholars, which ruled that some of the man’s teachings had no basisin Islamic sources and ordered him to stop such teachings. The government continued to assist religious groups locate spaces for religious observance in public housing, where most citizensreside. The government continued to enforce the maintenance of ethnic ratios in public housing to avoid the emergence of ethnic and religious enclaves in concentrated geographic areas. Whilethere is no specific law prohibiting proselytization, the government continued to limit its practice through the broader application of laws regarding limits on public speech, assembly, andbroadcasting; authorities cited concerns that proselytizing by one group might offend other religious groups and upset intergroup relations.Human rights instruments: Singapore is partied to the UNCRC and the UNDRIP; Singapore is neitherpartied to the ICCPR nor the ICESCR; Singapore did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (not free; conversion to prohibited religions is illegal); hieroncy (not free; subject to registration); monasticism (not free; subject to registration); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites(not free; restricted); pastoral services (not free; subject to registration); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (not free; subject to registration; also restricted by law); publicexpression and observance (not free; subject to registration); receiving donations (not free; subject to registration); religious buildings (not free; subject to registration); religious instruction(not free; subject to registration; restricted); religious literature (not free; restricted); religious and worship services (not free; subject to registration; restricted); religious trade (not free;subject to registration).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of religion was affirmed in the latestrevised constitution from 2016.2024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveSlovak RepublicFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsDismantlement of the apparatus of laws restricting religious activity, including all the above identified restriction tools; to be classifiedReceptive, establish differentiated provisions for existential recognition and legal registration by reorganising the present recognition systemso that it has the capacity to make such provisions; to be classified Dynamic, establish a recognition agency that is independent of governmentto manage the recognition system.Secularity: Slovakia is officially a secular state; however, the RomanCatholic Church receives exclusive privileges as the only denomination tohave established a bilateral cooperation agreement with the government.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: pseudo-mandatory registration – although Slovakian law does not mandate that religious or belief organisations register with the government tooperate legally, ministers of unregistered religious groups do not have the right to provide spiritual counsel in prisons and state-run hospitals. The law requires religiousgroups to register with the Ministry of Culture’s Department of Church Affairs to employ spiritual leaders to perform officially recognized functions. Clergy fromunregistered religious groups do not have the right to minister to their members in prisons or government hospitals. Civil functions such as weddings officiated by clergyfrom registered groups are recognized by the state, while those presided over by clergy from unregistered groups are not, and these couples must undergo an additionalcivil ceremony. Unregistered groups may apply to provide spiritual guidance to their adherents in prisons, but they have no legal recourse if their requests are denied.Unregistered groups may conduct religious services, which the government recognizes as private, rather than religious, activities. Unregistered groups lack legal statusand may not establish religious schools or receive government funding. The law exempts registered groups from the duty to notify public authorities in advance oforganizing public assemblies but does not allow this exemption for unregistered groups. Under the law, organizations seeking registration as religious groups must havea minimum of 50,000 adherents. The 50,000 adherents must be adult citizens with permanent residence in the country and must submit to the Ministry of Culture an“honest declaration” attesting to their membership, knowledge of the articles of faith and basic tenets of the religion, personal identity numbers and home addresses ofall members, and support for the group’s registration. All groups registered before these requirements came into effect in 2017 remained registered without having tomeet the 50,000-adherent requirement; no new religious groups have attained recognition under the revised requirements. According to the law, only groups thatregister using the title “church” in their official name may call themselves a church; there is no other legal distinction between registered “churches” and otherregistered religious groups. The 18 registered religious groups are: the Apostolic Church, Baha’i Community, The Brotherhood Unity of Baptists, Seventh-day Adventists,Church of the Brethren, Czechoslovak Hussite Church, Church of Jesus Christ, Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession, Evangelical Methodist Church, GreekCatholic Church, Christian Congregations, Jehovah’s Witnesses, New Apostolic Church, Orthodox Church, Reformed Christian Church, Roman Catholic Church, OldCatholic Church, and Central Union of Jewish Religious Communities. Registered groups receive annual state subsidies. All but the Evangelical Church of the AugsburgConfession, Greek Catholic Church, Orthodox Church, Reformed Christian Church, and Roman Catholic Church have fewer than 50,000 members, but they registeredbefore this requirement came into effect. The Department of Church Affairs oversees relations between religious groups and the state and manages the distribution ofstate subsidies to religious groups and associations. The ministry may not legally intervene in the internal affairs of religious groups or direct their activities. Under thelaw, state subsidies to registered groups are based on the number of adherents reported in the most recent census. The state adjusts these annual subsidy payments basedon inflation. A group lacking the 50,000 adult adherents required to obtain status as an official religious group may register as a civic association, which provides the legalstatus necessary to carry out activities such as maintaining a bank account, entering into a contract, or acquiring or renting property. In doing so, however, the group maynot identify itself officially as a religious group, since the law governing registration of civic associations specifically excludes religious groups from obtaining this status.The group must also refrain from carrying out activities related to practicing religion, which from a legal perspective are reserved for registered groups only, such asteaching religion at schools or providing spiritual services; violators face possible dissolution by authorities. To register as a civic association, three citizens must providetheir names and addresses and the name, goals, organizational structure, executive bodies, and budgetary rules of the group. The law requires public broadcasters toallocate program time for registered religious groups but not for unregistered groups.Recognition policy: a concordat with the Holy See provides the legal framework for relations between the government, the Roman Catholic Church in the country, and theHoly See. Four corollaries cover the operation of Catholic religious schools, the teaching of Catholic religious education as a subject in public schools, the service ofCatholic priests as military chaplains and police, and the exercise of conscientious objections. A single agreement between the government and 11 of the 17 otherregistered religious groups provides similar status to those groups. The 11 religious groups may also provide military chaplains. The unanimous approval of all existingparties to the agreement is required for other religious groups to obtain similar benefits.163Key restriction tools imposed: alternative procedures to register as a civic association are provided but still with membership quota imposed and with a lesser degree ofregistered status bestowed, amalgamation, membership quota, nationality quota, nominal restriction, no new religious groups have successfully completed registrationsince the enactment of the 2017 law on religious groups, preferential treatment of preregistered groups, signature quota, unregistered religious groups are not able toconduct some pastoral activities which are classified as "basic religious activities", vertical registration system due to there existing registered religious groups, registeredcivic associations, and unregistered groups. In a separate trial, the Specialized Criminal Court in Banska Bystrica in November found Skrabak guilty of producing andpossessing extremist material and sentenced him to a three-year suspended sentence. When justifying the suspended sentence, the court determined that the materialsSkrabak had produced and possessed only carried the logo of the Slovak Togetherness association and not the logo of the banned Slovak Togetherness political party. Thecourt also found Skrabak not guilty of the third criminal charge, disseminating extremist materials, because the judge determined that the symbols on items he haddisseminated, such as a black sun and runes, were not unquestionably extremist. Also in January 2023, the Old Catholic Mission petitioned Caputova to challenge legalprovisions that require an organization to have a minimum of 50,000 adult adherents to register as a religious group at the Constitutional Court, citing a 2022 statement bythe Slovak National Center for Human Rights saying the provisions were in breach of the constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights. The groupannounced in March that in her formal response to its request, the President agreed the registration requirements were “unreasonably high,” but decided not to submit amotion to the Constitutional Court. Caputova stated the court had not changed its position on the issue since ruling in 2010 that the constitution ensured fundamentalrights and freedoms of members of both registered and unregistered religious groups equally and that lawmakers were entitled to set a registration threshold. In March2023, parliament failed to pass a law enabling registration of religious groups with fewer than 50,000 adherents. Some MPs who opposed the law argued it would allow“obscure dangerous sects” and Muslims to operate and would help “destroy and weaken” Christianity in the country. Submitted by the former government plenipotentiaryfor freedom of religion or belief Anna Zaborska and several other coalition MPs, the draft law proposed to create a new, lesser registration category of religious associationthat would provide smaller groups with a legal status but no other rights belonging to legacy religious groups. Representatives of unregistered groups criticized the draftlaw for providing them with an inferior status, similar to the one they already had, and for not addressing the problems they faced. In April, the Supreme AdministrativeCourt ruled against the Grace Christian Fellowship’s appeal of the Bratislava Regional Court’s 2020 decision that dismissed the group’s legal action contesting the Ministryof Culture’s 2018 decision to reject its 2007 registration application. In its decision, which could not be appealed, the Supreme Administrative Court validated the ministry’sthird and final refusal to register the group and the ministry’s finding that it promoted hatred toward other religious groups. Representatives of the Muslim communitycontinued to state that Muslims faced increasing difficulties in finding suitable burial grounds for their adherents, since a cemetery they had used for these purposes inBratislava was close to reaching its maximum capacity and the city council had not provided a new suitable location that would allow funeral services and burial accordingto Islamic traditions. Although the community had registered as a civic association, it continued to state that the lack of recognition as a religious group made it difficult toobtain the necessary construction permits for establishing a mosque or other sites for religious worship, such as prayer rooms. The group said officials in the past had citedtechnical grounds, such as zoning regulations, to reject their applications or fail to act on them. In June, the mayor of Bratislava, Matus Vallo, met for the first time sinceassuming office in 2018 with representatives of the Muslim community to discuss their grievances, including hate crimes against the community, inability to establish amosque, and issues with burial grounds. During the meeting, Vallo stated that Bratislava, home to the country’s largest Muslim community, must be a city for all andexpressed a commitment to supporting all vulnerable communities. The government allocated approximately €57.6 million ($63.4 million) in annual state subsidies to the18 registered religious groups, compared with €52.8 million ($58.1 million) in 2022 and €52 million ($57.2 million) in 2021. As in prior years, up to 80 percent of eachgroup’s subsidy was used to pay the group’s clergy and operating costs. Some members of religious groups continued to state their groups’ reliance on direct governmentfunding, which constituted approximately 50 percent of their income, limited their independence and religious freedom. They said religious groups self-censored potentialcriticism of the government on sensitive topics to avoid jeopardizing their relationship with the state and, consequently, their finances.Human rights instruments: Slovakia is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP;Slovakia did not vote on the UDHR; Slovakia is partied to the ECHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free; laws on importation for propagational use remain unclear); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burialrites (not free; subject to registration); pastoral services (not free; restricted); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (free);public expression and observance (free); receiving donations (free); religious buildings (free); religious instruction (not free; subject toregistration); religious literature (free); religious and worship services (not free; restricted); religious trade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of religionwas affirmed in the latest revised constitution from 2017.2024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveSlovenia, Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsEstablish separate procedures for existential recognition and legal registration; resolve identified restriction tools such as excessiveinformational requirements, membership quota among others; to be classified Dynamic, establish a recognition agency to manage therecognition system and its provisions for recognition and registration; this recognition agency should operate independently of the government.Secularity: Slovenia is a secular state.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: pseudo-mandatory registration – although Slovenian law does not explicitly mandate that religious or belief organisationsregister with the government to operate legally, clergy from unregistered religious organisations are not permitted to provide spiritual counselto members in the military, police, prisons, hospitals, and social care institutions which is a basic religious function. The law enables churchesand other religious groups to register with the government to obtain status as officially recognized religious entities, but it does not restrict thereligious activities of unregistered religious groups. Unregistered religious groups may establish legal associations or entities to purchaseproperty but are required to pay taxes on such property, whereas property owned by registered religious groups used for religious purposes isexempt from taxation. According to the law, the rights of registered and unregistered religious groups include autonomy in selecting their legalform and constituency, freedom to define their internal organization and to name and define the competencies of their employees, autonomy indefining the rights and obligations of their members, latitude to participate in interconfessional organizations within the country or abroad, andfreedom to construct buildings for religious purposes. Registered religious groups may provide religious services to the military, police, prisons,hospitals, and social care institutions. Registered religious groups are also eligible for rebates on value-added taxes and government cofinancingof social security contributions for their religious workers. The law states religious groups have a responsibility to respect the constitution andthe legal provisions on nondiscrimination. To register with the government, a religious group must submit an application to the Ministry ofCulture (MOC) providing proof it has at least 10 adult members who are citizens or permanent residents; the name of the group, which must beclearly distinguishable from the names of other religious groups; the group’s address in the country; and a copy of its official seal to be used inlegal transactions. It must pay an administrative tax of €22.60 ($25). The group must also provide the names of the group’s representatives inthe country, a description of the foundations of the group’s religious beliefs, and a copy of its organizational act. If a group wishes to apply forgovernment cofinancing of social security for clergy members, it must show it has at least 1,000 lay members for every clergy member. On 2othSeptember 2023, the National Assembly adopted amendments to the Religious Freedom Act, increasing the statutory level of state coverage ofsocial security contributions for religious employees from 48 to 60 percent of the average salary. However, it also canceled the previousgovernment’s 2022 decree, which provided 100 percent coverage of contributions for employees of “religious organizations with the status of agenerally beneficial organization to society,” a status belonging only to the largest religious communities. Smaller communities were notaffected by the 2022 decree. The government said it canceled the 2022 decree because the decree conflicted with existing legislation. Thegovernment may refuse the registration of a religious group only if the group does not provide the required application materials in full or if theMOC determines the group is a “hate group” – an organization engaging in hate crimes as defined by the penal code. By law, the MOC monitorsand maintains records on registered religious communities and provides legal expertise and assistance to religious organizations. The MOCestablishes and manages procedures for registration, issues documents related to the legal status of registered communities, distributes fundsallocated in the government’s budget for religious activities, organizes discussions and gatherings of religious communities to address religiousfreedom concerns, and provides information to religious groups on legal provisions and regulations related to their activities. Charitableorganizations connected with a religious community are unable automatically to participate in public tenders. Such organizations must firstprove their status as nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to the government and then formally request consideration, as must NGOs that arenot connected with religious groups.164Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, broad grounds for the denial of registration are vulnerable to being misused against religiousgroups unfavoured by the state, excessive informational requirements, membership quota (two different kinds are imposed for different aspectsof the registration process; the lower status demands 10 adult members while the higher status demands 1,000), nationality quota, onerousregistration procedure. The government registered two new religious groups during the year: Hare Krishna skupnost Damo-dar and the OldCatholic Church in Slovenia (Utrecht Union). This brought the total number of registered religious groups to 59, the largest of which were theCatholic Church, Islamic Community, Serbian Orthodox Church, and Evangelical Church. Another registered organization, the Slovene MuslimCommunity, also continued to represent Muslims in the country. Some minority religious communities said they continued to experiencedifficulties providing spiritual care to their members in the military, hospitals, prisons, and other public institutions. While many hospitals hadCatholic chapels, members of other faiths had fewer opportunities to attend religious services while hospitalized. Other faiths sharedmultireligious prayer rooms in hospitals and prisons. This, as well as staffing limits, created fewer prayer opportunities for members of otherreligious groups while hospitalized or incarcerated. The Slovenian Armed Forces (SAF) employed full-time Catholic and Protestant clergy toprovide religious services, but no imams, Orthodox priests, or rabbis. Muslim community leaders said the Ministry of Defense continued to notemploy an imam in the SAF, despite their requests it do so. The Ministry of Defense stated it could not hire an imam due to staffing issues, withrecruitment focused on meeting NATO commitments. Catholic officials suspended a previous request to employ a bishop in the SAF due to a lackof priests. Some minority religious groups said there was no provision to provide state insurance support to dependents of religious workers. Inaddition, according to the Religious Freedom Act, state financial assistance for priests without a full employment relationship with their churchwas limited to “priests who have at least a secondary education and religious workers who have vows of poverty, celibacy, and obedience,” whichexcluded married religious workers. Larger religious organizations that had the status of “generally beneficial organizations” protested theSeptember 20 repeal of the 2022 decree which paid 100 percent of social security contributions for members of those organizations. Those largerreligious organizations impacted by the government’s rollback of these benefits stated that the government was taking away acquired rights andthat it had failed to consult the religious organizations when the National Assembly was developing and drafting the new legislation. However,smaller religious organizations, which had not benefited from the 2022 law, welcomed the repeal of the provision, since it was replaced by a newamendment that increased coverage of social security contributions from 40 to 60 percent for all religious workers, regardless of the size of theirrespective organizations. The Islamic Community continued to provide certificates to companies producing meat from stunned animalsaffirming the meat as halal. The Jewish community remained concerned about the law requiring stunning prior to slaughtering, stating thisviolated kosher laws, and it continued to import kosher meat from neighboring countries. The government defended the law as necessary tocomply with EU regulations to prevent unnecessary suffering to animals. The MOC and leaders of the Muslim and Jewish communities said thatas a result of continuing confusion regarding the legal status of circumcision due to the Commission on Medical Ethics’ opinion, many publichospitals did not offer the procedure. As a result, Muslims and Jews continued to rely on private hospitals or traveled to Austria for the procedure.Human rights instruments: Slovenia is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and theUNDRIP; Slovenia did not vote on the UDHR; Slovenia is partied to the ECHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free); private expression andobservance (free); proselytism (free); public expression and observance (free); receiving donations (free); religious buildings (free); religiousinstruction (free); religious literature (free); religious and worship services (free); religious trade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of religionwas affirmed in the latest revised constitution from 2016.2024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveSolomon IslandsFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsEstablish provisions for existential recognition distinct from legal registration by reorganising the recognition system;revoke the rule of mandatory registration; to be classified Receptive, establish a recognition agency to manage therecognition system independently of the government.Secularity: Solomon Islands is officially a secular state;however, Christianity is given special treatment by thegovernment; theism was affirmed in the latest revisedconstitution from 2018.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: broad mandatory registration – by law, all religious or belief organisations must register with thegovernment to operate legally in the Solomon Islands. Religious groups must apply in writing to the Registrar ofCompanies for a certificate of registration. Religious groups and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) may register ascharitable organizations. To register, a group must submit the required documentation to the Registrar of Companies; theapplication fee of 1,250 Solomon Islands dollars (SBD) ($160) is waived for religious groups. Documentation required forthe application process includes a description of the group, a list of board members, and a constitution that states howthe group is governed and how members are chosen. The registrar issues a certificate when satisfied that therequirements have been met and that the nature, extent, objectives, and circumstances of the applicant arenoncommercial. The Ministry of Traditional Governance, Peace, and Ecclesiastical Affairs (MTGPEA) deliversecclesiastical programs in partnership with faith-based organizations, engages with religious leaders to support peaceinitiatives, and manages government grants to churches. Members of minority faiths continued to express concern thatmost citizens, who are predominantly Christian and Protestant, would likely support any efforts to declare the country aChristian nation.165Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation. Government officials said proposed constitutional amendments, firstintroduced in 2017, to declare the nation a Christian country, were not advancing at the end of the year. On December 19,parliament passed the Constitutional Amendment Bill 2023 that contained provisions for repealing the 1978 constitutionand replacing it with a new constitution. The Constitutional Amendment Bill established a Constituent Assembly chargedwith considering and recommending a draft constitution to parliament for passage. If parliament, in acting on anaffirmative recommendation from the Constituent Assembly, passes the bill, the terms of the new constitution willimmediately replace the existing constitution in its entirety. As of year’s end, the provisions of a new constitution underthe bill were not yet public. Members of minority faiths expressed some concern over any possible provisions of theproposed new constitution that would declare the nation a Christian country, and the likelihood that most citizens, whoare predominantly Christian and Protestant, would support such provisions. Multiple religious groups, includingChristian, Jewish, and Islamic groups, were registered in the country. Government sources stated there were no pendingregistration applications for other groups. Officials stated some religious groups were able to register as NGOs or charitieswithout being required to reveal any religious affiliation, which the groups hoped might offer more freedom to operate.The Ministry of Home Affairs and the MTGPEA continued to interact with religious groups. The Ministry of Home Affairscharacterized its role as maintaining a balance between constitutionally protected rights of religious freedom, free speech,and free expression, and maintaining public order. The MTGPEA provided funding to churches to carry out socialprograms, such as a Christian care center for victims of domestic violence administrated by the Anglican Church ofMelanesia, and for the maintenance of church buildings. The government subsidized most of the schools and healthcenters administered by the Catholic Church, Anglican Church of Melanesia, United Methodist Church, South SeasEvangelical Church, and Seventh-day Adventist Church. It allocated these subsidies proportionally based on the numberof students at the schools and the size of the health centers. The government customarily continued to use the Bible toadminister oaths of office, but this was not compulsory. The Prime Minister included Bible verses in most of his publicspeeches and parliamentary addresses.Human rights instruments: Solomon Islands is partied to the ICESCR and the UNCRC;Solomon Islands is not partied to the ICCPR; Solomon Islands was absent during votingon the UNDRIP; Solomon Islands did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (not free; subject to registration); monasticism (not free; subject to registration); nuptial,initiatory and burial rites (not free; subject to registration); pastoral services (not free; subject to registration); privateexpression and observance (free); proselytism (not free; subject to registration); public expression and observance(free); receiving donations (not free; subject to registration); religious buildings (not free; subject to registration);religious instruction (not free; subject to registration); religious literature (not free; subject to registration); religiousand worship services (not free; subject to registration); religious trade (not free; subject to registration).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection against discrimination on thebasis of “creed” was affirmed in the latest revised constitutionfrom 2018.2024 RoRB Classification: TerminalSomalia, FederalRepublic ofFoRB Claim: Partial claim is made that excludes the propagation of any religion other than Islam.RecommendationsComplete dismantlement of the present apparatus of terminally restrictive laws on religious activity including therepressive penal code that criminalises blasphemy and conversion from Islam; establish provisions for recognition andregistration and make these available to all belief systems and their derivatives; establish this recognition system in away that does not place Islam above all other belief systems and groups.Secularity: Sunni Islam is the state denomination; theism was affirmed in the latestconstitution from 2012.Mandatoriness of registration: malregistration.Registration policy: malregistration – guidance on how to register or what is required is inconsistent and thegovernment has no ability to implement registration law outside Mogadishu. The federal Ministry of Endowments andReligious Affairs (MERA) has legal authority to register religious groups. However, the government of Puntland in March2024 declared it no longer recognised the Somali federal government. Guidance on how to register or what is required isinconsistent. Somaliland has no mechanism to register religious organizations and no specific requirements to do so.Other FMS administrations have no mechanism to register religious organizations. MERA is responsible for monitoringreligious affairs and promoting religious tolerance between practitioners of Islam and members of designated minorityreligious groups.  Specific responsibilities of the ministry include arranging travel and accommodation for Somali Hajjpilgrims.  The ministry is also responsible for developing messaging to counter al-Shabaab ideology.  It has the mandateto regulate religious instruction throughout the country. The federal government supported the travel of 9,043 Hajjpilgrims to Saudi Arabia during the year.Recognition policy: the PFC requires the president, but not other office holders, to be Muslim.166Key restriction tools imposed: criminalisation of blasphemy and religious conversion away from Islam, informationalabout registration procedures is inconsistent and the government does not have the authority to provide genuineregistered status, non-recognition of any religion or denomination other than Sunni Islam. While the PFC does notexplicitly prohibit Muslims from converting to other religions, sharia is interpreted in the country to forbid conversionfrom Islam. Under the law, no exemptions from the application of sharia legal principles exist for non-Muslims. Thefederal and FMS governments maintained bans on the propagation of religions other than Islam.  The federalgovernment reportedly continued to loosely enforce the registration requirement for religious groups opening schoolsfor lay or religious instruction. According to several advocacy groups working in the region, in early October, theSomaliland Supreme Court heard the second appeal in the case of a Somaliland resident sentenced in 2022 to five yearsin prison after being convicted of blasphemy, apostasy, insulting Islam and the Prophet of Islam on social media, andspreading Christianity.  The Supreme Court ruled the accused should remain in prison for at least two more months, withno guarantee that she would be released at that time.  According to her lawyer, the appellate regional court of Marodi Jehdenied her first appeal in December 2022.  After the individual declared a return to Islam, the court conditionallyreleased her in August, subject to reimprisonment should she be found practicing Christianity or communicating withChristians.  There was no further information available about her case before the end of the year.Human rights instruments: Somalia is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, and the UNCRC;Somalia was absent during voting on the UNDRIP; Somalia did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (not free; illegal to convert from Islam); hieroncy (not free; restricted or illegal); monasticism (not free;restricted); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free; restricted); pastoral services (not free; restricted); privateexpression and observance (not free; restricted); proselytism (not free; illegal to propagate any religion other thanIslam); public expression and observance (not free; restricted); receiving donations (not free; restricted); religiousbuildings (not free; restricted); religious instruction (not free; restricted); religious literature (not free; restricted);religious and worship services (not free; restricted); religious trade (not free; restricted).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of religion was affirmed inthe latest constitution from 2012.2024 RoRB Classification: ReceptiveSouth Africa,Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsA lack of distinction between procedures for registering religious and secular entities needs to be resolved through the differentiation ofprocedures for these two types of entities.Secularity: South Africa is a secular state; theism was affirmed in thelatest revised constitution from 2012.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: stipulatory registration – South African law does not mandate that religious or belief organisations register with thegovernment to operate legally in the country. The law does not require religious groups to register; however, registered religious andother nonprofit groups may qualify as public benefit organizations, allowing them to open bank accounts and exempting them frompaying income tax. To register as a public benefit organization, groups must submit to the relevant provincial social development office anonprofit organization application, including their constitution, contact information, list of officers, and documentation stating theymeet a number of prescribed requirements that largely ensure accounting and tax compliance. A group registers once with the local officeand its status then applies nationwide. Once registered, the group must submit annual reports on any changes to this information,important achievements and meetings, and financial information, as well as an accountant’s report. The constitution grants detainedpersons visitation rights with their chosen religious counselor.Recognition policy: the law recognizes civil marriage, customary marriage, and civil unions (including same-sex unions). Civil law doesnot allow polygamy. The law allows for polygamous marriages to be conducted under customary law; however, it applies only to “thosecustoms and usages traditionally observed among the Indigenous African people.” Customary marriages must be registered within threemonths of the ceremony at any office of the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) or through a designated traditional leader in areas wherethere is no DHA office. Muslim and Hindu marriages are registered as customary marriages. “Authorized marriage officers” at somechurches are permitted to “solemnize a marriage,” provided they complete a marriage certificate with signatures from two witnesses andsubmit the certificate to DHA.167Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation. Throughout the year, the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights ofCultural, Religious, and Linguistic Communities (CRL) examined allegations of sexual abuse, “cult-like” practices, and financialmalfeasance against leaders of various religious organizations in what it stated was a continued effort to protect congregants from abuseand fraud. At year’s end, the trial of Bishop Zondo of the Rivers of Living Waters Ministries on 10 counts of rape and other charges wasongoing in the Pretoria High Court. In 2022, the CRL held public hearings on allegations of abuses alleged to have taken place at the Riversof Living Waters Ministries. Although the court did not use as evidence the representations made during the CRL hearings, the hearingsbrought to public attention abuses that the CRL stated were taking place in church. In November, the National Assembly passed a 2016CRL legislative proposal that would require religious groups to register formally with the government and would create a peer reviewcouncil, consisting of representatives from various religious groups, that would grant organizations and individual religious leaderspermission to operate. At year’s end, the President had not signed the measure into law. Several groups, including the Southern AfricaCatholic Bishops’ Conference, Freedom of Religion South Africa (FORSA), and the International Institute for Religious Freedom, opposedthe proposal, saying the registration requirement would restrict their religious freedom. The Muslim Marriages bill, proposed by the LawReform Commission, remained under discussion in the National Assembly at year’s end. The bill, intended to “rationalize marriage lawspertaining to various types of marriages,” including customary marriages and polygamous marriages, would regulate recognition,solemnization, and registration, as well as provide for the designation of marriage officers. It would recognize existing marriagesconcluded under civil or customary law, “as well as marriages concluded in line with sharia law and other religious belief or practices.” In2022, the Constitutional Court confirmed a Supreme Court of Appeal ruling that legally recognized Muslim marriages and declaredsections of the separate Marriage and Divorce Acts unconstitutional. FORSA stated the Muslim Marriages bill should include a clause thatexpressly protected religious marriage officers and/or the religious institutions they represented from being compelled to solemnize anymarriage that offended or violated their beliefs.Human rights instruments: South Africa is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and theUNDRIP; South Africa abstained from voting on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free); privateexpression and observance (free); proselytism (free); public expression and observance (free); receiving donations (free); religiousbuildings (free); religious instruction (free); religious literature (free); religious and worship services (free); religious trade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis ofreligion was affirmed in the latest revised constitution from 2012.2024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveSouth Sudan, Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsEstablish a reorganised recognition system that can bestow both existential recognition and legal registration simultaneously and onethat offers these to all belief systems equally; reduce the excessive registration fee presently imposed; revoke secondary procedures in theregistration process and halt the request for more qualifications for GFOs in comparison to domestic groups.Secularity: South Sudan is officially a secular state; however, Christianityreceives special treatment; theism was affirmed in the constitution.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory and malregistration.Registration policy: broad mandatory registration – the law mandates that religious or belief organisations must register with thegovernment to operate legally in South Sudan. Religious organisations register with the state government where they intend to operate.Religious groups with associated advocacy and humanitarian or development organizations must also register with the Ministry forHumanitarian Affairs through the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission. Faith-based organizations are required to provide copies of theirconstitution, a statement of faith documenting their doctrines, beliefs, objectives, and holy books; a list of executive members; and aregistration fee of 3,500 South Sudan pounds ($3). All humanitarian organizations, including faith-based ones, must pay this fee. Theserequirements, however, are not strictly enforced, and many faith-based groups operate without registration. International faith-basedorganizations are required also to provide a copy of any previous registration with another government and a letter from the internationalorganization commissioning its activities in that country. The transitional constitution specifies that the regulation of religious matterswithin each state is the executive and legislative responsibility of the state government. It establishes the responsibility of government atall levels to protect monuments and places of religious importance from destruction or desecration. The transitional constitution allowsreligious groups to establish and maintain what the transitional constitution deems “appropriate” faith-based charitable orhumanitarian institutions.Malregistration – the ongoing violence in South Sudan along ethnic lines that has resulted in attacks on churches and other places ofworship undermines the registration laws meant to protect religious communities.168Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, secondary procedure, more qualifications required for GFOs than domestic groups whichcreates a discriminatory system (GFOs are required to provide proof of their successful registration with another government and acommissioning letter from the group's international headquarters), unregistered groups often go without registration despiteregistration being mandatory. Former Deputy Interior Minister Salva Mathok, a member of the Transitional National LegislativeAssembly, died abroad in March. In 2022, he had ordered local youth to burn a Seventh-day Adventist church in Gogrial East County,Warrap State. Mathok said that the Seventh-day Adventist doctrine was destroying traditional and cultural norms within the community.Following the incident, Mathok declined calls from Seventh-day Adventist leaders to apologize and instead made public statements in thepress justifying his actions, calling the Seventh-day Adventist church a “house of prostitution,” and claiming the church was abductingwomen and girls from the community. The government took no further action during the year with regard to the incident. After Mathok’sdeath, his remains were received with honor by transitional government leaders at the Juba airport, and the governor of Warrap Statedeclared three days of mourning. Leaders from all major religious groups attended ceremonial public events that typically featuredopening prayers and readings by both Christian and Muslim clergy. Christian leaders with the South Sudan Council of Churches andMuslim leaders with the South Sudan Islamic Council (SSIC) participated in key implementation bodies for the peace agreement signed in2018, such as the National Transitional Committee. Religious leaders continued to say they generally had good access to transitionalgovernment officials and that their relationship with authorities remained broadly positive. Religious leaders also said they had freedomto criticize government policy, especially in their sermons when key political leaders attended church services. Both Christian and Islamicprayers, delivered in English and Arabic, opened most official events. Religious leaders continued to express concern the breakdown inlaw and order increased the risk of harm to all entities operating in the country. Government officials included both Christians andMuslims. President Kiir, a Catholic, employed Sheikh Juma Saeed Ali, a leader of the country’s Muslim community, as a high-level advisoron religious affairs. Vice President Hussein Abdelbagi is also a Muslim.Human rights instruments: South Sudan is partied to the UNCRC and in 2024 became a party tothe ICCPR; South Sudan is not partied to the ICESCR; South Sudan was absent during voting onUNDRIP; South Sudan did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (not free; subject to registration); monasticism (not free; subject to registration); nuptial, initiatory andburial rites (not free; subject to registration); pastoral services (not free; subject to registration); private expression and observance(free); proselytism (not free; subject to registration); public expression and observance (not free; restricted); receiving donations (notfree; subject to registration); religious buildings (not free; subject to registration); religious instruction (not free; subject to registration);religious literature (not free; subject to registration); religious and worship services (not free; subject to registration); religious trade(not free; subject to registration).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of “religious creed” wasaffirmed in the transitional constitution from 2022 effective through February 2025.2024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveSpain, Kingdom ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsMake bilateral cooperation agreements available to all groups so that they may then comprise a positive and characteristically dynamic element of the Spanish system; revokethe imposition of geographic quota, longevity quota, excessive informational requirements, membership quota, and all the other restriction tools identified; to becomeDynamic, establish a recognition agency that works to manage the recognition system in a way that is independent of government control.Secularity: Spain is officially a secular state (the Roman Catholic Church was disestablished in 1978); however, theRoman Catholic Church receives preferential treatment and was the only denomination to be mentioned in the latestrevised constitution from 2011. Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: pseudo-mandatory registration – although Spain law does not explicitly mandate that religious or belief organisations register with the government, unregistered religiousgroups are not legally able to rent property for hosting worship services. The government does not require religious groups to register, but registration confers on religious groups certain legalbenefits. Groups registered in the Registry of Religious Entities maintained by the Office of Religious Affairs in the Ministry of the Presidency, Relations with Parliament, and Democratic Memory(Ministry of the Presidency) may buy, rent, and sell property, and may act as a legal entity in civil proceedings. Registration entails completing forms available on the ministry’s website andproviding notarized documentation of the foundational and operational statutes of the religious group, its legal representatives, territorial scope, religious purposes, and address. All persons orgroups have the right to practice their religion regardless of whether the community of which they are members is registered as a religious entity. New religious communities may registerdirectly with the Ministry of the Presidency, or religious associations may register on their behalf. If the Office of Religious Affairs deems an applicant for registration a nonreligious group, theapplicant may instead be included in the Register of Associations maintained by the Ministry of the Interior. Inclusion in the associations register grants legal status but confers no other benefits.Registration itself simply lists the association and its history in the government’s database. Registration as an association is a precursor to requesting that the government deem the associationto be of public benefit, which affords the same tax benefits as charities, including exemption from income tax and taxes on contributions. For such a classification, the association must beregistered for two years and maintain a net positive fiscal balance. Military rules and cooperation agreements with the government allow religious military funerals and chaplain services forCatholics, Muslims, Protestants, and Jews, should the family of the deceased request them. Other religious groups may conduct religious military funerals upon request. Religious groups mustapply to local governments for a license to open a place of worship or other establishments intended for public use. Requirements may vary from municipality to municipality, except in theautonomous communities of Catalonia and Pais Vasco, which have specific regulations for license requirements. The documentation required to apply for a license is usually the same as for otherbusiness establishments seeking to open a venue for public use and includes information such as architectural plans and maximum capacity. Religious groups must also inform the Office ofReligious Affairs after opening new places of worship. Local governments are obligated to consider requests for use of public land to open a place of worship. If a municipality decides to deny sucha request after weighing factors such as availability and value added to the community, the city council must explain its decision to the requesting party. Catholic and Jewish clergy may includetime spent on missions abroad in calculations for social security. Protestant clergy are eligible to receive social security benefits, including health insurance and a government-providedretirement pension with a maximum credit of 15 years of service, but pension distributions for these clergy are more restrictive than for Catholic clergy, who are entitled to a government-provided pension that covers their entire career up to a maximum of 38.5 years of service. Muslim, Orthodox, and Jehovah’s Witnesses clergy are also eligible for social security benefits under theterms of separate social security agreements each of these groups negotiated with the state.Recognition policy: the government maintains a bilateral agreement with the Holy See, executed in part by the Episcopal Conference of Spain. The Episcopal Conference interacts with thegovernment on behalf of the entire Catholic community. While other religious groups are required to register each place of worship, per an agreement with the Holy See, individual Catholicdioceses and parishes are not required to register with the government. The Catholic Church is the only religious entity to which persons may elect to allocate a percentage of their taxes. OnMarch 29, the Council of Ministers approved an amendment to the government’s bilateral agreement with the Holy See to exclude tax exemptions related to construction and installation projectsand special contributions. The government also has cooperation agreements with CIE, FEREDE, and FCJE. These agreements with the country’s four predominant religions – Catholicism, Islam,Protestantism, and Judaism – are legally binding and provide the religious groups with certain tax exemptions and the ability to buy and sell property, open a house of worship, and conduct otherlegal business. The agreements also grant civil validity to weddings performed by clergy and permit the placement of teachers of religion in schools and chaplains in hospitals, the military, andprisons. Groups with cooperation agreements are also eligible for independently administered government grants. The agreements cover legal, educational, cultural, and economic affairs;religious observance by members of the armed forces; and the military service of clergy and members of religious orders. Registered groups that wish to sign cooperation agreements with thestate must first acquire notorio arraigo (“deeply rooted” or permanent) status through the Ministry of the Presidency’s Office of Religious Affairs. To achieve this status, groups must have anunspecified “relevant” number of followers, a presence in the country for at least 30 years, and a “level of diffusion” in the general population that the government considers demonstrates a“social presence,” which is not further defined. Groups must also submit documentation demonstrating the group is religious in nature to the Office of Religious Affairs, which maintains theRegister of Religious Entities. Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Buddhist Union, the Church of Jesus Christ, the Episcopal Orthodox Assembly of Spain and Portugal, and, as of September, the Baha’iCommunity of Spain are registered religions with notorio arraigo status. The Pluralism and Coexistence Coalition (FPC) is a governmental entity attached to the Ministry of the Presidency thatpromotes religious freedom and diversity. It provides funding to non-Catholic religious denominations that have a cooperation agreement with the government in support of activities thatpromote cultural, educational, and social integration. It provides non-financial assistance to other religious groups registered with the government to increase public awareness. The foundationalso promotes dialogue and rapprochement among religious groups and the integration of religion in society. It works closely with the Office of Religious Affairs. The government funds religiousservices within the prison system for Catholic and Muslim groups, including Sunday Catholic Mass, Catholic confession, and Friday Islamic prayer. The cooperation agreements of FCJE andFEREDE with the government do not include provisions for publicly funded services. These groups provide religious services in prisons at their own expense. Other religious groups registered asreligious entities with the Office of Religious Affairs may provide services at their own expense during visiting hours upon the request of prisoners. The government guarantees access to centersfor asylum seekers and refugees for religious workers of groups with cooperation agreements with the state so that these groups may provide direct assistance, at their expense, to their followersin the centers. Religious workers from groups without a cooperation agreement with the government may enter internment centers upon request to the Ministry of the Presidency. Thegovernment recognizes marriages performed by all religious communities with notorio arraigo status. Members of religious groups without this status must marry in a civil ceremony for themarriage to be legally recognized. The regions of Madrid and Catalonia maintain agreements with several religious groups that have accords with the national government. These regionalagreements permit activities such as providing religious assistance in hospitals and prisons under regional jurisdiction. The central government funds these services for the military, and theregional governments fund hospital and prison services. According to the central government, these subnational agreements may not contradict the principles of the federal agreements, whichtake precedence.169Key restriction tools imposed: bilateral cooperation agreements are dependent on authoritative decree from the president, excessive informational requirements, geographic quota, longevityquota, membership quota, onerous registration procedures, registration is a precondition for recognition (bilateral cooperation agreements), second procedure, vertical recognition system(verticalism). On December 1, FEREDE filed an appeal with the High Courts of Murcia against the City Council of Lorca, a municipality within the autonomous community of Murcia, for anamendment to its Urban Development Plan approved on January 3. The amendment required religious establishments to be in buildings exclusively for worship and meet certain accessibilityrequirements, including a certain number of toilets and parking facilities. FEDERE expressed concern that the new requirements hindered religious institutions from opening new places ofworship. The appeal was pending at year’s end. Non-Catholic religious groups continued to express concern about what they said was unequal legal treatment by the government. According tomedia outlets, one in three Spaniards chose to allocate some of their taxes to the Catholic Church during the year, yielding over €320 million ($352.4 million), an 8.5 percent increase in donationscompared with 2021. Other religious groups were not listed on the tax form as potential recipients of funds. Several religious groups, including Protestants, Muslims, Buddhists, and the Church ofJesus Christ, continued to express their desire to have their groups included on the tax form. They said they would prefer to receive voluntary contributions from taxpayers without preconditionsrather than relying on funding from the FPC, which has specific conditions for use of its funds. CIE, FEREDE, and FCJE relied on government funds provided through the FPC to cover theiradministrative and infrastructure costs. The Ministry of the Presidency continued to allocate funding to different groups according to the number of their registered entities and the approximatenumber of adherents. In January, it provided FEREDE with €526,780 ($580,000), CIE with €433,130 ($477,000), and FCJE with €210,712 ($232,000). In addition to infrastructure andadministrative funding, foundation funds also covered small publicity and research projects. On April 25, the Ministry of the Presidency reached an agreement with Jehovah’s Witnesses, theBuddhist Union, the Church of Jesus Christ, and the Episcopal Orthodox Assembly of Spain and Portugal on a proposal for the government to provide tax benefits similar to those received byFEREDE, CIE, and FCJE. The proposal was halted in parliament in July due to national elections and the ongoing Spanish government formation process. The Buddhist Union reported theinitiative, if approved, would improve equal treatment between religious organizations with notorio arraigo status and those with agreements with the Spanish government (see section 2). TheFPC continued outreach campaigns, including organizing an exhibition titled “Neither New nor Foreign: Religious Diversity in Spain,” aimed at promoting a better understanding of the historyof religious diversity in Spain and respect for religious freedom. The FPC continued working with religious groups on the opening and operation of places of worship, the impact of religiouseducation, and the effects of discrimination and limits to religious freedom in the workplace. The Office of Religious Affairs maintained a variety of online resources, including a directory of allregistered religious communities and places of worship and a dictionary with visual and auditory elements aimed at enriching the understanding of religious diversity. The Ministry of theInterior’s Office on Hate Crimes continued to provide assistance to victims of religiously motivated hate crimes and training for law enforcement. Several regional and municipal governmentoffices continued to conduct outreach with the stated goal of promoting religious diversity. In September, the Office of Religious Affairs of the Catalan regional government published the 2022Map of Religions in Catalonia, identifying a total of 7,291 places of worship in the region comprising 14 religious groups. The Catalan Office of Religious Freedom awarded a total of one millioneuros (1.06 million dollars) in grants to 76 religious communities’ refurbishment and improvement projects. The grants were aimed at improving the safety, hygiene, and accessibility of places ofworship, as well as their compliance with regulations.Human rights instruments: Spain is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP; Spain did not vote onthe UDHR; Spain is partied to the ECHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free); private expression and observance (free); proselytism(free); public expression and observance (free); receiving donations (free); religious buildings (not free; subject to registration); religious instruction (free); religious literature(free); religious and worship services (free); religious trade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of religion was affirmed in the latest revisedconstitution from 2011.Sri Lanka,DemocraticSocialist Republic ofRecommendationsEstablish provisions for existential recognition that give equal opportunity for all belief systems to access this form of recognition; this equality may not be able to be achieved without Theravada'sdisestablishment as the state denomination; revoke involvement of the parliament or prime minister from the registration process in order to halt politicisation; to become Dynamic, establish arecognition agency to manage the recognition system independent of government influence or intervention.1702024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveFoRB Claim: Partial claim is made that according to a 2017 Supreme Court rulingexcludes the right to propagate one’s religion.Secularity: Buddhism is the state religion; according to a 2003 Supreme Court ruling, the state is constitutionally required toprotect only Buddhism; the law also recognises but to a lesser degree Christianity, Hinduism and Islam; theism was affirmedin the latest revised constitution from 2015.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: stipulatory registration – Sri Lankan law does not mandate that religious or belief organisations register with the government to operate legally in the country. There is noregistration requirement for central religious bodies of groups affiliated with the four recognised religions Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, and Christianity. New religious groups, including groupsaffiliated with the four recognized religions, must register with the government to obtain approval to construct new places of worship, sponsor religious worker (missionary) visas and immigrationpermits, operate schools, and apply for subsidies for religious education. Religious groups may also seek incorporation by an act of parliament, which requires a simple majority and affordsreligious groups state recognition. In 2022, the government issued a ministerial circular that superseded and expanded the scope of an 2008 circular and outlined new requirements forconstruction, maintenance, and registration of places of worship for all faiths. Like the previous circular, the 2022 ministerial circular requires all groups, regardless of their religion, to receivepermission from the ministry to register and to construct new places of worship. Matters related to family law, including divorce, child custody, and property inheritance, are adjudicated eitherunder customary law of the ethnic or religious group in question or under the country’s civil law. According to the 1951 Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act (MMDA), Islamic personal law governsmarriages and divorces of Muslims, while civil law applies to most property rights. In the Northern Province, civil law governs marriages, while the Thesawalamai (Tamil customary law) oftengoverns the division of property. For some Sinhalese, Kandyan personal law (based on the traditions of the Sinhalese Kandyan kingdom that preceded British colonial rule) governs civil matters,such as inheritance issues, and works within the caste system. Civil law governs most marriages of Sinhalese and Tamils of various religions, including marriages involving individuals of differentfaiths or those of individuals who state no religious affiliation. Religious community members report practices vary by region, and numerous exceptions exist.Recognition policy: the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious, and Cultural Affairs, is the cabinet ministry responsible for oversight of Theravada Buddhism. Specific subcabinet departments underthe ministry are responsible for addressing the concerns of each major religious community.Key restriction tools imposed: limitations exist on proselytism, non-recognition of any religion other than Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism and Islam, successful registration is dependent uponparliamentary vote (parliamentarianism). Religious minority groups reported incidents of violence by members of local majority religious communities and said that state officials often supportedthose responsible. Analysts studying incidents of violence against Christians said that in some cases, state officials sided with those who demanded that Christians cease activities in “Buddhistvillages” or obtain permission from the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious, and Cultural Affairs to conduct worship activities. The NCEASL agreed with the analysts’ findings, reporting thatevangelical Christian groups continued to report that police and local government officials were complicit in the harassment of religious minorities and their places of worship and often sided withthe majority religious community in the area. On May 23, local media and civil society organizations reported police arrested nine supporters of the political party Tamil National People’s Front(TNPF) for violating a court order as they protested what they said was illegal construction of a Buddhist temple on private land in Thaiyiddy, Jaffna District. Police forcibly removed TNPF Memberof Parliament (MP) Selvarasa Kajendren from the site. On May 24, the Mallakam Magistrate Court released all nine on bail and issued an order allowing peaceful protests. According to civil societygroups, local farmers owned 12 acres surrounding the temple, but the military had occupied the land since the civil war. Since early May, political groups called for removal of the temple, on whichChief of Defense Staff and former Army commander General Shavendra Silva initiated construction in 2021 for use by security forces. Media reported the temple was completed and opened on May25. As of year’s end, charges remained pending on the nine arrested, and local Tamils continued to call for the temple’s removal. Some civil society critics and lawyers said the 2022 circularmandating registration for all places of worship and outlining requirements for construction and maintenance of religious places was not based on existing law and thus was unconstitutional. TheNCEASL and other civil society representatives said the government used the regulation to unfairly target minority places of worship. Some Christian groups said that government officials deemedChristian places of worship unauthorized or illegal if they failed to produce proof of registration and threatened them with legal action if they did not register. If the groups tried to register,however, they said the registration process continued indefinitely without resolution. For example, one church reported it had been trying unsuccessfully to register for decades. Christian groupsreported that they experienced difficulties in complying with registration requirements, in part because instructions were inconsistent and not transparent. Without the consent of the localcommunity or the local Buddhist temple, local councils often did not approve the construction of new religious buildings. Church leaders said they repeatedly appealed to local government officialsand the Ministry of Buddhasasana for assistance, with limited success. Instead, unregistered Christian groups stated they continued to incorporate as commercial trusts, legal societies, or NGOs butwithout formal government recognition as religious groups. Nondenominational churches said they faced restrictions on holding meetings or constructing new places of worship. According to alocal NGO report, government officials, police, and intelligence services frequently requested Christian groups show proof of registration of their place of worship and provide information on theleadership of the organization, the composition of the congregation, and religious rituals. The NCEASL reported that on February 11 the pastor of the Thambalagamam Evangelical Church inTrincomalee District received a letter from the local authority stating that worship services should be discontinued as they were conducted without proper permission and registration. The letterfurther stated that the church should obtain the necessary approval from the Ministry of Buddhism, Religious, and Cultural Affairs. On August 6, a neighbor threw stones at the Foursquare GospelChurch in Gonawala in Gampaha District and told the pastor to discontinue prayer services in the village. On August 13, during the prayer services, the neighbor threw a brick at the church andattempted to assault a church worker recording the incident. When the pastor and the worker filed a complaint, Kelaniya police requested church documents. The pastor provided the act ofparliament through which the church was incorporated. The police officer in charge (OIC) said regular worship services with a group was prohibited without approval from local authorities, that thechurch’s incorporation was invalid, and the church was not registered locally. Subsequently, the church worker lodged a private complaint against the neighbor for attempted assault. When thechurch worker inquired about the complaint on August 19, a police officer told the church worker that he needed approval from the local authorities and that worship services could only be heldwith those on the household’s official electoral list. The police said he had asked the neighbor to report if any outsiders visited the church premises. Following this, the church conducted prayerservices exclusively with family members, while other congregants joined via Zoom. Jehovah’s Witnesses reported that some religious groups present in the country for decades still found itdifficult to register and be recognized as a Christian religion. Jehovah’s Witnesses said they had been present and active in the country for more than a century and reported more than 7,000members. Despite multiple meetings with the Ministry of Buddhasasana and the Department of Christian Affairs in 2020 and 2021, they said they did not receive clear guidelines regardingregistration and, as an unregistered religious group, did not receive the same rights and privileges as registered religious groups. A 2023 report released by a religious group said the approvalprocess for construction permits for places of worship lacked transparency and consistency resulting in abuse and discrimination against some religious groups, including minority religious groupssuch as Jehovah’s Witnesses. The report said the 2022 circular had no provision for applicants to submit complaints or appeals. Buddhist nuns, or bhikkunis, reported that throughout the year theMinistry of Buddhasasana continued to refuse to issue them national identity cards due to opposition from senior Buddhist monks. Bhikkunis were only able to obtain registration as dasasilmatas –an alternative female Buddhist order with no ordination. The BBC reported that without national identity cards or other form of legal recognition, bhikkunis could not open bank accounts, obtainpassports, or access some educational benefits, such as completing government examinations. Bhikkunis and some Buddhist monks said the problem was due to prejudice against nuns andhighlighted a 2009 Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka statement that not registering bhikkunis and refusing to issue them identification cards was a violation of their human rights. Accordingto members of Christian groups, local authorities sometimes demanded their groups stop worship activities or relocate their places of worship outside the local jurisdiction, ostensibly to maintaincommunity peace. The NCEASL reported that on February 12, during a Sunday service at the Pentecostal Assembly of Sri Lanka in Dodangoda in Kalutara District, police informed the pastor thatlocal monks complained church services were illegal and requested the church discontinue worship until an inquiry was completed. When the pastor went to the police station the following day foran inquiry, monks and villagers asked him to discontinue services as it was a “Buddhist village.” At a later meeting, a monk said the pastor engaged in proselytism, which is not illegal, by offeringmoney and goods. The police OIC ordered the pastor not to meet with congregants outside his family and threatened to file a case against him for breach of peace. A group of monks and villagersthreatened the pastor and his family. On February 19, police informed the pastor that no case would be filed but requested the church register through the local authority. On February 24, the pastorlodged a police complaint against the man who threatened him; during the inquiry the police OIC reprimanded the accused for threatening the pastor and said anyone in the country has a right toreligious freedom. According to civil society groups, members of the CID, military intelligence, local police stations, the Terrorism Investigation Department, the army, and the navy surveilledminority religious groups. In many cases, officers were dressed in civilian clothing and did not provide identification. Muslim civil society representatives said that young persons involved in socialwork and the parents and relatives of those detained under the PTA were the main targets of state surveillance. Civil society representatives said that police and intelligence services used “nationalsecurity,” “disturbance of the peace,” and “criminal trespass and intimidation” as pretexts to harass and intimidate members of minority religious groups. They said that in some cases, lawenforcement officers acted in concert with local residents or members of the Buddhist clergy. In March, the chairman of the Parliament Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Security andruling party Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna MP Sarath Weerasekera said that “even though terrorism has been curbed, there is still a risk of religious extremism operating in this country. Specialattention should be paid to unregistered madrasa schools that only teach religion and language, and to people who come to Sri Lanka from abroad and give extremist views and lectures…” Thegovernment continued to require all imported Islamic religious books, including the Quran, to undergo review before being released as part of what the Ministry of Defense said was acounterterrorism measure to screen for extremist content. Some Muslim community members said the process discouraged the importation of Islamic religious books.Human rights instruments: Sri Lanka is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP; Sri Lanka did notvote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (not free; restricted); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (notfree; restricted); public expression and observance (not free; religious attire covering the face are banned); receiving donations (free); religious buildings (not free; subject to registration);religious instruction (free); religious literature (free); religious and worship services (free); religious trade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of religion was affirmed in the latest revisedconstitution from 2015.2024 RoRB Classification: CensoriousSudan,Republic of theFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsEstablish a recognition system that can provide both existential recognition and legal registration for all beliefsystems and groups regardless of their affiliation; establish a recognition agency to manage the recognition systemautonomously from state authorities.Secularity: Sudan is a secular state (Sunni Islam was disestablishedin 2020); theism is affirmed in the oaths of the chairman andmembers of the Sovereignty Council and Cabinet and of the speakerand members of the Transitional Legislative Council.Mandatoriness of registration: optional and malregistration.Registration policy: stipulatory registration – new Sudanese law does not mandate that religious or belieforganisations register with the government to operate legally in the country. To gain official recognition by thegovernment, religious groups are required to register at the state level with the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MRA).The MRA and the state-level entities responsible for land grants and planning may authorize permits to build newhouses of worship, taking into account zoning concerns. Allocation of land to religious entities is determined at thestate level. The Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC) oversees nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and nonprofitorganizations. Religious groups that engage in humanitarian or development activities must register as nonprofitNGOs by filing a standard application required by the HAC. Only NGOs registered with the HAC are eligible to apply forother administrative benefits, including land ownership, tax exemptions, and work permits. The HAC works with theMinistry of Interior to facilitate the visa process for NGO representatives seeking to obtain visas. An interministerialcommittee, which includes the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the General Intelligence Service, and, in some cases, themilitary intelligence service, must approve foreign clergy and other foreigners seeking a residency permit.Malregistration – the ongoing civil war across Sudan undermines registration laws established to protect religiouscommunities under the law.Recognition policy: the MRA is responsible for regulating Islamic religious practice, supervising churches, andguaranteeing equal treatment for all religious groups. The MRA also provides recommendations to relevant ministriesregarding religious issues that government ministries encounter. Under the law, the Minister of Justice may releaseany prisoner who memorizes the Quran during his or her prison term. The release requires a recommendation forparole from the prison’s director general, a religious committee composed of the Sudan Scholars Organization, andmembers of the Fiqh Council, which consults with the MRA to ensure decisions comply with Islamic jurisprudence.The MRA has federal entities in each state that coordinate travel for the Hajj and Umrah. Government offices andbusinesses are closed on Friday for prayers and follow a Sunday to Thursday work week. A 2019 decree mandates thatacademic institutions shall not give examinations on Sunday and authorizes Christians to leave work at 10 a.m. onSunday for religious activities. Individuals may also leave work to celebrate Orthodox Christmas, an official stateholiday, along with several key Islamic holidays.171Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, secondary procedure specific to religious groups with humanitarianarms or affiliated organisations that conduct humanitarian or development activities, constructing places ofworship is based on a system of land allocation performed at the state level which takes into consideration zoningconcerns, some agreements made in support for religious freedom in 2020 have yet to be implemented (e.g. thecreation of an independent commission on religious freedom issues). Leaders of religious institutions said theyneeded to formally request permission to import items such as vehicles into the country, but that these itemscontinued to be tax exempt. While some church officials encountered obstacles requesting visas and resident permitsfor foreign Christian missionaries, the officials stated they did not face difficulties regarding tax-exempt status.Human rights instruments: Sudan is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC,and the UNDRIP; Sudan did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (not free; restricted); hieroncy (not free; importation of non-Islamic religious materials and devotionalitems is restricted); monasticism (not free; restricted); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free; restricted);pastoral services (not free; restricted); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (not free; restricted);public expression and observance (not free; restricted); receiving donations (free); religious buildings (not free;restricted); religious instruction (not free; restricted); religious literature (not free; restricted); religious and worshipservices (not free; restricted); religious trade (not free; restricted).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of religion was affirmedin the latest constitution from 2019.2024 RoRB Classification: ReceptiveSuriname,Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsEstablish a set of provisions for existential recognition, not just legal registration, and extend this to allbelief systems; establish a recognition agency to manage the recognition system autonomously from stateauthorities.Secularity: Suriname is a secular state; theism was affirmed in the latest revisedconstitution from 1992.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: stipulatory registration – Surinamese law does not mandate that religious or belieforganisations register with the government to operate legally in the country. Religious groups need onlyregister with the Ministry of Home Affairs if they seek financial support, including stipends for clergy,from the government. Registering with the ministry does not confer tax benefits. To register, religiousgroups must supply contact information, a history of their group, and addresses for houses of worship.Most religious groups are officially registered. Followers of some Indigenous religious practices, however,lack formal houses of worship and therefore are not able to register with the government.172Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, as long as informational requirements are not misusedagainst unfavoured group by the state they are permissible. According to the Association of IndigenousVillage Leaders in Suriname and the Maroon organization Kampos, government policies concerning thegranting of land titles in traditional Indigenous and Maroon territories infringed on the ability of thesegroups to fully experience their religious freedom because the worship of nature is a critical component oftheir religious beliefs. The armed forces continued to maintain a staff chaplaincy with Hindu, Muslim,Protestant, and Catholic clergy available to military personnel. The Religious Affairs Department of theMinistry of Home Affairs continued to support different religious groups by providing stipends to allregistered clergy, which number several hundred from across all religions.Human rights instruments: Suriname is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC,and the UNDRIP; Suriname did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoralservices (free); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (free); public expression andobservance (free); receiving donations (free); religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free);religious literature (free); religious and worship services (free); religious trade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of “religiousorigin” was affirmed in the latest revised constitution from 1992.2024 RoRB Classification: ReceptiveSweden,Kingdom ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.173RecommendationsRevoke the geographic quota, longevity quota and membership quota as well as reverse the policy of non-recognition for all non-Lutheran denominations; to be classified Dynamic, establish a recognition agency to manage the recognition system autonomously fromgovernment interference.Secularity: Sweden is officially a secular state (the Church ofSweden, an Evangelical Lutheran denomination, was disestablishedin 2000 but is still recognised as the national church); however, theChurch of Sweden receives exclusive privileges; theism is affirmedin the Act of Succession.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: stipulatory registration – Swedish law does not mandate that religious or belief organisations register with thegovernment to operate legally in the country. There is no legal requirement for religious groups to register or otherwise seekrecognition. Only those faith communities registered with the Agency for Support for Faith Communities (SST), however, are eligible toreceive government funding and tax exemptions similar to those of nonprofit organizations. To register with the SST, a religious groupmust apply to the Ministry of Culture demonstrating the group fulfills certain requirements, including that it has operated in the countryfor at least five years, has a clear and stable structure, is able to function independently, serves at least 3,000 persons, and has severallocations in the country. The government facilitates fundraising by religious groups by offering them the option of collectingcontributions through the Tax Agency in exchange for a one-time fee of 75,000 Swedish kronor ($7,500) and an annual fee of 21 kronor($2) per member per year. The Church of Sweden is exempted from the annual fee because it, unlike other religious groups participatingin the program, does not receive financial support from the SST. Only religious groups registered with the SST may participate in theprogram. Religious groups choose what percentage of members’ annual taxable income to collect, with a median collection rate of 1percent. The Tax Agency subtracts a percentage of the member’s gross income and distributes it to the religious organization. Themember’s contribution is not deductible from income tax. The government provides grants to registered religious groups through theSST that are proportional to the size of a group’s membership. Registered religious groups may also apply for separate grants for specificpurposes, such as security expenses. The military offers food options that are compliant with religious dietary restrictions. Each militarydistrict has a chaplain. According to the law, chaplains may be of any religious affiliation, but all current chaplains belong to the Churchof Sweden. Regardless of religious denomination, chaplains are required to perform religious duties for members of other faiths or referservice members to spiritual leaders of other faiths if requested. The law specifically exempts members of Jehovah’s Witnesses fromnational military service. Other conscientious objectors may apply for unarmed military service but are in practice not inducted into themilitary. Armed forces guidelines allow religious headwear. Individuals serving in the military may observe their particular religiousholidays in exchange for not taking equivalent leave on public holidays.Key restriction tools imposed: ambiguous qualifications for registered status (e.g. "has a clear and stable structure", "is able to functionindependently"), geographic quota (must have "several locations in the country"), longevity quota, membership quota (at least 3,000people), non-recognition for any religion or denomination other than the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Sweden. The governmentcontinued to review the former government’s proposed legislation that would require faith communities and civil society organizations tomeet “democracy criteria” to be eligible for state grants. Minister for Social Affairs Jakob Forssmed stated that the government hadconsidered input from civil society and religious leaders on similar legislation proposed by a previous government and would incorporatefeedback from religious groups in the new proposal. Christian representatives and interfaith organizations stated that some regional andmunicipal levels had already initiated use of democracy criteria as a condition of granting funds. If adopted, the proposed “democracycriteria” legislation would permit the SST or other parts of the government to deny or withdraw funding if a faith community’scongregation members or representatives used violence, coercion, or threats against a person; violated children’s or a congregationmember’s rights; discriminated against individuals or groups; otherwise violated the principle of the equal value of all human beings; oropposed the democratic system of government.Human rights instruments: Sweden is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC,and the UNDRIP; Sweden voted in favour of the UDHR; Sweden is partied to the ECHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free); privateexpression and observance (free); proselytism (free); public expression and observance (free); receiving donations (free); religiousbuildings (free); religious instruction (free); religious literature (free); religious and worship services (free); religious trade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of “religiousaffiliation” was affirmed in the latest revised constitution from 2012.2024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveSwissConfederationFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsRemove all forms of segmentation in the system; this should in turn resolve inconsistencies in the legislation and laws regarding recognition and registration should in turnbecome national rather than cantonal; revoke identified restriction tools and all part-mandatory registration procedures; to become Receptive, establish a recognition systemto bestow both existential recognition and legal registration across all belief systems and their derivatives and across multiple levels of activity and operation.Secularity: Switzerland is officially a secular state at the federal level; however,the Swiss Reformed Church and the Roman Catholic Church receive exclusiveprivileges and preferential treatment in 22 out of the 26 cantons forming theconfederation; the Christian Catholic Church of Switzerland and the Jewishcommunity also receive financial  support in some cantons; theism was affirmedin the latest revised constitution from 2014.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: pseudo-mandatory registration – although Swiss federal law does not formally mandate that religious or belief organisations must register with thegovernment to operate legally in the country, any organisation that receives financial donations and maintains a connection to a religious community must register with thecommercial registry which in effect makes registration mandatory. There is no law requiring religious groups to register in a cantonal commercial registry, although religiousfoundations, characterized as institutions with a religious purpose that receive financial donations and maintain connections to a religious community, must register in thecommercial registry. To register, the foundation must submit an official letter of application to relevant authorities that includes the organization’s name, purpose, boardmembers, and head office location as well as a memorandum of association based on local law, a trademark certification, and a copy of the foundation’s organizationaldocuments. Tax-exempt status granted to religious groups varies from canton to canton. Most cantons automatically grant tax-exempt status to religious communities thatreceive cantonal financial support, while all other religious communities must generally establish that they are organized as nonprofit associations and submit an applicationfor tax-exempt status to the cantonal government. The Roman Catholic Church, Christian Catholic Church, and Reformed Church, which are financially supported by somecantons, do not have the same obligation, and all donations to these groups are tax deductible. The law exempts clerics from mandatory military service. The law defines clericsas members of a religious order living in a communal congregation bound by a religious oath and official duties or officials of a formally organized religious community withmore than 2,000 members, who are older than 25, and have at least three years of religious education. Religious groups of foreign origin are free to proselytize, but foreignmissionaries from countries that are not members of the EU or the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) must obtain a religious-worker visa to work in the country. Visarequirements include proof a local citizen could not fill the position and the foreigner has completed formal theological training, speaks the local language, and will befinancially supported by the host organization. Clergy of international churches catering to an English-speaking audience also must fulfill these requirements, whileprofessionals in the private sector are not required to learn one of the local languages. Unrecognized religious groups must also demonstrate to cantonal governments that thenumber of their foreign religious workers is not out of proportion with the size of the community when compared with the relative number of religious workers of religiouscommunities recognized by cantons. Immigrant clerics, like all immigrants, must also comply with four integration requirements: respect for public safety, security and order,respect for the values of the constitution, local language skills, and participation in economic life or efforts to acquire an education. Cantons may approve the residence permitof an applicant lacking these four criteria by devising an “integration agreement” that sets certain goals for the applicant to meet, such as attending language courses. The hostorganization must also “recognize the country’s legal norms” and pledge it will not tolerate abuse of the law by its members. If an applicant does not meet these requirements,the government may deny, shorten, or revoke residency and work permits. The government may refuse residency and work permits if a background check reveals an individualhas ties to religious groups deemed “radicalized” or that have engaged in “hate preaching,” which is defined as publicly inciting hatred against a religious group,disseminating ideologies intended to defame members of a religious group, organizing defamatory propaganda campaigns, engaging in public discrimination, denying ortrivializing genocide or other crimes against humanity, or refusing to provide service based on religion. The law authorizes immigration authorities to refuse residency permitsto clerics the government considers “fundamentalists” if authorities deem internal security or public order is at risk.Recognition policy: all cantons, with the exception of Geneva, Neuchatel, Ticino, and Vaud, financially support at least one of four religious communities – Roman CatholicChurch, Christian Catholic Church, Reformed Church, or Jewish community – that the cantons have recognized as public religious entities. Such public support is provided withfunds collected through a mandatory church tax on registered church members and, in 18 of 26 cantons, an additional tax on businesses. The church tax on businesses iscollected regardless of the religious affiliation of their owners. The funds collected are distributed proportionally among the religious communities recognized by cantons. Onlyreligious groups recognized as state churches or public entities are eligible to receive funds collected through the church tax, and no canton has recognized any religious groupsother than these four. Payment of the church tax is voluntary in the cantons of Ticino, Neuchatel, and Geneva, while in all other cantons any individual who elects not to pay thechurch tax is required to formally leave the religious institution. Church tax is generally tax deductible from the personal income tax. The canton of Vaud is the only canton thatdoes not collect a church tax, but the Reformed Church and Roman Catholic Church are still subsidized directly through the canton’s budget. In the cantons of Bern and Vaud,the government pays the salaries of priests and clergy of the Roman Catholic, Christian Catholic, and Reformed Churches. All other religious communities fund themselvessolely through donations from their members or from abroad, which in most cases are only partially or not at all tax deductible. The Canton of Valais collects a tax regardless ofreligious affiliation from individuals and companies, which goes directly to the Reformed Church and the Catholic Church.174Key restriction tools imposed: provincialisation of both recognition and registration procedures, subjecting recognition to democratic vote (against RoRB standards), verticalrecognition system in effect (verticalism). A 2009 constitutional amendment approved through a referendum prohibits the construction of minarets. The prohibition does notapply to the four existing mosques with minarets established before 2009. The law allows the construction of new mosques without minarets. During the year, the FreeChurches Association highlighted the continuing financial disparity in government support and reported evidence of increased limits on Christians to freely exercise their faithin public. The association also reported that tax-exempt status was increasingly restrictively granted, and only for activities that were strictly nonreligious. In the canton ofBern, free church leaders reported that donations for social activities, such as visiting homes for the elderly, were no longer tax deductible, a policy pending judicial appeal bythe free churches at the end of the year. Citing the separation of church and state, the cantonal government of Geneva continued to prohibit public baptisms in Lake Geneva bytwo free churches. The government based its decision on a 2020 law allowing only the three officially recognized religious institutions – the Reformed Church, the RomanCatholic Church, and the Christian Catholic Church – to conduct religious activities in public spaces. A 2022 administrative appeal by the two groups directly affected by thepolicy remained pending at year’s end. The government continued to grant visas primarily to religious workers who would replace individuals serving in similar functions inthe same religious community. The government required Turkish nationals applying for short- and long-term religious worker visas to document their association with theTurkish Directorate of Religious Affairs. The government did not issue visas to missionaries or religious teachers coming from countries outside the EU and EFTA without atheological degree. This primarily affected the Church of Jesus Christ, most of whose missionaries do not typically hold theological degrees. The Church’s missionaries from EUand EFTA countries, however, continued to enter legally and work without a religious visa. The government funded six Muslim counselors to visit centers for asylum seekers tomediate conflicts and to offer pastoral care. Imams also received funds to provide counseling for Muslim inmates in prison. The army continued to utilize military chaplainsrepresenting the free churches, based on a partnership agreement. The army required candidates to complete both an assessment and an army chaplaincy course. Chaplainswere not allowed to proselytize members of the military. Jewish and Muslim chaplains continued offering services. The army also continued training of additional or newchaplains from three traditional denominations, the Reformed Church, the Roman Catholic Church, and the Christian Catholic Church. In several cantons, among them Bernand Zurich, some parliamentarians supported efforts to abolish the mandatory church tax for companies, or at least give them the choice of which organizations to support. InBern, one proposed popular initiative suggested that persons be given the choice to contribute their share of the mandatory church tax to religious organizations ornonreligious NGOs. According to Free Churches Association representatives, none of these initiatives were successful to date.Human rights instruments: Switzerland is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and theUNDRIP; Switzerland did not vote on the UDHR; Switzerland is partied to the ECHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free); private expression and observance (free);proselytism (free); public expression and observance (not free; religious attire covering the face is illegal in two cantons); receiving donations (free); religious buildings (notfree; restricted); religious instruction (free); religious literature (free); religious and worship services (free); religious trade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of religion was affirmed in thelatest revised constitution from 2014.2024 RoRB Classification: TerminalSyrian ArabRepublicFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsComplete dismantlement of the apparatus of laws the government has set in place to restrict religious activity outside what the government deems as appropriate; repeal all lawsthat impose nationwide bans on reasonable, non-violent groups whose activities do not contravene the basic tenets of religious freedom; repeal laws restricting both conversionfrom Islam and proselytism to Muslims; revoke the rule of mandatory registration and removal from the registration of all state definitions and interpretations of religion usedfor the imposition of restrictions and the removal of subjective language in the legislation which is again broadly misused to restrict rather than protect religious freedoms.Secularity: Syria is officially a secular state; however, preferentialtreatment is directed towards Islam; theism is affirmed in theconstitutional and presidential oaths.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory and malregistration.Registration policy: broad mandatory registration – by law, all religious groups must register with the regime to operate legally in Syria. Registered religious groups and clergy –including all government-recognized Muslim, Jewish, and Christian groups – receive free utilities and are exempt from real estate taxes on religious buildings and personalproperty taxes on their official vehicles. All meetings of religious groups, except for regularly scheduled worship, require permits from the government.Malregistration – the ongoing Syrian Civil War drastically undermines the ability for the central government in Damascus to uphold registration law and protections for religiouscommunities in all of the territory the government claims. Recognition policy: the law regulates the structure and functions of the Awqaf. The law provides for a Council of Islamic Jurisprudence with the authority to define what religiousdiscourse is appropriate and the authority to fine or penalize individuals who propagate “extremist” thought or deviate from approved discourse. The Minister of ReligiousEndowments chairs the council, which consists of 40 scholars whose tasks include setting the start and end dates of the month of Ramadan and issuing fatwas. The law alsocharges the council with monitoring all fatwas issued in the country and with preventing the spread of views associated with the Muslim Brotherhood or “Salafist” activity,including “Wahhabism.” The law concentrates a range of offices and institutions within the ministry, centralizing the regime’s role in and oversight of the country’s religiousaffairs. For the resolution of issues of personal status, the regime requires citizens to list their religious affiliation. Individuals are subject to their respective religious group’slaws concerning marriage and divorce. Per the personal status code, a Muslim man may legally marry a non-Muslim woman, but a Muslim woman may not legally marry a non-Muslim man. If a Christian woman marries a Muslim man, she is not allowed burial in an Islamic cemetery or inheritance of property or wealth from her husband unless sheconverts to Islam. The law states that if a Christian wishes to convert to Islam, the presiding Muslim cleric must inform the prospective convert’s diocese. The law prohibitsadoption based on the provisions of Islamic sharia, with the exception of Catholic and Syriac Orthodox adoptions that follow a specific set of conditions. The personal status lawon divorce for Muslims is based on an interpretation of sharia implemented by government-appointed religious judges. In interreligious personal status cases, sharia takesprecedence. A divorced woman is not entitled to alimony in some cases; a woman may also forego her right to alimony to persuade her husband to agree to the divorce. Inaddition, under the law, a divorced mother loses the right to guardianship and physical custody of her sons when they reach the age of 13 and of her daughters at age 15, whenguardianship transfers to the paternal side of the family. Church law governs personal status questions for Christians, in some cases barring divorce. Some personal status lawsmirror sharia regardless of the religion of those involved in the case. The government’s interpretation of sharia is the basis of inheritance laws for all citizens except Christians.According to the law, courts may grant Muslim women up to half of the inheritance share of male heirs. In all communities, male heirs must provide financial support to femalerelatives who inherit less. An individual’s birth certificate records his or her religious affiliation. Documents presented when marrying or traveling for a religious pilgrimage alsolist the religious affiliation of the applicant. Jews are the only religious group whose passports and identity cards note their religion.175Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, ambiguous and inconsistent information over registration procedures, unapproved Islamic and all non-Islamic proselytism isillegal, preapproval of religious activities by the government (including all gatherings for religious purposes), presidential religion (president of Syria must be a Muslim),prohibition of the Jehovah's Witnesses, restrictions on the publication of religious materials, state definition of religion. By law, membership in certain types of religiouslyoriented organizations is illegal and punishable to different degrees. This prohibition includes membership in an organization that the government considers “Salafist,” adesignation the government loosely associates with Sunni violent extremism. Neither the government broadly nor the state security court specifically has defined the parametersof what constitutes “Salafist” activity. The law prohibits political parties based on religion, tribal affiliation, or regional interests. Affiliation with the Muslim Brotherhood ispunishable by death or imprisonment. The government bans Jehovah’s Witnesses as a “politically motivated Zionist organization.” The law restricts proselytizing and conversion.It prohibits Muslims from converting to other religions as contrary to sharia. The law recognizes conversion to Islam. The penal code prohibits causing tension between religiouscommunities. The law bars publication of content that affects “national unity and national security,” harms state symbols, defames religions, or incites sectarian strife or “hatecrimes.” The law extends penalties from one month to 15 years’ imprisonment and increased fines from 200,000 Syrian pounds ($23) to 15 million pounds ($1,700). The Ministryof Religious Endowments (Awqaf) must approve books imported from abroad. Television shows require the approval of religious authorities. The penal code provides for penalties,to include detention, for the crimes of “compromising national identity,” “undermining the prestige of the state,” or “arousing racial or sectarian strife.” Some opposition groupsidentified themselves explicitly as Sunni Arab or Sunni Muslim in statements and publications. According to the NGO Freedom House, “While the largely Alawite-led regimepresents itself as a protector of that and other religious minorities, Alawites, Christians, Druze, and members of other smaller sects who are outside Assad’s inner circle arepolitically disenfranchised.” Freedom House stated although the political elite included Sunnis, the Sunni majority, which comprised the bulk of the opposition, bore “the brunt ofstate repression as a result” of this broader disenfranchisement. The regime continued to target those within the country who criticized or opposed it, the majority of whom wereSunni and whom the regime described as violent extremists. However, according to major news outlets, in August the Assad regime began to encourage other denominations,particularly Jews and Christians, to practice their respective religions. According to a July report in the Economist, “the Assad dynasty has allied its own Alawite sect … with Syria’smyriad religious minorities in order to bolster the regime’s dominance over the country’s Sunni Muslim majority.” The report stated this is an effort to increase the regime’sminority base and improve its international standing. Before the civil war, the regime previously allowed evangelical Christians to open churches in houses where Muslim convertsto Christianity could worship, permitted the opening of yoga studios, and encouraged Jews of Syrian origin to visit Damascus. Analysts reported the regime continued to use thelaw allowing it to create redevelopment zones as well as confiscate property to reward those loyal to the regime, create obstacles for refugees and IDPs to reclaim their propertyand return to their homes, and engineer demographic changes. NGOs reported investigations continued into the usurpation of land and property rights of displaced owners,including through public auctions in areas retaken by regime forces. According to NGO reports, since the enactment of the redevelopment zone law in 2018, the regime replacedresidents in former opposition-held areas with more loyal constituencies. These regime policies disproportionately affected Sunni populations, which made up the majority of thepopulation. The regime continued to allow foreign Christian NGOs to operate under the auspices of one of the “historically established churches” (a designation made by thegovernment) without officially registering. It continued to require foreign Islamic NGOs to register and receive Awqaf approval to operate. Security forces continued to questionthese Islamic organizations on their sources of income and to monitor their expenditures. The Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor continued to prohibit religious leaders fromserving as directors on the boards of Islamic charities. The regime continued to exempt Christian and Muslim religious leaders from military service based on conscientiousobjection, although it continued to require Muslim religious leaders to pay a levy for exemption. According to experts, religion remained a factor in determining careeradvancement in the government. The Alawite minority continued to hold an elevated political status disproportionate to its numbers, particularly in leadership positions in themilitary, security, and intelligence services, although the senior officer corps of the military continued to accept individuals from other religious minority groups into its ranks.According to a 2020 report by the EU Agency for Asylum, Alawites “hold key regime positions, dominate the police and the army and have high-ranking positions in elite militaryand militia units.” The report also noted Alawites have higher chances of obtaining employment in the public sector compared to other groups such as Christians, Sunni Arabs, orKurds. In January, the government issued Legislative Decree No. 2 to regulate the affairs and welfare of children of unknown parentage. According to the website of the Arabic newschannel al-Arabiya, there are 1.2 million orphans in the country. According to STJ, the decree stated that a child of unknown parentage is a “Muslim unless proven otherwise” andthat a foster family can apply to foster a child only “if the couple and the child share the same religion.” The NGO report stated the new provisions are unfair to non-Muslims, andneglected to specify factors that would allow a change in the child’s religion from Islam to another later in life.Human rights instruments: Syria is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP; Syriavoted in favour of the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (not free; restricted); hieroncy (not free; non-Islamic literature requires government approval); monasticism (not free; subject to registration); nuptial, initiatoryand burial rites (not free; subject to registration); pastoral services (not free; subject to registration); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (not free; illegal toproselytise Muslims); public expression and observance (not free; restricted); receiving donations (not free; subject to registration); religious buildings (not free; subject toregistration); religious instruction (not free; subject to registration); religious literature (not free; subject to registration); religious and worship services (not free; subject toregistration); religious trade (not free; subject to registration).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of “religion or creed” was affirmedin the latest constitution from 2012.2024 RoRB Classification: ReceptiveTaiwan(Republic of China)FoRB Claim: Partial claim was made in the latest revisedconstitution from 2005 that refers only to “freedom ofreligious belief”.RecommendationsDismantlement of the present segmented structure of the registration; revoke laws surrounding the establishment permit inpreregistration including the dissolution of financial quotas; establish a revitalised recognition system that can provide both existentialrecognition and legal registration to all belief systems and at multiple levels of activity without creating a situation of verticalrecognition; to classified Dynamic, set up an independent recognition agency to manage the system.Secularity: Taiwan is a secular state.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: stipulatory registration – Religious groups may operate without registering. Taiwan categorizes registered religiousgroups as foundations, temples, or “social groups.” Most churches are registered as religious foundations. A religious group mayvoluntarily establish a religious foundation by registering with the courts once it obtains a permit from central or local authorities. Thegroup must provide an organizational charter, a list of assets, and other administrative documents to register as a foundation. The Ministryof Interior (MOI) requires that groups seeking to establish a Taiwan-wide religious foundation have real estate in at least sevenadministrative regions valued at 25 million New Taiwan dollars ($816,000) or more and possess at least five million New Taiwan dollars($163,000) in cash. Alternatively, the group may receive a permit if it possesses cash in excess of 30 million New Taiwan dollars($979,000). A group may apply instead for a permit to establish a local religious foundation from local authorities, who have lowerthreshold requirements than central authorities. Temples may directly register with local authorities without needing permission from theMOI. Taiwan-wide religious social groups and local religious social groups may register with the MOI and local authorities, respectively.There are no minimum financial requirements for registration of temples or religious social groups. Registered religious groups operate onan income-tax-free basis. Registered religious foundations and temples are also exempt from building and property taxes. Non-registeredgroups are not eligible for the tax advantages available to registered religious groups. As of 2022, there were approximately 17,800registered religious groups, including 1,700 religious foundations, 11,800 temples, and 4,300 religious social groups, representing morethan 22 religions. Many groups choose not to register individual places of worship and instead operate them as the personal property of thegroup’s leaders; such property is subject to taxes. The Falun Gong Society is registered as a sports organization and not as a religious group.The law provides that temples are under the management of a trustee monk or nun. It states, however, “They cannot take charge as trusteemonk/nun if they are not citizens of the Republic of China [Taiwan].” The law does not apply to temples that are administered by Taiwanauthorities (i.e., authorities own the land and buildings), local public organizations, or private persons. In 2004, the Council of GrandJustices declared several articles of the act unconstitutional, since it imposed undue restrictions on how religious groups transfer theirassets. A 2022 law allows qualified religious groups to change the registration of real estate assets formerly held in the name of individualmembers to instead be held under the name of the associated religious foundation, religious corporation, or temple. The MOI separatesreligious and charitable groups based on a group’s articles of association. There is no law or policy that oversees a religious group’s use ofdonations made to that group, whether for religious or charitable activities, or that requires a religious group to establish a separatecharitable entity to conduct charitable activities. The law, however, prohibits charitable foundations from using donations fornoncharitable purposes. Some religious groups establish separate charitable foundations to promote their charitable activities. Anorganization whose primary objective is philanthropy is not eligible to register as a religious group.176Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, financial quota (have real estate valued in total at over $902,000; and, possess at least$180,000 in cash), geographic quota (have "real estate in at least 7 administrative regions), localisation of procedures offer an alternativeprocedure with lower requirements, secondary procedure for nationwide registration procedures. In September, the MOI elevated itssection overseeing religious affairs to the departmental level to have broader jurisdiction over religious policy, religious foundation andancestor worship guild affairs, funeral management, and ceremonial administrative work. Minister of Interior Lin said the organizationalreform showcased Taiwan’s attention to religion, contributed to improvements in interagency communication, and would offer moreassistance to religious groups. Lin added that the ministry would look to continue cooperation between Taiwan’s authorities and religiousgroups to build a more positive environment for religious development. The MOI continued efforts to prevent individuals frommisappropriating property held by religious organizations; it worked with local governments to advise religious groups to change theirproperty registration to the group, rather than a single individual. As of October, nearly 400 religious groups had applied to change theregistration of real estate assets formerly held in the name of individual members to instead be held under the name of the associatedreligious foundation, corporation, or temple. The Tibet Religious Foundation stated that Tibetan Buddhist monks continued to be unable toobtain resident visas for religious work, which it said authorities typically granted to other religious practitioners. The foundation said thedenials contravened Taiwan’s visa regulations. As a result, the monks had to fly to Thailand every two months to renew their visas. Themonks did not have passports and instead traveled using Indian Identity Certificates (ICs); these certificates, issued to Tibetans who residein India but do not have Indian citizenship, were reportedly valid for travel to all countries. Taiwan authorities said they issued temporaryreligious visas to IC holders based on general rules governing foreigners who use travel permits, and that denying the monks resident visaswas not due to religious reasons.Human rights instruments: Taiwan is partied to the UNCRC; Taiwan is neither partied to theICCPR (however, the ICCPR has been incorporated into Taiwanese domestic law) nor the ICESCR;Taiwan did not vote on either the UDHR or the UNDRIP.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free); privateexpression and observance (free); proselytism (free); public expression and observance (free); receiving donations (free); religiousbuildings (free); religious instruction (free); religious literature (free); religious and worship services (free); religious trade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of religion was affirmedin the latest revised constitution from 2005.2024 RoRB Classification: TerminalTajikistan, Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsComplete dismantlement of the present status quo of laws terminally restricting the religious lives of Tajiks; repeal the mandatory registration law along with similar policies that allow for undue government involvement in theaffairs of religious groups; halt the state’s vilification of religious groups it does not agree with on matters of belief; make a clearer distinction between recognition and registration.Secularity: Tajikistan is officially a secular state; however, the freedom of conscience law recognises the specialstatus of the Hanafi school of Sunni Islam in the country’s cultural and spiritual life.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: broad mandatory registration – Tajik law mandates that all religious or belief organisations wishing to operate legally in the country must first register with the Committee on Religion, Regulation of Traditions, Celebrations, andCeremonies (CRA). The CRA is the government body primarily responsible for overseeing and implementing all provisions of the law pertaining to religion. The Center for Islamic Studies, under the Executive Office of the President, helps formulate thegovernment’s policy toward religion. The law defines a religious association as a voluntary association of followers of one faith, with the purpose of holding joint worship and celebration of religious ceremonies, religious education, and spreading religiousbeliefs. To register a religious association, a group of at least 10 persons older than 18 must obtain a certificate from local authorities confirming the adherents of their religious faith have lived in a particular local area for five years. The group must thensubmit to the CRA proof of the Tajik citizenship of its founders, along with their home addresses and dates of birth. The group must provide an account of its beliefs and religious practices and describe its attitudes related to education, family, and marriage.The group must specify in its charter the activities it plans to undertake, register as a religious association, and report annually on its activities or face deregistration. According to the CRA, there are 4,058 religious associations registered in the country, 66 ofwhich are non-Muslim, including the Russian Orthodox Church and the Baha’i Faith. This number is unchanged from 2021. The government subdivides associations formed for “conducting joint religious worship” into religious organizations and religiouscommunities, which also are defined by law. To operate legally, both are required to register with the government, a process overseen by the CRA. According to the law, a religious organization may provide religious education and spread religious faith. Typesof religious organizations include the Islamic Center of Tajikistan (the government-supported body that oversees religious institutions belonging to the Hanafi school of Sunni Islam, established in law as the Republican Religious Center), central Fridaymosques, central prayer houses, religious education entities, churches, and synagogues. Religious organizations are legal entities whose activities are governed by charters to which they must strictly adhere. They may be district, municipal, or nationalorganizations. According to the law, a religious community, unlike a religious organization, is not a legal entity. Its members may gather to conduct other religious activities, which are not defined by law. For example, individuals may gather for joint prayer,attend funeral prayers, and celebrate religious holidays. Types of religious communities include Friday mosques, daily five-time prayer mosques, prayer houses, and other places of worship. After registering with the CRA, a religious community mustfunction based on its charter, which determines the nature and scope of its activities. The law prescribes penalties for religious associations that engage in activities contrary to the purposes and objectives set out in their charters, and it assigns the CRAresponsibility for issuing fines for such activities. The law imposes fines for carrying out religious activities without state registration or reregistration; violating provisions on organizing and conducting religious activities; performing prayers, religious rites,and ceremonies in undesignated places; and performing activities beyond the purposes and objectives defined by the charter of the religious association. For first-time offenses, the government fines individuals 1,020 to 1,360 somoni ($93 to $120), heads ofreligious associations 2,720 to 4,080 somoni ($250 to $370), and registered religious associations, as legal entities, 13,600 to 27,200 somoni ($1,200 to $2,400). For repeat offenses within one year of an initial fine, penalties are increased to 2,720 to 4,080somoni ($250 to $370) for individuals, 6,800 to 8,160 somoni ($600 to $750) for heads of religious associations, and 34,000 to 40,800 somoni ($3,100 to $3,700) for registered religious associations. If a religious association conducts activities withoutregistering, local authorities may impose additional fines or close a place of worship. The law allows restrictions on freedom of conscience and religion deemed necessary by the government to ensure the rights and freedoms of others, public order, protectionof the foundations of constitutional order, security of the state, defense of the country, public morals, public health, and the territorial integrity of the country. In addition, religious organizations must report general information about their worship as wellas their organizational, educational, and outreach activities to the state annually. The law broadly empowers the CRA to create regulations to implement state policies on religion, such as establishing specific guidelines for the performance of religiousceremonies. In addition to approving the registration of religious associations, organizations, and communities, the CRA maintains a broad mandate that includes approving the construction of houses of worship, the participation of children in religiouseducation, and the dissemination of religious literature. The CRA oversees activities of religious associations, such as the performance of religious rites, and the development and adoption of legal acts aimed at the implementation of a state policy on thefreedom of conscience and religious associations. Religious associations must submit information on sources of income, property lists, expenditures, numbers of employees, wages and taxes paid, and other information upon request by the CRA. The lawrestricts Islamic prayer to four locations: mosques, cemeteries, homes, and shrines. It regulates the registration, size, and location of mosques, limiting the number of mosques that may be registered within a given population area. Outside the capital, thegovernment allows “Friday mosques,” which conduct larger Friday prayers as well as prayers five times per day, to be located in districts with populations of 10,000 to 20,000 persons; it allows “five-time prayer mosques,” which conduct only daily prayersfive times per day, in areas with populations of 100 to 1,000. In the capital Dushanbe, authorities allow Friday mosques in areas with 30,000 to 50,000 persons, and five-time prayer mosques in areas with populations of 1,000 to 5,000. The law allows one“central Friday Mosque” per district or city and makes other mosques subordinate to it. Mosques function according to their charters in buildings constructed by government-approved religious organizations, by individual citizens, or with the assistance ofthe general population. The law states the selection of chief-khatibs (government-sanctioned prayer leaders at a central Friday mosque), imam-khatibs (government-sanctioned prayer leaders in a Friday mosque, who deliver a sermon at Friday noonprayers), and imams (government-sanctioned prayer leaders in five-time prayer mosques) shall take place in coordination with “the appropriate state body in charge of religious affairs,” namely the CRA. Local authorities decide on land allocation for theconstruction of mosques in coordination with “the appropriate state body in charge of religious affairs.” The CRA disseminates the government-approved topic for each Friday sermon, accompanied by recommended talking points drafted by the IslamicCenter. Individual imam-khatibs may modify or supplement the talking points, and, according to the CRA, there is no penalty for noncompliance. The law on traditions and celebrations regulates private celebrations, including weddings, funeral services, andobservations of the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday; sets limits on the number of guests for these events and governs ceremonial gift presentations and other rituals, with the goal of preventing what the government considers exorbitant expenditures on suchevents. It also bans the traditional sacrifice of animals at ceremonies marking the seventh and 40th day after a death. Traditional sacrifices are permissible during Ramadan and Eid al-Adha. Separately, the freedom of conscience law states that groupworship, religious traditions, and ceremonies must be carried out according to the government-approved procedures for holding meetings, rallies, demonstrations, and peaceful processions. The law on traditions and celebrations gives the governmentauthority to impose further restrictions on celebrations and ceremonies in the case of emergencies, including medical emergencies. The freedom of conscience law allows registered religious organizations to produce, export, import, sell, and distributereligious literature and other materials containing religious content after receiving CRA approval. Only registered religious associations and organizations are entitled to establish enterprises that produce literature and material with religious content. Suchliterature and material must indicate the full name of the religious organization producing it. The code of administrative violations allows government authorities to levy fines for the production, export, import, sale, or distribution of religious literaturewithout CRA permission. According to the code, violators are subject to confiscation of such literature, as well as fines of 4,080 to 4,760 somoni ($370 to $440) for individuals, 11,560 to 12,240 somoni ($1,000 to $1,100) for government officials, and 40,800 to47,600 somoni ($3,700 to $4,400) for legal entities, a category that includes all organizations, religious or otherwise. For repeat offenses within one year of an initial fine, violators are subject to confiscation of such literature, as well as fines of 6,120 to 6,800somoni ($560 to $620) for individuals, 12,240 to 12,920 somoni ($1,100 to $1,200) for government officials, and 54,400 to 68,000 somoni ($4,900 to $6,200) for nongovernment organizations. Under the code, producing literature or material containingreligious content without identifying the name of the religious organization producing it entails fines of 40,800 to 54,400 somoni ($3,700 to $5,000) and confiscation of the material; establishing an enterprise to produce religious literature or material forreligious purposes, other than those established by registered religious associations, entails a fine of 54,400 to 68,000 somoni ($5,000 to $6,200). Under the freedom of conscience law, any person guilty of crimes “against sexual integrity,” terrorism,extremism, or other undefined “grave crimes,” cannot be the founder or a member of a religious association or appointed as an imam-khatib. The parental responsibility law prohibits individuals younger than 18 from participating in “public religiousactivities,” including attending worship services at public places of worship. Individuals younger than 18 may attend religious funerals and practice religion at home under parental guidance. The statute allows individuals younger than 18 to participate inreligious activities that are part of specific educational programs in authorized religious institutions. The law on parental responsibility allows minors between the ages of seven and 18, with written parental consent, to obtain religious instruction provided bya registered religious organization outside mandatory school hours. According to the law, this may not duplicate religious instruction that is already part of a school curriculum; as part of high school curriculum, students must take general classes on thehistory of religions. According to the CRA, parents may teach religion to their children at home, provided they express a desire to learn. While the freedom of conscience law allows parents to provide religious education to their children, it forbids religiousassociations from preaching or engaging in educational activity in private homes. The same law also restricts citizens from going abroad for religious education or from establishing ties with religious organizations abroad without CRA consent. To be eligibleto study religion abroad, students must complete a degree in religious studies domestically and receive written consent from the CRA. The code of administrative violations stipulates fines for violating restrictions on studying religion abroad of 5,440 to8,840 somoni ($500 to $800) for individuals, 8,160 to 10,200 somoni ($700 to $900) for employees and heads of religious associations or government officials, and 40,800 to 54,400 somoni ($3,700 to $5,000) for legal entities. While the Ministry ofEducation sets classroom and curriculum standards and issues licenses for religious organizations, the CRA is responsible for monitoring the organizations to ensure implementation of the law’s other provisions. Central district mosques may operatemadrassahs, which are open only to high school graduates, but currently no madrassahs operate in the country because in practice, no madrassah has been able to meet the Ministry of Education’s requirements relative to classrooms, qualified teachers, andcurriculum. Other mosques, if registered with and licensed by the government, may provide part-time religious instruction for younger students in accordance with their charters. The law criminalizes providing “unapproved religious education,” includingonline, even if the educational material does not contain content deemed to be religiously extremist. The code of administrative violations stipulates fines of 6,120 to 10,200 somoni ($560 to $900) for individuals, 10,880 to 11,560 somoni ($1,000 to $1,100)for employees and heads of religious associations, and 47,600 to 61,200 somoni ($4,300 to $5,600) for legal entities. The code also imposes a fine of 3,400 to 6,120 somoni ($300 to $560) on those receiving unapproved religious education.Recognition policy: the freedom of conscience law recognizes the special status of Sunni Islam’s Hanafi school of jurisprudence with respect to the country’s culture and spiritual life. This status, however, does not have any specific legal bearing. According tothe law on traditions and celebrations, “Individuals and legal entities are obliged to protect the values of the national culture, including the state language and national dress.” According to customary (i.e., not official) interpretation, “national dress” doesnot include the hijab, although it does include a traditional Tajik form of woman’s head covering known as a ruymol. The code of administrative violations does not list the wearing of a beard, hijab, or other religious clothing as violations.177Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, child participation in "public religious activities" are prohibited, excessive informational requirements, fines on unauthorised religious literature and on unregistered religious groups, government preapprovalof places of worship, membership quota, registration is a necessary precursor to a religious group legally being able to produce and propagate religious materials, restriction of Islamic prayer to four location types (mosques, cemeteries, homes, shrines), stateapproval of religious preachers and leaders, state approval of religious publications is required before they may be imported, state definition of religion, the stipulation that monitorial requirements may be conducted upon request (ad hoc) by the governmentis impermissible to RoRB standards, zoning quotas. Since 2007, the government has banned Jehovah’s Witnesses for carrying out religious activities contrary to the country’s laws, such as refusing obligatory military service. A 2021 decision of the SupremeCourt declared Jehovah’s Witnesses an extremist organization and upheld the 2007 ban on its activities throughout the country. Law enforcement agencies continued to arrest and detain individuals suspected of membership in, or of supporting, groupsbanned by the government, including groups that advocated Islamic political goals and presented themselves as political opponents of the government. At an August 11 press conference, Minister of Internal Affairs Ramazon Rahimzoda announced 195 arrestsof suspected members of “extremist” and “terrorist” organizations in the first half of 2023, 66 fewer than in the same period of 2022. Because religion, ethnicity, and politics are closely linked, it was difficult to categorize incidents as being solely based onreligion. Forum 18 reported that there were at least 19 known prisoners of conscience in the country imprisoned for exercising their freedom of religion or belief as of December 2023. A July 5 Eurasianet report detailed several actions authorities reportedlytook to pressure Aga Khan-related humanitarian and development entities associated with the Ismaili community and active in GBAO. Authorities reportedly revoked the license of the Aga Khan Lyceum in Khorugh and restructured it into a state-ownedlyceum for gifted children. On October 14, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Tajiki-language affiliate Radio Ozodi reported that several additional properties belonging to the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) were nationalized, including a plot of landwhere the University of Central Asia is situated; the Serena Khorugh Inn; and the Khorugh city park. According to Forum 18, local officials fined at least two Ismaili Muslims during the year for hosting Ismaili prayer meetings in their homes. Local officialsfined a homeowner in Roshtqala District in January and a second in Rushon District in February; each was fined 600 somoni ($55). The fines were reportedly issued without any court hearing. Ismaili communities in GBAO villages used to meet in larger homesby rotation for weekly prayers on Thursday evenings or in the daytime on Fridays. In some places prayer meetings were held in homes every day, unnamed people from the region told Forum 18. In late 2022, however, Ismaili prayers in homes in GBAO werebanned. Following the ban, officials went door to door and warned people against attending home prayer meetings, an anonymous Ismaili told Forum 18. On January 14, officials told village elders at a meeting in Khorugh not to allow prayers in homes andwarned that those who took part would be fined; they instructed the elders to pass this message to local inhabitants. The two Ismaili centers in the country – in Khorugh and Dushanbe – remained open, but only for prayers. Forum 18 reported that officialsbanned the centers from conducting any educational or cultural activities. On May 16, a 72-year-old member of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Shamil Khakimov, imprisoned in 2019 for “inciting religious hatred” after police found Jehovah’s Witnesses literature and aTajiki-language Bible in his home, was released from prison after serving a four-and-a-half-year sentence. Khakimov’s health seriously deteriorated during his incarceration as he completely lost sight in his right eye, developed gangrene, underwent twosurgeries on his left leg, and suffered from high blood pressure and heart disease, according to his lawyer. Court and prison authorities denied numerous requests from the Jehovah’s Witness community to obtain early release or outside medical treatment forKhakimov’s serious medical ailments. He was banned from proselytizing for three years after his release from prison, and a prison official verbally warned him “not to teach” about his religion as he was being released. Jehovah’s Witnesses reported that onJune 18, two female members of the group, Farzona Sidikova and Takhmina Avlekulova, were arrested while peacefully sharing their personal religious beliefs. On June 21, Sidikova and Avlekulova were charged under article 462 (1) of the code onadministrative violations for “incitement of religious (confessional) enmity or discord” and were each fined the equivalent of $300. On July 19, the appeals court denied appeals filed by Sidikova and Avlekulova. A Ukrainian attorney, who was willing torepresent them, was not allowed to participate, despite legal rules providing for his appearance. Jehovah’s Witnesses claimed the appellate court ignored gross legal and procedural violations by the lower court, which were presented in both written and oralarguments, and its decision came into force immediately. While there was a possibility of further appeal to the Supreme Court, the fines had already been enforced. According to Jehovah’s Witnesses, these were the first cases initiated against members ofJehovah’s Witnesses under that article of the code on administrative violations. On June 14, the Supreme Court ruled that the Pamir Daily News – an independent news site focusing on the GBAO region where Ismaili Shia adherents are a majority of thepopulation – was an “extremist organization” and its activities were banned in the country. The website was blocked in the country but continued to operate from abroad and was accessible in Tajikistan via its Telegram channel or with a VPN/proxy server. Atthe August 1 press conference summarizing the first half of 2023, CRA Chair Davlatzoda publicly confirmed the official registration of 49 central Friday mosques, 327 Friday mosques, 3,612 five-time prayer mosques, 66 non-Islamic religious associations,one Islamic center, and three jamoatkhonas (Ismaili community centers that host both religious and cultural activities) in the country, for a total of 4,058 religious associations. These numbers remained unchanged from 2021, as CRA did not register any newreligious associations since then. Jehovah’s Witnesses continued to seek registration, an effort they began in 2007. Some members of the community stated authorities harassed them. A secret decision of the Supreme Court in March 2021 declared Jehovah’sWitnesses an extremist organization and banned its activities throughout the country, upholding an earlier ban in 2007, according to a report from Forum 18 published on September 22. The report noted that the case leading to the Supreme Court decisionwas initiated by the Prosecutor General’s Office. According to Forum 18, the Jehovah’s Witnesses community found out about the hearing and upheld ban only when the government referred to it in response to the UN Human Rights Committee in April 2022.The Supreme Court refused to make the text or reasoning of the decision available and, on September 6, told Forum 18 that the process was done in a closed hearing due to its national security implications and that “participation of the organization was notnecessary.”According to the Forum 18 report, Jehovah’s Witnesses initiated a legal appeal for re-registration, which was rejected by the Military Tribunal of Dushanbe Garrison on April 17. Jehovah’s Witnesses did so following the July 2022 view of the UNHuman Rights Committee that “none of the reasons put forward by the State party’s authorities and courts “for banning Jehovah’s Witnesses and refusing them reregistration are lawful under Tajikistan’s legally binding international human rights lawobligations. On August 31, the Supreme Court upheld the April decision of the military tribunal. Following a hearing on the same day, Jehovah’s Witnesses told Forum 18 that at the hearing, the court repeatedly referred to the initial reasons from 2007 on whythe group’s registration was banned, despite Jehovah’s Witnesses asking the Supreme Court “to give a legal assessment of the grounds for refusal given by the military court” in its judgment. Instead, the Supreme Court reportedly emphasized that ifinternational acts or decisions contradict national legislation, then the country’s law prevails. On August 1, Russia state media outlet Sputnik Tajikistan reported that CRA Chair Sulaymon Davlatzoda denied reports that the government had refusedregistration to an unspecified “Protestant church.” He said that if members of the denomination contacted the CRA, they would receive a written response within the framework of the law. Members of Protestant denominations in Tajikistan said that theirregistration requests were not officially refused by CRA, but they were unofficially told to drop their requests and had not been allowed to register. A group of expatriate Protestants was also unofficially refused registration and was operating underground atyear’s end.On August 1, Radio Ozodi reported that Abduqodir Abduqahhor Talbakov, a well-known journalist and former director of the Lohuti public library in Dushanbe, applied to the CRA to register the society of Zoroastrians in the country, but did notreceive a certificate from the Dushanbe administration confirming the existence of Zoroastrian followers, although he submitted the necessary documents for registration. He claimed that over 200 followers in Dushanbe are in touch with him, but withoutmunicipal recognition, the CRA would not register the society. In a separate August 1 article, Sputnik Tajikistan reported that CRA Chair Davlatzoda confirmed that Talbakov had appealed to the CRA for registration of a Zoroastrian religious association, butthat the appeal was oral, not in writing; after Talbakov spoke with the CRA’s lawyer about the documents required for submission, Talbakov did not submit a written application. According to Radio Ozodi, Tolbakov said he has been the target of verbalharassment and threats by private citizens because of his Zoroastrian advocacy. NGOs reported continued government restrictions on imam-khatibs and imams, such as the central government selection and approval of sermon topics. Hanafi Sunni mosquescontinued to enforce a religious edict issued by the government supported Ulema Council in 2004 that prohibited women from praying at mosques. Ismaili Shia women were permitted to attend Shia services in GBAO and Dushanbe, however. On June 22, CRAspokesperson Afshin Muqim told Asia-Plus that according to existing national legislation, there were no obstacles to women visiting mosques, but that based on the 2004 Ulema Council decision, women were not advised to perform collective prayers inmosques, but to pray at home. Muqim said that the Ulema Council decision referred only to collective prayers, but if a woman visiting a mosque in accordance with rules and religious etiquette, decided to pray in some corner of the mosque, there was no issuewith that. Authorities continued to monitor all literature of a religious nature. CRA Chair Davlatzoda stated at an August 1 press conference that the CRA’s Department for Religious Analysis reviewed 220 items submitted for pre-distribution religiousexamination in the first half of the year, approving 98, denying 122. The approved items included 1,143 pieces of religious literature (94.2 percent of the 1,213 examples of religious literature examined), 2,805 leaflets, 75 CDs, and 6 mobile phones. The CRAdenied approval of 70 items of religious literature, 570 leaflets, 107 CDs, and 18 mobile phones. CRA explained its objections to the unapproved materials as “due to the presence of signs of extremism.” The report did not provide additional context for theseizure of phones. On February 3, Radio Ozodi reported that bookstores specializing in religious literature near the central mosque of Dushanbe were reopened after being closed since October 2022. The bookstores sold religious books and brochurespublished with the permission of the Islamic Center of Tajikistan or brought into the country from abroad. According to the report, there was less religious literature available because of the closure. An unnamed seller said the shops were allowed to open, butthe amount of religious literature was very limited. CRA Deputy Chair Abdurahmon Vahhobzoda stated at a February 3 press conference that the illegal import and sale of religious literature, the lack of religious studies expertise, and complaints from bookauthors about illegal reprinting were the main reasons for the 2022 closure of bookstores specializing in religious literature in Dushanbe. Authorities continued to require that anyone wishing to study religion abroad receive government approval and do so ata government-approved religious institution. During his August 1 press conference, CRA Chair Davlatzoda stated that approximately 700 students were studying at the Islamic Institute of Tajikistan named after Imam Azam Abu Hanifa. On September 14,Asia-Plus reported that in the first half of the year, authorities in Sughd region repatriated two individuals engaged in religious studies abroad without approval. According to Suhrob Rustamzoda, head of the Sughd regional department on religion, fourresidents of Sughd region were still engaged in “illegal” religious studies abroad. Rustamzoda noted that a total of 718 persons who were engaged in unapproved religious studies abroad were forced to return home. Forum 18 reported that on January 23, theSangvor District Court fined a local resident 5,760 Somoni ($530) after finding him guilty of “illegal religious teaching.” According to the court, the man taught religion to his brother’s wife in his home and thus “grossly violated” requirements of the Law onFreedom of Conscience, which stated that providing religious education was only possible with a state license. At the same time, the man was convicted under the Administrative Code for illegally setting up religious teaching.Human rights instruments: Tajikistan is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, and the UNCRC; Tajikistan was absent during voting on the UNDRIP; Tajikistan did notvote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (not free; restricted); hieroncy (not free; all religious materials require government preapproval); monasticism (not free; subject to registration); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free; subject to registration);pastoral services (not free; subject to registration); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (not free; restricted); public expression and observance (not free; restricted); receiving donations (not free; subject toregistration); religious buildings (not free; subject to registration; restricted); religious instruction (not free; subject to registration); religious literature (not free; subject to registration; restricted); religious and worship services(not free; subject to registration; restricted); religious trade (not free; subject to registration).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of “religious beliefs” was affirmed in the latest revised constitution from 2016.2024 RoRB Classification: CensoriousTanzania, United Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsRepeal laws demanding mandatory registration and revoke policies allowing the government to intervene in the internal affairs of religious organisations; revokemembership quotas and retributions for unregistration; establish a revitalised recognition that can provide both existential recognition and legal registration to allbelief systems equally.Secularity: Tanzania is officially a secular state; however, preferentialtreatment is granted to Christianity and Islam.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: broad mandatory registration – religious groups must register with the Registrar of Societies at the Ministry of Home Affairs on the mainlandand with the Office of the Registrar General on Zanzibar. Registration is required by law on both the mainland and in Zanzibar. The fines for offenses under theSocieties Act, including operating without registration, range from one million to 10 million shillings ($400 to $4,000). To register, a religious group must providethe names of at least 10 members, a written constitution, resumes of its leaders, and a letter of recommendation from the district commissioner. Such groups maythen list individual congregations, which do not need separate registration. Muslim groups registering on the mainland must provide a letter of approval from theNational Muslim Council of Tanzania (BAKWATA). Muslim groups registering in Zanzibar must provide a letter of approval from the Mufti, the government’s officialliaison to the Muslim community. Christian groups in Zanzibar may register directly with the registrar general. The government does not designate religiousaffiliation on passports or records of vital statistics. Police reports must state religious affiliation if an individual will be required to provide sworn testimony.Applications for medical care must specify religious affiliation so that any specific religious customs may be observed. The law requires the government to record thereligious affiliation of every prisoner and to provide facilities for worship for prisoners.Recognition policy: since independence and by tradition, the country has been governed by alternating Christian and Muslim presidents who have, by tradition,appointed a prime minister from the other religious group with the endorsement of parliament. On the mainland, secular laws govern Christians and Muslims in bothcriminal and civil cases. In family-related cases involving inheritance, marriage, divorce, and the adoption of minors, the law also recognizes customary practices,which could include religious practices. In such cases, some Muslims choose to consult religious leaders in lieu of bringing a court case. Zanzibar, while also subject tothe union constitution, is a semiautonomous region with its own President, court system, and legislature. Muslims in Zanzibar have the option of bringing cases to acivil or qadi (Islamic court or judge) court for matters of divorce, child custody, inheritance, and other issues covered by Islamic law. All cases tried in Zanzibar courts,except those involving Zanzibari constitutional matters and sharia, may be appealed to the Union Court of Appeals on the mainland. Decisions of Zanzibar’s qadicourts may be appealed to a special court consisting of the Zanzibar chief justice and five other sheikhs. The President of Zanzibar appoints the chief qadi, whooversees the qadi courts and is recognized as the senior Islamic scholar responsible for interpreting the Quran. There are no qadi courts on the mainland. On themainland, BAKWATA elects the Mufti. On Zanzibar, the president of Zanzibar appoints the Mufti, who serves as a leader of the Muslim community and as a publicservant assisting with local governmental affairs. The Mufti of Zanzibar nominally approves all Islamic activities and supervises all mosques. The Mufti also approvesreligious lectures by visiting Islamic clergy and supervises the importation of Islamic literature from outside Zanzibar.178Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, excessive informational requirements (biographical information on group members and leaders as well as a letter ofrecommendation from the district commissioner), Islamic groups are offered different procedures and have the additional requirement of retrieving a "letter ofapproval" from the mufti, membership quota (at least 10 members), reregistration every five years (failure to reregister will result in deregistration and thesubsequent inability to operate legally in the country due to the mandatoriness of registration). According to the Ministry of Home Affairs budget speech, 17 religiouscommunities in the Mtwara and Lindi Regions were working with security and safety agencies to comply with a 2022 directive requiring all faith-basedorganizations, such a church-affiliated groups, to reregister for a five-year registration validity instead of the permanent validity that was previously in force. Therewere no reports of religious associations or faith-based organizations being deregistered under this directive during the year. According to human rightsorganizations, the government forcibly evicted Maasai communities from their ancestral land in the north of the country, which sources stated was a spiritual andcultural site for the Maasai. Maasai representatives reported that ongoing government-led forced evictions of Maasai pastoralists from their ancestral land inLoliondo and Ngorongoro continued to interfere with the Maasai’s ability to practice their religion, which is intrinsically connected to this land. They also reportedcontinued loss of access to significant sites of worship, including sacred trees, craters, hills, and other sites that the Maasai use for ceremonies and prayer. Thisincludes loss of access to Ol Doinyo Lengai, or “Mountain of God,” an active volcano which Maasai sources stated was where the Maasai believe their god lives, andwhere they conduct sacrifices during times of scarcity. According to the Massai representatives, the government also continued to seize Maasai cattle, which theystated were spiritually significant and used in important religious traditions and ceremonies. The Maasai representatives also reported that several sacred objectswere missing. On 7 June 2023, police in Mwanza Region arrested Pastor Herman Magigita, leader of the Neno church (Word church), on charges of operating withoutlegal registration and preaching false doctrine to his church members. Magigita reportedly advocated faith healing through attendance at church prayers instead ofgoing to the hospital. Community members from Chema village reported the pastor to police. The church was closed as of June 9 and remained closed at year’s end,and an investigation was proceeding. According to some religious leaders, the government penalized prominent religious leaders for expressing views it deemedpolitical and inflammatory. In March, the Registrar of Societies under the Ministry of Home Affairs suspended the operation of Dar es Salaam-based Spirit WorldMinistry Church led by Bishop Ceaser Masisi after a video clip of the bishop affirming the right to engage in same-sex relationships went viral on social media. OnMarch 9, Masisi received an official suspension letter issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs. He was subsequently arrested, questioned, and later released on bail. OnMarch 12, Masisi held a press conference and denied the charges, stating that unknown persons took video clips of his preaching out of context and posted themonline. He requested that responsible authorities, including the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority, take legal action against all those who shared thevideo clips on social media. On 5th July 2023, Minister of Home Affairs Hamad Masauni gave a statement in Dodoma during an official meeting with the leaders ofreligious associations and councils, saying that some operated illegally and were not registered. He said that the government would act against all religiousinstitutions that failed to comply with the law, including “the institution operated by Diana Bundala the self-proclaimed king,” referring to the Mfalme ZumaridiChurch led by Bundala, which remained unregistered despite having more than 500 members, as well as other emerging churches. In January, Bundala was sentencedto one year in prison on charges related to human trafficking. On September 29, local media reported that Pastor Mbarikiwa Mwakipesile was sentenced to three yearsand 14 days in prison after being found guilty by the Mbeya magistrate court of operating a church without registration. Public comments on social media alleged thathe was imprisoned for his critical statements regarding an intergovernmental agreement with Dubai for Dubai Ports World (DP World) to manage port developmentprojects in Dar es Salaam and elsewhere in the country rather than for the operation of his church.Human rights instruments: Tanzania is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP;Tanzania did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (not free; subject to registration for propagational use); monasticism (not free; subject to registration); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites(not free; subject to registration); pastoral services (not free; subject to registration); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (not free; subject toregistration); public expression and observance (not free; restricted); receiving donations (not free; subject to registration); religious buildings (not free; subject toregistration); religious instruction (not free; subject to registration); religious literature (not free; subject to registration); religious and worship services (not free;subject to registration); religious trade (not free; subject to registration).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of religion was affirmed in the latestrevised constitution from 2005.1792024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveThailand, Kingdom ofFoRB Claim: Partial claim is made.RecommendationsDismantlement of the apparatus of laws and restrictive policies that have been put in place to restrict religious activity; establish a revitalised recognition systemthat crucially provides existential recognition and legal registration to all belief systems and their derivatives without discrimination; remove all forms of undueinvolvement of the government in the internal affairs of religious organisations.Secularity: Thailand is officially a secular state; however, the latest constitution from 2017 empowers the state topatronise and protect Buddhism, in particular the special promotion of Theravada Buddhism through education,the propagation of its principles, and the establishment of measures and mechanisms “to prevent the desecrationof Buddhism in any form”; the law recognises Brahmin-Hindus, Buddhists, Christians, Muslims and Sikhs.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: stipulatory registration – groups associated with one of the five officially recognized religious groups may register to receive state benefitsthat include access to state subsidies, exemption from property and income taxes, and preferential allocation of resident visas for the registered organization’sforeign officials. These benefits are subsidized under various laws and regulations across multiple agencies. Registration as a religious group is not mandatory,and religious groups may operate without government interference, whether they are officially registered or recognized or not. The Religious Affairs Department(RAD) within the Ministry of Culture is responsible for registering new religious groups, except for Buddhist groups, which are overseen by the National Office ofBuddhism (NOB), an independent state agency under direct supervision of the Prime Minister. Buddhist religious clerics who hold administrative and seniorecclesiastical posts are compensated by the NOB, while similar support for Islamic religious leaders is supplied by the Sub-Department of ProvincialAdministration, Ministry of the Interior. The RAD may register a new religious group outside one of the five recognized religious groups when it meets thefollowing qualifications: the national census indicates the group has at least 5,000 adherents, possesses a uniquely recognizable theology, is not politicallyactive, and obtains formal approval in a RAD-organized meeting of representatives from the concerned ministries and the five recognized umbrella religiousgroups. To register with the RAD, a religious group’s leader also must submit documentation on the group’s objectives and procedures, any relationship to aforeign country, a list of executive members and senior officials, and locations of administrative, religious, and teaching sites. The government has notrecognized any new religious groups outside the five umbrella groups, and the RAD reports that no applications were received during the year. Despite the lack offormal legal recognition or registration, civil society organizations report that unregistered religious groups operate freely and that the government’s practice ofnot recognizing or registering new religious groups does not restrict their activities. The RAD sets a quota for the number of foreign missionaries permitted toregister and operate in the country: 1,357 Christian, six Muslim, 20 Hindu, and 41 Sikh. Registration confers some benefits, such as longer visa validity.Representatives of the five officially recognized religious groups may apply for one-year missionary visas that are renewable. Foreign missionaries from otherreligious groups are not eligible for missionary visas and must obtain tourist visas, which have a 90-day validity. Religious groups reported that beingunregistered was not a significant barrier to foreign missionary activity, and many missionaries from unregistered groups worked in the country withoutgovernment interference. According to government statistics from 2022, there were 11 registered foreign missionary groups with visas that operated in thecountry: six Christian, one Muslim, two Hindu, and two Sikh groups. In 2023 the government reported there were 1,004 foreign missionaries: 949 Christian, 3Muslim, 20 Hindu, and 32 Sikh. Some foreigners entered the country on tourist visas to conduct missionary work or activities in support of missionaries andwere required to depart after 90 days.Recognition policy: a special order issued by the former military government in 2016 and still in effect provides for the state’s promotion and protection of “allrecognized religions” in the country, but it mandates that all state agencies monitor the “right teaching” of all religions to ensure they are not “distorted toupset social harmony.” Defaming or insulting Buddhism and Buddhist clergy is specifically prohibited by law. Violators may face up to one year’s imprisonment,fines of up to 20,000 baht ($580), or both. The penal code prohibits the insult or disturbance of religious places or services of all officially recognized religiousgroups. Penalties range from imprisonment for one to seven years, a fine of 20,000 to 140,000 baht ($580 to $4,100), or both. The law officially recognizes fivereligious groups: Buddhists, Muslims, Brahmin-Hindus, Sikhs, and Christians. While there is no official state religion, the constitution requires the King to beBuddhist and declares that he is the “upholder of religions.” The constitution prohibits Buddhist priests, novices, monks, and other clergy from voting inelections, serving in the House of Representatives or Senate, or taking public positions on political matters. Christian clergy may vote in elections as long as theyare not wearing formal religious attire. Except for the Chularatchamontri (Grand Mufti), imams are not regarded as priests or clergy and thus may vote inelections and assume political positions. The Sangha Supreme Council serves as Thai Buddhism’s governing clerical body. The King has unilateral authority toappoint or remove members from the Sangha Supreme Council irrespective of the monk’s rank and without consent or consultation with the Supreme Patriarch,whom the King also has legal authority to appoint. Authorities continued to recognize elected provincial Islamic committees. Their responsibilities includedproviding advice to provincial governors on Islamic issues; deciding on the establishment, relocation, merger, and dissolution of mosques; appointing imams;and issuing announcements and approvals of Islamic religious activities. Committee members in the Deep South continued to report that some acted as advisersto government officials in dealing with the area’s ethnonationalist and religious tensions.Key restriction tools imposed: criticism of Buddhism may lead to fines or imprisonment, membership quota (in the form of a census quota), registered status will not be bestowed to any groupsthat belongs to a religion beyond the five already recognised by the government, registration procedures are split between Buddhist and non-Buddhist groups and organisations, state definitionof religion, the government does not recognise religions or religious communities beyond the five already recognised, the prime minister directly supervises the registration of Buddhist groups.On 10th May 2023, a statement released by the Falun Dafa Information Center reported multiple Falun Gong practitioners in Thailand from China had been held in IDCs since 2014. Thepractitioners were held for immigration violations, not due to their religious identity. They reportedly requested UNHCR asylee status, which the country, however, does not recognize as a basisfor legal immigration. Media outlets and NGOs reported in March that immigration authorities in Pattaya arrested 63 Chinese Christian members of the Shenzhen Holy Reformed Church,including dozens of children, for overstaying their visas and placed them in immigration detention. There were no reports that their religious beliefs played a role in the arrests and detentions.The group had applied with UNHCR for refugee status, and in April, immigration officials facilitated their departure for a third country. Buddhist monks and temple authorities continued tocomply with a 2018 Sangha Supreme Council order prohibiting the use of temple land for political activities or rallies, meetings, or seminars for purposes that violated the law or affectednational security, social order, or public morals. The law denying legal recognition to women monks (bhikkhunis) remained in effect despite the National Human Rights Commission’s 2015recommendation that the government amend it. The Sangha Supreme Council continued to prohibit women from becoming monks, and women wishing to join the monkhood usually travelledto India or Sri Lanka to be ordained. Of the 239,023 Buddhist clergy in the country, between 250 and 300 were women. Since a gender equality law exempts cases involving “compliance withreligious principles,” the government excluded bhikkhunis from gender equality protection. Government officials continued to neither oppose nor support ordination of women, although theyallowed bhikkhunis to practice and establish monasteries and temples. Without official recognition, however, monasteries led by women continued to be ineligible for any of the governmentbenefits received by sanctioned Buddhist temples – primarily tax exemptions, free medical care, and subsidies for building construction and running social welfare programs. While male monksin the Deep South received government protection from verbal threats or physical attacks, bhikkhunis did not. Buddhist monks continued to work as missionaries, particularly in border areasamong the country’s tribal populations, and received some public funding. Buddhist missionaries worked in 279 communities and hill tribe regions in Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Sorn,Tak, and Petchaboon Provinces. Their focus was teaching Buddhism and community development. The Sangha Supreme Council required Buddhist missionaries to pass training and educationalprograms at Maha Makut Buddhist University or Maha Chulalongkorn Rajavidyalaya University before being appointed as missionaries. The government, per regulation, did not permit foreignmonks to serve as Buddhist missionaries.  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints continued to fill its special quota of 200 foreign missionaries, granted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairsand National Security Council. On October 22, the group dedicated a new temple in Bangkok, its first in the country. According to members of some Indigenous communities, the governmentencouraged preservation of their cultural and religious heritage and supported economic opportunities for Indigenous communities in showcasing their handicrafts, cultures, and traditions.Community members also stated authorities sometimes intervened to dictate which crafts to produce or required Indigenous cultural rituals or religious ceremonies be conducted on certaindays of the week to maximize the size of the audience of tourists. Members of Indigenous communities reported being fairly compensated for land when asked to relocate due to development,but also said communities consequently no longer had access to the affected ancestral lands and therefore were unable to fully conduct ancestral religious rites and worship in those locationsaccording to their traditions.Human rights instruments: Thailand is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP; Thailand voted infavour of the UDHR as Siam.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free); private expression and observance(free); proselytism (free); public expression and observance (free); receiving donations (free); religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religiousliterature (free); religious and worship services (free); religious trade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of “religious belief” was affirmed in the latestconstitution from 2017.2024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveTimor-Leste,DemocraticRepublic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsEstablish differentiation between existential recognition and legal registration; forms of discriminations and harassment reported should beresolved through means of recognition; remove some of the administrative hurdles; to achieve Dynamic status, establish an independentrecognition agency to manage the recognition system.Secularity: Timor-Leste is officially a secular state; however, preferential treatment and exclusiveprivileges are granted to the Roman Catholic Church and the Church was commended in the latestconstitution from 2002 for its role in the country’s liberation efforts; theism was affirmed in the sameconstitution from 2002.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: pseudo-mandatory registration – religious organizations that conduct religious services but do not engage inother activities do not need to register with the government and may obtain tax-exempt status from the Ministry of Finance.Religious organizations seeking to open private schools or provide other community services must submit articles of associationand other relevant documentation to register as nonprofit corporate bodies through the Ministry of Justice’s National Directoratefor Registry and Notary Services (DNRN). The law requires a separate registration with the Ministry of Interior for associationswith primarily foreign members, including religious organizations, which must submit their articles of incorporation, proof theyhave the means to carry out their activities, and the name of a designated representative. To receive a tax identification number,organizations must register first with the Ministry of Justice and then bring that registration to the Service for Registration andVerification of Businesses, the business registration agency. The DNRN then issues a certificate and legally charters theorganization. A chaplain who is a citizen may serve in the armed forces. The law states, “Foreigners cannot provide religiousassistance to the defense and security forces, except in cases of absolute need and urgency.” Foreign citizen missionaries and non-missionary religious officials are exempt from paying normal residence and visa fees. Visa regulations are the same for all foreignreligious workers, regardless of religious affiliation.Recognition policy: a concordat between the government and the Holy See establishes a legal framework for cooperation, grantsthe Catholic Church autonomy in establishing and running schools, provides tax benefits, safeguards the Church’s historical andcultural heritage, and acknowledges the right of its foreign missionaries to serve in the country. As part of its annual budget, inMarch, the Office of the Prime Minister allocated 15 million dollars to the Catholic Episcopal Conference of Timor-Leste fordistribution among the country’s three Catholic dioceses. The terms of the concordat with the Holy See governed the allocations.Other religious groups could apply for part of a separate two-million-dollar government fund set aside for non-Catholic religiousgroups during the year. The Civil Society Support Office also provided a $200,000 grant to the Muslim community in October tosupport their religious activities and education. One Protestant community received $40,000 in grant money to build a church inOecusse, while another received $32,000 to construct a church in Ermera, and a third received $10,000 towards the construction ofa church in Baucau. Non-Catholic groups continued to report tensions regarding unequal allocation of government funds.180Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, multi-registration, secondary procedure, tertiary procedure. As of year’s end, theCouncil of Ministers had not approved proposed revisions to the civil code, originally put forward in 2020, that would register allforms of marriage recognized by law, including those of non-Catholic religious groups. Muslim, Protestant, and Hindu religiousminority leaders again reported that notaries public rejected marriage and birth certificates from religious organizations otherthan the Catholic Church when submitted as supporting documentation required by individuals registering for schools and forother official acts. The leaders stated this occurred on an ad hoc rather than systematic basis, and authorities resolved the incidentsby addressing them with the notarial office director. Members of non-Catholic religious groups had the option to marry in a civilceremony witnessed by a notary public, according to a Ministry of Justice official. Registrations of births and marriages with thegovernment continued to be available, but civil registration rates remained relatively low in comparison to registration forreligious certificates. Protestant and Muslim leaders continued to encourage the Offices of the President and the Prime Minister aswell as the parliament to recognize non-Catholic certificates. During the year, no non-Catholic chaplains served in the armedforces; however, clergy of other religions provided services on an invitational basis.Human rights instruments: Timor-Leste is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP;Timor-Leste did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free); privateexpression and observance (free); proselytism (free); public expression and observance (free); receiving donations (free); religiousbuildings (free); religious instruction (free); religious literature (free); religious and worship services (free); religious trade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of religion was affirmed in the latestconstitution from 2002.FoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.1812024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveTogoleseRepublicRecommendationsRe-establish the recognition system in such a way that it extends existential recognition and legal registration to all beliefsystems and their derivatives equally; dismantlement of the present body of policies restricting registration such as therelatively high fee; revoke the mandatory registration order and ensure that informational requirements are not excessive.Secularity: Togo is officially a secular state; however, preferential treatment isgranted to the Roman Catholic Church, Islam and certain Protestant churches;theism was affirmed in the latest revised constitution from 2007.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: broad-discriminatory registration – the law requires all religious groups, including Indigenous groups, toregister as religious associations. Some Christian and Islamic holidays are observed as national holidays. Official recognition as areligious association provides other groups the same rights as those afforded to Catholics, Protestants, and Muslims, includingimport duty exemptions for humanitarian and development projects. Registration entitles religious groups to receivegovernment benefits such as government-provided teachers for faith-based schools and special assistance in case of naturaldisasters. Only the Ministry of Territorial Affairs (MTA) can issue authorizations to open new places of worship, and it issues theauthorizations only to registered denominations. The law gives mayors and prefects the authority to close illegal places ofworship. Organizations apply for registration with the Directorate of Religious Affairs (DRA). A religious group must submit itsstatutes, statement of doctrine, bylaws, names, and addresses of executive board members, leaders’ religious credentials, a site-use agreement, map for religious facilities, and description of its finances. It must also pay a registration fee of 150,000 CFAfrancs ($255). Criteria for recognition include authenticity of the religious leader’s diploma and the government’s assessment ofthe ethical behavior of the group, which must not cause a breach of public order. The DRA issues a receipt that serves astemporary recognition for religious groups applying for registration. The investigation and issuance of formal writtenauthorization usually takes several years. By law, religious groups must request permission to conduct large nighttimecelebrations, particularly those likely to block city streets or involve loud ceremonies in residential areas. According to the law,local authorities have the right to enforce noise levels and safety rules in places of worship.Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, ambiguous qualifications are stipulated for registered status which could beeasily misused against religious groups the status does not favour, delay of receipt of registered status goes far beyond what ispermissible to RoRB standards (up to several years), excessive informational requirements, registration fee ($260) far exceedsthe $100 threshold set down by RoRB standards (but has been reduced from $280 from the year prior), there are approximately900 pending registration applications that the government has not progressed. In September, the Director of the DRA, ColonelBediani Belei informed religious groups that unregistered denominations were prohibited from opening places of worship.According to the DRA, more than 22,000 illegal places of worship operated in the country. Belei also announced days of worshipfor different faiths: Sunday for Christians, Friday for Muslims and Saturday for Seventh-day Adventists. He also stated loudworship of any kind was strictly forbidden from Monday to Saturday; wakes and funeral prayers must end before 8:00 p.m.; andmuezzin calls to worship were only permitted in large neighborhood mosques. The DRA released a statement in July regardingseveral thousand complaints concerning the high level of volume of worship services and religious observances and announcedsanctions would follow if noise levels were not reduced. Although there was no law or regulation prescribing a permissiblevolume, the MTA and mayors recommended acceptable decibel levels in their messages to religious leaders. The DRA stated,“The provisions of the health code, the framework law on the environment and the Togolese penal code are applicable to noisepollution generated by places of worship and engage the civil and penal liability of those responsible for these places.’’ Theannouncement prompted mixed reactions on social networks. Some welcomed the regulation against noise pollution, whileothers complained it was too strict. Associations of religious leaders announced they requested meetings with the DRA to discussthe announcement. After they met, the government’s position remained unchanged by the end of the year. Throughout the year,the MTA organized sensitization campaigns and workshops nationwide on the legal requirement for religious leaders to requestpermission from local authorities before conducting large celebrations at night, and the right of local authorities to enforce noiselevels and safety rules in places of worship. The government continued to not act on pending registration applications fromreligious groups and since 2013, has not accepted new applications. Most pending registration applications were submitted byChristian evangelical religious movements.Human rights instruments: Togo is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, and the UNCRC; Togo was absentduring voting on the UNDRIP; Togo did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (not free; rules on items for propagational use remain unclear); monasticism (not free; subject toregistration); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free; subject to registration); pastoral services (not free; subject toregistration); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (not free; subject to registration); public expression andobservance (not free; restricted); receiving donations (not free; subject to registration); religious buildings (not free; subject toregistration); religious instruction (not free; subject to registration); religious literature (not free; subject to registration);religious and worship services (not free; subject to registration); religious trade (not free; subject to registration).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of religion was affirmed in the latestrevised constitution from 2007.2024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveTonga,Kingdom ofFoRB Claim: Partial claim is made.RecommendationsEstablish a revitalised recognition system that crucially provides existential recognition and legal registration to all beliefsystems and their derivatives without discrimination; revoke borderline mandatory registration requirements and the imposedsignature quota; to become classified as dynamic, establish a recognition agency that is autonomous of government control thatis responsible for managing the recognition system.Secularity: Tonga is officially a secular state; however,preferential treatment is granted to Christianity; theism wasaffirmed in the latest revised constitution from 2013.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: pseudo-mandatory registration – although Tongan law does not formally mandate that religious or belieforganisations register with the government, the legal ability for religious groups to import goods for religious purposes isreserved only for groups that have undergone registration which in effect makes registration mandatory as this is an essentialfunction of any religious organisation. The law does not require registration of religious groups. Any group may gather, worship,and practice their faith without informing the government or seeking its permission. A religious group, however, must registerto be eligible for specific benefits, such as recognition of clergy as marriage officers; tax exemptions on nonbusiness income,importation of goods for religious purposes and fundraising; protection of a denomination’s name; and access to broadcastingon public channels. Registration as a religious group requires an application to the Ministry of Commerce, Trade, Innovation,and Labor, accompanied by certified copies of the group’s rules and constitution, a declaration detailing any other trust in whichthe applicant holds assets, a witness’s signature, and a 115 pa’anga ($51) application fee. If a group elects to register with theMinistry of Commerce, Trade, Innovation, and Labor, the law requires it also to register with the Ministry of Revenue andCustoms as a nonprofit organization.Recognition policy: the constitution requires that the Sabbath, which the government recognizes as Sunday, be “kept holy” andprohibits commercial transactions on the Sabbath. Only a limited number of restaurants and retail stores are allowed to operateafter receiving approval by the Minister of Police. The law also prohibits many recreational activities and sports on the Sabbath.The law applies to both Christians and non-Christians. The law allows religious leaders to legalize marriages. According to thelaw, only marriages solemnized by clergy or religious officiants, who must be Christian, are legally recognized, and no othermarriage is valid. Non-Christians unwilling to be married by a Christian member of the clergy have no legal options to marry.182Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, dual registration, possible nominal restriction ("protection of a denomination'sname" is listed as a benefit of registration), signature quota. During the year, the government continued to enforce a law thatprohibits retail establishments, bakeries, and most restaurants from operating on Sunday to comply with the constitution’sprohibition of commercial activity on the Sabbath. Through special permits granted by the Minister of Police, the governmentcontinued to allow hotels and resorts to operate Sundays for tourists. The government-owned Tonga Broadcasting Commission(TBC), a 24-hour service, maintained policy guidelines regarding the broadcast of religious programming on TV Tonga andRadio Tonga. The TBC guidelines stated that in view of “the character of the listening public,” those who preach on TV Tongaand Radio Tonga must confine their preaching “within the limits of the mainstream Christian tradition.” There were noreports, however, of the TBC denying any group’s request to broadcast on public channels. The government permitted allChristian groups to participate in broadcasting one free hour of services on the radio each Sunday. All churches were able tobroadcast notices of their activities on six FM radio stations and three television stations (Television Tonga, Digi TV, and theChristian station Doulos Television Radio).Human rights instruments: Tonga is partied to the UNCRC; Tonga is neither partied tothe ICCPR nor the ICESCR; Tonga was absent during voting on UNDRIP; Tonga did notvote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free);private expression and observance (free); proselytism (free); public expression and observance (free); receiving donations(free); religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religious literature (free); religious and worship services (free);religious trade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of religion wasaffirmed in the latest revised constitution from 2013.2024 RoRB Classification: ReceptiveTrinidadand Tobago,Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsTo reach Receptive status, establish a revitalised recognition system that provides both existentialrecognition and legal registration to all belief systems and their derivatives and at multiple levels of activity;to become classified Dynamic, establish a recognition agency that is autonomous of government control thatis responsible for managing the recognition system; revoke the imposition of a longevity quota.Secularity: Trinidad and Tobago is a secular state; theism was affirmed in the latest revisedconstitution from 2007.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: stipulatory registration – religious groups must register with the government to receivetax-exempt donations or gifts of land, perform marriages, or receive visas for foreign missionaries. Toregister, groups must demonstrate they are nonprofit organizations, have operated for at least one year, andsubmit a request for charitable status to the Ministry of Finance. The request must include a certificate orarticles of incorporation, the constitution and bylaws of the organization, and the most recently auditedfinancial statements. Religious groups have the same rights and obligations as most legal entities, regardlessof their registration status. They may, for example, own land and hire employees, and they are liable forproperty taxes and government-mandated employee benefits. Chaplains representing different faithspresent in the country may visit prisons to perform religious acts and minister to prisoners. Foreignmissionaries must meet standard requirements for entry visas and must represent a registered religiousgroup in the country. Permits are valid for a maximum of three years at the cost of 500 Trinidad and Tobagodollars ($75) per year. Missionaries may not remain longer than three years per visit but may reenter afterone year’s absence.183Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, delayed registration, longevity quota (1 year), non-responseto the Orisha religious group's application in 2018. According to the IRO, the National Council of OrishaElders of Trinidad and Tobago continued to wait for the government to respond to its registrationapplication, pending since 2018 with the Office of the Attorney General and Legal Affairs. The governmentcontinued to limit the number of long-term foreign missionaries to 35 per registered religious group; the IROstated that each missionary application was dealt with on a case-by-case basis and the processing timesvaried. Missionaries that numbered more than the 35 individuals allowed per group could remain in thecountry for a maximum of 30 days. Some international religious groups, however, said more than 35missionaries could remain in the country if they affiliated with more than one registered group, includingnonprofit groups and charities. The IRO said religious institutions could apply to extend the stay of theirmissionaries, but there was no guarantee of approval.Human rights instruments: Trinidad and Tobago is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC,and the UNDRIP; Trinidad and Tobago did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free; subjectto registration); pastoral services (free); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (free); publicexpression and observance (free); receiving donations (free); religious buildings (free); religiousinstruction (free); religious literature (free); religious and worship services (free); religious trade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of religion was affirmed inthe latest revised constitution from 2007.2024 RoRB Classification: CensoriousTunisia,Republic ofFoRB Claim: Partial claim is made.RecommendationsDismantlement of the present apparatus of laws restricting non-Islamic religious activity; establish a reorganised recognition that provides recognition and registration to all beliefsystems and their derivatives; remove all forms of subjective language from the legislation on religion and belief.Secularity: Tunisia is officially a secular state (Sunni Islam was disestablished in 2022);however, Islam continues to receive preferential treatment with the latest constitution from2022 requiring the state to support and advance the purposes of Islam; the 2022 constitutionstates “Tunisia is part of the Islamic Umma [community or nation]”; theism was affirmed inthe 2022 constitution; according to the same constitution, only Muslims can be electedpresident and “the state is the guardian of religion.”Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: pseudo-mandatory registration – although Tunisian law does not formally mandate that religious or belief organisations register with the government, non-registeredreligious groups cannot “conduct financial activities such as charity work”, “publish reports and leaflets”, “organise meetings” and “engage in all types of civil activities” which arefundamental religious functions that in effect makes registration mandatory. Religious groups may form and register associations under the law to establish a bank account, conduct financialactivities such as charity work, and receive favorable tax treatment, including tax-free donations from government-approved associations, provided the association does not purport torepresent all believers of a religious group or use the name of a religious group. In practice, minority religious groups often reported bureaucratic roadblocks and government delays whenapplying to form associations. To establish an association, a religious group must submit a registered letter to the Prime Minister’s Office stating the purposes of the association; copies of thenational identity cards of its founders, who must be citizens; and two copies of the articles of association signed by the association’s founders or their representatives. The articles of associationmust contain the official name of the association in Arabic and any other language used; its address; a statement of its objectives; membership criteria; membership fees; and a statement oforganizational structure, including identification of the decision-making body for the association. The law requires that associations and political parties respect the rule of law and basicdemocratic principles. The law prohibits associations from engaging in for-profit activities, providing material support to individual political candidates, or adopting bylaws or conductingactivities that incite violence or promote hatred, fanaticism, or discrimination on the basis of religion. An association may receive tax-exempt income from organizations, including foreignorganizations that have a prior agreement with the government. Once an association receives a return receipt from the Prime Minister’s Office, it has seven days to submit an announcement ofthe name, purpose, and objectives of the association to the government printing office. The government printing office has 15 days to publish the announcement in the official gazette, whichconstitutes the association’s official registration. In the event the government does not return a registered receipt within 30 days, an association may proceed to submit its documents forpublication and obtain registration. A foreign association may establish a branch in the country, but the government may also reject its registration request if the government finds theprinciples or objectives of the foreign association contravene the law. Associations that violate the law are first given a warning of up to 30 days from the secretary general of the government,who reports directly to the Prime Minister. If the violation persists, a court may suspend the association’s activities for up to 30 days. If the association is still in violation of the law, the secretarygeneral may then appeal to the court for dissolution of the association. Under the law, associations have the right to appeal court decisions. Registered associations have the right to organizemeetings and demonstrations, to publish reports and leaflets, to own real estate, and to engage in “all types of civil activities.” By law, new mosques may be constructed, provided they are builtin accordance with national urban planning regulations. The MRA pays for construction of mosques, although private and foreign donors are also able to contribute to construction costs.Mosques become government property upon completion, after which the government must maintain them.Recognition policy: a 1964 modus vivendi with the Holy See grants official recognition to the Roman Catholic Church. The agreement allows the Catholic Church to function in the country andprovides state recognition of the church. The agreement, however, restricts religious activities and services to the physical confines of authorized churches and prohibits construction of newchurches and the ringing of church bells. A limited number of Catholic schools and charities operate under the modus vivendi, but their financial activities are conducted through registration asan association and their affiliation with the church is not publicized. The government subsidizes mosques and appoints and pays the salaries of imams. The Grand Mufti, appointed by thepresident, is charged with declaring religious holidays, issuing certificates of conversion to Islam, attending to citizens’ inquiries, representing the country at international religiousconferences, providing opinions on school curricula, and studying and writing about Islam, including offering religious guidance and issuing fatwas. The MRA suggests themes for Fridaysermons but does not regulate their content. The government may initiate administrative and legal procedures to remove imams who authorities determine are preaching “divisive” theology.Provisions of law addressing marriage, divorce, and other personal status issues are largely based on principles of civil law, combined with elements of sharia. Laws of inheritance are principallybased on requirements in sharia, but there are some provisions that allow for exceptions as outlined in the Code of Personal Status.184Key restriction tools imposed: bilateral cooperation agreements are extended only to the Catholic Church meaning that any non-Catholic or non-Islamic religion are non-recognised, broadgrounds exists for the denial of registration of GFOs, excessive informational requirements are requested as part of registration procedures, nominal restriction. There is no legal prohibitionagainst proselytism, however, the law criminalizes forced conversions. On February 22, police detained the president and vice-president of the Federation of Evangelical, Protestant, andPentecostal Christian Churches after a local television station profiled “house churches” associated with their organization, according to a local NGO. The program described the churches asplaces where Christian sub-Saharan migrants gathered to worship. Authorities released the two without charges on March 10. On February 16, police detained a Tunisian Christian as he wasexiting a church in Tunis, according to a local human rights NGO. Authorities questioned him about his religious background and books in his possession before releasing him the same daywithout charges. The Baha’i community’s continuing efforts to register as an association remained unresolved. A government prosecutor’s 2021 appeal of a 2020 court ruling in favor ofallowing Baha’is to form an association remained pending as year’s end. Despite being unable to officially organize, Baha’is were active in civil society. Although the law provided for theright of freedom of association, observers stated the government did not always respect it, particularly regarding restrictions on political and religious associations. Some religious minoritygroups reported administrative delays and lack of government response regarding processing of association applications; some of the applications dated as far back as 2017. As of year’s end,the Baha’i community had not received a reply from the Minister of Local Affairs regarding a 2020 petition to establish a Baha’i cemetery. The government continued to publicly urge imamsto disseminate messages of moderation and tolerance to counter what it said were threats of violent extremism. Since 2015, the MRA has conducted regular training sessions for imams onhow to disseminate these messages. According to several local committees in charge of mosque operations, the government generally allowed the committees to manage the daily affairs oftheir mosques and choose their own imams, with the exception of imams for Friday prayers, who were selected exclusively by the MRA. Regional MRA representatives within eachgovernorate were required to vet, approve, and appoint both the local mosque committees and the imams. According to an MRA official, the government standardized and enforced mosqueopening and closing times, except for certain mosques with cultural or historical significance and very small community mosques. In 2022, the MRA authorized a department for religiousminorities; according to a local NGO, however, the department had not started operations as of year’s end. Christian citizens continued to describe strong governmental and societal pressurenot to discuss publicly a church’s activities or theology. Christian community contacts indicated that many Christians practiced their faith through in-home gatherings for prayers andservices or mass. A local NGO reported that police targeted Christians who displayed faith-related objects – such as crosses and Bibles – harassing and questioning them. Christians reportedthe government allowed churches to operate within set guidelines and provided security for their services. The government generally restricted Catholic public religious services orprocessions outside churches as agreed under the 1964 modus vivendi with the Vatican; however, some celebrations outside of church buildings were permitted. On August 16, hundredsgathered in La Goulette, a suburb of Tunis, to participate in the annual procession of the Madonna of Trapani at the Church of St. Augustine and St. Faithful. Archbishop of Tunis IlarioAntoniazzi led the procession. Christian citizens and members of other religious minorities reported the government continued to deny them the right to establish a legal entity orassociation that would allow the establishment of an Arabic-language church or a cemetery that would serve Christian citizens. The Christian community, however, did not submit a formalrequest for an association or legal status during the year. Christian cemeteries existed for foreign members of the Christian community; however, the government required Christian citizensto obtain permission from the government to bury family members in these cemeteries. Citizens reported they generally did not request such permission due to what they said was a patternof governmental nonresponse. Jewish groups said they continued to worship freely, and the government continued to provide security for synagogues and partially subsidized restorationand maintenance costs. Government employees maintained Jewish cemeteries in Tunis and Djerba but did not maintain them in Sousse and El-Kef, where there are also small Jewishcommunities. According to Jewish community representatives, the synagogue of Tataouine, which was placed on the national heritage registry in 2020, remained under state protection toprevent further degradation of the building. According to Jewish groups, police intermittently harassed Jews and discriminated against them in the south by enforcing stop-and-friskmeasures. Representatives of the Jewish community reported that the MRA still had not responded to a 2019 request to establish a national Jewish community association, despite theMinister’s 2021 pledge to support it. At year’s end, the MRA had not responded or acted on the application. The Jewish community initiated the application to establish associations in orderto better advocate with the government on behalf of Jewish community interests and to serve as an organizing body for the Jewish communities in Gabes, Medenine, and Tunis.Human rights instruments: Tunisia is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP; Tunisia did notvote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (not free; restricted); hieroncy (not free; preapproval required for non-Islamic religious materials and items); monasticism (not free; restricted); nuptial, initiatory and burialrites (not free; restricted); pastoral services (not free; subject to registration); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (not free; restricted; the law criminalises forcedconversions which may be viewed broadly and applied arbitrarily in favour of the religion from which the person is converting such as a Muslim converting from Islam); public expressionand observance (not free; restricted); receiving donations (not free; restricted); religious buildings (not free; subject to registration); religious instruction (not free; restricted); religiousliterature (not free; restricted); religious and worship services (not free; subject to registration); religious trade (not free; restricted).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Implicit protection against discrimination on the basis of religion was affirmed in the latest constitutionfrom 2022.2024 RoRB Classification: CensoriousTürkiye, Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsDismantlement of the present apparatus of laws restricting religious registration; provide recognition to all belief systems without discrimination; revoke all religious prohibitions and thecriminalisation of unregistered places of worship.Secularity: Turkey is officially a secular state (Sunni Islam was disestablished in 1928); however, Sunni Islam receivespreferential treatment by the government.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: pseudo-mandatory registration – although registration with the government is not explicitly mandatory for religious groups to operate, a group must be registered to request legal recognition forplaces of worship. Gaining legal recognition of a place of worship requires permission from local municipalities for the construction or designation of a new place of worship. When granting permission to construct ordesignate a new place of worship, municipalities do not need to consult with central government authorities in advance of their decision; it is against the law, however, to hold religious services at a location notrecognized by the central government as a place of worship, and the government may fine or close the venues for violating the law. The leadership and administrative structures of religious communities do not have alegal personality, leaving them unable to directly buy or hold title to property or press claims in court. Communities rely on separate foundations or associations governed by individual boards to hold and administerassets and property. The law prohibits the establishment of foundations based on the religion or ethnicity of members but grants exemptions to foundations existing before 1935. Non-Muslim citizens direct theselongstanding foundations; 167 continue to exist, the majority of which are associated with the Greek Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox, and Jewish communities. In practice, a religious group may successfully apply toregister as an association or foundation provided its stated objective is charitable, educational, or cultural rather than religious. There are 13 Protestant foundations (four of which existed before 1935), 33 Protestantassociations, and more than 73 representative offices linked with these associations. The DGF, under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, regulates the activities and affiliated properties of all foundations and assesseswhether they are operating within the stated objectives of their organizational charter. There are several categories of foundations, including religious community foundations existing prior to the 1935 law. Governmentguidelines published in 2022 enable religious minority foundations to conduct elections for members of their governing boards. The guidelines apply to 163 of the 167 foundations represented by the DGF and run byGreek Orthodox, Armenian, Jewish, Syriac, Chaldean, Bulgarian Georgian, and Maronite communities. According to the guidelines, the foundations must conduct elections at least once every five years to elect boardswith seven members (or an alternative odd number of members, minimum three and maximum 11). Voters must be members of the same minority communities as the foundations whose boards they are electing.Candidates must be citizens over 18 years of age, literate, and without certain types of criminal offenses on their records. Within Istanbul, minority communities with fewer than 15 foundations may hold elections on aprovincial basis, while communities with more than 15 foundations must split their voting into three electoral districts. Elections must be overseen and administered by electoral committees chosen by the current boardand approved by the DGF; these committees may include a maximum of two members from the current board, who must be community members but not candidates. If a foundation becomes inactive, the governmentmay petition the courts to rule it is no longer operational and transfer its assets to the state. Only a court order may close a foundation of any category, except under a state of emergency, during which the governmentmay close foundations by decree. Several religious communities have formally registered corresponding associations. Associations must be nonprofit and receive financial support only in the form of donations. Toregister as an association, a group must apply to the provincial governor’s office with supporting documentation, including bylaws and a list of founding members. A group must also obtain permission from theMinistry of Interior as part of its application if a foreign association or nonprofit organization is a founding member; if foreigners are founding members of the group, the group must submit copies of its residencepermits. If the governorate finds the bylaws unlawful or unconstitutional, the association must change them to meet the legal requirements. Under the law, the governorate may fine or otherwise punish associationofficials for actions deemed to violate the organization’s bylaws. A court order may close an association, and the Ministry of Interior may temporarily close an association or foundation and apply to a court within 48hours for a decision on closure. Otherwise, the government may close associations and foundations by decree under a state of emergency. The civil code requires associations not to discriminate on the grounds ofreligion, ethnicity, or race. By law, prisoners have the right to practice their religion while incarcerated; however, not all prisons have dedicated places of worship. According to the law, prison authorities must allowvisitation by clergy members of registered religions and allow them to offer books and other materials that are part of the prisoner’s faith, provided the prisoner is a member of a registered religion.Recognition policy: the constitution establishes the Diyanet, through which the state coordinates Islamic matters. According to the law, the Diyanet’s mandate is to enable the beliefs, practices, and moral principles ofIslam, with a primary focus on Sunni Islam; educate the public about religious issues; and administer mosques. By law, its duties include writing the sermon delivered in all mosques across the country and at Diyanet-staffed mosques abroad each Friday. The Diyanet operates under the presidency, with its head appointed by the President and administered by a 16-person council elected by clerics and university theology faculties. TheDiyanet has five main departments, called high councils: religious services, hajj and umrah services, education, publications, and public relations. While the law does not require that all members of the council be SunniMuslim, in practice this has historically been the case. The government issues chip-enabled national identity cards that contain no visible identification of religious affiliation. The information on religious affiliation isrecorded in the chip and remains visible to authorized public officials as “qualified personal data” and protected as private information. Older national identity cards that are still in use contain a space for religiousidentification with the option of leaving the space blank. The new cards include the same options for religious identities as the older cards: Muslim, Greek Orthodox, non-Orthodox Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Zoroastrian,Confucian, Taoist, Buddhist, Tengri, “no religion,” or “other/unknown.” Baha’is, Alevis, Yezidis, and other religious groups with known populations in the country do not have the option to select their religious group,requiring members of these or other religious groups or those who have no religion to leave the category blank or choose “other/unknown.185Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, arbitrary enforcement, criminalisation of unregistered places of worship, group dissolution procedures are structured in such a way that they could be easily misused toforce the closure of religious groups unfavoured by the state, prohibition of Sufi and "other religious-social orders (tarikats) and lodges (cemaats), restrictive laws exist around the organisation of a religious group andwhat actions it may or may not legally conduct. The law prohibits Sufi and other Islamic religious-social orders (tarikat) and lodges (tekke or zaviye), although authorities do not enforce these restrictions. The case ofnine Kurdish Sunni imams arrested in 2021 continued through the end of the year. According to media reports, prosecutors sought to close the organization to which the nine imams belong, the Religious ScholarsSolidarity Association (DIAYDER). The government charged them with terrorism-related offenses for preaching in their native language; the DIAYDER’s president was the last defendant under arrest until his release inJanuary. Four defendants, including the president, were required to report regularly to local police (known as judicial control) through year’s end. The government continued its longstanding policy of interpreting the1923 Lausanne Treaty, which refers broadly to “non-Muslim minorities,” as granting special legal minority status exclusively to three recognized groups: Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Christians, Jews, and GreekOrthodox Christians. The government continued not to recognize the leadership or administrative structures of non-Muslim minorities, such as the Armenian Apostolic Patriarchate of Constantinople, the EcumenicalPatriarchate of Constantinople, and the Chief Rabbinate, as legal entities, leaving them unable to buy or hold title to property or press claims in court. These three groups, along with other minority religiouscommunities, had to rely on independent foundations they had previously organized, which were overseen by separate governing boards, to hold and control each religious property. Multiple Protestant Churchrepresentatives continued to report bureaucratic difficulties in registering places of worship. Church representatives said they were obliged to continue meeting in unregistered locations for worship services becauselocal officials did not approve registration applications and continued to impose zoning standards on churches, including minimum space requirements of at least 10,764 square feet. Officials did not apply thisrequirement to Sunni Muslim congregations, which they permitted to build worship facilities in malls, airports, and other smaller spaces. In addition, some Protestant churches reported local authorities did not allowthem to display crosses on the exterior of their buildings. According to the Jehovah’s Witnesses annual report, the group could not establish suitable places of worship because of zoning restrictions and buildingspecifications specifically tailored to Islamic mosques. Despite a 2016 ECHR ruling that the regulations were discriminatory and impeded free religious practice, the report stated authorities denied or ignored thegroup’s subsequent 57 requests for land allocation. Municipal and provincial authorities challenged or defied court verdicts supporting the group’s rights by refusing to grant permits for Jehovah’s Witnesses toestablish places of worship and by closing existing premises validated by court rulings. On March 9, an Izmir court reiterated its earlier verdict in favor of Jehovah Witnesses’ application to register a place of worship.Municipal authorities previously had denied this permission but the court overruled the city in 2018. In 2022, a higher court granted the municipality’s appeal. On March 9, the lower court reviewed the case and insistedon its prior verdict in favor of the Jehovah Witnesses’ application. The municipality again appealed, and the case outcome remained pending at the end of the year with a judicial board. In Konya, Jehovah’s Witnessesopened a place of worship on March 27, which authorities shuttered on July 20 after neighbors filed complaints against the use of the premises for religious purposes. The group appealed on September 13, and the casecontinued through year’s end. The Armenian Apostolic Patriarchate and the Greek Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarchate continued to seek legal recognition, and their communities operated as conglomerations ofindividual religious foundations. While Alevis continued to state they are a religious faith that deserves government recognition as such, the government continued to categorize Alevi worship as cultural rather thanreligious and to not recognize Alevi houses of worship (cemevis), despite a 2018 ruling by the Supreme Court of Appeals requiring such recognition. In 2018, the head of the Diyanet said mosques were the appropriateplaces of worship for both Alevis and Sunnis. The government continued to permit annual and other commemorative religious worship services at religiously significant Christian sites previously converted to statemuseums, such as St. Peter’s Church in Antakya, St. Nicholas’ Church near Demre, St. Paul Church near Isparta, the Church of the Holy Cross on Akdamar Island, and the House of the Virgin Mary near Selcuk. Accordingto minority communities, this was often a pragmatic option at sites where local congregations were no longer large enough to sustain full-time clergy and staff. On December 6, for the first time in 10 years, EcumenicalPatriarch Bartholemew presided over a service commemorating the death of Saint Nicolas in Antalya’s Saint Nicolas Church. The government continued to provide Sunni Muslim inmates in larger prisons access tomesjids (small mosques) and Sunni preachers. The government did not provide clergy in prisons for non-Sunni religious groups; however, their clergy could visit and minister to adherents with the permission of thepublic prosecutor. According to the Jehovah’s Witnesses annual report, group members faced fines for public disturbance when preaching door to door or in public places, or for “occupying the sidewalk” with cartsoffering their religious publications. The report stated police falsely accused Jehovah’s Witnesses of selling goods or services they offered free of charge. According to examples in the report, courts sometimes annulledthe fines and at other times upheld them. On January 22, in Kartal District, Istanbul, police detained four Jehovah’s Witnesses for preaching door to door, although the resident with whom they had spoken said he wasnot troubled by the visit and did not wish to press charges. The public prosecutor charged the four with “disturbing others to sell goods or services,” although the Jehovah’s Witnesses offered their literature for free; theprosecutor called for courts to fine each of them 617 Turkish lira ($21). On May 24 and August 29, local courts upheld the fines. The charges were misdemeanors and therefore could not be appealed. On February 10, inAydin, three Jehovah’s Witnesses who were maintaining a sidewalk cart of free religious literature were each fined 1,295 Turkish lira ($44) for “acting contrary to order.” On September 1 and 12, a local court annulledthe fines. On July 12, in Mersin, four Jehovah’s Witnesses with a literature cart were charged with “occupying the sidewalk” and each fined 617 Turkish lira ($21), while police confiscated their cart and publications. OnSeptember 6 and October 3, two local courts upheld three of the fines. The fourth verdict remained pending at the end of the year. The Diyanet continued to regulate the operation of and compose the mandatory Fridaysermon given in all registered mosques, and it paid the salaries of Sunni personnel. The government continued to provide land for the construction of Sunni mosques and to fund their construction throughmunicipalities. According to the Diyanet’s most recent published statistics, there were 89,302 Diyanet-operated mosques in the country at the end of 2022, compared with 89,817 at the end of 2021, the first decrease inthe number of mosques in at least a decade. In September, authorities charged an individual with “destroying public property” and “damaging places of worship” for entering a restricted zone in the Hagia SophiaMosque and breaking a door while trying to open it. The legal process against the individual continued through year’s end. Separately, the government undertook broader renovations of Hagia Sophia, which remainedopen while restoration was underway. The restoration to address structural cracks and materials fatigue began with the imperial tombs in the garden and was expected to continue with one of the minarets and the mainstructure in the coming years. In October, Minister of Culture Mehmet Nuri Ersoy said the entrance to Hagia Sophia would not be free of charge for foreign nationals after January 2024, but upper galleries would then bereopened for tourists to view historic Christian Orthodox mosaics. The government again granted the Greek Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarchate permission to hold annual services at the fourth century Sumela Monasteryin Trabzon. The government again did not permit the patriarchate to hold annual services at St. Nicholas Monastery in Cappadocia. The government continued to provide training for Sunni Muslim clerics whilerestricting other religious groups from training clergy inside the country. The Greek Orthodox and Armenian Orthodox Patriarchates remained unable to conduct formal theological training within the country, and theGreek Orthodox Halki Seminary remained closed. Multiple reports continued to state Protestant communities could not train clergy in the country and therefore relied on foreign volunteers to serve in leadershipcapacities. Local Protestant communities stated they aimed to develop indigenous Turkish leaders in their congregations because it was becoming increasingly difficult to rely on foreign volunteers. Several Protestantclerics, including evangelical Christian pastors, conducted services while in the country on long-term tourist residence permits. The government continued its longstanding policy of not formally acknowledging thestatus of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew as leader of the world’s approximately 300 million Orthodox Christians, although individual political leaders and government departments appeared to recognize itinformally. The government’s official position remained that the Ecumenical Patriarch was the religious leader only of the country’s Greek Orthodox minority. According to a leader of the ethnic Greek community, thisapproach adhered to the 2010 Venice Commission ruling that the government was not obliged to use the Patriarch’s full title, which includes “Ecumenical,” but that it also must not prohibit or hinder its use by others.The government continued to permit only Turkish citizens to vote in the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s Holy Synod or to be elected patriarch and continued its practice of granting citizenship to Greek Orthodoxmetropolitans under the terms of the government’s 2011 stopgap solution intended to widen the pool of candidates eligible to become the next patriarch. The government continued to maintain that leaders of the GreekOrthodox (Ecumenical Patriarchate), Armenian Apostolic Orthodox, and Jewish communities must be Turkish citizens. During the year, some Alevi representatives were generally dismissive of President Erdogan’s 2022initiative for the creation of an “Alevi-Bektashi Culture and Cemevi Presidency” within the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the ensuing decree formally establishing the new body. The decree allowed forsponsoring research and conferences on Alevi culture and providing material and administrative support to cemevis, including funding the salaries of cemevi leaders and covering operating costs such as utilities. SomeAlevis saw the initiative as an effort to satisfy ECHR verdicts and an attempt to assimilate Alevis into mainstream Sunni Muslim culture.Human rights instruments: Turkey is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP; Turkey voted in favour ofthe UDHR; Turkey is partied to the ECHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (not free; restricted); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free; restricted); pastoral services (not free; subject to registration); private expressionand observance (free); proselytism (not free; restricted); public expression and observance (not free; restricted); receiving donations (not free; restricted); religious buildings (not free; subject toregistration); religious instruction (not free; restricted); religious literature (not free; restricted); religious and worship services (not free; subject to registration); religious trade (not free; restricted).Protections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of religion and philosophical belief was affirmed in thelatest revised constitution from 2017.Conditions of state recognition and registration2024 RoRB Classification: TerminalTurkmenistanFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsComplete dismantlement of the present terminally restrictive apparatus that restricts all aspects of religious live in the society; reorganise the recognition system so it extends authenticrecognition to all belief systems and groups; revoke all the restriction tools identified in the above analysis.Secularity: Turkmenistan is officially a secular state; however, the Russian Orthodox Churchand Sunni Islam receives preferential treatment.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: broad mandatory registration – the law requires all religious organizations, including those already registered, to reregister with the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) whenever theorganization changes its address or amends its legal charter. The law permits the registration only of those religious organizations that have at least 50 resident members age 18 or older; asimilar requirement applies to nonreligious civil associations. The law defines a religious organization as a voluntary association of citizens affiliated with a religion, organized to conductreligious services and other rites and ceremonies and/or to provide religious education, that is registered in accordance with the country’s legislation. According to the Ministry of ForeignAffairs, there are 134 religious organizations in the country, composed of Muslim (105 Sunni and five Shia), 13 Russian Orthodox, 10 other Christian confessions and one Bahai. By law, the StateCommission on Religious Organizations and Expert Evaluation of Religious Information Resources (SCROEERIR) is responsible for helping religious organizations register with governmentagencies, explaining the law to representatives of religious organizations, monitoring the activities of religious organizations to ensure they comply with the law, assisting with the translationand publication of religious literature, and promoting understanding and tolerance among different religious organizations. The law states SCROEERIR must approve all individuals appointed asleaders of religious organizations, although the law does not specify the procedures for obtaining the required approval. The law also states leaders of registered religious organizations must beTurkmen citizens who have received an “appropriate religious education,” but it does not define that term. SCROERRIR operates under the leadership of the Grand Mufti, who is appointed by thegovernment, as are all other senior Muslim clerics, Sunni or Shia. The Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers for Education, Health, Religion, Sports, Tourism, Science, New Technologies,and Innovation oversees SCROEERIR’s work. The chair of SCROEERIR is also the chair of the Department for Work with Religious Organizations in the Cabinet of Ministers. Except for the nameof the chairman, the government did not make public the membership list of SCROERRIR or information on its deliberations. To register or reregister, organizations must submit to SCROEERIRtheir contact information; proof of address, a statement requesting registration signed by the founders and board members of the organization, two copies of the organization’s charter, and thenames, addresses, and dates of birth of the organization’s founders. They must pay a registration fee that starts at 300 manat ($86) and is based on the size of the organization and where it isregistered. Once SCROEERIR endorses an application for registration, it is submitted to the MOJ, which coordinates an interministerial approval process involving the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,Ministry of National Security, Ministry of Internal Affairs, and other government offices. According to government procedures, the MOJ may additionally request the biographic information ofall members of an organization applying for registration. Each congregation of a registered religious organization must also register, and the registration process is the same as that of theparent organization. The tax code stipulates registered religious organizations are exempt from taxes. The law states the MOJ will not register a religious organization if its goals or activitiescontradict the constitution or if SCROEERIR does not endorse its application. The law assigns the Office of the Prosecutor General to monitor the compliance of a religious organization with theconstitution. A court may suspend the activities of a religious organization if it determines the organization is in violation of the constitution. Such a suspension may only be overcome if theorganization submits documentation satisfying the court that the activities that led to suspension have ceased. The law also states that grounds for dissolution of a religious organization includeactivities “that violate the rights, freedoms, and lawful interests of citizens” or “harm their health and morale.” The administrative code covering religious organizations delineates a scheduleof fines for conducting activities not described in a religious organization’s charter. Unregistered religious organizations and their unregistered subsidiary congregations may not legallyconduct religious activities; establish places of worship; gather for religious services, including in private residences; produce or disseminate religious materials; or proselytize. Any such activityis punishable as an administrative offense by fines ranging from 100 to 2,000 manat ($29 to $570), with higher fines for religious leaders and lower fines for members. The law states MOJofficials have the right to attend any religious event held by a registered religious organization and to question religious leaders about any aspect of their activities. The criminal andadministrative codes dictate punishment for private individuals who harass members of registered religious organizations. According to the administrative code, obstructing the exercise ofreligious freedom is punishable by a fine ranging from 500 to 1,000 manat ($142 to $284) or a 15-day administrative detention. According to the criminal code, obstructing the legal activities ofreligious organizations or the performance of religious rites that do not violate public order and are not associated with infringement of the rights, freedoms, and or lawful interests of citizens ispunishable by a fine ranging from 500 to 1,000 manat,($142 to $284) compulsory labor of up to 480 hours, or corrective labor up to one year, which entails the state deducting five to 20 percentof the individual’s salary. If an obstruction involves a physical attack, the punishment may entail up to two years in prison. The law allows registered religious organizations to createeducational establishments to train clergy and other religious personnel after obtaining a license. The Cabinet of Ministers establishes the procedures for doing so. The law also states individualsteaching religious disciplines at religious educational establishments must have a theological education and must carry out their activities with the permission of the central governing body ofthe religious organization and the approval of SCROEERIR. Local government offices have the right to monitor the “religious situation” within their jurisdictions, send proposals to SCROEERIRto change or update legislation on religious freedom, and coordinate religious ceremonies conducted outside of religious buildings. The law allows local governments, with the approval ofSCROEERIR, to make decisions regarding the construction of religious buildings and structures within their jurisdictions. The law prohibits the publication of religious literature inciting“religious, national, ethnic, and/or racial hatred.” SCROEERIR must approve imported religious literature, and only registered religious organizations may import literature. Registered religiousorganizations may be fined for publishing or disseminating religious material without government approval. The administrative code sets out a detailed schedule of fines, ranging from 200 to2,000 manat ($57 to $570), for producing, importing, and disseminating unauthorized literature and other materials. The administrative code prohibits unregistered religious groups orunregistered subsidiary congregations of registered religious organizations from providing religious education. The administrative code sets out a detailed schedule of fines of up to 500 manat($142) for providing unauthorized religious education to children. The law does not address the activities of foreign missionaries and foreign religious organizations. The administrative code,however, bans registered religious organizations from receiving assistance from foreign entities for prohibited activities. The law requires religious groups to register all foreign assistance withthe MOJ and to provide interim and final reports on the use of funds. The administrative code provides a detailed schedule of fines of up to 1,000 manat ($284) for both unregistered andregistered religious groups for accepting unauthorized funds from foreign sources.186Key restriction tools imposed: all aspects of religious activity must be preapproved by the SCROEERIR before they take place including the appointment of religious leaders, amalgamation,arbitrary enforcement, broad grounds for the deregistration of a group and the suspension of its activities leave  groups unfavoured by the state vulnerable to having this grounds misusedagainst them, criminalisation of unregistration, dual registration between the SCROEERIR and the MOJ, registration fee system some categories of which exceed the $100 threshold set down inRoRB standards, excessive informational requirements will more than likely be misused by the state against groups is does not favour, lack of information is provided by the government overwhat criteria a religious group must fulfil to complete the necessary "endorsement" process as part of registration procedures, membership quota, nationality quota, permission to exist,preapproval, state definition of religion, state supervision, triennial reregistration. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL)’s Turkmenistan Service reported that police in the Balkan provinceraided the homes of Muslims in mid-August 2023. According to the article, the police seized religious literature, including books on sharia and Russian translations of the Koran, and left onlytwo Turkmen-language Koran copies. According to RFE/RL reporting, this was part of a larger continued campaign that included interrogating people who are considered “too pious.” RFE/RLfurther reported that officials from the Ministry of National Security reportedly detained a mullah for giving religious lessons to about 50 school-age children. The RFE/RL article noted that,according to a local resident, the lessons followed Turkmen traditions for Islam. The article further reported that Ministry of National Security officials questioned an elderly imam for givingIslamic lessons to approximately 50 children without government approval. The Helsinki Foundation reported authorities continued to persecute Muslims believers for spreading the teachingsof Islam, citing an example of a person detained for 15 days after authorities found CDs with religious recordings in the individual’s car. The report said authorities prohibited any group study ofthe Koran outside of mosques or places not controlled by the authorities. It also reported the head of the BL-K/4 “Akdash” colony prohibited prisoners from receiving outside copies of theKoran. In their 2023 Religious Freedom Report, Jehovah’s Witnesses reported 14 cases of police and officers from the Ministry of National Security detaining Witnesses over the year,summoning them to law enforcement agencies, at times while they were sharing their religious beliefs or in their place of work, questioning them for a few hours, and then releasing them. Thereport stated that the Ministry of National Security “continued to carry out preventative work among Jehovah’s Witnesses throughout the country.” According to the report, “In almost all cases,the authorities ask the Witnesses to state their beliefs in writing, indicate that they have had an explanatory conversation, and undertake that they will no longer engage in ‘illegal activities.’ Insome cases, the authorities have checked mobile phones and gained access to contact lists.” The report noted that interrogations were “held in a respectful manner, although in some cases theofficers have been aggressive.” A local representative mentioned that in October, Ministry of National Security officers detained a Jehovah’s Witness, questioned him for hours, and laterreleased him, but did not return his passport. Some religious leaders reported satisfactory relations with government officials and fewer barriers to re-registration. One religious leader said abranch of a religious group in the region had not received registration approval despite several attempts over years. Some religious leaders reported that they were able to hold normal religiousactivities, including services and events, and that they routinely invited government officials to their activities. Other religious leaders stated that they struggled to find adequate spaces to holdtheir services, at times due to reported government pressure on the owners of establishments to not make their establishments available for religious activities. Representatives of Jehovah’sWitnesses said that their adherents could only practice their religion by meeting in their private homes, which remained illegal, due to their lack of registration. The MFA reported the Ministryof Justice did not register any new religious organizations in 2023, as no requests for registration were submitted. Religious organizations noted that the registration process legally remainedthe same, and some mentioned they were able to successfully re-register. During 2022-2023, 18 organizations re-registered, 16 of them due to a change in their legal addresses and the othertwo for amendments to the organization’s charter. One religious leader stated, however, that their organization was still waiting for approval of a registration application that was submitted toauthorities three years earlier. The NGO Forum 18 reported that in August, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) expressed concern about “excessiveadministrative barriers to registering religious organizations (in the country) as well as the prohibition on practicing religion in cases where an organization is unregistered.” CERD called on thecountry to “eliminate all barriers to registering religious organizations and practicing religion in cases where an organization is unregistered.” Most religious organizations’ leaders said theylargely avoided importing printed religious literature due to restrictions and cumbersome importation processes. Some organizations’ leaders said their followers accessed religious literatureonline and that some used smart cell phone applications to access religious literature. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported there were no imports of printed religious literature during theyear. Members of various religious groups reported difficulty in purchasing or renting land and buildings for worship or meeting purposes, although they said they were unsure if this wasgovernment-driven or landlord-driven. Some reported that landlords said they feared government reprisal if they leased properties to be used as places of worship, and some landlords wereallegedly pressured to refrained from offering their properties for religious activities. Some groups reported they had secured properties, only to have landlords renege on the contracts. Arepresentative of a Sunni mosque said plans approved in 2022 by President Serdar Berdimuhamedov for the construction of new Sunni mosques in every province were still in place andadvancing. The government continued to require its approval of all senior Muslim clerics. The government was not involved in appointing the leadership of the Russian Orthodox Church or otherfinancially independent religious groups but required the senior Russian Orthodox priest to be a citizen. The Helsinki Foundation reported that citizens wishing to make a pilgrimage abroadwere required to apply for permission from imams. A source told the Turkmenistan Helsinki Foundation that, “For several years now, the stated price for performing the Hajj to Mecca has beenabout 20 thousand manats ($5,680). But at this price, only relatives and acquaintances of the imams perform the hajj. For everyone else, the price is from 80 to 200 thousand manat ($22,720 to57,300). But even with this amount, not every provincial will be able to leave, since most of the quotas are allocated to believers from my Akhal province.” According to the Helsinki Foundation,after government authorities twice denied her permission, without explanation, to perform the umrah pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, Yakutjan Babajanova was permitted to travel in August. Thefoundation said the government granted permission after Babajanova’s relatives appealed to the State Migration Service and international organizations. On January 15, the news outletTurkmen Portal reported that Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, Chairman of the People’s Council, national leader, and former president of the country, inspected the construction of the newlyestablished Arkadag City in the Ahal province. During the inspection, Berdimuhamedov noted the appropriateness of building a madrassah near the central mosque. According to the article, themosque is expected to be able to accommodate 5,500 believers.Human rights instruments: Turkmenistan is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, and the UNCRC;Turkmenistan was absent during voting on the UNDRIP; Turkmenistan did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (not free; restricted); hieroncy (not free; preapproval required for all religious materials and items); monasticism (not free; restricted); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free;restricted); pastoral services (not free; subject to registration); private expression and observance (not free; although private worship is protected in law it is restricted in practice); proselytism(not free; restricted); public expression and observance (not free; restricted); receiving donations (not free; restricted); religious buildings (not free; subject to registration; restricted);religious instruction (not free; restricted); religious literature (not free; restricted); religious and worship services (not free; subject to registration); religious trade (not free; restricted).Protections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of religion was affirmedin the latest revised constitution from 2016.Conditions of state recognition and registration2024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveTuvaluFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsDismantlement of the present series of laws and policies restricting religious activity, especially the laws that giveprime authority to falekaupule to make decisions on religious activity and the internal affairs of religious organisations;if this cannot be achieved without the disestablishment of Calvinism, then this may need to take place; become party toand ratify the ICCPR; revoke the rule of mandatory registration and any retributions associated with unregistration; re-establish the recognition system so that its provisions are extended to all belief systems and their derivatives; tobecome classified as Dynamic, establish a recognition agency that is independent of the government to manage this re-established recognition system with the assurance that politicisation of the registration procedures does not take placeand that such procedures are no longer restrictive.Secularity: Congregational Christian Church of Tuvalu(EKT) is the state denomination; theism was affirmed in thelatest constitution from 1986; the same constitution statesthe country is “a Christian nation” and “a free anddemocratic sovereign state based on Christian principles,Tuvaluan values and culture, and the Rule of Law.”Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: conditional mandatory registration – by law, any new religious group with adult membersrepresenting not less than 2 percent of the country’s total population (according to the most recent census in 2017) mustregister with the government; failure to register may result in prosecution. The Ministry of Local Government requiresreligious groups seeking registration to submit a request signed by the head and supported by five other members of theorganization. Information on and proof of the number of adherents, the name of the religious organization, andapproval from the traditional elder councils, known as falekaupule, are also required in the request. Under the law, allreligious groups, regardless of size, must register with and obtain approval from the falekaupule of any island on whichthey conduct services. The law prohibits joint or public worship by religious groups not approved by these councils. Thelaw also allows the falekaupule to withhold permission to meet publicly from certain religious groups, should they bejudged locally to “directly threaten the values and culture of the island community.” The law provides for unapprovedgroups to be fined up to 500 Australian dollars ($340) if they engage in public meetings in violation of the law. The lawguarantees the right of individuals to worship freely within their own residences.187Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, arbitrary enforcement, grounds for the denial of registration areambiguous and could easily be misused against religious groups that are unfavoured by the state membership quota,possibility for the prosecution of groups registered that fit criteria for registration, possible inverted membershipquota, registered status is left up to the elder councils (falekaupule) to decide, signature quota. During the year,missionaries practiced without government restrictions on some islands, such as Funafuti. According to sources, onother islands, including Nanumanga, Nukufetau, and Vaitupu, formal and informal bans issued by the falekaupuleremained in effect on proselytizing and on public worship by Jehovah’s Witnesses, who were perceived to challengetraditional cultural norms. Government ceremonies at the national and island council levels, such as the opening of theparliamentary year, included Christian prayers and clergy. Chaplains representing the EKT and other Christiandenominations were available to prisoners for counselling. The government continued to impose a 15-minute pause onall public activities in Funafuti every evening so that EKT members could observe evening prayers, although prayer wasnot mandatory.Human rights instruments: Tuvalu is partied to the UNCRC; Tuvalu is neither partied tothe ICCPR nor the ICESCR; Tuvalu was absent during voting on the UNDRIP; Tuvalu didnot vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (not free; subject to registration); monasticism (not free; subject to registration); nuptial,initiatory and burial rites (not free; subject to registration); pastoral services (not free; subject to registration); privateexpression and observance (free); proselytism (not free; subject to registration); public expression and observance(free); receiving donations (not free; subject to registration); religious buildings (not free; subject to registration);religious instruction (not free; subject to registration); religious literature (not free; subject to registration); religiousand worship services (not free; subject to registration); religious trade (not free; subject to registration).Protections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of “religiousbeliefs or lack of religious beliefs” was affirmed in the latest constitution from 1986.Conditions of state recognition and registrationFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.1882024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveUganda, Republic ofRecommendationsRevoke mandatory registration and resolve the various internal issues of the recognition system; establish a revitalised recognition systemthat provides both existential and legal registration to all belief systems and their derivatives; this should also resolve the issue of therebeing a lack of distinction between religious and secular entity registration.Secularity: Uganda is a secular state; theism was affirmedin the latest revised constitution from 2017.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: broad mandatory registration – the Nongovernmental Organizations (NGO) Act states religiousorganizations and groups are obligated to register with the Uganda Registration Services Bureau and secure a five-yearoperating license from the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The Bureau requires religious organizations to provide a writtencopy of a board resolution creating the religious organization; a copy of the organization’s Memorandum of Associationand Articles of Association spelling out the organization’s objectives and purposes; a record of the organization’sdirectorship and shareholdings; copies of the national identity cards of the directors, as well as a copy of a land title orproof of ownership of any property owned by the organization. Under the Income Tax Act of 2000, religious institutionsand their nonprofit activities are exempted from direct taxes but are liable for indirect taxes. The National Environment(Noise Standards and Control) Regulations of 2003 prescribe permissible levels of sound that may be produced by anyperson or body.Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, broad grounds on which religious groups may be deregistered or deniedregistration in the first instance are based on the use of the securitisation of religion against groups the state does notfavour, excessive informational requirements, fixed-term registration on a five-year basis (temporary registration).The law prohibits secular broadcasters from stating opinions on religious doctrine or faith. The law also prohibits radioand television stations from broadcasting advertisements that “promote psychic practices or practices related to theoccult,” material that encourages persons to change their faith, and content that uses or contains blasphemy, which isnot defined by law. The government, however, seldom enforces these provisions. Observers stated the governmentoften enforced registration requirements of the NGO Act on new religious groups. It, however, did not strictly enforcethe act’s requirements on larger and more traditionally established religious groups such as Catholic, Anglican,Orthodox, and Seventh-day Adventist groups, and the UMSC. In June, the government requested and arranged thedeportation from Ethiopia of 80 Ugandan members of a religious group, the Christ Disciples Church, who had travelledto Ethiopia early in the year, in anticipation of the predicted end of the world and in the belief, espoused by their pastor,that they would find salvation through starvation. An additional group of 90 Church members were repatriated fromKenya while enroute to Ethiopia. The Ugandan government described the group as a “cult” and launched a manhunt forthe group’s leader, Pastor Simon Opolot, who was reportedly still in hiding at year’s end. The government enforcedregulations on noise pollution in ways that appeared to discriminate against evangelical religious bodies, according toevangelical leaders. In February, the government issued a warning that bars, clubs, religious places of worship, andother places that hosted public gatherings risked closure if they emitted noise beyond the levels permissible under thelaw. Evangelical religious leaders under the umbrella group Born Again Faith Uganda (BAFU) stated since then,authorities enforced the regulation irregularly, with evangelical churches and street preachers particularly targeted forclosure, while bars and other nonreligious operators were allowed to produce noise levels well above the permissiblelimit. In August, the Resident District Commissioner in Lyantonde District in southwestern Uganda, issued “guidelines”restricting evangelical church activities in the district. Under the guidelines, evangelical churches, as well as all otherchurches, were barred from holding any prayers after 9:00 p.m. “in order to respect other people’s right to sleep.” Inpractice, only evangelical churches had services that continued after 9:00 p.m. The guidelines also required allevangelical churches procure letters of recommendation from BAFU before engaging in any activities. In September,BAFU stated the guidelines were discriminatory and an infringement on evangelical churches’ freedom of worship.Human rights instruments: Uganda is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, and the UNCRC;Uganda was absent during voting on the UNDRIP; Uganda did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free); private expressionand observance (free); proselytism (not free; broadcasters are restricted from publishing materials that proselytise); public expression andobservance (free); receiving donations (free); religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religious literature (free); religiousand worship services (free); religious trade (free).Protections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of religion wasaffirmed in the latest revised constitution from 2017.Conditions of state recognition and registration2024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveUkraineFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsDissolve membership quotas and the segmented structure of the recognition system; establish more definitive procedures for existential recognition; reduce the convolution within the presentprocedures for registration as minor issues within the present system; procedures for registration and recognition should be inclusive of all belief systems; also to be classified dynamic, arecognition agency would need to be established that is independent of government control.Secularity: Ukraine is officially a secular state; however, theOrthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) receives preferentialtreatment and is recognised as the national church; theism wasaffirmed in the latest revised constitution from 2016.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory and malregistration.Registration policy: pseudo-mandatory registration – although Ukrainian law does not formally mandate that religious or belief organisations register with the government, the legal ability toestablish periodicals or companies for manufacturing religious items or publishing arms of the religious group is reserved for registered groups. Religious organizations include religiouscongregations, administrations and centers, theological schools, monasteries, religious brotherhoods, missions, and associations consisting of those religious organizations. Religiousassociations are represented by their centers (administrations). To register and obtain legal-entity status, an organization must register either with the Office of the President, State Service forEthnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience (DESS) or with regional government authorities, depending upon the nature of the organization. Religious centers, administrations, monasteries,brotherhoods, missions, and schools register with the DESS. Congregations register with oblast as well as Kyiv and Sevastopol City authorities in their locations. While these congregations mayform the constituent units of a nationwide religious organization, the nationwide organization does not register on a national basis and may not obtain recognition as a legal entity. Theconstituent units instead register individually and obtain legal-entity status. The law directs regional governments’ religious affairs departments to handle dual registration. The law alsospecifies reregistration requirements for organizations that wish to change their affiliation, particularly Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) (UOC) parishes seeking to join theOCU. The law requires a quorum, as defined by each congregation and usually comprising two-thirds or three-fourths of a religious organization’s members, to decide on a change of affiliation.The law also requires a vote by two-thirds of those present to authorize such a decision. The law bans any transfer of an organization’s property until the affiliation change is finalized. To beeligible for registration, a religious congregation must have at least 10 adult members and submit to the registration authorities its statute (charter), certified copies of the resolution thatcreated it and was adopted by founding members, and a document confirming its right to own or use premises. Registered religious organizations, which include individual religiouscongregations, administrative offices, theological schools, monasteries, religious brotherhoods and sisterhoods, missions, and religious associations, must register with tax authorities toacquire nonprofit status, which many do for banking purposes. Without legal-entity status, a religious organization may not own property, conduct banking activities, be eligible for utility billdiscounts, join civic or advisory boards of government agencies, or establish periodicals, nongovernmental pension funds, officially accredited schools, publishing, agricultural and othercompanies, or companies manufacturing religious items. Religious organizations without legal-entity status may meet and worship and may also publish and distribute religious materials. Inaccordance with the stipulation against national registration, however, only a registered constituent unit of a nationwide religious association may own property or conduct business activities,either for itself or on behalf of the nationwide association. The law grants property tax exemptions to religious organizations and considers them nonprofit organizations. The law requirescommanders of military units to allow their subordinates to participate in religious services but bans the creation of religious organizations in military institutions and military units. The lawprohibits UOC priests from serving as chaplains on bases or in conflict zones. A law on military chaplaincy defines selection criteria for clergy to become chaplains, their status in the chain ofcommand, and their rights and duties in the Armed Forces, National Guard, State Border Guard Service, and other military formations. The legislation institutionalizes military chaplaincyaccording to NATO principles, gives chaplains the status of full-fledged service members, and provides for the same type of financial and social security support for them as for other servicemembers. The law protects the confidentiality of confession to a military chaplain and provides for the creation of interfaith councils on military chaplaincy as advisory bodies at the Ministry ofDefense and Ministry of Internal Affairs. According to the constitution, organizers must notify local authorities in advance of any type of planned public gathering, and authorities may challengethe legality of the event. According to a 2016 Constitutional Court decision, religious organizations need only inform local authorities of their intention to hold a public gathering and need notapply for permission or notify authorities within a specific period in advance of the event. Government regulations on identity documents, including passports, allow religious head coverings inphotographs. The law allows religious organizations to establish theological schools to train clergy and other religious workers as well as to seek state accreditation through the National Agencyfor Higher Education Quality Assurance for their curriculum. The law states theological schools shall function based on their own statutes. Government agencies authorized to monitor religiousorganizations include the Prosecutor General, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and all other “central bodies of the executive government.” Only registered religious organizations may seekrestitution of communal property confiscated by the former Communist regime. The law allows alternative nonmilitary service for conscientious objectors. It also allows government officials todeny a conscript’s application for alternative service due to missing the application deadline. The law does not exempt the clergy from military mobilization. It does not grant exemption frommilitary reserve service during the “special period” (i.e., while hostilities with Russia’s forces continue), even for conscientious objectors. A 1999 Cabinet of Ministers resolution lists 10 religiousgroups whose system of beliefs “does not permit the use of weapons.” The document stipulates only the men affiliated with those 10 groups are eligible for the alternative service: ReformistAdventists; Seventh-day Adventists; Evangelical Christians; Evangelical Christians-Baptists; the Slavic Church of the Holy Ghost (“The Penitents”); Jehovah’s Witnesses; Charismatic ChristianChurches and associated churches under their registered statutes; Union of Christians of the Evangelical Faith – Pentecostals and associated churches under their registered statutes; Christiansof Evangelical Faith; and the Society for Krishna Consciousness. The law restricts the activities of foreign-based religious groups and defines the permissible activities of noncitizen clergy,preachers, teachers, and other representatives of foreign-based religious groups. By law, foreign religious workers may “preach, administer religious ordinances, or practice other canonicalactivities,” but they may do so only for the registered religious organization that invited them and with the approval of the government body that registered the statute of the organization.Missionary activity is included under permissible activities. The law on freedom of conscience and religious organizations requires religious organizations with a “governing center” in a countrydesignated by law as a state that “committed military aggression against Ukraine and temporarily occupied Ukraine’s territory” to use the full title of the foreign religious organization withinits name.189Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, localisation of registration procedures, membership quota, secondary procedure for non-profit status, some benefits of registration are "basicreligious activities" and should not be dependent on registration such as establishing a publishing company or a company for the manufacture of religious items. A 2022 National Security andDefense Council (NSDC) resolution ordered the drafting of legislation “making it impossible” for religious organizations affiliated with centers of influence in the Russian Federation to operatein Ukraine. The resolution also required that the bill meet Ukraine’s international religious freedom obligations. The legislation remained pending at year’s end. Some UOC leaders, however,termed the draft law a “ban” on the UOC, which stated it had severed ties with the Moscow Patriarchate in 2022, with some international media reporting on these statements. In response to thebill passing its first reading, UOC spokesman Metropolitan Klyment described the bill as “a truly scandalous draft law containing many provocative provisions that contradict the constitution. Itdoes not apply to the UOC. It applies overall to the religious organizations affiliated with Russia. According to all our statutes our church is not one of them.” In an October 23 statement, the UOC,a founding member of the AUCCRO, described as “discriminatory” and “unacceptable” the government’s decision “for the first time in Ukraine’s history” not to invite a full-fledged member tothe Prime Minister’s meeting with the AUCCRO. The Cabinet of Ministers reportedly did not explain the reason for rejecting UOC participation in the October 19 event. In January, MajorArchbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk of Kyiv-Halych, head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, warned the government against outlawing Orthodox communities linked to Moscow. On December 19,UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk expressed his concern that the restrictions proposed in the draft law would infringe on freedom of religion and international human rightslaw. Some experts on religion stated that the government already had sufficient legal basis under existing laws to address religion-related security issues and there was no need to passadditional legislation. The UOC continued to report instances of “unlawful” reregistration of parishes from the UOC to OCU by some local governments. The OCU denied these allegations.Referring to the legal requirement that religious organizations with a “governing center” in a country designated by law as a state that “committed military aggression against Ukraine andtemporarily occupied Ukraine’s territory” the UOC stated it did not apply to its entities because of the church’s declared independence from the ROC. On November 2, the Sixth AppellateAdministrative Court upheld the Kyiv District Administrative Court’s May 15 ruling rejecting a 2019 appeal by the UOC-affiliated Kyiv Metropolitanate and the Pochayiv Lavra Monasterycontesting the applicability of a 2018 law to the case. The court found the UOC failed to prove its nonaffiliation with the ROC. The ruling also applied to 267 UOC religious organizations that werethird parties to the suit. On November 12, the UOC legal department stated that “neither court decisions nor laws of Ukraine” required the UOC to rename itself and expressed its intention toappeal the ruling. Jehovah’s Witnesses reported they continued in-person missionary activity. During the year, they documented 14 incidents in which government officials either prohibited orinterfered with their evangelizing activity. They stated they did not file any criminal complaints with police, and most incidents involving officials were settled “amicably, through personalvisits.” On January 26, the administrative commission of Lviv’s Lychakivskyi District acknowledged municipal officers Vasyl Tymchyshyn and Marian Vovk improperly accused Jehovah’sWitnesses Rolan Stankevych and Marat Kupaiev of the administrative offense of setting up a mobile display of missionary materials at a public place in Lviv. The commission did not penalize theofficers. On March 10, the state-run National Kyiv Pechersk Lavra museum served an eviction notice on the UOC monastic congregation requiring them to vacate the Pechersk Lavra Monasteryby March 29. According to the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy, the eviction notice was for noncompliance with heritage preservation regulations, such as making extensive illegalrenovations. The eviction also applied to the UOC administration offices, theological academy, and seminary based on the Lavra compound. Prior to 2022, the UOC was the only church with amonastic congregation at the Pechersk Lavra Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage site. In 2022, however, the government registered an OCU-affiliated monastic congregation at themonastery.Human rights instruments: Ukraine is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, and the UNCRC; Ukraineabstained from voting on the UNDRIP but has since endorsed it; Ukraine did not vote on the UDHR;Ukraine is partied to the ECHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (not free;subject to registration); public expression and observance (free); receiving donations (free); religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religious literature (not free; subject toregistration); religious and worship services (free); religious trade (not free; subject to registration).Protections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basisof religion was affirmed in the latest revised constitution from 2016.Conditions of state recognition and registration2024 RoRB Classification: CensoriousUnited ArabEmiratesFoRB Claim: Partial claim is made that excludes the right to proselytise andprovides for FoRB only “in accordance with established customs.”RecommendationsEstablish a reorganised recognition system that has jurisdiction nationwide in order to resolve issues of segmentation; also, this recognition system would be able to extend existential recognition and legal registration to all belief systemsand their derivatives without discrimination; revoke present laws on blasphemy, conversion and proselytism that restrict expression and declarations of belief; dismantlement of the present apparatus that terminally restricts the ability ofnon-Islamic and especially non-Abrahamic groups from practicing.Secularity: Islam is the state religion and sharia is the principal source of legislation; the law focuses solelyon the three “Heavenly Religions” which is limited to Islam, Christianity, and Judaism; theism wasaffirmed in the latest revised constitution from 2009.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: broad mandatory registration – non-Islamic religious or belief organisations are required to gain a license from the relevant government authority to operate legally in the UAE. Federal Law 9 of 2023 on RegulatingHouses of Worship for Non-Muslims, also known as the Houses of Worship Law, went into force on November 30. Some of the law’s provisions defer entirely to supplemental legislation, or “executive regulations,” that the governmentis mandated to issue no later than May 30, 2024. The law presents baseline provisions on the licensing, financing, operations, activities, and oversight of non-Islamic houses of worship across the seven emirates, all under thesupervision of the Ministry of Community Development. The law preserves each emirate’s prerogative to license and oversee houses of worship in its territory and to prescribe additional registration and operational parameters. AbuDhabi regulators did not communicate any procedural or legal changes to registered religious groups, who reported renewing their licenses as recently as November. Pending the Houses of Worship Law’s implementation, non-Muslimreligious organizations and their places of worship remain under the purview of emirate-level regulators or rulers. In Abu Dhabi, religious organizations are required to obtain a license from the Department of Community Development(DCD), and in Dubai, from the Community Development Authority (CDA), but these regulators have not published their licensing procedures and requirements. Religious organizations in the remaining five emirates function based onofficial letters of recognition issued by their respective emirate’s ruler. These licenses and letters are required to open bank accounts, license clergy, establish houses of worship, or rent spaces for special services and events. The penalcode stipulates an unspecified jail term and fines from 200,000 dirhams ($54,500) for establishing or running an unlicensed house of worship or religious instruction. The Houses of Worship Law mandates the creation of a governmentcommittee to document the practices, rites, and rituals of the country’s non-Muslim religious groups. The law limits licenses to those religious groups recognized by the committee and conditions the license on the house of worshipnot undermining public order. A house of worship seeking a license must have 20 founding members, all of whom are adherents of the religion, over 40 years of age (unless waived by local regulators), resident in the country for thepreceding five years but are not diplomats, and are of good reputation and social standing, with no record of being sentenced to prison. They must each present a recommendation letter from their respective religious group’s topleadership, whether foreign or domestic, as well as proof of sufficient finances to establish and operate the house of worship. The Houses of Worship Law limits the validity of first-time licenses to two years but authorizes regulators towaive this limit when renewing licenses indefinitely. Houses of worship holding licenses at the time of the law’s enactment are required to amend their status to align with its provisions and must do so no more than six months afterthe issuance of the law’s executive regulations, which the government is required to issue no later than May 2024. Local regulators may extend this deadline in six-month increments up to a maximum of two years. The Houses ofWorship Law forbids religious activities outside licensed premises. It requires official approval for in-country conferences and gatherings and prohibits houses of worship from organizing meetings abroad. Failure to adhere to theseprovisions triggers a mandatory closure and dissolution of a house of worship, and a potential fine ranging from 5,000 to 1,000,000 dirhams ($1,400 to 272,000). Individuals face a 100,000 to 3,000,000 dirhams ($27,200 to $817,000)fine under this law, as well as potential prison time, additional fines, and deportation under other laws. The Houses of Worship Law requires houses of worship to have bank accounts in the country. It permits houses of worship toaccept membership fees, gifts, grants, and bequests from within the country, but only after obtaining official approval. It categorically prohibits all forms of financial or material assistance from outside the country. The law banssoliciting donations through any means, including social, print, audio, or video media, or other communications channels. The local regulator’s approval is also required for the transfer or provision of financial or material aid to partiesoutside the state. The law requires houses of worship to limit expenditures to the objectives stated in their licenses and to submit annual budget and financial reports to regulators. It grants regulators unconditional access to a house ofworship’s premises and to its records and ledgers. Under the Houses of Worship Law, failure to adhere to these rules carries penalties ranging from warnings, temporary license suspensions, and managerial takeover, to completedissolution and closure, depending on the violation. Local regulators in Abu Dhabi and Dubai also require religious communities to obtain permits for certain activities, including holding public events, collecting donations, andworshipping in temporarily rented spaces such as hotels. Federal law prohibits churches from erecting bell towers or displaying crosses or other religious symbols on the outside of their premises, although they may place signs on theirproperties indicating they are churches. The Houses of Worship Law stipulates that the names of non-Islamic houses of worship may not contain references to a national symbol or figure, or to the UAE, its emirates, regions, orlandmarks. No such limitation is placed on mosque names. Land ownership by noncitizens is restricted to designated freehold areas. This restriction is an impediment to most minority religious communities, which consist ofnoncitizens, that wish to purchase property to build houses of worship. Non-Islamic houses of worship are generally built on lands that the rulers of the emirates provided to these communities. The law allows mosques to collectdonations after securing official approval. However, the Houses of Worship Law explicitly prohibits non-Muslim groups from collecting donations, either directly or through third parties, or soliciting donations through electronic andmedia platforms. It does not allow for licensed fundraising, and it mandates the dissolution and closure of houses of worship in violation. It does, however, allow them to charge membership fees and accept gifts, grants, and bequests,but only from within the UAE and with official approval. Fundraising and cybercrime laws punish the unlicensed collection and solicitation of donations, whether in-person or online, with unspecified prison sentences, potentialdeportation, and fines ranging from 150,000 to 500,000 dirhams ($40,900 to $136,000). Under the law, emirate and federal authorities concerned with mosque affairs are responsible for naming mosques, managing mosques andprayer spaces, including Shia religious centers, setting prayer times, organizing religious lectures, and preparing sermons. The law also stipulates that mosques and all Islamic prayer spaces must obtain licenses before hosting lecturesor sermons, Quran memorization circles, and fundraising activities, and distributing written and visual material. The law further stipulates that citizen applicants must be given first consideration for vacant positions at mosques. Thelaw prohibits those working in mosques from belonging to any illegal group or from participating in any political activities. The Fatwa Council, headed by the president of the Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies, is taskedwith presenting a clear image of Islam, including issuing general fatwas and licensing individuals to issue fatwas, train muftis, and conduct research, in coordination with the Awqaf, an independent federal legal authority that reportsdirectly to the cabinet. The Awqaf director general holds the title of deputy minister, and both the director general and the Awqaf board of directors are appointed by the cabinet. The Awqaf is responsible for managing domestic Islamicendowments, imam tutelage, education centers, publications, and general messaging. In Abu Dhabi, the Awqaf is entrusted with overseeing Islamic religious affairs including mosques, sermons, imam education and training, andpublications. Non-Islamic religious affairs fall under the mandate of the DCD, which regulates, licenses, and oversees non-Islamic houses of worship, religious leaders, religious events organized outside houses of worship, andfundraising activities across the emirate. The Abu Dhabi DCD uses a three-tier system of authorization for regulating non-Islamic houses of worship. Under the system, instituted in 2020, the DCD issues licenses to houses of worship,permits to denominations seeking authorization to operate under the licensed house of worship, and visas to the religious leaders of these denominations. The Dubai CDA is the official body mandated to oversee all civil institutions andnonprofits in the emirate, including non-Muslim religious groups. The CDA issues operating licenses, permits for events, and monitors fundraising activities. The law states that civil institutions may only collect donations or launchfundraising campaigns after obtaining the CDA’s written approval. Fines for noncompliance range from 500 dirhams to 100,000 dirhams ($136 to $27,200). Repeated violations may result in the doubling of fines, not to exceed 200,000dirhams ($54,500). Authorized religious organizations and charities are eligible to receive tax-exempt status.190Key restriction tools imposed: blasphemy laws, criminalisation of proselytising to Muslims, non-recognition for any religion other than Islam, permits are required by the government to conduct certain "basic religious activities" such as holdingpublic events or worshipping in rented spaces, provincialisation of registration procedures, restrictions on hieroncy (importation of religious items), the government does not provide sufficient information about registration procedures (crypto-registration). The law provides for imprisonment of up to five years for preaching against Islam or proselytizing to Muslims, and up to 10 years for establishing an organization for the purpose of proselytizing. If the organization serves to denigratereligions and spread hate speech, its formation then carries a minimum of 10 years in prison, while membership carries a maximum sentence of seven years per an article of Federal Law 34. The law prohibits black magic, sorcery, and incantations,which are punishable by an unspecified prison term, a fine of no less than 50,000 dirhams ($14,000), and deportation in the case of noncitizens. Individuals seeking the aid of sorcerers also face prison sentences and/or fines. The Houses of WorshipLaw prohibits proselytization and the denigration of any religion, denomination, or faith recognized by the government. It forbids inciting religious, racial, and ethnic tensions, engaging in political discourse and action, and any undertakingviewed by the state as undermining public order. A similar ban applies to rites and rituals that inflict bodily harm or are deemed dangerous to the health, safety, or security of any of the attendees. Police and courts continued to enforce lawsprohibiting sorcery. In addition, customs authorities occasionally denied or delayed entry to passengers carrying items deemed intended for sorcery, black magic, or witchcraft. There were multiple reports in local media of arrests of individualspracticing black magic and witchcraft. In July, local media reported that Abu Dhabi court ordered the imprisonment of seven people for six months and fined them 50,000 dirhams ($13,600) for practicing sorcery and deceiving others.Representatives of non-Islamic faiths stated that registration, licensing procedures, and requirements for minority religious groups remained unclear in all the emirates. The federal government required non-Muslim religious groups to register,but according to some observers, the lack of a clear legal designation continued to result in many groups having ambiguous legal status and created difficulties for them to carry out certain administrative functions, including banking and signingleases. Religious groups said the bureaucracy was slow to conduct security checks and issue necessary visas. The governments of individual emirates continued to require religious groups to obtain approval to establish formal places of worship,such as temples, mosques, or churches; to hold religious services in rented spaces, such as hotels or convention centers; or to conduct financial transactions. The Awqaf continued to vet and appoint men as Sunni imams (except in Dubai, wherevetting is conducted by the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department (IACAD), based on their educational background and knowledge of Islam, along with security checks. According to the Awqaf and IACAD, the government continued tofund Sunni mosques, except for those considered private, and retained all Sunni imams as government employees. According to local observers, Abu Dhabi Police directed private security personnel at several camps for laborers to surveil gatheringsof laborers and report if they discussed security, social, and religion-related concerns. IACAD controlled the appointment of Sunni clergy and their conduct during worship in Dubai mosques. All imams in Dubai’s more than 2,200 Sunni mosqueswere government employees and included both citizens and noncitizens. Dubai’s IACAD maintained more stringent qualification requirements for expatriate imams than for local imams, such as requiring them to demonstrate memorization oflarger parts of the Quran. Expatriate imams’ starting salaries were much lower than those of local imams, a practice permitted under federal law. Expatriate imams also could not obtain other employment without permission from the authorities.Local communities stated these additional requirements did not hinder their ability to find qualified imams. The Ja’afari Endowments Charitable Councils (JECCs), located in Dubai and Sharjah and appointed by the rulers of their respectiveemirates, managed Shia affairs for their respective emirates, including overseeing mosques and community activities, managing financial affairs, and hiring imams. In other emirates, Shia affairs were overseen by the courts of the respectiverulers. The councils complied with weekly guidance from IACAD, and the JECC in Dubai at times issued additional instructions on sermons to Shia mosques. Shia adherents worshiped in and maintained their own mosques. The governmentconsidered all Shia mosques to be private; however, they were technically eligible to receive some funds from the government upon request. Shia observers said they doubted the government would provide funding in practice, and therefore Shiamosques did not seek it. Ismaili Muslims continued to appoint their own community leaders. Abu Dhabi’s DCD required that all non-Muslim houses of worship obtain no objection certificates from the civil defense, municipality, and unspecifiedsecurity services before obtaining full licensure. Minority leaders noted increasing transparency by the DCD in the licensing process during the year. In 2022, the Dubai CDA granted an official license to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-daySaints (Church of Jesus Christ) to hold religious services at a temporary venue ahead of the planned construction of a temple on government-granted land. The church continued to maintain a chapel in Abu Dhabi. Unlike general two-year licensesassociated with a permanent venue, the temporary licenses maintained by the Church of Jesus Christ and “Gates of the East” must be renewed every three months and do not allow the organizations to secure religious worker visas. Religiousworkers maintained legal residence in Dubai through other employment. Community leaders stated the Abu Dhabi guidelines requiring non-Muslim religious leaders to be full-time clergy and sufficiently credentialed in order to obtain a clergy visacontinued to create difficulties for religious leaders, who served their congregations on a volunteer or part-time basis or who did not have a theology degree. Observers reported that Abu Dhabi authorities exempted some non-Muslim religiousgroups from this requirement on an ad hoc basis. Under the system, licensed Abu Dhabi-based houses of worship independently vet these religious leaders and formally recommend to the DCD whether it should issue them visas. Some religiouscommunity members stated the system discriminated against smaller and less recognized denominations and forced them either to end operations or to come under the umbrella of larger, licensed religious groups. They noted that regulatorsexpected these larger groups to manage or monitor the bank accounts of these smaller, guest congregations. Within prisons, authorities continued to require Muslims to attend weekly Islamic services, and non-Muslims reported some pressure toattend ostensibly nonmandatory lectures and classes about Islam. Some non-Muslim clergy stated incarcerated members of their communities did not have worship spaces. Non-Muslim clergy said that when authorities granted them prisonaccess, authorities permitted them to take Bibles to prisoners. In some emirates, non-Muslim clergy wishing to visit prisoners faced bureaucratic hurdles, such as opaque and arbitrary responses to visit requests, while others were not permitted tovisit prisoners at all. The government continued to permit Shia Muslims to observe Ashura at their houses of worship, but not in public. There were no public processions in Dubai or the northern emirates, where the majority of the country’s Shiapopulation resides. Shia houses of worship continued to stream live feeds of their prayers. The government required all conference organizers, including religious groups, to receive permission to hold conferences and events, including disclosingspeaker topics. Abu Dhabi authorities required churches to obtain approvals for visiting religious leaders wishing to engage with local congregations. Individuals belonging to non-Islamic faiths, including Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism,Buddhism, and Judaism, said they were able to worship and practice without government interference within designated compounds or buildings, or within private facilities or homes, provided they observed the prohibition on proselytizing. Whilethe government generally did not allow non-Muslims to worship, preach, or conduct prayers in public, there were reports of government-sanctioned exceptions. In February, Abu Dhabi inaugurated the government-sponsored Abrahamic FamilyHouse, with a mosque, a church, and the country’s first synagogue located on one site and representing the three Abrahamic faiths. There is a pillar in front of each house of worship with religious symbols that are illuminated at night: a crescentmoon, a cross, and a menorah. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Minister of Tolerance Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan attended the inauguration. The compound’s mosque is exclusively Sunni. Thechurch is officially under the purview of Abu Dhabi’s Catholic Church. The Abrahamic Family House stated on its website that it is dedicated to the pursuit of peaceful coexistence and building bridges through the exchange of knowledge, ongoingdialogue, and the practice of faith. It launched a full educational programming calendar, including organized workshops for persons from diverse faith backgrounds on issues such as the individual and collective promotion of peace, interfaithcollaboration as a driver for climate change policies, and art in the Abrahamic faiths. The government of Abu Dhabi, stating that it was doing so as a security measure, installed closed circuit television cameras in houses of worship and other spacesused for prayer, as it has also done for most other large public facilities. Some churches reported paying for the cameras, and others reported not having access to camera feeds, saying they were monitored by security agencies. The country’s twoprimary internet service providers, both majority-owned by the government, continued to block certain websites critical of Islam or supportive of religious views the government considered extremist, including some Islamist sites. The serviceproviders continued to block other sites on religion-related topics, including ones with information on Christianity, atheism, and testimonies of former Muslims who converted to Christianity. Some religious groups, particularly Christians andHindus, advertised religious functions in the press or online, including holiday celebrations, memorial services, religious conventions, and choral concerts, without government objection. The government also allowed businesses to advertise, sellmerchandise, and host events for non-Islamic religious holidays such as Christmas, Easter, and Diwali. Those events required official approval if they were to include a religious service or host unlicensed religious speakers. The governmentallowed local media to report on non-Islamic religious holiday celebrations, including service times and related community safety reminders. The Awqaf continued to oversee the administration of Sunni mosques, except in Dubai, where they wereadministered by IACAD. On its website, the Awqaf stated its goals included offering “religious guidance in the UAE to instill the principle of moderation in Islam.” IACAD stated its goals included creating a harmonious society, aware of Islam andcharity, through influential and socially effective institutions. The Awqaf and IACAD continued to distribute weekly guidance to Sunni imams regarding subject matter, themes, and content of Friday sermons; published a Friday sermon script everyweek; and posted the guidance on its website in different languages. The Awqaf regularly held training workshops to instruct imams on sermon delivery and how to communicate the values of moderation and tolerance. Authorities did not allow theimportation or publication of some books they viewed as critical of the government, Islam, and local culture, as well as books that supported the Muslim Brotherhood or its ideology. The Awqaf continued to prohibit the publication and distributionof religious literature deemed extremist, pro-political Islam, or inconsistent with moderate interpretations of Islam. It also continued to place restrictions on non-Islamic religious publications that could be considered proselytizing or promoting areligion other than Islam. Awqaf employees inspected mosques to ensure prohibited publications were not present. Some bookstores carried pro-atheism, anti-organized religion titles by well-known authors in English and Arabic. These storesalso sold books on non-Islamic and non-Abrahamic religions and faiths. Customs authorities continued to review the content of imported religious materials and occasionally confiscated some of them. Members of unregistered religiousorganizations stated that their organizations continued to face challenges in renting spaces at hotels. In Abu Dhabi, the DCD continued to require religious functions at hotels be preapproved and overseen by registered clergy. The governmentpermitted groups that chose not to register to carry out religious functions in private homes if these activities did not disturb neighbors through excessive noise or vehicle congestion. Although the government permitted non-Muslim groups toraise money from their congregations using collection boxes and baskets, some unlicensed noncitizen religious groups were unable to open bank accounts because of the lack of a clear legal category to assign the organization. Several religiousminority leaders reported the ambiguity created practical barriers to renting space, paying salaries, collecting funds, and purchasing insurance, making it difficult to maintain financial controls and accountability.Human rights instruments: United Arab Emirates (UAE) is partied to the UNCRC and the UNDRIP; UAE is neitherpartied to the ICCPR nor the ICESCR; UAE did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (not free; restricted for converts from Islam); hieroncy (not free; preapproval; restricted); monasticism (not free; restricted); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free; restricted); pastoral services (not free; restricted);private expression and observance (free); proselytism (not free; illegal to proselytise Muslims; preaching restricted); public expression and observance (not free; restricted); receiving donations (not free; restricted); religious buildings(not free; restricted); religious instruction (not free; restricted); religious literature (not free; subject to registration); religious and worship services (not free; restricted); religious trade (not free; restricted).Protections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of “faith” was affirmed in the latest revisedconstitution from 2009.Conditions of state recognition and registrationUnited Kingdom ofGreat Britain andNorthern IrelandRecommendationsEstablish a formal recognition system to set out provisions for both existential recognition for belief systems, denominations, communities based on a shared belief identity and legalregistration for parishes to add to the existent provisions for individual religious buildings; restructure the restrictive laws on nuptial rites, namely making registration of places of worship aprerequisite for a marriage to be legal; to become Dynamic, establish a recognition agency that is independent of government control but nonetheless reports to government and possessesthe same authority as government in its area of speciality, namely the management of the religious recognition system.1912024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.Secularity: United Kingdom is a secular state; however, the Church of England is the state denomination of thecountry of England and is recognised as the national church; the monarch must be a member of and promise touphold the Church of England; Scotland is a secular country but the Church of Scotland remains recognised asthe national church; Wales is a secular country with the Church in Wales having been disestablished in 1920;Northern Ireland is a secular country; theism is affirmed in the oath of allegiance.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: stipulatory registration – by law, the General Register Office for England and Wales governs the registration and legal recognition of places of worship in England andWales. A representative of the congregation, for example, a proprietor, trustee, or religious head, must complete and submit an application form and pay a fee of £29 ($37) to a localregistrar. The General Registrar Office typically provides registration certificates to the local superintendent registrar within 20 working days. The law also states buildings, rooms, or otherpremises may be registered as meeting places for religious worship upon payment of a fee. The General Register Office for England and Wales keeps a record of the registration, and theplace of worship is assigned a “worship number.” Registration is not compulsory, but it provides certain financial advantages and is also required before a place of worship may beregistered as a venue for marriages. Registered places of worship are exempt from paying taxes and benefit from participating in the country’s Gift Aid program. Religious groups may, butare not required to, register as charities with the Charity Commission on the same basis as nonreligious charities. Gift Aid allows charities to claim back the 25 percent basic rate of taxalready paid on donations by the donor, boosting the value of a donation by one quarter. The law only applies in England and Wales. Citing a limited broadcast spectrum, the law prohibitsreligious groups from holding national radio licenses, public teletext licenses, more than one television service license, and/or radio and television multiplex licenses, which would allow agroup to offer multiple channels as part of a single bundle of programming. The law requires visa applicants wishing to enter the country as “ministers of religion” to have a certificate ofsponsorship for their job from a “bona fide religious organization,” proof of their knowledge of English, personal savings, and a travel history over the previous year. To qualify as bonafide, a religious organization must meet a series of criteria, including that it be a registered charitable organization and a faith-based community with a common system of belief andspiritual goals and that it not exclude anyone on the basis of gender, nationality, or ethnicity or breach the law or work against the public interest. The law defines “minister of religion” asa religious functionary whose main regular duties include leading a congregation in performing the rites and rituals of the faith and in preaching the essentials of the creed. “Minister ofreligion” includes anyone doing preaching and pastoral work or coming to the country as a missionary or member of a religious order.Recognition policy: an estimated 30 sharia councils operate parallel to the national legal system. They adjudicate Islamic religious matters, including religious divorces, which are notrecognized under civil law. Participants may submit cases to the councils on a voluntary basis. The councils do not have the legal status of courts, although they have legal status asmediation and arbitration bodies. As such, rulings may not be appealed in the courts. There are separate legal regimes for civil marriage and civil partnerships. Civil partnerships are formedwhen parties sign and register a civil partnership document, with no words required to be spoken. Civil marriages are solemnized by saying a prescribed set of vows. In England, NorthernIreland, and Wales, civil partnership ceremonies must be nonreligious. They must not include religious music or readings and must be free of obvious, specifically religious connotations. InScotland, civil partnership ceremonies may be conducted by religious or humanist leaders. Nonreligious belief (i.e., humanist) marriages are legally recognized in Scotland and NorthernIreland but not in England and Wales, where “religious” marriages must take place in registered places of worship. In England and Wales, humanists must have a civil marriage alongsideany humanist wedding if they want to be legally married. There are four categories of religious marriage: Church of England and Church in Wales (Anglican), Jewish, Quaker, and others(e.g., Hindu, Muslim, or other Christian). Anglican marriages must be conducted by a member of the clergy, who registers the marriage. Jewish and Quaker marriages are conducted inaccordance with appropriate religious rites, and the officiant registers the marriage. In England and Wales, an Islamic marriage is recognized as a religious ceremony but does not providethe benefits of a completed civil marriage. A couple may be afforded the benefits of a completed civil marriage provided they were married under sharia in a country where this type ofmarriage is recognized by law or if they proceed with a UK civil marriage in addition to the Islamic marriage. Other religious marriages must take place in a registered place of worship, haveat least two witnesses present, and include the necessary declarations; a registrar or a person certified by the registrar general (e.g., the imam) must then register the marriage. Twenty-sixsenior bishops of the Church of England sit in the UK House of Lords (upper house of Parliament) as representatives of the state church. Known as the Lords Spiritual, they read prayers atthe start of each daily meeting and play a full role in the work of the House of Lords.Key restriction tools imposed: non-recognition for any religion or denomination other than Anglicanism, registration procedures are conducted by each place of worship while registrationof religious organisation as a non-profit organisation or charity may be conducted with the Charity Commission. The pastoral needs of prisoners continued to be addressed, in part, throughchaplains paid for by the UK Ministry of Justice, rather than by religious groups. All chaplains worked as part of a multifaith team, the size and breakdown of which was determined by thenumber of inmates in the prison and their religious composition. Prison service regulations stated, “Chaplaincy provision must reflect the faith denomination requirements of the prison.” In2022, the most recent year for which figures were available, there were approximately 257 regular chaplains in the armed forces, 256 of whom were Christian. There were 111 reservechaplains serving in the military, 108 of whom were Christian. The armed forces also employed five civilian chaplains as full-time civil servants to care for Buddhist, Hindu, Sikh, Jewish, andMuslim service personnel. In November, the Ministry of Defense announced it would introduce nonreligious pastoral officers in 2024. There were approximately 1,200 prison chaplains inEngland and Wales, according to the government, though a breakdown of this figure by religious denomination was unavailable. In January, during debate in the House of Lords,Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Ministry of Justice Lord Christopher Bellamy proposed replacing the prison Chaplaincy Council with a “Chaplaincy Faith and Belief Forum”representing all faiths, after stating that the council was no longer reflective of the “breadth of faith and belief of those in prison or on probation.” Humanists UK continued to say the stateshould increase the availability of nonreligious pastoral support in prisons and hospitals. Under the Places of Worship Scheme, which applied to England and Wales, the UK Governmentannounced in June that places of worship would receive £28 million ($35.6 million) to finance security, the same amount as in 2022. The funding was available through two programs: £3.5million ($4.4 million) for the Places of Worship Protective Security Funding Scheme for non-Muslim sites and £24.5 million ($31.1 million) for the Protective Security for Mosques Scheme.According to the government, these programs aimed to “reduce hate crime” at places of worship and to provide applicants with physical protective security measures such as closed-circuittelevision, secure fencing, and intruder alarms. Muslim applicants would also be eligible for security guard services. Then Security Minister Tom Tugendhat stated, “We will defend againstany form of hatred targeting our communities and are committed to protecting all faiths.” The Places of Worship Scheme was open to places of worship listed with the relevant statutorylisting agency (the British Listed Buildings for England, Scotland, and Wales or Northern Ireland Buildings databases) and that served “formally constituted religious organizations.” Thesole exception was the Jewish community, which received £15 million ($19 million) – £1 million ($1.2 million) more than in 2022 – from a separate government grant administered by theNGO CST. The grant funded commercial security guards at Jewish community buildings across the UK with priority placed on schools. In October, the government announced an additionalfunding of £3 million ($3.8 million) for the CST to support security equipment and additional guards at schools, synagogues, and other community sites. The UK government’s Listed Placesof Worship (LPW) Grant Scheme issued grants covering the value-added tax on repairs of more than £1,000 ($1,300) to listed buildings used as places of worship. In December, thegovernment noted that nearly 5,000 religious buildings in the UK received a share of up to £42 million ($53.4 million) in public funding during the year to support conservation of listedplaces of worship. This program is funded until March 31, 2025, according to authorities. The LPW, run by the Department of Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport, focused on preserving culturalheritage, providing value-added tax relief on repairs to worship structures, turret clocks, pews, bells, and pipe organs, in addition to associated professional fees. All faiths and areas of thecountry were eligible for the plan, but the places of worship had to be listed in the British Listed Buildings or Northern Ireland Buildings databases. Humanists UK stated nonreligious beliefmarriages should receive legal recognition in England and Wales, as they do in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Media reported the UK Ministry of Justice stated that allowing humanistweddings would require the creation of a new category of marriage, known as “belief marriage.” According to an April report in The Guardian, television presenters Stephen Fry and SandiToksvig, along with the former chair of the Conservative Party-affiliated LGBT+ Conservatives group, Elena Bunbury, and her Labour and Liberal Democrat Party equivalents, wrote to thenJustice Secretary Dominic Raab, stating that “legal recognition would have a profound impact.”Human rights instruments: United Kingdom (excluding Guernsey, Jersey and Gibraltar) is partied to the ICCPR,the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP; United Kingdom voted in favour of the UDHR; United Kingdom ispartied to the ECHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free; subject to the registration of a place of worship); pastoral services (free); private expressionand observance (free); proselytism (free); public expression and observance (free); receiving donations (free); religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religious literature (free);religious and worship services (free); religious trade (free).Protections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of “faith” was affirmed in the 1998Human Rights Act.Conditions of state recognition and registration2024 RoRB Classification: ApatheticUnited States of AmericaFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsEstablish a formal recognition system to set out provisions for both existentialrecognition for belief systems, denominations, communities based on a sharedbelief identity and legal registration for parishes to add to the existentprovisions for individual religious buildings already in place; to becomeDynamic, establish a recognition agency that is independent of governmentcontrol but nonetheless reports to government and possesses the sameauthority as government in its area of speciality, namely the management of thereligious recognition system.Secularity: United States (U.S.) is a secular state; theconstitutions of 20 U.S. states affirm theism as does theconstitution of Puerto Rico.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: stipulatory registration – religious groups are not requiredto register with the federal or state governments to operate legally in the U.S.However, religious or belief organisations are required to register with theInternal Revenue Service (IRS) as a non-profit organisation to become tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code.192Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, non-recognition for any religionor denomination.Human rights instruments: United States is partied to the ICCPR;United States signed the ICESCR but has not ratified it; United Statessigned the UNCRC but has not ratified it; United States rejected theUNDRIP; United States voted in favour of the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory andburial rites (free); pastoral services (free); private expression and observance(free); proselytism (not free; subject to registration); public expression andobservance (free); receiving donations (free); religious buildings (free);religious instruction (free); religious literature (free); religious and worshipservices (free); religious trade (free).Protections: Although the U.S. constitution does not explicitlyprotection against discrimination on the basis of religion, U.S. lawdoes prohibit religious discrimination.Conditions of state recognition and registration2024 RoRB Classification: ReceptiveUruguay, Oriental Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsEstablish a reorganised recognition system that has the capacity to provide both existential recognition as well as legal registration to allbelief systems and their derivatives and at multiple levels of activity; to be classified Dynamic, establish a recognition agency that worksindependently of the government to manage the reorganised recognition system; to vest its authority within the agency, the governmentcan establish it but then the government must relinquish its control of the agency afterwards to ensure the agency’s autonomy fromgovernment and thereby from politicisation.Secularity: Uruguay is a secular state (the Roman Catholic Church was disestablished in 1918);the latest revised constitution from 2004 recognises “the right of the right of the CatholicChurch to ownership of all temples which have been built wholly or partly from funds of theNational Treasury, with the sole exception of chapels dedicated for use by asylums, hospitals,prisons, or other public establishments.”Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: stipulatory registration – Religious groups are entitled to property tax exemptions only for their houses of worship.To receive exemptions, a religious group must apply to and be approved by the Ministry of Education and Culture (MEC) as a registerednonprofit organization. The ministry routinely approves these registrations, after which the group may request a property tax exemptionfrom the taxing authority, usually the local government. By registering for official recognition and certification with the MEC, religiousgroups can receive benefits, services, recognition, and tax reductions from the government. Foreign religious workers must provide proofof certification from their affiliated religious institution to confirm the applicant’s identity and to guarantee financial support of thesponsoring religious group. According to regulations, the state must enforce these standards equitably across all religious groups. TheNational Rehabilitation Institute’s protocol regulates religious issues in prisons, including standardizing access to religious counselingand religious meeting spaces. Several prisons in the country have a dedicated space for religious practice.Recognition policy: in deference to its secular nature, the government does not refer to holidays by their Christian names. For example,Christmas is formally referred to as “Family Day” and Holy Week is widely referred to as “Tourism Week.”193Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation. According to media reports, in April, an Afro-Umbandist group filed a complaint before theINDDHH against the Maldonado Department’s government after local inspectors interrupted an Afro-Umbandist religious ritualinvolving the use of drums, stating that neighbors had complained of excessive noise. Members of the group asked to continue the ritualwithout drums and only with clapping, but the inspectors halted the ritual and ordered the group to leave the area. The Afro-Umbandistssaid the inspectors’ actions violated their right to practice religious rituals. A member of the Maldonado local council said local inspectorstreated members of the religious groups as criminals. Representatives of the Afro-Umbanda religion stated there were other similarincidents throughout the year where state officials interrupted their rites, including rituals with drums and animal sacrifices. Some non-Christian religious groups reiterated they believed the government favored Christians, as evidenced by the government’s designatingChristian holidays as official secular holidays, after renaming them, thereby automatically granting Christians time off from work toobserve them. Representatives of the non-Christian groups said the government did not designate holidays of other religious groups asofficial, thereby requiring followers to request a day off using their personal leave to observe them and leaving the matter to the discretionof employers. Members of the Jewish and Seventh-day Adventist communities continued to advocate new government regulations thatwould allow students observing religious holidays or days of rest to take university-level examination on alternate dates instead ofleaving that decision to individual professors. A report from one Seventh-day Adventist noted that even in cases when a universityallowed a student to take an examination on an alternate date, the test was oral instead of the usual written one, which, she said, placedSeventh-day Adventist students at a competitive disadvantage. There were also reports of Church members who could not complete theiruniversity studies because some required courses were scheduled on Saturdays, without accommodating students on religious grounds.Throughout the year, Afro-Umbandists, Muslim groups, and other religious organizations asked the government to include questionsabout religion in the 2023 census to generate better data on religious identity that could be used when designing public policy. Thegovernment declined to add the questions to the census, citing the government’s official commitment to secularism, which it ofteninterpreted as the absence of religion. Religious leaders welcomed the National Rehabilitation Institute’s protocol standardizing access toreligious counseling and religious meeting spaces in prisons and expressed the need to have similar protocols for other institutions, suchas juvenile detention centers and mental health facilities.Human rights instruments: Uruguay is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and theUNDRIP; Uruguay voted in favour of the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free); privateexpression and observance (free); proselytism (free); public expression and observance (free); receiving donations (free); religiousbuildings (free); religious instruction (free); religious literature (free); religious and worship services (free); religious trade (free).Protections: Implicit protection against discrimination on the basis of religion wasaffirmed in the latest revised constitution from 2004.Conditions of state recognition and registration2024 RoRB Classification: TerminalUzbekistan, Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsComplete dismantlement of the terminally restrictive and repressive regime of laws and policies that restrict all aspects of religious life for citizens and all operations of religious organisations throughout thecountry; such a dismantlement would first need to take place in entirety in order for any type of new recognition system to be established or reorganised.Secularity: Uzbekistan is a secular state.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: broad mandatory registration – all religious or belief organisations are mandated by law to register with Uzbek authorities before they may conduct any activities in the country legally.Any religious service conducted by an unregistered religious organization is illegal. The criminal code distinguishes between “illegal” groups, which are unregistered groups, and “prohibited” groupsviewed as “extremist.” Organizing or participating in an illegal religious group is a criminal offense punishable by up to five years in prison or a fine of 15 to 30 million soum ($1,200-$2,400). The law alsoprohibits persuading others to join illegal religious groups, with penalties of up to three years in prison. The criminal code provides penalties of up to 20 years in prison for organizing or participating in theactivities of religious extremist, fundamentalist, separatist, or other prohibited groups. Charges against alleged members of religious extremist groups may include the stated offenses of attempting tooverthrow the constitutional order and terrorism. The government currently maintains a list of 22 organizations it considers “terrorist” that are banned in the country. The 2021 law on Freedom ofConscience and Religious Organizations (religion law) further details the scope of, and limitations on, the exercise of the freedom of religion or belief. The religion law criminalizes unregistered religiousactivity; requires official approval of the content, production, distribution, and storage of religious publications; and prohibits proselytism and other missionary activities. This law provides a registrationprocess for religious organizations that allows online applications. It requires an organization to have 50 founding members to register and stipulates all founding members must live in one district or city.It prohibits private religious education. According to the 2021 religion law, all religious groups must register with the Ministry of Justice; without registration, a group may not carry out any activities. Thelaw lists a series of requirements, including having a permanent presence in eight of the country’s 14 administrative units for central registration; presenting a membership list of at least 50 citizens who are18 or older; and providing a charter in Uzbek with a legal, physical address to the local Ministry of Justice branch. Religious groups applying to register in a specific locality require the concurrence of theCRA, a federal executive-level committee, and the khokimiyat (local government) for preapproval. Groups must submit “letters of guarantee” from the regional branches of the Ministry of Construction, theState Sanitary and Epidemiological Service, and the Department of the State Fire Safety Service under the Ministry of Emergency Situations. The 2021 religion law requires electronic copies of the documentsaffirming that the leading founding members have the religious education necessary to preach their faith. Denominations whose faith does not provide for a system of professional religious education areexempted from this requirement. All religious groups must report their source of income and obtain CRA concurrence to register. The law also requires that khokimiyats concur with the registration ofgroups in their areas and that a religious group present notification from khokimiyat authorities stating the legal and postal addresses of the organization conform to all legal requirements, includingobtaining authorization certificates from the zoning board, sanitary-epidemiological services, and fire services. After checking the submitted certificates, khokimiyats grant permission to register to thereligious group seeking registration. The Ministry of Justice has one month to review and approve, deny, or return the application for revision. The law states registered religious groups may expandthroughout the country by registering new locations, maintaining buildings compliant with fire and health codes, organizing religious teaching, and possessing religious literature. The law limits theoperations of a registered group to those geographic areas where it is registered. Even if it is registered in one area, a religious group may not expand to another area until it completes the registrationprocess there. The law grants only registered religious groups the right to establish schools and train clergy. Individual Muslim clergy members receive accreditation from the Muslim Board of Uzbekistan.The CRA oversees registered religious activity. The Council for Confessions under the CRA includes ex officio representatives from 16 registered religious groups, including Muslim, Christian, and Jewishgroups, whom the government appoints to serve as consultants. The council discusses ways of ensuring compliance with the law, the rights and responsibilities of religious organizations and believers, andother issues related to religion. The CRA also monitors internet discussion of religion and reports materials it deems extremist to law enforcement, and it publishes and regularly updates a list of websitesand social media accounts the Supreme Court deems to be extremist and thus prohibited to access. According to the 2021 religion law, religious organizations must notify the government of any plannedreligious activities not part of formal worship services, as well as all religious activities intended for children younger than 16, unless those children have been given parental permission. The law requiresregistered religious organizations to inform authorities 30 days in advance of holding nonroutine religious meetings and other religious activities at the group’s registered address(es). At the beginning ofeach year, every religious organization must submit a list of planned meetings to the Ministry of Justice. Any meeting outside that list is considered “nonroutine.” The administrative code requires allregistered religious organizations to seek permission from local authorities and then inform CRA and Ministry of Justice representatives 30 days before holding religious meetings, street processions, orother religious ceremonies occurring outside a group’s registered building(s), including activities involving foreign individuals or worshippers from another region. Unregistered groups are prohibited fromorganizing any religious activity. According to a 2014 Cabinet of Ministers resolution, the law punishes private entities for leasing premises or other property to, or facilitating gatherings, meetings, andstreet demonstrations of religious groups without state permission. The law also criminalizes the unauthorized facilitation of children’s and youth religious meetings as well as literary and other religion-based study groups not related to worship. The administrative penalty for violating these provisions ranges from fines of 15 million to 30 million soum ($1,200-$2,400) or up to 15 days’ imprisonment. Thecriminal code punishes proselytizing with up to three years in prison and prohibits teaching children religion against their will as well as efforts to involve minors in religious organizations without parentalpermission. The law requires religious groups to obtain a license to publish or distribute religious materials. The law requires official approval of the content, production, distribution, and storage ofreligious publications. Such materials include books, magazines, newspapers, brochures, leaflets, audiovisual items including CDs and DVDs, and materials posted to the internet describing the origins,history, ideology, teachings, commentaries, and rituals of various religions of the world. The administrative code punishes the “illegal production, storage, import, or distribution of materials of religiouscontent” with a fine of 20 to 100 times the minimum monthly wage (six million to 30 million soum in 2022) ($490 to $2,400) for private individuals. The fine for government officials committing the sameoffense is 50 to 150 times the minimum monthly wage, or 15 million to 45 million soum ($1,200-$3,600). The administrative code permits the confiscation of such illegal materials and the “correspondingmeans of producing and distributing them.” Courts issue fines under the administrative code. In instances where an individual is unable to pay the fine, courts may issue an order garnishing wages. Thecriminal code imposes a fine of 100 to 200 times the minimum monthly wage (30 million to 60 million soum) ($2,400-$4,800) or “corrective labor” for up to three years for repeat offenders. The stateforbids banned “extremist religious groups” from distributing any type of publication. Individuals who distribute leaflets or literature deemed extremist via social media networks are subject to criminalprosecution and face prison terms ranging from five to 20 years. According to the law, individuals in possession of literature by authors the government deems to be extremist or of any literature illegallyimported or produced are subject to arrest and prosecution. The law permits only religious groups with a registered central administrative body to train religious personnel and conduct religious instruction.Ten madrassahs, including two for women, and a Russian Orthodox and a Protestant seminary have official approval to train religious personnel and provide secondary education. The Cabinet of Ministersconsiders madrassah-granted diplomas equivalent to other diplomas, enabling madrassah graduates to continue to university-level education. The law requires imams to have graduated from a recognizedreligious education facility and to register for a license with the government. The Muslim Board of Uzbekistan assigns a graduate to a particular mosque as a deputy imam before he may subsequentlybecome an imam. According to government officials and religious freedom activists, clerics from various religious groups who obtain their qualifications abroad may officiate within licensed premises.194Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, central registration is limited by a geographic quota, criminalisation of unregistration, excessive informational requirements intertwined with a membershipquota, localisation of registration procedures, membership quota, multi-registration, nationality quota, non-issuance, preapproval, reregistration is required each time the group wishes to expand todifferent regions of the country, restrictive procedure of notarisation is a necessary precursor to receiving registered status, the registration benefit "to train clergy" is classified a basic religious activity andso should not be subject to registration. According to Forum 18, starting early in the year, Tashkent police targeted Muslims through raids, house searches, detentions, arrests, administrative punishmentsfor teaching religion without state permission as well as opening criminal investigations. In one incident, police reportedly detained a young woman they had previously targeted for wearing a hijab andstudying Arabic. After 10 hours’ questioning without food or water, the woman, who is anemic, fainted. Police did not explain why they raided the family home, pressured the family, and detained thewoman. Civil society groups continued to express concern that the law’s definition of extremism remained too broad and failed to distinguish between nonviolent religious beliefs and ideologies supportingviolence. The government continued to frequently charge with extremism those who were found to possess materials included on the CRA’s list of banned materials. According to the government, during theyear it pardoned 97 persons who had been sentenced for participating in the activities of prohibited organizations. Religious freedom activists said the government’s security services continued to fabricatecharges against detainees to make a “show” of being tough on religious extremism. One prominent human rights lawyer stated authorities had charged some individuals with extremism based solely onincoming messages to their phones. Government officials said these messages referenced Hizb ut-Tahir, even though the arrestees themselves did not write, forward, or respond to these messages.Religious activists again reported many prisoners sentenced on the basis of their religious activities continued to face extensions of their sentences when prison officials brought new charges, accusinginmates of involvement in extremist groups or other crimes. The new charges resulted in new sentences, and many individuals whose original sentences had ended years before were consequently stillimprisoned. Although by law, only registered religious organizations may assemble and perform religious acts, many members of nonregistered minority congregations reported they were able to use thefacilities of a registered congregation to worship without government intervention. Representatives of several Christian churches that in previous years had unsuccessfully sought registration reported theydecided not to renew their applications because they could operate without obtaining approval. In April, Forum 18 published a report stating that authorities had raided the Easter services of the Council ofChurches Baptist Church in Qarshi. The article said Ministry of Internal Affairs officials conducting the raid beat and used electric cattle prods on members of the congregation. Videos posted online by theInternational Union of Evangelical Christian Baptist Churches which the union said were of the raid showed authorities attempting to enter the church while congregants attempted to prevent them. Othervideos showed authorities talking with apparent church leadership and ordering the musicians to stop playing. The videos and other sources did not show authorities using violence or the presence of cattleprods. According to Forum 18, the same church was raided in February as well. The government stated the services were hosted by the International Union of Evangelical Christian Baptist Churches (MSCECB), an organization not registered in the country, and included performances by a group of Christians from outside the country. The government stated the MSC ECB did not notify the government of theplanned performances as required by law, nor could it because the group refused to apply for registration. The government also stated residents complained to law enforcement about the large gathering.During the year, Jehovah’s Witnesses reported police detained members of their community for proselytizing. In the Jehovah’s Witnesses 2023 report, the group said they were not severely persecuted inUzbekistan and were often treated with respect but stated there were several instances of what they referred to as “preventive conversations” with local law enforcement requesting information on religiousmeetings and leaders. The report stated that occasionally such local officials insulted, pressured, or threatened Witnesses, and that sometimes they pressured converts to “return to Islam.” Additionally, aJehovah’s Witnesses fact sheet reported one of their members, Nadezhda Manatskova, was fined 1,650,000 som ($130) for “forcing a person to accept her religion.” The fact sheet said Manatskova “spokepeacefully of her faith” to a woman. International human rights organizations continue to criticize the law’s registration requirements for religious organizations. In May, Human Rights Watch said thegovernment continued to unduly prolong the registration process and impose arbitrary requirements, especially for groups such as Jehovah’s Witnesses. At year’s end, there were 2,356 religiousorganizations officially registered in the country, 197 of which were non-Muslim. The government reported it registered 13 Muslim and one Christian religious organization by year’s end. Jehovah’sWitnesses reported they continued to face what they described as insurmountable challenges to registering any new congregations in the country. Since the passing of the religion law, they reported tryingto register two new congregations, one in Samarkand and one in Tashkent. In July, Jehovah’s Witnesses received a letter from the Tashkent City government, stating they were unable to register theirTashkent congregation due to repeated complaints from citizens regarding “missionary and proselytizing activities,” which are illegal. Jehovah’s Witnesses reported being the target of harassment andmistreatment due to the organization’s unregistered status, except for its sole registered community in Chirchik. The group continued to attempt registration in seven districts of the country. Jehovah’sWitnesses reported that local governments continued to block official registration of additional congregations for administrative reasons. According to Jehovah’s Witnesses, local agencies such as localbranches of the Ministry of Construction or local fire safety offices, among others, refused to provide the documentation required to complete the registration process.Human rights instruments: Uzbekistan is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, and the UNCRC; Uzbekistanwas absent during voting on the UNDRIP; Uzbekistan did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (not free; restricted); hieroncy (not free; religious materials illegal); monasticism (not free; restricted); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free; restricted); pastoral services (not free;restricted); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (not free; illegal); public expression and observance (not free; restricted); receiving donations (not free; restricted); religious buildings(not free; restricted); religious instruction (not free; restricted); religious literature (not free; preapproval from the government required; restricted); religious and worship services (not free; restricted);religious trade (not free; restricted).Protections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of religion was affirmed in thelatest revised constitution from 2011.Conditions of state recognition and registration2024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveVanuatu, Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsEstablish a revitalised recognition system that provides opportunities for both existential recognitionand legal registration to all belief systems and their derivatives in order to be classified as receptive in theSpectrum of Religious Recognition; abolish fines for unregistration, the mandatory registration orderand the imposition of dual registration; to be classified Dynamic, establish a recognition agency thatworks independently of government control that has the responsibility to manage the recognitionsystem whilst also maintaining the authority that it requires to ensure that decisions of recognition andregistration are respected nationwide.Secularity: Vanuatu is officially a secular state; however,deference is paid to Christianity in the latest revisedconstitution from 2013 leading to some special privileges;theism was affirmed in that same constitution.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: broad mandatory registration – the law requires every religious group to apply tothe government for a certificate of registration, pay 1,000 vatu ($9), and obtain final approval of theMinister for Internal Affairs to operate. Registration allows the religious group to maintain a bankaccount. The penalty for not registering is a fine not exceeding 50,000 vatu ($430).195Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, arbitrary enforcement of the mandatory registrationorder, dual registration, fines for unregistered religious group can reach $470 although this is apparentlynot widely enforced, government interactions with Christian churches were conducted through thecoordinated body of the Vanuatu Christian Council (VVC). The VCC reported it continued to conductprayer sessions, instituted in 2021, in almost all government ministries. The government reported itcontinued to interact with religious groups primarily through the Ministry of Internal Affairs and theVCC, the latter composed of the Catholic Church, Anglican Church, Presbyterian Church, Church ofChrist, and Apostolic Church, with Seventh-day Adventists and the Assemblies of God having observerstatus. Government officials said they respected smaller religious minorities but preferred to work with acoordinated body such as the VCC, which represented churches with the largest number of followers,stating that religious minorities had different expectations and protocols. Officials customarily tookgovernment oaths of office with a hand on the Bible. The VCC organized ceremonial prayers at nationalevents, such as Father Walter Lini Day in February and Vanuatu Independence Day in July. Religiousminorities, including officials representing the Muslim and Baha’i communities, continued to criticizethe government for not allowing non-Christian clergy to lead ceremonial prayers at such events.Human rights instruments: Vanuatu is partied to the ICCPR and the UNCRC; Vanuatuis not partied to the ICESCR; Vanuatu was absent during voting on the UNDRIP;Vanuatu did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free; laws on importation of religious materials remain unclear);monasticism (not free; subject to registration); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free; subject toregistration); pastoral services (not free; subject to registration); private expression and observance(free); proselytism (not free; subject to registration); public expression and observance (free); receivingdonations (not free; subject to registration); religious buildings (not free; subject to registration);religious instruction (not free; subject to registration); religious literature (not free; subject toregistration); religious and worship services (not free; subject to registration); religious trade (not free;subject to registration).Protections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of “religious ortraditional beliefs” was affirmed in the latest revised constitution from 2013.Conditions of state recognition and registration2024 RoRB Classification: AmbiguousVatican City StateFoRB Claim: No claim is made.Secularity: Catholic theocracy with thebishop of Rome as head of state.Mandatoriness of registration: non-registration.Registration policy: there is no procedure for the registration ofany religious organisation in Vatican City.196Key restriction tools imposed: non-recognition of any religion ordenomination except Catholicism.Human rights instruments: Vatican City ispartied to the UNCRC; Vatican City is neitherpartied to the ICCPR nor the ICESCR; VaticanCity did not vote on either the UDHR or theUNDRIP; Vatican City is not partied to the ECHR.Conditions of state recognition and registration2024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveVenezuela, Bolivarian Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsEstablish a revitalised recognition system that provides opportunities for both existential recognition and legal registration to all belief systems and theirderivatives in order to be classified as receptive in the SRR; to be classified Dynamic, establish a recognition agency that works independently ofgovernment control that has the responsibility to manage the recognition system whilst also maintaining the authority that it requires to ensure thatdecisions of recognition and registration are respected nationwide.Secularity: Venezuela is a secular state; the Roman Catholic Church isthe only religious denomination to have a bilateral cooperationagreement with the government; theism was affirmed in the latestrevised constitution from 2009.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: broad mandatory registration – the Directorate of Justice and Religion (DJR) in the Maduro-controlled Ministry ofInterior, Justice, and Peace maintains a registry of religious groups, disburses funds to religious organizations, and liaises with religiouscommunities. Each religious group must register with the DJR to acquire legal status as a religious organization. Registration requiresthe declaration of property belonging to the religious group, identification of any religious authorities working directly for it, andarticles of incorporation. Religious groups are required to demonstrate how they will provide social services to their communities and toobtain a letter of acceptance from the Maduro-aligned community council in the neighborhood(s) where the group will work. Theministry reviews applications, with no time limit for approval. Religious groups must register any new statutes with the DJR. The lawprovides for Catholic chaplains to minister to the spiritual needs of Catholics serving in the military. There are no known similarprovisions for other religious groups.Recognition policy: a 1964 concordat governs relations between Venezuela and the Holy See and provides for state funding for CatholicChurch-run schools.197Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, dual registration due to the fact that Ministry of Interior, Justice and Peace is involved inregistration as are community councils specific to where the group intends to establish its activities, excessive informationalrequirements (including a letter of acceptance from the regime-controlled community council), localisation of qualifications required forregistered status, possibility for indefinite delay as no regulatory interval for the government's review of applications is put in place,reregistration is required whenever the religious group adds any new statutes (such as new objectives), the proposal of new legislation toprovide personal details of those to whom a religious group ministers raises concerns over the government's intentions to restrict suchactivity or to intimidate group members. Religious groups reported they generally enjoyed freedom of religion or belief so long as theyrefrained from criticizing Maduro-aligned figures or policies. Many religious groups practiced self-censorship out of fear that Maduro’srepresentatives would apply the penal code or the antihate law that criminalizes political party activities promoting “fascism, intolerance,or hatred” to religious actors who criticized them. Catholic Church representatives continued to cite difficulties in securing religious visasfor priests. They said many international Catholic Church personnel could not obtain religious visas and had to enter the country withtourist visas, which require renewal fees that represented a financial burden for the Church. Maduro representatives reportedly deniedmembers of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) entrance into the country in July. USCCB had not been able to enter thecountry since 2016, according to a USCCB representative. In January, Maduro ordered CONATEL to create a technical working group todiscuss increased access for evangelical Protestant churches to radio programming. In October, CONATEL ordered the closure of Catholic-associated radio station Radio Fe y Alegria, citing a lack of permission to operate. Observers said CONATEL issued the order after thestation interviewed a politician who opposed Maduro. Maduro representatives continued to promote the National Religious Council theycreated in 2020. As part of this effort, they organized meetings throughout the year with the Evangelical Christian Movement forVenezuela (MOCEV), a pro-Maduro organization close to the PSUV. The ECV stated MOCEV was not representative of all evangelicals andthat not all evangelical Protestant movements supported Maduro policies. Maduro representatives continued to disburse the “GoodPastor” bonus to some evangelical pastors via the Sistema Patria (Homeland System), a Maduro-controlled virtual platform on whichmany individuals must register to collect their salary and receive economic assistance. The bonus was reportedly 360 bolivars ($10) andbenefitted an estimated 13,915 evangelical Protestant pastors. On January 24, the Maduro-controlled national assembly approved in a firstreading a law on the inspection and regularization of the activities and financing of NGOs and related organizations. If passed, the lawwould require civil society organizations, including religiously affiliated organizations, to declare their activities, sources of financing,and relationships with national or international organizations. Catholic priest Luis Ugalde, speaking at a press event with a federation oflocal organizations and network of 178 schools offering education in the most disadvantaged parts of the country, said if the law passed,many successful NGO initiatives could end.Human rights instruments: Venezuela is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC,and the UNDRIP; Venezuela voted in favour of the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free); private expression and observance(free); proselytism (free); public expression and observance (free); receiving donations (free); religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free);religious literature (free); religious and worship services (free); religious trade (free).Protections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of “creed” wasaffirmed in the latest revised constitution from 2009.Conditions of state recognition and registration2024 RoRB Classification: TerminalVietnam, Socialist Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsComplete dismantlement of the present terminally restrictive registration procedure and the body of laws and policies perpetuating the terminal conditions for RoRB in the country; establish a reorganised recognition system that extends bothexistential recognition and legal registration to all belief systems.Secularity: Vietnam is a hypersecular state that professes state atheism; however, some deference is granted toBuddhism in state policy and practice; the official ideology of Vietnam is Marxism-Leninism.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: broad mandatory registration – all religious or belief organisations must register by law with the government to operate legally in Vietnam. The LBR and implementing Decree 162 serve as the primary documents governing religious groups and their activities. However, on 29th December 2023, thegovernment issued Decree 95, replacing Decree 162 on the Law on Belief and Religion. Decree 95 enters into effect on March 30, 2024. The new decree includes provisions that would limit local authorities’ discretion in implementing the law. It provides a mechanism for the central government or provincial authorities torecommend that the central government suspend religious groups for “serious infractions” for up to 24 months. It also includes new requirements for religious organizations to receive foreign funding. The new decree also provides details regarding the administrative procedures for registering groups or congregations. Forexample, Decree 95 states authorities need to provide applicants with notification of receiving registration applications and must provide applicants guidance on how to revise applications. According to the GCRA, the government recognizes 38 religious organizations that affiliate with 16 distinct “religious traditions” asdefined by the government: Buddhism, Islam, the Baha’i Faith, Catholicism, Protestantism, Hoa Hao Buddhism, Cao Dai, Tinh Do Cu Si Phat Hoi, Tu An Hieu Nghia, Phat Duong Nam Tong Minh Su Dao, Minh Ly Dao Tam Tong Mieu, Cham Brahmanism, Hieu Nghia Ta Lon Buddhism, and the Seventh-day Adventist Church.Distinct denominations within these religious traditions must seek their own registration and recognition. Three additional groups – the Assemblies of God, Vietnam United Gospel Outreach Church, and The Church of Jesus Christ, Vietnam – have “certificates of registration for religious operation” but are not recognized asofficial organizations. The law specifies that recognized religious organizations and their affiliates are noncommercial legal entities. The law also stipulates that religious organizations are allowed to conduct educational, health, social protection, charitable, and humanitarian activities in accordance with relevant laws. Thegovernment does not allow unauthorized organizations to raise funds or distribute aid without seeking approval and registration from authorities. The GCRA, one of 18 ministerial units under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), is responsible for implementing laws and decrees on religious affairs; it maintains offices at thecentral, provincial, and, in some areas, district levels. The law lays out specific responsibilities for central-, provincial-, and local-level GCRA offices and delegates certain religion-related management tasks to provincial- and local-level people’s committees (i.e., local government leaders). The central-level GCRA is chargedwith disseminating information to authorities and assuring uniform compliance with the legal framework on religion at the provincial, district, commune, and village levels. The law requires individuals to register locations for collective religious practice – referred to as “meeting points” in Vietnamese law – with communalauthorities where the “lawful premises for the religious practice is based.” It prescribes two stages of institutionalization for religious organizations seeking to gather at a specified location to “practice worship rituals, pray, or express their religious faith.” The first stage is “registration for religious operation” with theprovincial- or national-level GCRA, depending on the geographic extent of the group’s activities. Registration for religious operation allows a group to organize religious ceremonies and religious practice; preach and conduct religious classes at approved locations; elect, appoint, or designate officials; repair or renovateheadquarters; engage in charitable or humanitarian activities; and organize congresses to approve its charter. To obtain registration, the group must submit a detailed application with information about its doctrine, history, bylaws, leaders, and members, as well as proof it has a legal meeting location. The relevant provincialGCRA office or the MHA – depending on whether the group in question is operating in one or more provinces – is responsible for approving a valid application for registration within 60 days of receipt. The law requires the relevant provincial GCRA office or the MHA to provide any rejection in writing. The second stage ofinstitutionalization is recognition. A religious group may apply for recognition after it has operated continuously for at least five years following the date it receives approval of its “registration for religious operation.” A religious group is required to have a legal charter and bylaws, leaders in good standing without criminalrecords, and to have managed assets and conducted transactions autonomously. To obtain recognition, a group must submit a detailed application to the provincial- or national-level GCRA, depending on the geographic extent of the organization. The application must include a written request specifying the group’s structure,membership, geographical scope of operation and headquarters location; a summary of its history, dogmas, canon laws, and rites; a list and the resumes, judicial records, and summaries of the religious activities of the organization’s representative and tentative leaders; the group’s charter; a declaration of the organization’slawful assets; and proof of lawful premises to serve as a headquarters. The relevant provincial people’s committee or the MHA is responsible for approving a valid application for recognition within 60 days of receipt. The law requires the relevant provincial people’s committee or MHA to provide any rejection in writing.Recognition allows the religious group to conduct religious activities in accordance with the organization’s charter; organize religious practice; publish religious texts, books, and other publications; produce, export, and import religious cultural products and religious articles; renovate, upgrade, or construct new religiousestablishments; and receive lawful donations from domestic and foreign sources, among other permitted activities. The law states religious organizations and their affiliates, clergy, and members may file complaints or civil and administrative lawsuits against government officials or agencies under the relevant laws anddecrees. The law also states religious organizations and individuals have the right to bring civil lawsuits in court regarding the actions of religious groups or their members. Under the law, a religious organization is defined as “a religious group that has received legal recognition” by authorities. The law provides a separateprocess for unregistered, unrecognized religious groups to receive permission for specific religious activities by applying to the commune-level people’s committee. Regulations require the people’s committee to respond in writing to an application within 20 working days of receipt. The law specifies that a wide variety ofreligious activities require advance approval or registration from authorities at the central or local levels. These activities include “belief activities” (defined as traditional communal practices of ancestor, hero, or folk worship); “belief festivals” held for the first time; the establishment, division, or merger of religiousaffiliates; the ordination, appointment, or assignment of religious administrators (or clergy with administrative authority); establishment of religious training facilities; conducting religious training classes; holding major religious congresses; organizing religious events, preaching or evangelizing outside of approvedlocations; traveling abroad to conduct religious activities or training; and joining a foreign religious organization. Certain religious activities do not need advance approval but instead require notification to the appropriate authorities. Activities requiring notification include recurring or periodic “belief festivals”; dismissingclergy; conducting fundraising activities; reporting enrollment figures at a seminary or religious school; repairing or renovating religious facilities not considered cultural-historical relics; ordaining, appointing, or assigning religious clergy without administrative authority (such as monks); transferring or dismissingreligious administrators (or clergy with administrative authority); conducting operations at an approved religious training facility; conducting routine religious activities (defined as “religious preaching, practicing religious tenets and rites, and management of a religious organization”); and holding the internal conferencesof a religious organization. The law provides prisoners with the right to access to religious counsel as well as religious materials, with conditions, while in detention. It reserves authority for the government to restrict the “assurance” of that right. Decree 162 states detainees may use religious documents that are legallypublished and circulated, in line with legal provisions on custody, detention, prison, and other types of confinement. Prisoner access to religious counsel and materials must not, however, affect the rights of others to freedom of religion and belief or nonbelief or contravene other relevant laws. The decree states the Ministriesof Public Security, Defense, and Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs shall be responsible for providing guidelines on the management of religious documents and the time and venue for the use of these documents. The law specifies that religious organizations must follow numerous other laws for certain activities. Religiousorganizations may conduct educational, health, charitable, and humanitarian activities in accordance with the law, but the law does not provide clarification as to which activities are permitted. In addition, construction or renovation of religious facilities must occur in accordance with laws and regulations on construction,and foreigners participating in religious activities must abide by immigration laws. Publishing, producing, exporting, or importing religious texts must occur in accordance with laws and regulations related to publishing. Legislation requires all publishers be licensed public entities or state-owned enterprises. Publishers mustreceive prior government approval to publish all documents, including religious texts. By decree, only the Religious Publishing House may publish religious books, although this is not enforced in all cases. Any bookstore may sell legally published religious texts and other religious materials. The constitution states thegovernment owns and manages all land on behalf of the people. According to the law, land use by religious organizations must conform to the land law and its related decrees. The land law recognizes that licensed religious institutions and schools may acquire land-use rights and lease or be allocated land. The law specifiesreligious institutions are eligible for state compensation if their land is seized under eminent domain. The law allows provincial-level people’s committees to seize land via eminent domain to facilitate the construction of religious facilities. Under the law, provincial-level people’s committees may grant land-use certificatesfor a “long and stable term” to religious institutions if they have permission to operate, the land is dispute free, and the land was not acquired via transfer or donation after July 1, 2004. The government does not permit religious institutions to exchange, transfer, lease, donate, or mortgage their land-use rights. In landdisputes involving a religious institution, the chairperson of the provincial-level people’s committee has authority to settle disputes. Parties may dispute the chairperson’s decision by appealing to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment or filing a lawsuit in court. In practice, if a religious organization has notobtained recognition, members of the congregation may acquire a land-use title individually. The renovation or upgrade of facilities owned by religious groups requires notification to authorities, although it does not necessarily require a permit, depending on the extent of the renovation. There are separate provisions of thelaw that permit foreigners legally residing in the country to request permission to conduct religious activities, teach, attend local religious training, or preach in local religious institutions. The law requires religious organizations or citizens to receive government permission in advance of hosting or conducting any religiousactivities involving foreign organizations, foreign individuals, or travel abroad. Regulations also contain requirements for foreigners conducting religious activities within the country, including those involved in religious training, ordination, and leadership, to seek permission for their activities.198Key restriction tools imposed: confinement, excessive informational requirements for both recognised and registered statuses, non-specific financial quota for recognised status, preapproval or notification, provincialisation of registration procedures, registered status does not grant a religious groupto publish its own literature as this is an activity that may only be conducted by groups that have undergone recognition procedures, "registration for religious operation" is the necessary precursor to applying for existential recognition but is restricted by a five year longevity quota, some of the benefitsof registration outlined are classified as "basic religious activities" and so should not be subject to registration. NGOs and members of religious groups continued to report cases of government officials physically abusing, intimidating, and harassing individuals from religious minority groups,particularly ethnic minorities in the Central Highlands and Northern Highlands, although because religion, ethnicity, and politics were often closely linked, it was difficult to categorize many incidents as being solely based on religious identity. In the Northwest and Northern Highlands, leadersrepresenting both registered and unregistered religious groups said authorities frequently used nonviolent or less physically aggressive means as compared with prior years. For example, authorities summoned representatives for periodic meetings or threatened or imposed administrative fines topressure them to comply with government demands, including seeking registration and ceasing illegal gatherings. On April 8, Dak Lak authorities arrested Y Krec Bya, a member of the unregistered ECC, and charged him with “undermining solidarity policies” under the relevant article of the penal code.The local authorities accused him of collecting and disseminating information that created division between residents and authorities and among religious groups, including by participating in online training on human rights. Early in the year, an unregistered religious group indicated local authoritiesconvicted three H’Mong members of an unregistered Protestant group in Na Ngoi Commune, Ky Son District, Nghe An Province, sentencing one to 15 months’ imprisonment and two others to eight months’ imprisonment each on charge of “openly appropriating property.” Reports indicated at least 12other members of the group fled their residences, some to Thailand, to avoid intimidation from local authorities and hostility from their community based on their religion. The GCRA attributed the case to land disputes among family members and tension between believers and nonbelievers within thefamily. According to the GCRA, by year’s end, the three individuals had their sentences commuted and all were released. A religious freedom NGO reported that in June, security officers in Dak Lak Province detained and interrogated a member of the unregistered Good News Mission Church for threedays regarding the attacks. Security officers reportedly punched him in the head repeatedly and questioned him about online human rights training by the Thailand-based religious freedom NGO. The same week, security forces detained an Ede ethnic minority member of an unregistered Protestanthouse church in Ea Tul Commune, and assaulted his spouse, according to a religious freedom NGO. Security officers reportedly detained him for three days and physically assaulted him when he denied involvement in the attacks. Members of unregistered churches in the region reported security officersthreatened them with arrest and physical harm for their peaceful advocacy of religious freedom and accused them and their foreign-based contacts of involvement in the attacks. According to state media, authorities from the central to the local levels established numerous interagency task forces led bypublic security offices to combat unregistered religious groups deemed to be “evil-way” religions, antistate groups under the cover of religion, “affiliates to hostile forces,” or new religious movements and phenomena. Such groups include Duong Van Minh, Ba Co Do (Hoi Thanh Duc Chua Troi YeuThuong Chung Ta), World Mission Society Church of God (Hoi Thanh Duc Chua Troi Me), Evangelical Church of Christ (Tin Lanh Dang Christ Tay Nguyen), and Church of Jesus (Dao Gie Sua). Authorities accused these banned religious groups and their members of doing harm to traditional practices or“fine cultural values,” or having political motives, such as inciting social unrest, disrupting solidarity policies, and separatism. Members of these groups reported that local officials, government-affiliated social organizations, community-based organizations, and community members harassed themand coerced them to recant their faith. There were reports of communities and families boycotting and displacing members of banned religious groups because they did not share the same faith. Local authorities in some parts of the Central Highlands reportedly intimidated and threatened violenceagainst members of certain unregistered Protestant groups that reported human rights abuses to international NGOs or UN bodies, or commemorated international days focused on religious freedom. Reports indicated authorities pressured members of these groups to recant their affiliation withunregistered religious groups that the officials accused of opposing the government, or pressured members to instead join a registered religious organization. For example, in August, Khmer Krom Buddhists in the Mekong Delta, ethnic minority Christians in the Central Highlands, and independent CaoDai followers reported authorities in several provinces warned them against observing or gathering on August 22 to acknowledge the UN International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief. In September, multiple individuals shared a posted video that showedpublic security officers from Bac Ha District, Lao Cai Province forbidding an ethnic H’Mong Christian member of the unregistered God Loves Us Church from joining online worship services and participating in church activities. In the video, the officer threatened his wife and children, and statedauthorities would cut off the water supply to his home if he did not comply. Activists from an unregistered Hoa Hao group reported that in April security forces in An Giang Province assaulted a Hoa Hao leader and prevented Hoa Hao followers from commemorating a religious holiday. In December,security officers prevented an unregistered Hoa Hao community in An Giang Province from commemorating another religious holiday, according to media reports. In December, a religious freedom NGO reported security forces in Dak Lak Province threatened several members of unregistered churchesagainst participating in “unauthorized” Christmas celebrations and pressured them to join the registered Southern Evangelical Church of Vietnam. Sources stated that authorities limited the freedom of movement or right to leave the country of many religious freedom advocates and representatives ofunregistered religious groups through exit bans or withholding passport issuance. For example, in September authorities prevented Nguyen Xuan Mai from an unregistered Cao Dai group from traveling internationally to attend a religious pilgrimage. Government officials in different parts of thecountry reportedly continued to monitor, interrogate, arbitrarily detain, intimidate, and discriminate against individuals, at least in part because of their religious beliefs or affiliation. A majority of the victims of the reported incidents were members of unregistered groups engaged in political or humanrights advocacy activities, had ties to overseas individuals and organizations that were outspoken and critical of authorities, or were affiliated with new religious movements. There were government and international media reports of local authorities banning and/or disrupting gatherings andconfiscating publications of various religious groups. These included well-established groups such as the Catholic Church and lesser known and unregistered groups such as Pure Hoa Hao in An Giang, unregistered Cao Dai groups in the Mekong Delta, Yiguandao in Thua Thien Hue Province, theEvangelical Church of Christ in Dak Lak and Phu Yen Provinces, and Falun Gong and the World Mission Society Church of God (Hoi Thanh Duc Chua Troi Me) in many provinces. This also affected new religious movements such as Dang Hoang Thien Cach Mang The Gioi Dai Dong (The Party of God’sRevolution for the Great Unity) in Dong Nai and Binh Phuoc Provinces, Tam Linh Ho Chi Minh (The Spirit of Ho Chi Minh) and Long Hoa Di Lac I (Followers of Maitreya Buddha) in Vinh Phuc Province, and Thien Am Ben Bo Vu Tru (the Zen Hermitage on the Edge of the Universe) in Long An Province.Other new movements included Thanh Hai Vo Thuong Su, Dao Troi Thai Binh, and An Dien Cuu Roi. The GCRA estimated there were more than 85 new religious movements or phenomena that it described as “evil-way” or “strange” religions. In September, the Ministry of Home Affairs ordered localauthorities to take measures to “eliminate” the World Mission Society Church of God due to what it stated were legal violations. In August and December, authorities recognized the Ta Lon Dutiful and Loyal Buddhism and Vietnam Full Gospel Church, the first religious groups to receive such approval inmore than four years. Also in December, authorities approved the establishment of a Baptist seminary in Ho Chi Minh City, the first Baptist and third Evangelical Christian seminary to receive such approval since 1975. Many religious groups continued to report that the registration of locations forcollective religious practice, referred to in the law as “meeting points,” with local authorities remained difficult, particularly for new religious movements and groups with large numbers of ethnic minorities. Some well-established and recognized religious groups such as the Catholic Church reportedchallenges in their efforts to establish new parishes in the Northwest Highlands. Registered and unregistered religious groups continued to state that government agencies sometimes did not respond to registration applications or approval requests for religious activities within the stipulated time, if atall, and often did not specify reasons for refusals as required by law. In other cases, religious groups were unaware they had been granted local approval of religious activities. Some local authorities reportedly requested documents or information beyond what was stipulated by law. Several religiousleaders said authorities sometimes solicited bribes to facilitate approval of applications. According to the GCRA, by year’s end, authorities registered more than 3,700 out of approximately 5,000 meeting points across the country, including more than 60 for foreign nationals. The GCRA did not reportprovince-level statistics. The GCRA estimated that more than 80 new religious movements and activities with various origins operated outside of the legal framework mandated by the LBR. These groups neither sought nor received registration certificates or recognition during the year. The lawrequired an unregistered religious group to have legal premises to register a “meeting point.” Many religious leaders stated that they could not obtain the certificate indicating they had a legal premises because unregistered religious groups could not buy or rent property. There were reports authoritiesintervened with property owners or notary offices to prevent unregistered religious groups from securing legal premises or obtain a certificate indicating they had a legal premise. Given the legal and administrative barriers to buying or renting property in the name of religious groups, there werereports of religious groups buying or renting their members’ private properties as an alternative. Authorities attributed delays and denials of registration applications to applicants’ completing forms incorrectly or providing incomplete information. Religious groups said the process of registeringgroups or notifying authorities of activities in new or remote locations was particularly difficult. Some religious groups reported that authorities urged them to register as affiliates of recognized religious groups instead of as new groups. GCRA officials stated that government officials assistedunregistered religious groups in navigating the bureaucratic procedures required for registration using features such as an interactive portal on the GCRA website that allowed religious organizations to track the status of their document submissions. The GCRA, however, acknowledged the web portalwas not useful for remote religious groups, which often lacked the ability to utilize the digital forms provided by the government. The GCRA continued to provide provincial-level training to facilitate local registration of religious groups. In several cases, local authorities harassed members ofunregistered local congregations. There were multiple reports of such harassment from ethnic minority Christians of independent churches such as the Evangelical Church of Christ, Good News Mission Church, independent house churches in Dak Lak and Phu Yen Provinces, Ba Co Do (Church of GodLoving Us) in northern mountainous provinces such as Lao Cai, Dien Bien, and Lai Chau, and World Mission Society Church of God in major cities. Multiple reports said authorities summoned members of unregistered churches to public security offices, where security authorities told them to leave theirunregistered churches to join the registered Southern Evangelical Church of Vietnam. Y Nuer Buon Dap, a member of an independent house church in E Map Village of Ea Poc Township, Cu Mgar District, Dak Lak Province reported that since late September, local authorities pressured him and his churchfollowers to leave their house church to join the registered Southern Evangelical Church of Vietnam. In March, media reported that security authorities in Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province, disbanded a World Mission Society congregation, accusing it of conducting “illegal religious activities.” Ethnicminority Christians reported that security authorities prevented them from gathering during important religious events or forced them to take down their Christmas decorations. Authorities reportedly restricted their movements to prevent them from meeting with foreign diplomats. The EvangelicalChurch of Vietnam-North (ECVN) stated that obtaining recognition of its local congregations remained time consuming, although many of them had been operating stably for many years without official confirmation of their registration and, from their perspective, had fully met the registrationrequirements. The ECVN reported having more than1,350 local branches and “meeting points.” Of these, ECVN said that 44 local branches and approximately 800 meeting points were registered. During the year, local authorities registered two new local branches out of seven applications and reportedthat “a few” meeting points successfully registered. The ECVN stated it experienced difficulties registering its meeting points with local authorities mostly in mountainous areas, including Lai Chau, Ha Giang, Cao Bang, Dien Bien, and Nghe An Provinces. Authorities had registered approximately half ofan estimated 150 meeting points of the Vietnam Baptist Convention (VBC) in the country. During the year, few meeting points affiliated with the VBC received registration while many VBC meeting points managed to register as affiliates of other recognized organizations. The majority of VBC meetingpoints in northern mountainous areas were registered. By the end of the year, local authorities had registered approximately 25 of 28 VBC meeting points in northern mountainous provinces. However, none of the nine meeting points in the northern delta provinces received registration approval.Despite lacking registration, many of these groups continued to meet without interruption. Authorities required most, if not all, applicants seeking registration of their religious group or recognition of their organization to include in their applications language stating the organization would be inharmony with the nation’s political ideology. For example, the Catholic Church used the slogan “Live the gospel amidst the nation,” while the VBS used “dharma, nation, and socialism.” Religious groups continued to publicize the slogans after their registration and recognition. According to Catholicleaders, parishes in remote areas or with majority ethnic minority populations continued to face difficulty registering with provincial authorities due to an inconsistent application of national laws. Catholic leaders reported that the most problematic regions were in the Central Highlands (Gia Lai, DakLak, Dak Nong, Kon Tum, and Lam Dong Provinces) and the Northwest Highlands, including Hoa Binh, Son La, Lao Cai, and Yen Bai Provinces. Similar to prior years, Protestant leaders continued to report local authorities interpreted and enforced the law inconsistently when processing registrationapplications for local congregations. Local authorities in Noong Luong Commune, Dien Bien District, Dien Bien Province, for example, continued to deny the registration applications of an independent Pentecostal congregation, stating the congregation was affiliated with an unrecognized religiousgroup. The group’s religious leader, however, said the law did not require a local congregation to be affiliated with a recognized organization to receive registration. The leader also noted that the local congregation had been active for nearly 30 years before filing a registration application in 2017. DienBien authorities continued to deny registration of the Assembly of God of Vietnamese People (Hoi Thanh Phuc Am Ngu Tuan Nguoi Viet), stating that the applicant’s dogma was indistinguishable from that of the recognized Assembly of God of Vietnam (Giao hoi Phuc Am Ngu Tuan Viet Nam). Similarly,local authorities in Bac Can, Hung Yen, and Phu Tho Provinces continued to deny registrations of Pentecostal groups that refused to affiliate themselves to recognized organizations. The VBC stated that authorities continued to deny registration requests for new local congregations in many provinces,including in Thanh Hoa, Hanoi, Hai Phong, Quang Ninh, Hai Duong Provinces and in the Northwest Highlands. Local authorities encouraged registration of these new local congregations under recognized organizations. Religious leaders stated that the central authorities continued to deny applicationsof several Protestant groups, including the VBC and United Presbyterian Church in Vietnam. Religious freedom advocates stated that the determining factor as to whether local authorities approved a registration application was more closely linked to the religious group’s perspective on politics than onreligious dogma or legal requirements. The GCRA continued to deny public access to pending registration applications. There were continued reports of local authorities requiring a list of all members and their biographies from religious groups seeking registration, and extensive biographicalinformation about their extended families. Religious leaders expressed concern that the lists, which were not required by law, would be used to target members for harassment or limit the ability of groups to register new members in the future. Religious leaders reported local authorities continued toobstruct the assignment and transfer of religious leaders to unregistered local congregations, particularly leaders assigned to areas outside of their home provinces or leaders the government considered outspoken on social and political issues. Sources stated that authorities monitored, prevented, ordisrupted the gatherings of banned and some unregistered religious groups and harassed their members, including through confiscating their property, intimidation, questioning, and restricting their movement. There were reports of local authorities interrupting religious services due to allegedregistration or permitting issues. On March 22, local authorities of Dak Nong Commune, Ngoc Hoi District, Kon Tum Province disrupted a Mass celebrated by Father Le Tien of Dak Giac Catholic parish. According to the local authorities, the Mass was an illegal religious gathering conducted at anunregistered location without a permit. Similar to prior years, religious leaders in urban areas – of both registered and unregistered groups – stated that authorities generally permitted them to practice as long as they acted in accordance with legal and administrative requirements that applied toreligious organizations. Jehovah’s Witnesses reported holding positive and productive conversations with the government during the year to further the community’s longstanding request for national registration. Unrecognized religious denominations operating in the Central and NorthwestHighlands and in certain parts of the Mekong Delta – especially those that had a predominantly ethnic minority following – more frequently reported harassment from government officials than other religious groups. Recognized religious denominations in these areas continued to report rapid growthand generally fewer problems with officials. Prisoners generally had access to religious materials of all registered church groups. According to the White Book on Religion, authorities distributed thousands of copies of 17 religious titles to all 54 detention center libraries. The publications distributedincluded religious texts, including the Bible and several Buddhist texts, and publications on the country’s religion-related laws and policies. Prisoners and detainees who were religious adherents were also allowed to conduct certain religious activities such as holding prayer groups, as long as theseactivities did not disturb other prisoners. Although the law allows recognized religious organizations to establish and run their own media press agencies while prohibiting the publication of any materials, including religious materials, without government approval, some private, unlicensed publishinghouses continued to unofficially print and distribute religious texts without active government interference. Authorities confiscated and destroyed religious texts of unregistered religious groups that were labelled “evil-way” religions. Other licensed publishers printed books on religion. Publishers hadpermission to print the Bible in Vietnamese and other languages, including Chinese, Ede, Jarai, Banar, M’nong, H’mong, C’ho, and English. Other published texts included works pertaining to ancestor worship, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, and Cao Dai. Provincial and local authorities continued toexercise eminent domain over land, including land occupied by religious organizations, to further social and economic development projects. Authorities continued many projects that required the revocation of land rights and the demolition of properties of religious organizations or individuals acrossthe country. Some religious leaders reported that authorities did not intervene transparently, fairly, or effectively in many land disputes that involved religious organizations or believers, and that in most of these cases, they were unsuccessful in retaining land use rights. Such disputes involvedrecognized, registered, and unregistered religious organizations. Members of some unregistered religious groups, including independent Pentecostals in Dien Bien, unregistered Baptists in Thanh Hoa, Duong Van Minh followers in Tuyen Quang, Bac Can, Thai Nguyen, and Cao Bang Provinces, andethnic minority Protestants in the Central Highlands, continued to report administrative difficulties and inability to access social welfare benefits. Individuals from these groups stated that local authorities told them the “difficulties would go away” if they recanted their faith. Duong Van Minhfollowers in Bao Lam District, Cao Bang Province, for example, said local authorities denied requests for social assistance benefits from their members in April. The district’s primary school requested any pupils whose parents followed Duong Van Minh to submit residential registrations to be able toreceive ethnic minorities’ entitlements. Local police refused to provide such registrations if the parents did not recant their faith. According to local media, this was part of an intensive government campaign in northern mountainous provinces conducted in 2022 and early 2023 against Duong Van Minhfollowers. By June, many local authorities had announced their localities were free of Duong Van Minh influence and began approving public benefits. Most representatives of religious groups continued to report anecdotally that adherence to a registered religious group generally did not seriouslydisadvantage individuals in nongovernmental, civil, economic, and secular life, but that adherence to an unregistered group was disadvantageous. Religious leaders said that religious belief itself did not lead to official discrimination, but rather it was the implication of being affiliated with any type ofextralegal group that could attract additional scrutiny from authorities. Practitioners of various registered religious groups served in local and provincial government positions and were represented in the National Assembly. Many nationally recognized religious organizations, such as the VBS, as wellas other clergy and religious followers, were members of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, a Communist Party organ. High-ranking government officials sent greetings and visited churches during Christmas and Easter and attended Vesak activities commemorating the birth of the Buddha. Thegovernment continued efforts to deepen knowledge about the LBR and religious policies among government officials and religious adherents. Authorities also called for registered and recognized religious organizations to share publicly more information about their dogma and belief systems in aneffort to persuade religious adherents to affiliate with established faith groups rather than with “new religious movements” or groups about which the government lacked information. State-run media and progovernment blogs continued to accuse leaders of unregistered religious groups and memberswho were vocal in their opposition to the government of exploiting religion for personal gain and of “undermining national unity policies” or “abusing democratic freedom to infringe upon national security.” State-run media, including the People’s Police newspaper of the Ministry of Public Security,and progovernment blogs such as Comrade Commissar (Don Vi Tac Chien Dien Tu) and Chicken-farm Taos (Dao si chan ga) accused independent Central Highland religious leaders of “colluding with hostile forces” and said that criticism from independent religious leaders was fabricated or based ondistorted information to tarnish the Communist Party and state, “to sow seeds of division,” or “to disrupt social order.” In what observers stated was a continuing trend, local authorities permitted religious organizations to operate social services and gather for training on topics such as mindfulness.According to the GCRA, religious organizations ran approximately 300 preprimary schools, 2,000 education institutions for early childhood, 12 vocational training institutions, and more than 500 medical institutions and clinics; this included some educational institutions managed by unregisteredchurches. Religious organizations, mostly those affiliated with the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, Catholic Church, and registered Cao Dai, ran 113 social centers providing housing and support to nearly 12,000 people in need. Many faith-based drug rehabilitation centers reported operating successfullydespite lacking official recognition. Authorities continued working closely with religious leaders of recognized religious groups and representatives of belief institutions to promote the Law on Religion and Belief and relevant policies. For example, on September 13, the Vietnam Fatherland Front of EaKar District organized a dialogue between the district leadership and leaders of recognized local congregations in the district. During the dialogue, religious leaders questioned local officials about issues affecting their congregants, from religion-related issues such as registration to non-religiousissues, including bad roads and inflation. Authorities promoted the admission to the Communist Party of members who were believers and ethnic minorities. Authorities also encouraged religious leaders and members of recognized religious groups to join elected People’s Councils and the VietnamFatherland Front (VFF), from central to local levels. The VFF at different levels organized dialogues between local authorities and religious leaders of recognized groups and registered congregations.Human rights instruments: Vietnam is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP;Vietnam did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (not free; restricted); hieroncy (not free; restricted, especially for propagational use); monasticism (not free; subject to registration); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free; subject to registration); pastoral services (not free;subject to registration; restricted); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (not free; subject to registration; restricted); public expression and observance (free); receiving donations (not free; subject to registration); religiousbuildings (not free; subject to registration); religious instruction (not free; subject to registration); religious literature (not free; subject to registration; restricted); religious and worship services (not free; subject to registration; restricted);religious trade (not free; subject to registration).Protections: Implicit protection against discrimination on the basis of religion was affirmed in the latest revisedconstitution from 2013.Conditions of state recognition and registration2024 RoRB Classification: TerminalYemen,Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsComplete dismantlement of the present apparatus of laws restricting all forms of non-Islamic religious practice andbelief; blasphemy, conversion and proselytism are all terminally restricted and normativism perpetuates theserestrictions which means that more sophisticated means of religious recognition and religious education should beestablished to resolve issues of normativism; establish a recognition system for the country in order to provideexistential recognition and legal registration to all belief systems and their derivatives.Secularity: Islam is the state religion and sharia is the source of legislation; theismwas affirmed in the latest revised constitution from 2015 and is also affirmed in thepresidential oath; this same constitution states that the president must be Muslim.Mandatoriness of registration: non-registration and malregistration.Registration policy: non-registration – there is no provision for the registration of religious groups. The law prohibitsNGO involvement in political or religious activities. By law, the government must authorize construction of new buildings.The law, however, does not mention places of worship specifically. The law criminalizes “assaulting the sanctity of faith”and prescribes up to one year’s imprisonment or a fine of up to 2,000 rials ($4) to a person who “destroys ormisrepresents or profanes a mosque” or other government-authorized religious site or disrupts religious rituals.Malregistration – the ongoing Yemeni civil war undermines the government’s enforcement of the constitutionalprotections for religious communities.Recognition policy: the constitution states that the president must be a Muslim who “practices his Islamic duties”;however, it allows non-Muslims to run for parliament, as long as they “fulfil their religious duties.”199Key restriction tools imposed: apostasy laws, criminalisation of the criticism of religion, non-recognition for any non-Islamic religion or denomination as well as some Islamic new religious movements, proselytising Muslims is prohibited,the importation of religious materials (hieroncy) for propagational purposes is prohibited, the state must authorise theconstruction of any new buildings in the country (which is presumed to include places of worship and other kinds ofreligious buildings). The law prohibits proselytizing directed at Muslims. Government authorities reportedly permittedprisoners and detainees to engage in Islamic religious observances but prevented religious minorities from practicingtheir faiths. In March, the NGO Freedom House released the Freedom in the World 2023 report. In it, the NGO stated thatassassinations and other violent attacks on clerics had increased since regional powers escalated the civil war in 2015and that combatants from all sides of the conflict had destroyed many religious buildings across the country. FreedomHouse stated there were reports that government-affiliated forces allegedly seized or destroyed Shia religious sites.Members of the Jewish community were not eligible to serve in the military or national government. Authorities forbadethem from carrying the ceremonial national dagger.Human rights instruments: Yemen is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, andthe UNDRIP; Yemen did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (not free; illegal to convert from Islam); hieroncy (not free; non-Islamic religious materials illegal);monasticism (not free; restricted); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free; restricted); pastoral services (not free;restricted); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (not free; illegal to proselytise Muslims); publicexpression and observance (not free; restricted); receiving donations (not free; restricted); religious buildings (notfree; restricted); religious instruction (not free; restricted); religious literature (not free; subject to registration);religious and worship services (not free; restricted); religious trade (not free; restricted).Protections: Implicit protection against discrimination on the basis of religion wasaffirmed in the latest revised constitution from 2015.Conditions of state recognition and registration2024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveZambia,Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsDismantlement of the present apparatus of laws restricting the registration of religious groups; establish a recognition agency to managethe recognition system in a capacity independent of government; this in order for the country to qualify for being dynamic; the “motherbody” structure can remain in place but clear and non-onerous procedures must be put in place for alternative belief systems to establishtheir own mother bodies.Secularity: Christianity is the state religion; theism was affirmed in the latestrevised constitution from 2016.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: broad mandatory registration – all religious groups are required to affiliate with an umbrella body, often referred toas a “mother body,” which gathers individual churches and denominations under one administrative authority. There are 14 motherbodies, seven Christian and seven non-Christian. These are the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB), Council of Churches inZambia (CCZ), Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ), Independent Churches of Zambia, Apostles Council of Churches, Seventh-dayAdventist Church, Christian Missions in Many Lands, Islamic Supreme Council of Zambia (ISCZ), Hindu Association of Zambia, GuruNanak Council of Zambia, Jewish Board of Deputies Zambia, Rastafarians, Council for Zambia Jewry, and Baha’i Faith in Zambia. Thelargest mother bodies are the ZCCB, EFZ, and CCZ. The Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security retains the discretion to register anyreligious entity. To register, a group must have a unique name, a recommendation letter from its mother body, and a document listing theclergy’s professional qualifications from a “recognized and reputable” theological school, but the government provides no specificdefinition or list of qualifying institutions. The Office of the Chief Registrar of Societies then conducts a preliminary assessment of theapplicant group’s authenticity and religious purpose as well as a security check. Religious groups must pay a one-time fee of 3,000 kwacha($120) to establish registration and 100 kwacha ($4) every year to retain it. Registered religious groups are also required to adhere to lawspertaining to employment practices and criminal conduct. The Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security has the legal authority torevoke the registration of religious groups. Grounds for revocation include failure to pay registration fees or the Minister’s assessmentthat the group has professed purposes, or has taken, or intends to take actions that run counter to the interests of “peace, welfare, or goodorder.” Groups may appeal the Minister’s finding in the courts. The government has the authority to levy fines and prison sentences of upto seven years against unregistered religious groups and their members. The law provides for privileged tax treatment for public benefitorganizations, including religious groups, provided they are established for the promotion of religion, education, and relief of poverty orother distress. The Department of Immigration under the Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security has a mandate to approve or denypermits and visas for travelers coming into the country for religious activities. For any foreign clergy entering the country, the sponsoringreligious group must provide proof of legal registration as a religious group in the country, a recommendation letter from their alignedmother body, and clearance from clergy in the country of origin. This documentation is presented to the Department of Immigration.200Key restriction tools imposed: criminalisation of unregistration leading to possible fines and imprisonment for up to seven years for bothgroup leaders and group members, grounds for deregistration are ambiguous and could easily be misused against religious groupsunfavoured by the state, multi-registration, nominal restriction, recognition is granted through a restrictive system of umbrella "motherbodies", registration fee of $210 exceeds the $100 threshold set down by RoRB standards, restrictive qualifications are demanded forregistered status. Through statements by the President and various government ministers, the government confirmed Zambia’s positionas a Christian nation, and reiterated its willingness to continue partnering with the religious community in ensuring Zambia upheld“Christian values.” In a speech read on the Vice President’s behalf on July 1, Mines and Minerals Development Minister Paul Kabuswe, saidthe government remained committed to working with and supporting the religious community in its efforts to provide moral guidance andcharity to the people. Throughout the year, the government expressed commitment to developing self-regulatory frameworks for churchand religious umbrella groups, promoting interdenominational dialogue, preserving religious heritage sites, and coordinating publicreligious celebrations, through the Office of the Vice President. These included the commemoration of Zambia’s declaration as a Christiannation (December 29), the National Day of Prayer, Fasting, and Repentance (October 18), and World Prayer Day (first Friday in March). Thegovernment again did not register any new mother bodies during the year. A moratorium imposed in 2019 on the registration of newchurches and religious groups remained in force pending adoption of a new policy on minimum standards for churches and religiousgroups that would be included in the government’s framework for registering churches. At year’s end, the government had not announceda new policy. On December 29, the country commemorated its 1992 declaration as a Christian nation. During the event to mark thedeclaration, President Hichilema emphasized the critical role Christianity played in shaping the country’s values and fostering peace.Human rights instruments: Zambia is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, theUNCRC, and the UNDRIP; Zambia did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (not free; possibly subject to registration); monasticism (not free; subject to registration); nuptial, initiatoryand burial rites (not free; subject to registration); pastoral services (not free; subject to registration); private expression and observance(free); proselytism (not free; subject to registration); public expression and observance (free); receiving donations (not free; subject toregistration); religious buildings (not free; subject to registration); religious instruction (not free; subject to registration); religiousliterature (not free; subject to registration); religious and worship services (not free; subject to registration); religious trade (not free;subject to registration).Protections: Implicit protection against discrimination on the basis of “creed” wasaffirmed in the latest revised constitution from 2016.Conditions of state recognition and registration2024 RoRB Classification: RestrictiveZimbabwe, Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsEstablish a reorganised recognition system that has the capacity to provide both existential recognition and legal registration; theumbrella body structure can remain as long as it is no longer used as a means of restriction and therefore only on the stipulation that it isexpanded to include all belief systems to ensure that more diversity is allowed in the country; revoke the dual registration policy and themisuse of broad grounds for deregistration against unfavoured religious groups; to become Dynamic, establish a recognition agencyindependent of the government that manages the established recognition system.Secularity: Zimbabwe is officially a secular state; however, Christianityreceives preferential treatment; theism was affirmed in the latest constitutionfrom 2013 and is also affirmed in the national pledge.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: stipulatory registration – Zimbabwean law does not mandate that religious or belief organisations register with thegovernment to operate legally. The government does not require religious groups to register, although religious groups operating schoolsor medical facilities must register those institutions with the appropriate ministry. Religious groups, as well as schools and medicalfacilities run by religious groups, may receive tax-exempt status. Income earned by churches and religious institutions from trade andinvestments, however, is subject to taxes. Religious groups may apply for tax-exempt status and duty-free privileges with the ZimbabweRevenue Authority, which generally grants these requests. To obtain tax-exempt status, a group is required to bring a letter of approvalfrom a church umbrella organization confirming the group’s status as a religious group. Examples of organizations that can approve suchletters include the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops Conference (ZCBC), Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC), the Apostolic Christian Councilof Zimbabwe, and the Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs in Zimbabwe (SCIAZ). The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority generally grants acertificate of tax-exempt status within two to three days of receipt. The law requires all international NGOs registered as PrivateVolutnary Organizations (PVOs), including religiously affiliated NGOs, to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with thegovernment defining the NGO’s activities and zones of geographic coverage. The law stipulates international NGOs “shall not digress intoprograms that are not specified in the MOU as agreed upon by line ministries and registered by the Registrar.” Local NGOs, includingthose that are faith-based, have no legal requirements to sign an MOU with the government but are required by law to notify localauthorities of their intended operations prior to their registration. The law gives the government the authority to “deregister any privatevoluntary organization that fails to comply with its conditions of registration.”Recognition policy: the law explicitly recognizes the roles of faith leaders practicing Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, and “any religion” tosolemnize marriages according to the rites of their respective faiths.201Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, baseless denials of registration (e.g. Humanist Society of Zimbabwe), dual registration,GFOs must follow a different registration procedure to local groups, grounds for deregistration are ambiguous enough to be misused by thestate against groups it does not favour, registration procedures are based on a restrictive umbrella body system in which religious groupsmust achieve a letter of approval from one of the government-approved umbrella bodies and present this letter as part of their registrationapplication to the government. Religious and civil society groups reported increased government monitoring of public events, prayerrallies, church congregations, and activities of religiously affiliated NGOs perceived to be critical of the government. NGOs and religiousleaders continued to report security services targeted some religious officials who engaged in political discourse perceived as negativetoward the government. One religious leader stated while the government respected freedom of worship, it did not respect freedom ofspeech, which forced some religious leaders to self-censor their speeches. Another religious leader reported receiving phone calls fromunknown persons warning religious leaders to be careful of what they say in sermons and in messages in pastoral letters. According to thereligious leader, in some cases the unknown callers told religious leaders, “We are watching your statements.” In September 2023,President Mnangagwa encouraged Parliament to prioritize finalizing amendments to the PVO Act. Members of civil society groups, said ifpassed in the current draft, the amendments would require all trusts, including faith-based organizations, to register as PVOs. Accordingto the representatives, the amendments would increase reporting requirements for PVOs, impose vague and potentially arbitraryregistration requirements that could limit legitimate civil society work, ban immoral or illegitimate funding sources (without definingwhat these are), criminalize work perceived to support or work against any political party or candidate, set civil and criminal penalties forlack of compliance, and allow the government to suspend board members and replace them with government-appointed trustees whocould control a PVO’s funding and operations, with few limitations. A religious leader stated the government explained the rationalebehind the PVO Act was to curb money laundering by some unscrupulous businesses registered as trusts. A different leader stated PresidentMnangagwa delayed signing the bill in the previous session of parliament because of submissions from civil society and church leadershighlighting its likely negative implications. The religious leader said he and other religious leaders planned to engage parliamentarians tourge them to reject the bill once parliamentary debate began. The government continued to enforce a 2018 ban on all radio and state-runtelevision programs advertising prophets and traditional healing, for example selling “tickets to heaven” or a traditional cure forHIV/AIDS. Sources said, however, that the proliferation of online media made these bans less effective.Human rights instruments: Zimbabwe is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and theUNDRIP; Zimbabwe did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free); privateexpression and observance (free); proselytism (not free; subject to registration); public expression and observance (free); receivingdonations (free); religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religious literature (free); religious and worship services (free);religious trade (free).Protections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of religion was affirmed inthe latest revised constitution from 2013.Conditions of state recognition and registration202Abkhazia,Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.2024 RoRB Classification: CensoriousRecommendationsRevoke the prohibition of Jehovah’s Witnesses and any other form of religious prohibition.Secularity: Abkhazia is officially a secular territory; however, theAbkhazian Orthodox Church, which declared its independence from theGeorgian Orthodox Church in 2009, receives preferential treatment.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: broad mandatory registration – influenced by Russian law, Abkhazianauthorities mandate that all religious or belief organisations must register and notify authoritiesof their activities to operate legally in the occupied territory.RECOGNITION AND REGISTRATIONPOLICY BY DEPENDENT OR DISPUTED TERRITORYKey restriction tools imposed: prohibition of Jehovah's Witnesses since 1995 although this is notstrictly enforced by the territory, some religious figures in Abkhazia continued to support turningthe region’s Orthodox churches into an autocephalous Abkhaz Orthodox Church, sources said theRussian Orthodox Church tacitly supported the autocephalic ambitions of breakaway churcheswithout seeking formal recognition of their autocephaly from the Georgian Orthodox Church (GOC).In Abkhazia, de facto authorities prohibited GOC clergy from entering the region. Most GOCworshippers in Abkhazia were unable to travel to Tbilisi-administered territory to celebrateOrthodox Christmas or Orthodox Easter due to lacking Abkhazia “passports.”Human rights instruments: Abkhazia is partied to the UNCRC; Abkhaziais neither partied to the ICCPR nor the ICESCR; Abkhazia did not vote onthe UDHR or the UNDRIP; Abkhazia is not partied to the ECHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (not free; restricted); hieroncy (not free; restricted); monasticism (not free; restricted);nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free; restricted); pastoral services (not free; restricted);private expression and observance (free); proselytism (not free; restricted); public expression andobservance (free); receiving donations (not free; restricted); religious buildings (not free;restricted); religious instruction (not free; restricted); religious literature (not free; restricted);religious and worship services (not free; restricted); religious trade (not free; restricted).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis ofreligion was affirmed in the latest constitution from 1999.AmericanSamoaFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.2024 RoRB Classification: ApatheticSecularity: American Samoa is a secular territory; theism wasaffirmed in the latest constitution from 1967; theism is affirmedin the national oath.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: religious or belief organisations are notobligated by law to register with the government to operate legally inAmerican Samoa.203Human rights instruments: American Samoa is partied to theUNCRC; American Samoa is neither partied to the ICCPR nor theICESCR; American Samoa did not vote on the UDHR or the UNDRIP.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial,initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free); privateexpression and observance (free); proselytism (free); publicexpression and observance (free); receiving donations (free);religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religiousliterature (free); religious and worship services (free); religioustrade (free).Protections: Implicit protection against discrimination on the basisof religion was affirmed in the latest constitution from 1967.Conditions of state recognition and registration204AnguillaFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.Secularity: Anguilla is a secular territory.2024 RoRB Classification: ApatheticMandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: religious or belief organisations are notmandated by law to register with the government in order to operatelegally in Anguilla.Human rights instruments: Anguilla is partied to the UNCRC;Anguilla is neither partied to the ICCPR nor the ICESCR; Anguilla didnot vote on the UDHR or the UNDRIP; Anguilla is partied to theECHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial,initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free); privateexpression and observance (free); proselytism (free); publicexpression and observance (free); receiving donations (free);religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religiousliterature (free); religious and worship services (free); religioustrade (free).Protections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basisof “creed” was affirmed in the Anguilla Constitution Order 1982.Conditions of state recognition and registrationFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.2052024 RoRB Classification: ApatheticAruba,Country ofSecularity: Aruba is a secular territory.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: religious or belief organisations are notmandated by law to register with the government in order tooperate legally in Aruba.Human rights instruments: Aruba is partied to the UNCRC; Aruba isalso partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR and the UNDRIP via theNetherlands; Aruba did not vote on the UDHR; Aruba is partied tothe ECHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial,initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free); privateexpression and observance (free); proselytism (free); publicexpression and observance (free); receiving donations (free);religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religiousliterature (free); religious and worship services (free); religioustrade (free).Protections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basisof religion was affirmed in the latest constitution from 1986.Conditions of state recognition and registrationBermudaSecularity: Bermuda is a secular territory;theism is affirmed in the oath of allegianceand judicial oath.2062024 RoRB Classification: ApatheticFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: religious or belief organisations are notmandated by law to register with the government to operate legallyin Bermuda.Recognition policy: in Bermuda, laws support the legality ofreligious marriages, including Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and Baha’imarriages. The law supports civil unions for heterosexual and same-sex couples. Civil union ceremonies must be performed by theregistrar general, deputy registrar, or domestic partnership officer,with two witnesses.Human rights instruments: Bermuda is partied to the ICCPR, theICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP either by its own ratification orvia the United Kingdom; United Kingdom voted in favour of theUDHR; Bermuda is partied to the ECHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial,initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free); privateexpression and observance (free); proselytism (free); publicexpression and observance (free); receiving donations (free);religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religiousliterature (free); religious and worship services (free); religioustrade (free).Protections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basisof “creed” was affirmed in the Bermuda Constitution Order 1968.Conditions of state recognition and registration2072024 RoRB Classification: ApatheticBritish VirginIslandsFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.Secularity: British Virgin Islands is a secular territory; theism wasaffirmed in the latest constitution from 2007; theism is affirmed inthe oath of allegiance.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: religious or belief organisations are notmandated by law to register with the government to operate legallyin the British Virgin Islands.Human rights instruments: British Virgin Islands is partied tothe ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP either by itsown ratification or via the United Kingdom; United Kingdomvoted in favour of the UDHR; British Virgin Islands is partied tothe ECHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial,initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free); privateexpression and observance (free); proselytism (free); publicexpression and observance (free); receiving donations (free);religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religiousliterature (free); religious and worship services (free); religioustrade (free).Protections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basisof religion was affirmed in the latest constitution from 2007.Conditions of state recognition and registration2082024 RoRB Classification: ReceptiveCayman IslandsFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.Secularity: Cayman Islands is a secularterritory; theism is affirmed in the oath ofallegiance.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: religious or belief organisations are notmandated by law to register with the government to operate legallyin the Cayman Islands.Human rights instruments: Cayman Islands is partied to theICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP either by its ownratification or via the United Kingdom; United Kingdom voted infavour of the UDHR; Cayman Islands is partied to the ECHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial,initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free); privateexpression and observance (free); proselytism (free); publicexpression and observance (free); receiving donations (free);religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religiousliterature (free); religious and worship services (free); religioustrade (free).Protections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basisof religion was affirmed in the Cayman Islands Constitution Order2009.Conditions of state recognition and registration2024 RoRB Classification: Restrictive209CookIslandsFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsRevoke the prime minister’s exercise of an authoritative decree.Secularity: Cook Islands is a secularterritory; theism is affirmed in the oath ofallegiance.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: registration is directly controlled by theprime minister.Key restriction tools imposed: authoritative decree (by way ofthe prime minister's direct approval of a religious group).Human rights instruments: Cook Islands is partied to theUNCRC; Cook Islands is not partied to the ICCPR or the ICESCR;Cook Islands did not vote on the UDHR or the UNDRIP.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial,initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free); privateexpression and observance (free); proselytism (free); publicexpression and observance (free); receiving donations (free);religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religiousliterature (free); religious and worship services (free); religioustrade (free).Protections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basisof religion was affirmed in the latest constitution from 1965.Conditions of state recognition and registration2102024 RoRB Classification: CensoriousCrimea,Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsDenounce the forced reregistration and deregistration orders;denounce the Russian Federation's exportation of worst practice inCrimea on matters regarding religious activity.Secularity: Crimea is officially a secular territory; however, theRussian Orthodox Church receives preferential treatment.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: mandatory registration – the Russian occupyingfocuses have instituted a mandatory registration policy for religiousgroups in Crimea that much reflects the mandatory registration orderenforced throughout Russia.Key restriction tools imposed: forced reregistration under new ruleswhich sharply reduced the number of registered groups in the territory,mass deregistration of religious groups, Russia's exportation of worstpractice regarding religious recognition and registration procedures.Basic religious activitiesConversion (not free; restricted); hieroncy (not free; restricted);monasticism (not free; subject to registration); nuptial, initiatoryand burial rites (not free; subject to registration); pastoral services(not free; subject to registration); private expression andobservance (free); proselytism (not free; illegal); public expressionand observance (not free; restricted); receiving donations (not free;subject to registration); religious buildings (not free; subject toregistration); religious instruction (not free; subject toregistration); religious literature (not free; subject to registration);religious and worship services (not free; subject to registration);religious trade (not free; subject to registration).Conditions of state recognition and registrationFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.2112024 RoRB Classification: ApatheticCuraçao,Country ofSecularity: Curaçao is a secular territory.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: religious or belief organisations are notmandated by law to register with the government to operate legallyin Curaçao.Human rights instruments: Curaçao is partied to the UNCRC;Curaçao is partied to the ICCPR and the ICESCR via the Netherlands;Curaçao did not vote on either the UDHR or the UNDRIP; Curaçao ispartied to the ECHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial,initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free); privateexpression and observance (free); proselytism (free); publicexpression and observance (free); receiving donations (free);religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religiousliterature (free); religious and worship services (free); religioustrade (free).Protections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basisof religion was affirmed in the latest constitution from 2010.Conditions of state recognition and registrationSecularity: Donetsk and Luhansk are bothofficially secular territories; however, theRussian Orthodox Church receivespreferential treatment.212FoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made in thedraft constitutions of both Republics.2024 RoRB Classification: TerminalEastern DonbasRecommendationsDenounce the deregistration order; denounce the Russian Federation'sexportation of worst practice into the Donbas on matters regarding religiousactivity; revoke the prohibition of Jehovah's Witnesses and reinstate their right tolegally operate in the region.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: mandatory registration – theRussian Federation applies its own registrationlaws in the territory its occupies in Eastern Donbas.Donetsk People's Republic Luhansk People's RepublicKey restriction tools imposed: mass deregistration, police raids, prohibition ofJehovah's Witnesses since 2018, Russia's exportation of worst practiceregarding religious recognition and registration procedures.Basic religious activitiesConversion (not free; restricted); hieroncy (not free; restricted); monasticism(not free; subject to registration); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free;subject to registration); pastoral services (not free; subject to registration);private expression and observance (free); proselytism (not free; illegal); publicexpression and observance (not free; restricted); receiving donations (not free;subject to registration); religious buildings (not free; subject to registration);religious instruction (not free; subject to registration); religious literature (notfree; subject to registration); religious and worship services (not free; subject toregistration); religious trade (not free; subject to registration).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection againstdiscrimination on the basis of religion wasaffirmed in the latest constitution for theDonetsk People’s Republic from 2014.Secularity: Falkland Islands is a secularterritory.2132024 RoRB Classification: ApatheticFalkland IslandsFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: religious or belief organisations are notmandate by law to register with the government to operate legally inthe Falkland Islands.Human rights instruments: Falkland Islands is partied to the ICCPR,the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP either by its ownratification or via the United Kingdom; United Kingdom voted infavour of the UDHR; Falkland Islands is partied to the ECHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial,initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free); privateexpression and observance (free); proselytism (free); publicexpression and observance (free); receiving donations (free);religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religiousliterature (free); religious and worship services (free); religioustrade (free).Protections: Explicit protection was granted in the Falkland IslandsConstitution Order 1985 against discrimination on the basis ofreligion.Conditions of state recognition and registrationSecularity: Church of the Faroe Islands is thestate denomination.2142024 RoRB Classification: ReceptiveFaroe IslandsFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: religious or belief organisations are notmandate by law to register with the government to operate legally inthe Faroe Islands.Human rights instruments: Faroe Islands is partied to the ICCPR, theICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP by way of Denmark; Denmarkvoted in favour of the UDHR; Faroe Islands is partied to the ECHR byway of Denmark.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial,initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free); privateexpression and observance (free); proselytism (free); publicexpression and observance (free); receiving donations (free);religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religiousliterature (free); religious and worship services (free); religioustrade (free).Protections: No protection was specifically granted in the 1953Danish constitution against discrimination on the basis of religion.Conditions of state recognition and registrationSecularity: French Guiana is a secularterritory.2152024 RoRB Classification: ApatheticFrench GuianaFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: religious or belief organisations are notmandate by law to register with the government to operate legally inFrench Guiana.Human rights instruments: French Guiana is partied to the ICCPR,the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP by way of France; FrenchGuiana voted in favour of the UDHR; French Guiana is partied to theECHR by way of France.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial,initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free); privateexpression and observance (free); proselytism (free); publicexpression and observance (free); receiving donations (free);religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religiousliterature (free); religious and worship services (free); religioustrade (free).Protections: Explicit protection was granted in the latest Frenchconstitution from 2008 against discrimination on the basis ofreligion.Conditions of state recognition and registrationSecularity: French Polynesia is a secularterritory.2162024 RoRB Classification: ApatheticFrench PolynesiaFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: religious or belief organisations are notmandate by law to register with the government to operate legally inFrench Polynesia.Human rights instruments: French Polynesia is partied to the ICCPR,the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP by way of France; FrenchPolynesia voted in favour of the UDHR; French Polynesia is partied tothe ECHR by way of France.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial,initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free); privateexpression and observance (free); proselytism (free); publicexpression and observance (free); receiving donations (free);religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religiousliterature (free); religious and worship services (free); religioustrade (free).Protections: Explicit protection was granted in the latest Frenchconstitution from 2008 against discrimination on the basis ofreligion.Conditions of state recognition and registrationSecularity: Gibraltar is a secular territory;theism is affirmed in the oath of allegiance.2172024 RoRB Classification: ApatheticGibraltarFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: religious or belief organisations are notmandated by law to register with the government to operate legallyin Gibraltar.Human rights instruments: Gibraltar is partied is the ICCPR, theICESCR, and the UNDRIP via the United Kingdom; Gibraltar is notpartied to the UNCRC; United Kingdom voted in favour of the UDHR;Gibraltar is partied to the ECHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial,initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free); privateexpression and observance (free); proselytism (free); publicexpression and observance (free); receiving donations (free);religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religiousliterature (free); religious and worship services (free); religioustrade (free).Protections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basisof “creed” was affirmed in the Gibraltar Constitution Order 2006.Conditions of state recognition and registrationSecularity: Evangelical-Lutheran Church inDenmark is the state denomination.2182024 RoRB Classification: ReceptiveGreenlandFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: religious or belief organisations are notmandated by law to register with the government to operate legallyin Greenland.Human rights instruments: Greenland is partied to the ICCPR, theICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP by way of Denmark; Denmarkvoted in favour of the UDHR; Greenland is partied to the ECHR byway of Denmark.Conditions of state recognition and registrationBasic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial,initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free); privateexpression and observance (free); proselytism (free); publicexpression and observance (free); receiving donations (free);religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religiousliterature (free); religious and worship services (free); religioustrade (free).Protections: No protection was specifically granted inthe 1953 Danish constitution against discrimination onthe basis of religion.Secularity: Guadeloupe is a secular territory.2192024 RoRB Classification: ApatheticGuadeloupeFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: religious or belief organisations are notmandated by law to register with the government to operate legallyin Guadeloupe.Conditions of state recognition and registrationBasic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial,initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free); privateexpression and observance (free); proselytism (free); publicexpression and observance (free); receiving donations (free);religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religiousliterature (free); religious and worship services (free); religioustrade (free).Human rights instruments: Guadeloupe is partied to the ICCPR, theICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP by way of France; Guadeloupevoted in favour of the UDHR; Guadeloupe is partied to the ECHR byway of France.Protections: Explicit protection was granted inthe latest French constitution from 2008against discrimination on the basis of religion.Secularity: Guam is a secular territory.2202024 RoRB Classification: ApatheticGuamFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: religious or belief organisations are notmandated by law to register with the government to operate legallyin Guam.Human rights instruments: Guam is partied to the ICCPR; Guam isnot partied to the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP because theUnited States either rejected these documents or failed to ratifythem; United States voted in favour of the UDHR.Conditions of state recognition and registrationBasic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial,initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free); privateexpression and observance (free); proselytism (free); publicexpression and observance (free); receiving donations (free);religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religiousliterature (free); religious and worship services (free); religioustrade (free).Protections: Explicit protection was granted in the1950 Organic Act of Guam against discrimination onthe basis of religion.Guernsey, Bailiwick of2212024 RoRB Classification: ReceptiveFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.Secularity: Church of England is the statedenomination.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: religious or belief organisations are notmandated by law to register with the government to operate legallyon Guernsey.Human rights instruments: Guernsey is not partied is the ICCPR, theICESCR, and the UNDRIP; Guernsey is also not partied to the UNCRC;Guernsey did not vote on the UDHR; Guernsey is not partied to theECHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial,initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free); privateexpression and observance (free); proselytism (free); publicexpression and observance (free); receiving donations (free);religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religiousliterature (free); religious and worship services (free); religioustrade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registration2222024 RoRB Classification: ReceptiveHong Kong SpecialAdministrativeRegionFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsDue to the ongoing encroachment of the CCP into life in Hong Kong, it is doubtful that the Special Administrative Region will maintain its statusof receptive if CCP successfully imposes anything like its own policies on religion in Hong Kong; on this basis, protection of the Basic Law ofHong Kong regarding religious freedom and religious recognition against CCP encroachment is essential as is bringing attention to the ongoingincrease of restrictions on civil life in Hong Kong; to maintain its receptivity and to become Dynamic, Hong Kong would need to establish distinctprocedures for recognising and registering religious entities anti would need to establish a recognition agency to manage its recognition systemindependent of the government.Secularity: Hong Kong is a secular territory.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: stipulatory registration – religious or belief organisations are not legally required to register with the government. Theymust, however, register to receive government benefits such as tax-exempt status, rent subsidies, government or other professionaldevelopment training, use of government facilities, or a grant to provide social services. To qualify for such benefits, a group must prove to thesatisfaction of the government that it is established solely for religious, charitable, social, or recreational reasons. Registrants must providethe name and purpose of the organization, identify its office holders, and confirm the address of the principal place of business and any otherpremises the organization owns or occupies. If a religious group registers with the government, it enters the registry of all NGOs, but thegovernment makes no adjudication on the validity of any registered groups. Religious groups may register as a society, a tax-exemptorganization, or both, provided they have at least three members who hold valid SAR identity documents; the registration process normallytakes approximately 12 working days. The Falun Dafa Association is registered as a society rather than a religious group; as a society, it mayestablish offices, collect dues from members, and have legal status. Government tax regulations provide that any group, including religiousgroups, involved in activities deemed to endanger national security would not be recognized as a charitable organization. Religious groups mayapply to the government to lease land on concessional terms through a sponsorship from the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau. Religious groupsmay apply to develop or use facilities in accordance with local legislation. The Chinese Temples Committee, led by the Secretary of the Homeand Youth Affairs Bureau, oversees the management and logistical operations of 24 of the region’s 600 temples and gives grants to othercharitable organizations. The SAR Chief Executive appoints its members. The committee provides grants to the Home and Youth Affairs Bureaufor disbursement in the form of financial assistance to individuals in need. A colonial-era law does not require new temples to register to beeligible for Temples Committee assistance.Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, membership quota, nationality quota, qualifications for registered status are ambiguous. As ofyear’s end, the trial of 91-year-old Cardinal Joseph Zen on charges that he violated the NSL by “colluding with foreign forces” remainedpending. Zen, the former Bishop of Hong Kong and an outspoken defender of civil rights in the SAR and mainland China, remained free on bail,following his arrest in December 2022. Zen had to surrender his travel documents, including his passport, to Hong Kong authorities as acondition of his bail; however, in January, the Hong Kong government allowed Zen to travel to the Vatican to attend the funeral of PopeEmeritus Benedict XVI, and media reported he met privately with Pope Francis. Media outlets reported that on March 20, a court sentencedAlan Keung, founder of independent media outlet Free HK Media and known as “Pastor Keung,” and two others to 10 months in prison forselling a “seditious book” that discussed the 2019 prodemocracy protests. Local media reported that in March, the Hong Kong TaoistAssociation canceled a scheduled parade to celebrate “Taoist Day.” Organizers instead held a religious assembly open only to members in asmall soccer field in Kowloon. The association said it had expected approximately 1,600 persons to take part in the parade. An organizer toldmedia outlets the group moved the event because police did not approve organizers’ request to hold the march, but police officials did not replyto media inquiries about whether they objected to the demonstration. Government officials and legislative council members attended thestadium rally. A November report from Hong Kong Watch highlighted some Hong Kong religious leaders’ concerns that since the NSL wentinto effect, religious schools in Hong Kong, under pressure from the Hong Kong government, were “diluting religious education” due to newNSL and “patriotic” education mandates. Some Protestant Christian leaders also voiced concern about new difficulties reserving space inpublic schools for church activities, according to the report.Human rights instruments: Hong Kong is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC,and the UNDRIP; Hong Kong did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free); private expressionand observance (free); proselytism (free); public expression and observance (free); receiving donations (free); religious buildings (free);religious instruction (free); religious literature (free); religious and worship services (free); religious trade (free).Protections: Implicit protection against discrimination on the basis of religion wasaffirmed in Article 25 of Hong Kong Basic Law from 1990 effective from 1997.Conditions of state recognition and registrationIsle of ManFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.Secularity: Church of England is the statedenomination.2232024 RoRB Classification: ReceptiveMandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: religious or belief organisations are notmandated by law to register with the government to operate legallyon the Isle of Man.Human rights instruments: Isle of Man is not partied to the ICCPR,the ICESCR, the UNCRC or the UNDRIP; Isle of Man did not vote onthe UDHR; Isle of Man is not partied to the ECHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial,initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free); privateexpression and observance (free); proselytism (free); publicexpression and observance (free); receiving donations (free);religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religiousliterature (free); religious and worship services (free); religioustrade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationJersey, Bailiwick of2242024 RoRB Classification: ReceptiveFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.Secularity: Church of England is the state denomination; theleader of the Anglican church on Jersey is the Dean of Jersey, anon-voting member of Jersey’s parliament.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: religious or belief organisations are notmandated by law to register with the government to operate legallyon Jersey.Human rights instruments: Jersey is partied to the UNCRC; Jerseyis not partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, or the UNDRIP; Jersey didnot vote on the UDHR; Jersey is not partied to the ECHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial,initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free); privateexpression and observance (free); proselytism (free); publicexpression and observance (free); receiving donations (free);religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religiousliterature (free); religious and worship services (free); religioustrade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registration2252024 RoRB Classification: ReceptiveMacao SpecialAdministrativeRegionFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsEstablish a recognition system that is able to bestow both existential recognition and legal registration simultaneouslyand at various levels of activity; revoke the imposed nationality quota, the nominal restriction policy and the secondaryprocedure within the registration process; to be classified Dynamic, establish a recognition agency that is independent ofgovernment to manage the recognition system.Secularity: Macau is a secular territory.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: stipulatory registration – religious groups are not required to register to conduct religiousactivities, but registration enables them to benefit from legal status. Benefits include exemption from taxation (such asproperty tax, stamp duty, complementary tax [profit tax], and industrial tax) and receiving financial assistance from thegovernment. Religious groups who choose to register must do so with the Identification Bureau, providing the name ofan individual applicant and that person’s position in the group, identification card number, and contact information, aswell as the group’s name and a copy of the group’s charter. Registered charities receive the same benefits as registeredreligious groups. Religious groups need to be registered separately as a charity under a different name in order to providecharitable services. By law, religious groups may develop and maintain relations with religious groups abroad. The lawstates there is no official religion in the SAR and stipulates all religious denominations are equal before the law. The lawprovides for freedom of religion, including privacy of religious belief, freedom of religious assembly, freedom to holdreligious processions, and freedom of religious education. Under the SAR’s NSL bylaws, the Judiciary Police has fournational security branches that have investigative authority over religious groups and personnel, among others: theNational Security Information Division; the National Security Crime Investigation Division; the National Security ActionSupport Division; and the National Security Affairs Integrated Service Division.Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, nationality quota, nominal restriction, secondary procedure. Somereligious groups continued to report they retained their ability to conduct charitable activities on the mainland byworking through official channels and officially recognized churches. The government continued to provide financialsupport to a variety of religious groups to establish schools, child-care centers, clinics, homes for the elderly,rehabilitation centers, and vocational training centers. The government also continued to refer victims of humantrafficking to religious organizations for the provision of support services. Most religious groups in the SAR maintainedclose ties with the central government. During the year, multiple provincial government delegations from the mainlandmet with local religious leaders during visits to the SAR. The SAR government reported it had a long-standingrelationship with local religious communities. According to a government report issued in January, senior officialsregularly consulted with religious leaders as part of a Beijing-led strategy to foster greater regional religious and culturalexchange within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area. Under this initiative, the Buddhist federations ofGuangdong Province, Hong Kong, and Macau, with support from the Macau Foundation and the SAR’s Cultural AffairsBureau, held a Buddhist Puja in Macau in December 2022 to celebrate the 23rd anniversary of the transfer of sovereigntyover Macau to the PRC. Some religious activists in the diaspora called on the PRC government to allow greater religiousexpression in the SAR, as provided for by the Basic Law. A former lawmaker said that although in prior years Falun Gongpractitioners had been tacitly allowed to set up promotion stalls at the city’s landmark Ruins of St. Paul’s, after 2022,police refused to approve their stalls saying the stalls obstructed pedestrian movement.Human rights instruments: Macau is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, theUNCRC, and the UNDRIP; Macau did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services(free); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (free); public expression and observance (free); receivingdonations (free); religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religious literature (free); religious andworship services (free); religious trade (free).Protections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of religion wasaffirmed in Article 25 of Macao Basic Law from 1993 effective from 1999.Conditions of state recognition and registration226Secularity: Martinique is a secular territory.2024 RoRB Classification: ApatheticMartiniqueFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: religious or belief organisations are notmandated by law to register with the government to operate legallyin Martinique.Conditions of state recognition and registrationBasic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial,initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free); privateexpression and observance (free); proselytism (free); publicexpression and observance (free); receiving donations (free);religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religiousliterature (free); religious and worship services (free); religioustrade (free).Human rights instruments: Martinique is partied to the ICCPR, theICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP by way of France; Martiniquevoted in favour of the UDHR; Martinique is partied to the ECHR byway of France.Protections: Explicit protection was granted inthe latest French constitution from 2008against discrimination on the basis of religion.227Secularity: Mayotte is a secular territory.2024 RoRB Classification: ApatheticMayotte,Department ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: religious or belief organisations are notmandated by law to register with the government to operate legallyin Mayotte.Conditions of state recognition and registrationBasic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial,initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free); privateexpression and observance (free); proselytism (free); publicexpression and observance (free); receiving donations (free);religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religiousliterature (free); religious and worship services (free); religioustrade (free).Human rights instruments: Mayotte is partied to the ICCPR, theICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP by way of France; Mayottevoted in favour of the UDHR; Mayotte is partied to the ECHR by wayof France.Protections: Explicit protection was granted in the latest Frenchconstitution from 2008 against discrimination on the basis ofreligion.MontserratFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.Secularity: Montserrat is a secular territory;theism was affirmed in the latest constitutionfrom 2010 and in the oath of allegiance.2282024 RoRB Classification: ApatheticMandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: religious or belief organisations are notmandated by law to register with the government to operate legallyon Montserrat.Human rights instruments: Monserrat is partied to the ICCPR, theICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP via the United Kingdom; UnitedKingdom favoured in favour of the UDHR; Montserrat is partied tothe ECHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial,initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free); privateexpression and observance (free); proselytism (free); publicexpression and observance (free); receiving donations (free);religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religiousliterature (free); religious and worship services (free); religioustrade (free).Protections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basisof religion was affirmed in Article 16(3) of the latest constitutionfrom 2010.Conditions of state recognition and registrationNew CaledoniaSecularity: New Caledonia is a secularterritory.2292024 RoRB Classification: ApatheticFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: religious or belief organisations are notmandated by law to register with the government to operate legallyin New Caledonia.Human rights instruments: New Caledonia is partied to theICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP via France;France voted in favour of the UDHR; New Caledonia is partied tothe ECHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial,initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free); privateexpression and observance (free); proselytism (free); publicexpression and observance (free); receiving donations (free);religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religiousliterature (free); religious and worship services (free); religioustrade (free).Protections: Explicit protection was granted in the latest Frenchconstitution from 2008 against discrimination on the basis ofreligion.Conditions of state recognition and registrationFoRB Claim: No claim was made in thelatest constitution from 2019.Secularity: Niue is a secular territory;theism is affirmed in the oath of allegianceand other official oaths.2302024 RoRB Classification: ApatheticNiueMandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: religious or belief organisations are notmandated by law to register with the government to operate legallyon Niue.Key restriction tools imposed: insufficient data exists on restrictiontools imposed in Niue at this time.Human rights instruments: Niue is partied to the UNCRC; Niue is notpartied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, or the UNDRIP; Niue did not voteon the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial,initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free); privateexpression and observance (free); proselytism (free); publicexpression and observance (free); receiving donations (free);religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religiousliterature (free); religious and worship services (free); religioustrade (free).Protections: No protection was granted in the latest constitutionfrom 2019 against discrimination on the basis of religion.Conditions of state recognition and registrationSecularity: Northern Ireland is asecular territory; theism is affirmed inthe oath of allegiance.2312024 RoRB Classification: ApatheticNorthern IrelandFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: registration of religious groups is not mandatedby the authorities in Northern Ireland.Key restriction tools imposed: insufficient data exists on restrictiontools imposed in Northern Ireland at this time.Human rights instruments: Northern Ireland is partied to theICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP via the UnitedKingdom; United Kingdom voted in favour of the UDHR;Northern Ireland is partied to the ECHR via the United Kingdom.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial,initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free); privateexpression and observance (free); proselytism (free); publicexpression and observance (free); receiving donations (free);religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religiousliterature (free); religious and worship services (free); religioustrade (free).Protections: Explicit protection was granted in Article 20(1)(a) of theNorthern Ireland Constitution Act 1973 against discrimination onthe basis of religion.Conditions of state recognition and registration232Secularity: Northern Mariana Islands is a secular territory.2024 RoRB Classification: ApatheticNorthernMariana Islands,Commonwealthof theFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: religious or belief organisations are notmandated by law to register with the government to operate legallyin the Northern Mariana Islands.Human rights instruments: Northern Mariana Islands is partied tothe ICCPR; Northern Mariana Islands is not partied to the ICESCR,the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP because the United States eitherrejected these documents or failed to ratify them; United Statesvoted in favour of the UDHR.Conditions of state recognition and registrationBasic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial,initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free); privateexpression and observance (free); proselytism (free); publicexpression and observance (free); receiving donations (free);religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religiousliterature (free); religious and worship services (free); religioustrade (free).Protections: Explicit protection was granted in Section 6 of theCommonwealth Constitution from 1978 against discrimination onthe basis of religion.Palestine, State of2332024 RoRB Classification: CensoriousFoRB Claim: Partial claim is made that applies only to “divine”and “monotheistic” religions.RecommendationsDismantlement of the current apparatus of laws restricting reasonable religious activity; establish a recognition system for the country that hasjurisdiction over both West Bank and the Gaza Strip to provide both existential recognition and legal registration to all belief systems and theirderivatives and at multiple levels of activity; repeal laws on proselytism, conversion and blasphemy and deconstruct the system of partial recognitionthat is currently in place even if this requires the disestablishment of Islam as the state religion; remove all subjective language from the law to helpreduce arbitrary enforcement.Secularity: Islam is the state religion and sharia is the basis of legislation;state recognition is also granted to the Armenian Catholic, ArmenianOrthodox, Coptic Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox, Greek Orthodox,Maronite, Melkite Greek Catholic, Roman Catholic, Syrian Catholic, andSyrian Orthodox denominations; theism was affirmed in the latestconstitution from 2003.Mandatoriness of registration: non-registration and malregistration.Registration policy: non-registration – there is no specified process for religious groups to gain official PA recognition in the West Bank.Recognition policy: each religious group must negotiate its own bilateral relationship with the PA. The PA observes 19th-century status quoarrangements reached with Ottoman authorities that recognize the presence and rights of the Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Armenian Orthodox,Syrian Catholic, Coptic Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox, Melkite Greek Catholic, Maronite, Syrian Orthodox, and Armenian Catholic Churches. The PA alsoobserves subsequent agreements that recognize the rights of the Episcopal (Anglican) Church, Evangelical Lutheran Church, and the Council of LocalEvangelical Churches (a coalition of evangelical Protestant Churches present in the West Bank and Gaza). The PA recognizes the authority of thesereligious groups to establish ecclesiastical courts to adjudicate personal status matters such as marriage, divorce, dowry, child support, inheritance, andsome property matters for members of their religious communities. The PA Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs is administratively responsible forfamily law issues. For Muslims, sharia determines personal status law. The Jordanian Waqf administers Islamic courts in Jerusalem for Muslim residents,with the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs in Jordan having appellate authority. By law, members of one religious group may submit a personal statusdispute to a different religious group for adjudication if the disputants agree it is appropriate to do so. The PA maintains some unwritten understandingswith churches that are not officially recognized, based on the basic principles of the status quo agreements, including with the Assemblies of God, Churchof the Nazarene, and some evangelical Christian churches, which allow these churches to operate freely. Some of these groups may perform some officialfunctions, such as issuing marriage licenses. Churches not recognized by the PA generally must obtain special one-time permission from the PA toperform marriages or adjudicate personal status matters if these groups want the actions to be recognized by and registered with the PA. The churchesmay not proselytize. By law, the PA provides financial support to Islamic institutions and places of worship. A PA religious committee also provides somefinancial support for Christian cultural activities. Although the PA removed the religious affiliation category from Palestinian identity cards issued since2014, older identity cards continue to circulate, listing the holder as either Muslim or Christian. Israeli government regulations recognize 16 sites inJerusalem and its environs as holy places for Jews, while various other budgetary and governmental authorities recognize an additional 160 places as holyfor Jews. Recognized churches operate private schools in the West Bank that include religious instruction.Malregistration – the ongoing Israeli–Palestinian conflict undermines the ability for laws to protect even religious communities with bilateralcooperation agreements with the Palestinian Authority.Key restriction tools imposed: proselytism is prohibited from all unrecognised religious groups, vertical recognition is in effect (verticalism) due toIslam being the state religion and then some Christian churches receiving bilateral cooperation agreements (with various categories among them) andother groups remaining unrecognised. On January 30, Haaretz reported the Israeli government would not appeal a 2022 Jerusalem District Court orderhalting the registration of the St. Alexander Nevsky Church in Jerusalem’s Old City as being owned by the Russian government. The decision shiftedresponsibility for determining the ownership of the contested religious site back to the Prime Minister’s office. In 2022, the Jerusalem District Courtruled the Israeli cabinet, rather than the Israeli Justice Ministry’s Land Registrar or the court, had sole authority to approve any transfer of ownership ofthe church. The court was responding to a petition by the Orthodox Palestine Society of the Holy Land, which owned the property until 2020, when theLand Registrar, acting on the request of the Prime Minister’s Office, registered the ownership to the Russian government. Religious groups that were notrecognized by the PA, such as Jehovah’s Witnesses, faced a continued PA ban on proselytizing but stated they were able to conduct most other functionsunhindered. Palestinian authorities generally recognized on a case-by-case basis personal status documents issued by unrecognized churches. The PA,however, continued to refuse to recognize personal status legal documents (e.g., marriage certificates) issued by some of these unrecognized churches,which the groups said made it difficult for them to register newborn children under their fathers’ names or as children of married couples. Manyunrecognized churches advised members with dual citizenship to marry or divorce abroad and to register the action officially in that location. Someconverts to unrecognized Christian faiths arranged for recognized churches with which they were previously affiliated to perform their marriages anddivorces. Members of some faith communities and faith-based organizations stated they viewed their need to do so as conflicting with their religiousbeliefs. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, present in Jerusalem since 1887, remained officially unrecognized by Israel,although the government “acknowledged” the church. The church lacked tax-exempt status on its properties or its own ecclesiastical courts toadjudicate divorce, inheritance, or custody issues, but the state recognized marriages performed by church clergy. Church leaders reported the grouprequested recognition from the Israeli foreign affairs and interior ministries during the year but that, as of year’s end, the government took no action.According to members of unrecognized faith communities in the West Bank, including Jehovah’s Witnesses, established Christian groups continued tooppose their efforts to obtain official PA recognition, despite their decades-long presence in the territory.Human rights instruments: Palestine is partied to the ICCPR, and the ICESCR; Palestine is not partied to theUNCRC; Palestine did not vote on the UDHR or the UNDRIP.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (not free; non-Islamic materials intended for propagational use requires preapproval); monasticism (free); nuptial,initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (not free; subject to registration); publicexpression and observance (free); receiving donations (free); religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religious literature (free); religiousand worship services (free); religious trade (free).Protections: Explicit protection was granted in Article 8 of the latest revised constitution from 2003against discrimination on the basis of religion.Conditions of state recognition and registration234Pitcairn,Henderson, Ducieand Oeno IslandsFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.Secularity: Pitcairn Islands is a secular territory; theism is affirmedin the oath of allegiance, oath of the office of governor and thejudicial oath.2024 RoRB Classification: ApatheticMandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: religious or belief organisations are notmandated by law to register with the government to operate legallyin the Pitcairn Islands.Human rights instruments: Pitcairn Islands is partied to the ICCPR,the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP via the United Kingdom;United Kingdom favoured in favour of the UDHR; Pitcairn Islands isnot partied to the ECHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial,initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free); privateexpression and observance (free); proselytism (free); publicexpression and observance (free); receiving donations (free);religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religiousliterature (free); religious and worship services (free); religioustrade (free).Protections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basisof religion was affirmed in the Pitcairn Constitution Order 2010.Conditions of state recognition and registrationPridnestrovianMoldavian Republic2352024 RoRB Classification: CensoriousFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsRevoke the mandatory registration order and the discriminatory denial of registration; revoke discrimination between GFOs and domestic groups as well as the policyof non-recognition for all denominations except the MOC.Secularity: Transnistria is officially a secular territory; however, the Moldovan Orthodox Churchreceives preferential treatment; Buddhism, Christianity, Islam and Judaism are specifically mentionedin law as religions with a historical presence in the region.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: broad mandatory registration – religious or belief organisations are mandated by law to register with the authorities in Transnistria to operatelegally in the territory. To register as a religious organization in Transnistria, a religious group must present: proof of activity in the region for at least 10 years; a list ofat least 10 members who are 18 or older who have Transnistrian “citizenship” and permanent residence in one of the seven administrative-territorial units in theregion; a list of founders and governing members and their personal details; the charter, statutes, and minutes of its constituent assembly; the organization’s basicreligious doctrine; contact details of its governing body; the origin of financial resources for the organization’s activity and other assets; and a receipt indicatingpayment of the registration fee. Local religious groups may also register as part of a centralized religious organization, which must consist of at least three localreligious groups that have previously registered separately as legal entities. In that case, their application must additionally include a copy of the registration papers ofthe centralized organization. Centralized religious organizations must inform the registration “authority” on a yearly basis about intentions to extend their activitiesto cover additional local groups. Transnistrian “authorities” must decide to register a religious group within 30 days of the application. If those “authorities” decide toconduct a “religious assessment” – a law enforcement investigation of the group’s background and activities – registration may be postponed for up to six months ordenied if investigating “authorities” determine the group poses a threat to the security or morality of the region or if foreign religious groups, are involved in itsactivities. Under the “law,” foreign religious groups may not register or undertake religious activities. Foreign citizens have the freedom to worship, including withregistered religious groups, but they may not be founders or members of religious groups. Religious groups disband on their own decision or upon a Transnistrian“court” decision. The “prosecutor’s office” or de facto executive, city, or district authorities may request the “courts” to disband or suspend a religious group onmultiple grounds. Such grounds include the following: disturbing public order or violating public security; conducting activities deemed to be extremist; coercingpersons into breaking up their families; infringing on citizens’ identity, rights, and freedoms; violating citizens’ morality and well-being; using psychotropicsubstances, drugs, hypnosis, or perverse activities during religious activities; encouraging suicide or the refusal of medical treatment for religious reasons; obstructingcompulsory education; using coercion for alienation of property to the benefit of the religious community; and encouraging refusal to fulfill civic duties. Transnistrian“law” allows the use of private homes and apartments to hold religious services. It does not, however, allow religious groups to use homes and apartments as theirofficially registered addresses. The “law” also allows such groups to hold religious services and rituals in public places, such as hospitals, clinics, orphanages, geriatrichomes, and prisons. Transnistrian “authorities” screen and may ban the import or export of religious printed materials, audio and video recordings, and otherreligious items.Recognition policy: in separatist Transnistria, Transnistrian “law” affirms the special role of the Orthodox Church in the region’s culture and spirituality. The “law”recognizes respect for Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Judaism, and other religious groups historically present in the region. All religious groups, whether registered ornot, officially have freedom to worship, but the “law” permits restrictions on the right to freedom of conscience and religion “if necessary to protect the constitutionalorder, morality, health, citizens’ rights and interests, or state defense and security.” Transnistrian “law” criminalized complaints by residents of the region to foreignjudicial bodies such as the European Court for Human Rights.Key restriction tools imposed: denial of registration based on religion or belief, Jehovah's Witnesses have faced registration hurdles in the past, limitations on GFO andthe religious activities of foreigners, non-recognition for any religion or denomination other than the MOC. Jehovah’s Witnesses reported improvements with respect toconscientious objection to “military” service in Transnistria. They said, as of April 26, Transnistrian “authorities” amended the “law” on alternate civilian service toallow the group’s members to undertake alternative civilian service within any “state” institution. Previously, members were only allowed to perform alternativeservice within the Transnistrian “Ministry of Defense,” which Jehovah’s Witnesses stated was also contrary to their beliefs. Jehovah’s Witnesses reported a continuedworsening of their situation in the Transnistria Region. In November 2022, the Transnistrian “Ministry of Justice” banned eight Jehovah’s Witnesses publications andone website (jw.org) registered in the United States, as extremist. The “prosecutor” sued the website owners in court without informing the Jehovah’s Witnesses orallowing them to present a defense. The website owner and Jehovah’s Witnesses leadership said they tried to file an appeal but “authorities” did not allow them tosubmit challenges to the “court” decision. Transnistrian “authorities” failed to reregister two local Jehovah’s Witnesses groups in Tiraspol and Ribnita. The Tiraspolcommunity applied to reregister in 2019; “authorities” consideration of their application was still pending. In August, the Tiraspol “court” ruled against the Jehovah’sWitnesses’ right to register in Ribnita. The Jehovah’s Witnesses filed an appeal, which was rejected at a hearing in October. The Ribnita community applied to registersix times since the new registration “law” went into effect. During the year, Transnistrian “authorities” contracted a history lecturer from the “Taras Shevchenko”University of Tiraspol to review the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ publications and beliefs prior to approval of registration. The lecturer determined the group’s beliefs andpublications violated the “constitution,” advocated overthrow of the “government” and constituted extremism. According to Jehovah’s Witnesses, the community wasunable to freely practice its faith or to import or distribute its literature during the year. In their annual report, Jehovah’s Witnesses stated, “The de facto authoritiesrefuse to grant legal status to congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses. This effectively criminalizes the Witnesses’ peaceful religious activity and leaves them vulnerableto discrimination.” Jehovah’s Witnesses stated that “authorities’” attempted to increasingly marginalize the community. They feared the “authorities” plan toliquidate the group and criminally prosecute the 2,400 members in the region. Transnistrian “law” prohibits proselytizing in private homes and limits distribution ofreligious literature to houses of worship and special premises that the authorities designate. It also bans the involvement of children under 18 in religious organizationsor requiring children to enroll in religious classes against their will or without prior consent from their parents or legal guardians. It requires the religious groups toreregister to operate legally in the region and stipulates groups that failed to reregister by the end of 2010 are “subject to liquidation.” The region’s registration“authority” registers religious groups and monitors their adherence to the goals and activities set forth in their statutes. Registration allows religious groups, includingthe ability to own and build places of worship, open religious schools, conduct religious services in penitentiary institutions, and publish literature. The “law” requiresreligious organizations that were active in the Transnistria region before November 14, 2016, to register again with de facto authorities by the end of 2021. Anotherprovision specifies which entities are responsible for different aspects of monitoring religious organizations: the region’s “prosecution office” monitors the observanceof the “law” on freedom of worship and religious organizations, the “registering authority” makes sure religious groups observe their statutes, while local“authorities” monitor observance of notification requirements about the initiation or continuation of a religious group’s activities. The “law” allows missionary andpreaching activities through media outlets, including the internet, or other legal means. Religious organizations or their representatives may practice such activities inreligious buildings, places of pilgrimage, cemeteries, educational institutions historically used for religious teaching, and in other public places in line with the “law onpublic assembly.” Religious organizations may hold services with their members in private homes, but proselytizing is banned in private homes. Foreign or statelesscitizens legally residing in Transnistria may engage in such activities only if the religious organization involved is registered in the relevant territorial unit. The “law”bans missionary and preaching activities that violate public order or security, promote extremism, harm the traditional family, or harm citizens’ health or morality.Human rights instruments: Transnistria is partied to the UNCRC; Transnistria is not partied to the ICCPR,the ICESCR, or the UNDRIP; Transnistria did not vote on the UDHR; Transnistria is not partied to the ECHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (not free; restricted); hieroncy (not free; restricted); monasticism (not free; subject to registration); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free; subjectto registration); pastoral services (not free; subject to registration); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (not free; illegal); public expression andobservance (not free; restricted); receiving donations (not free; subject to registration); religious buildings (not free; subject to registration); religious instruction(not free; subject to registration); religious literature (not free; subject to registration); religious and worship services (not free; subject to registration); religioustrade (not free; subject to registration).Protections: Explicit protection was granted against discrimination on the basis of religion in the latestconstitution from 2016.Conditions of state recognition and registrationPuerto Rico,Commonwealth of2362024 RoRB Classification: ApatheticFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.Secularity: Puerto Rico is a secular territory; theism was affirmedin the latest constitution from 1952.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: registration of religious groups is not mandatedby the authorities in Puerto Rico.Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation.Human rights instruments: Puerto Rico is partied to the ICCPR;Puerto Rico is a signatory of the ICESCR (via the United States) butthis has not been ratified; Puerto Rico is neither partied to theUNCRC nor the UNDRIP; Puerto Rico did not vote on the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial,initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free); privateexpression and observance (free); proselytism (free); publicexpression and observance (free); receiving donations (free);religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religiousliterature (free); religious and worship services (free); religioustrade (free).Protections: Explicit protection was granted against discriminationon the basis of “religious ideas” in the latest constitution from1952.Conditions of state recognition and registration237 Conditions of state recognition and registrationSecularity: Réunion is a secular territory.2024 RoRB Classification: ApatheticRéunion,Department of LaFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: religious or belief organisations are notmandated by law to register with the government to operate legallyin Réunion.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial,initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free); privateexpression and observance (free); proselytism (free); publicexpression and observance (free); receiving donations (free);religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religiousliterature (free); religious and worship services (free); religioustrade (free).Human rights instruments: Réunion is partied to the ICCPR, theICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP by way of France; Réunionvoted in favour of the UDHR; Réunion is partied to the ECHR by wayof France.Protections: Explicit protection was granted in the latest Frenchconstitution from 2008 against discrimination on the basis ofreligion.Secularity: Saint Barthélemy is a secularterritory.2382024 RoRB Classification: ApatheticSaint BarthélemyFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: religious or belief organisations are notmandated by law to register with the government to operate legallyin Saint Barthélemy.Human rights instruments: Saint Barthélemy is partied to theICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP via France;France voted in favour of the UDHR; Saint Barthélemy is partiedto the ECHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial,initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free); privateexpression and observance (free); proselytism (free); publicexpression and observance (free); receiving donations (free);religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religiousliterature (free); religious and worship services (free); religioustrade (free).Protections: Explicit protection was granted againstdiscrimination on the basis of religion in the latest Frenchconstitution.Conditions of state recognition and registration239 Conditions of state recognition and registrationSaint Helena,Ascension andTristan da CunhaFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.Secularity: Saint Helena, Ascension andTristan da Cunha is a secular territory; theismis affirmed in the oath of allegiance, oath ofMember of the Legislative Council, oath ofconfidentiality and the judicial oath.2024 RoRB Classification: ApatheticMandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: religious or belieforganisations are not mandated by law toregister with the government to operatelegally in Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristanda Cunha.Human rights instruments: Saint Helena,Ascension and Tristan da Cunha is partied tothe ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and theUNDRIP via the United Kingdom; UnitedKingdom favoured in favour of the UDHR; SaintHelena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha ispartied to the ECHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory andburial rites (free); pastoral services (free); private expression and observance(free); proselytism (free); public expression and observance (free); receivingdonations (free); religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religiousliterature (free); religious and worship services (free); religious trade (free).Protections: Explicit protection againstdiscrimination on the basis of religion wasaffirmed in the St Helena, Ascension andTristan da Cunha Constitution Order 2009.Saint HelenaTristan da CunhaAscension IslandSaint Martin,Collectivity of2402024 RoRB Classification: ApatheticFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.Secularity: Saint Martin is a secular territory.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: religious or belief organisations are notmandated by law to register with the government to operate legallyin Saint Martin.Human rights instruments: Saint Martin is partied to the ICCPR, theICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP via France; France voted infavour of the UDHR; Saint Martin is partied to the ECHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial,initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free); privateexpression and observance (free); proselytism (free); publicexpression and observance (free); receiving donations (free);religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religiousliterature (free); religious and worship services (free); religioustrade (free).Protections: Explicit protection was granted against discriminationon the basis of religion in the latest French constitution.Conditions of state recognition and registrationSaint-Pierre andMiquelon,TerritorialCollectivity of2412024 RoRB Classification: ApatheticFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.Secularity: Saint-Pierre and Miquelon is a secular territory.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: religious or belief organisations are notmandated by law to register with the government to operate legallyin Saint-Pierre and Miquelon.Human rights instruments: Saint-Pierre and Miquelon is partied tothe ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP via France;France voted in favour of the UDHR; Saint-Pierre and Miquelon ispartied to the ECHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial,initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free); privateexpression and observance (free); proselytism (free); publicexpression and observance (free); receiving donations (free);religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religiousliterature (free); religious and worship services (free); religioustrade (free).Protections: Explicit protection was granted against discriminationon the basis of religion in the latest French constitution.Conditions of state recognition and registrationScotlandSecularity: Scotland is officially a secularterritory; however, the Church of Scotland, aPresbyterian denomination, maintains its statusas the national church.2422024 RoRB Classification: ReceptiveFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsEstablish distinct provisions for legal registration and existentialrecognition of religious entities.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: religious or belief organisations are notmandated by Scottish law to register with the government to operatelegally.Human rights instruments: Scotland is partied to the ICCPR, theICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP via the United Kingdom; UnitedKingdom voted in favour of the UDHR; Scotland is partied to theECHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial,initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free); privateexpression and observance (free); proselytism (free); publicexpression and observance (free); receiving donations (free);religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religiousliterature (free); religious and worship services (free); religioustrade (free).Protections: Explicit protection was granted against discriminationon the basis of religion in the Equality Act 2010.Conditions of state recognition and registrationSint MaartenSecularity: Sint Maarten is a secularterritory; theism was affirmed in the latestconstitution from 2010.2432024 RoRB Classification: ApatheticFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: religious or belief organisations are notmandated by law to register with the government to operate legallyin Sint Maarten.Human rights instruments: Sint Maarten is partied to the ICCPR, theICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP via the Netherlands; theNetherlands voted in favour of the UDHR; Sint Maarten is  partied tothe ECHR via the Netherlands.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial,initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free); privateexpression and observance (free); proselytism (free); publicexpression and observance (free); receiving donations (free);religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religiousliterature (free); religious and worship services (free); religioustrade (free).Protections: Explicit protection was granted against discriminationon the basis of religion in the latest constitution from 2010.Conditions of state recognition and registrationSomaliland,Republic of2442024 RoRB Classification: TerminalFoRB Claim: Partial claim is made thatexcludes the right to propagate any religionother than Islam.RecommendationsAbolish the criminalisation of conversion from Islam and other fundamental exercises of freedom of religion or beliefsuch as the repressive laws on non-Islamic proselytism; establish provisions for the existential recognition of religionsother than Islam; establish provisions for the legal registration of belief-based organisations other than those of Islamicaffiliation.Secularity: Islam is the state religion and sharia is the basis oflegislation; theism was affirmed in the latest constitution from 2001;the same constitution mandated that the President and candidates forVice President and the house of representatives must be Muslim.Mandatoriness of registration: non-registration.Registration policy: non-registration – Somaliland has no mechanism to register religious organizations and no specificrequirements to do so. In Somaliland, religious schools and formal places of worship must obtain permission to operatefrom the Somaliland Ministry of Religion.  Somaliland law does not, however, elucidate or enforce consequences foroperating without permission. Key restriction tools imposed: criminalisation of conversion from Islam, Islamic places of worship must obtaingovernment permission to operate, non-Islamic proselytism is prohibited by the Constitution, and the prohibition of theimportation of non-Islamic religious materials. According to several advocacy groups working in the region, in earlyOctober, the Somaliland Supreme Court heard the second appeal in the case of a Somaliland resident sentenced in 2022 tofive years in prison after being convicted of blasphemy, apostasy, insulting Islam and the Prophet of Islam on socialmedia, and spreading Christianity.  The Supreme Court ruled the accused should remain in prison for at least two moremonths, with no guarantee that she would be released at that time.  According to her lawyer, the appellate regional courtof Marodi Jeh denied her first appeal in December 2022.  After the individual declared a return to Islam, the courtconditionally released her in August, subject to reimprisonment should she be found practicing Christianity orcommunicating with Christians.  There was no further information available about her case before the end of the year.Christians and members of other non-Muslim religious groups continued to report an inability to practice their religionopenly due to fear of societal harassment across most of the country. The only Catholic church in Somaliland remainedclosed, and observers stated its reopening would be controversial.Human rights instruments: Somaliland is not partied to the ICCPR, theICESCR, the UNCRC, nor the UNDRIP; Somaliland did not vote on theUDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (not free; illegal to convert from Islam); hieroncy (not free; illegal); monasticism (not free; restricted);nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free; restricted); pastoral services (not free; restricted); private expression andobservance (free); proselytism (not free; illegal for all non-Muslim groups); public expression and observance (notfree; non-Islamic expression and observance illegal); receiving donations (not free; restricted); religious buildings (notfree; restricted); religious instruction (not free; restricted); religious literature (not free; restricted); religious andworship services (not free; subject to government preapproval); religious trade (not free; illegal).Protections: No protection was granted against discrimination on thebasis of religion in the latest constitution from 2001.Conditions of state recognition and registration2452024 RoRB Classification: CensoriousSouth Ossetia–theState of Alania, Republic ofFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsRevoke the prohibition of Jehovah’s Witnesses and any other form of religious prohibition;ensure that the Russian Federation’s exportation of worst practice does not continue to takeplace in the territory to the detriment of RoRB and FoRB conditions.Secularity: South Ossetia is officially a secular territory; however, the SouthOssetian Orthodox Church, which declared independence from the GeorgianOrthodox Church in 1992, receives preferential treatment by the authorities; theconstitution states that “Orthodox Christianity and traditional South Ossetianbeliefs represent one of the foundations of the national self-awareness of theOssetian people.”Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: broad mandatory registration – religious or belief organisations aremandated by authorities to register to operate legally in the territory of South Ossetia asinfluenced by Russian registration law.Key restriction tools imposed: prohibition of Jehovah's Witnesses since 2017, GeorgianOrthodox Church (GOC) officials stated de facto authorities in South Ossetia pressuredOrthodox churches to merge with the Russian Orthodox Church, de facto authorities inSouth Ossetia declared GOC religious services illegal but permitted them in practice. Defacto authorities in Abkhazia and South Ossetia continued to restrict movement across theadministrative boundary line with the rest of Georgia and to detain and fine residents for“illegal border crossings,” according to multiple reports by international and domesticobservers. De facto authorities in both Abkhazia and South Ossetia continued to banJehovah’s Witnesses. According to GOC representatives, de facto authorities allowed theGOC to conduct services in South Ossetia, despite a legal ban.Human rights instruments: South Ossetia is partied to the UNCRC; South Ossetia isnot partied to the ICCPR or the ICESCR; South Ossetia did not vote on the UDHR orthe UNDRIP; South Ossetia is not partied to the ECHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (not free; restricted); hieroncy (not free; restricted); monasticism (not free;restricted); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free; restricted); pastoral services (notfree; restricted); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (not free;restricted); public expression and observance (free); receiving donations (not free;restricted); religious buildings (not free; restricted); religious instruction (not free;restricted); religious literature (not free; restricted); religious and worship services (notfree; restricted); religious trade (not free; restricted).Conditions of state recognition and registrationTibet AutonomousRegion2462024 RoRB Classification: TerminalFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is madeRecommendationsComplete dismantlement of the present terminally restrictive apparatus of laws and policies for religion and belief; however, realistically,such a dismantlement could only take place if a similar reversal in attitudes, policy and legislation was made for China as a whole.Secularity: Tibet is a hypersecular territory controlled by thePeople’s Republic of China which professes state atheism; the CCPrecognises Buddhism, Catholicism, Islam, Protestantism andTaoism under its framework of patriotic religious associations.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: broad mandatory registration – the government recognizes five official religions: Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Protestantism, andCatholicism. Only religious groups belonging to one of the five state-sanctioned “patriotic religious associations” representing these religions arepermitted to register with the government and legally hold worship services or other religious ceremonies and activities. CCP regulations regardingreligion are issued by the CCP’s United Front Work Department (UFWD). The UFWD’s Bureau of Ethnic and Religious Work manages religious affairsthrough the State Administration of Religious Affairs (SARA). The UFWD controls the selection of Tibetan religious leaders, including lamas.Regulations stipulate that, depending on the perceived geographic area of influence of the lama, relevant administrative entities may deny permissionfor a lama to be recognized as reincarnated (a tenet of Tibetan Buddhism), and that these administrative entities must approve reincarnations. TheUFWD claims the right to deny recognition of reincarnations of high lamas of “especially great influence.” The regulations also state no foreignorganization or individual may interfere in the selection of reincarnate lamas, and all reincarnate lamas must be reborn within China. The CCPmaintains a registry of officially recognized reincarnate lamas. UFWD regulations allow citizens to take part only in officially approved religiouspractices; these regulations assert CCP control over all aspects of religious activity, including the managing of religious venues, groups, personnel, andschools. Through local regulations issued under the framework of the national-level Management Regulation of Tibetan Buddhist Monasteries,governments of the TAR and other autonomous Tibetan areas control the registration of monasteries, nunneries, and other Tibetan Buddhist religiouscenters. The regulations also give the CCP formal control over building and managing religious structures and require monasteries to obtain officialpermission to hold large-scale religious events or gatherings. The PRC government’s Regulations on Religious Affairs require all religious groups toregister with the government, impose fines on landlords who provide facilities for unauthorized religious activities, and restrict contact with overseasreligious institutions. The regulations require members of religious groups to seek approval to travel abroad and prohibit “accepting domination byexternal forces,” which authorities say include Tibetans living outside the country, particularly the Dalai Lama. The regulations submit religiousschools to the same oversight as places of worship and impose restrictions on religious groups conducting business or investments, including placinglimits on the amount of donations they may receive, thereby constraining property ownership and development. Publication and distribution ofliterature containing religious content must follow guidelines determined by the State Publishing Administration. Publication of religious materialmust also conform to guidelines determined by the Propaganda Department of the CCP Central Committee.Key restriction tools imposed: fines on landlords who provide facilities for unapproved religious activities, preapproval by the state of the onlineactivities of a religious group, pseudo-recognition of five religions, restriction of contact with foreign affiliates or the foreign headquarters of areligious institution, the CCP controls the selection of Tibetan Buddhist lamas. In October 2023, Tsewang Gyalpo Arya, representative of the LiaisonOffice of the Dalai Lama for Japan and East Asia, wrote an op-ed for the religious liberty and human rights magazine Bitter Winter discussing theimpact on Tibet of the new regulations on religious activity venues that took effect on September 1. Arya stated the regulations contradicted theconstitution’s guarantees of freedom to practice religion and said, “Where is religious freedom if the religious bodies are forced to assimilate andadopt the ideology of an individual or a system that does not believe in religion at all?” He said the new rules on establishing and registeringmonasteries and temples, which included 16 articles and 20 subclauses, made creating such venues “a very fastidious and confusing task.” Theprohibition against naming religious venues after sects or persons would prevent the traditional Buddhist practice of naming monasteries ortemples after a school of Buddhist thought or a religious leader. The prohibition on building large open-air religious statues outside of templesretroactively justified the CCP’s destruction of several large Buddhist statues in Tibet in recent years. Arya said the requirement that religious venuesuse traditional Han architecture and decoration “demonstrates the CCP’s leadership’s policy to force Chinese culture upon minorities with totaldisregard for the latter’s religious beliefs and culture.” Provisions on religious education encouraged “forced indoctrination inculcating the CCP’sideology and propaganda.” RFA reported authorities sometimes interfered with registered gatherings. In July, the government canceled aKalachakra (Wheel of Time) teaching session in Qinghai and Gansu Provinces at the last minute, despite organizers previously receiving approval.Tibet Watch reported police at the Qinghai gathering, which was already underway when they disrupted it, destroyed the monk’s ritual sandmandala in front of worshippers. In September, authorities attempted to limit participation in a Kalachakra gathering in Gansu led by the seventhGungthang Rinpoche, Lobsang Jamyang Gelek Tenpai Khenchen, by interrogating would-be participants and restricting entry to residents livingnear the event site. While thousands ultimately participated, the Tibet Times reported police arrested Tsebo, a Tibetan former police official andmember of the CCP, for attempting to attend. Sources reported PRC authorities engaged in transnational repression against the approximately150,000 Tibetans living abroad, many as refugees in India and Nepal. They frequently subjected the Tibetan overseas community to harassment,monitoring, and cyberattacks. In a March statement, Tenzin Dorjee of the Tibet Action Institute said government authorities continued to pressureand threaten China-resident families of Tibetans living in other countries to dissuade their relatives from criticizing PRC policies towards Tibetans.Sources reported that the PRC continued to pressure Nepal to implement a border systems management agreement and a mutual legal assistancetreaty that could result in the refoulement of Tibetan refugees to China, and to decline to register or issue identity documents to Tibetan refugees.Nepal did not take additional steps to implement the agreements, but also continued not to register Tibetans. Nepal last registered and issueddocumentation to Tibetan refugees in 1995.Basic religious activitiesConversion (not free; restricted); hieroncy (not free; restricted); monasticism (not free; restricted); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites(not free; restricted); pastoral services (not free; restricted); private expression and observance (not free; restricted); proselytism (notfree; restricted); public expression and observance (free); receiving donations (not free; restricted); religious buildings (not free;restricted); religious instruction (not free; restricted); religious literature (not free; restricted); religious and worship services (not free;restricted); religious trade (not free; restricted).Conditions of state recognition and registrationTokelau IslandsFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.Secularity: Tokelau Islands is a secularterritory; theism was affirmed in thelatest revised constitution from 2007.2472024 RoRB Classification: ApatheticMandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: religious or belief organisations are notmandated by law to register with the government to operate legallyin Tokelau.Human rights instruments: Tokelau is not partied to the ICCPR,the ICESCR, the UNCRC, or the UNDRIP; Tokelau did not vote onthe UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial,initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free); privateexpression and observance (free); proselytism (free); publicexpression and observance (free); receiving donations (free);religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religiousliterature (free); religious and worship services (free); religioustrade (free).Protections: Implicit protection was granted against discriminationon the basis of religion in the latest constitution from 2007.Conditions of state recognition and registrationTurkish Republicof NorthernCyprusFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.2482024 RoRB Classification: CensoriousRecommendationsEstablish a recognition system that is able to provide procedures for existentialrecognition and legal registration, procedures which should remain distinct from eachother; remove restrictions that are currently imposed on minority religious groups.Secularity: Northern Cyprus is officially a secular territory; however,Sunni Islam receives preferential treatment.Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory.Registration policy: pseudo-mandatory registration – although the law does notformally mandate that religious or belief organisations must register with thegovernment, non-registered religious organisations are limited in the activities theymay legally conduct, including fundamental religious functions.Key restriction tools imposed: Government intervention in the internal affairs ofreligious organisations; state privilege.Human rights instruments: Northern Cyprus is partied to the UNCRC;Northern Cyprus is not partied to the ICCPR or the ICESCR; NorthernCyprus did not vote on the UDHR nor on the UNDRIP; Northern Cyprusis not partied to the ECHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burialrites (free); pastoral services (free); private expression and observance (free);proselytism (free); public expression and observance (free); receiving donations(free); religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religious literature(free); religious and worship services (free); religious trade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Implicit protection was granted against discrimination on thebasis of religion in the latest constitution from 1985.249Turks andCaicos IslandsFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.Secularity: Turks and Caicos Islands is asecular territory; theism is affirmed in theoath of allegiance, oath of the office ofgovernor and the judicial oath.2024 RoRB Classification: ApatheticMandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: religious or belief organisations are notmandated by law to register with the government to operate legallyin the Turks and Caicos Islands.Human rights instruments: Turks and Caicos Islands is partied to theICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP via the UnitedKingdom; United Kingdom favoured in favour of the UDHR; Turksand Caicos Islands is partied to the ECHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial,initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free); privateexpression and observance (free); proselytism (free); publicexpression and observance (free); receiving donations (free);religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religiousliterature (free); religious and worship services (free); religioustrade (free).Protections: Explicit protection against discrimination on the basisof religion was affirmed in Article 16(3) of the Turks and CaicosIslands Constitution Order 2011.Conditions of state recognition and registrationWalesSecularity: Wales is a secular territory (theChurch in Wales, an Anglican church, wasdisestablished in 1920 under the WelshChurch Act of 1914).2502024 RoRB Classification: ReceptiveFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: registration of religious groups is not mandatedby the authorities in Wales.Key restriction tools imposed: insufficient data exists on restrictiontools imposed in Wales at this time.Human rights instruments: Wales is partied to the ICCPR, theICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP via the United Kingdom; UnitedKingdom voted in favour of the UDHR; Wales is partied to the ECHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial,initiatory and burial rites (not free; subject to the registration of aplace of worship); pastoral services (free); private expression andobservance (free); proselytism (free); public expression andobservance (free); receiving donations (free); religious buildings(free); religious instruction (free); religious literature (free);religious and worship services (free); religious trade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection was grantedagainst discrimination on the basis of religion inthe Equality Act 2010.Wallis and Futuna Islands, Territory of the2512024 RoRB Classification: ApatheticFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.Secularity: Wallis and Futuna is a secular territory.Mandatoriness of registration: optional.Registration policy: religious or belief organisations are notmandated by law to register with the government to operate legallyin Wallis and Futuna.Human rights instruments: Wallis and Futuna is partied to theICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP via France;France voted in favour of the UDHR.Basic religious activitiesConversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial,initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free); privateexpression and observance (free); proselytism (free); publicexpression and observance (free); receiving donations (free);religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religiousliterature (free); religious and worship services (free); religioustrade (free).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection was granted against discriminationon the basis of religion in the latest French constitution.252Western Sahara(Sahrawi ArabDemocraticRepublic)RecommendationsRevoke the censorial Moroccan laws that have been imposed such as bans on proselytism, public expression ofbelief and conversion from Islam; establish a system that extends opportunities for both existentialrecognition and legal registration to all belief systems; remove all instances of the politicisation of religion andbelief and of the registration procedures.2024 RoRB Classification: TerminalFoRB Claim: No claim is made.Secularity: Islam is the state religion and the basis of legislationaccording to Article 2 of the latest revised constitution from 2015;theism is affirmed in the presidential oath and in the oath of office.Mandatoriness of registration: malregistration.Registration policy: non-registration – there are no official procedure for legalregistration of religious or belief organisations in Western Sahara.Malregistration – any registration procedures conducted by the Sahrawi governmentwould not have jurisdiction across the entire Western Sahara.Key restriction tools imposed: criminalisation of the criticism of Islam, non-recognitionfor any religion or denomination other than Islam, prohibition on non-Islamicproselytism and the importation of non-Islamic religious materials with the intention topropagate.Human rights instruments: Western Sahara is not partied to the ICCPR, theICESCR, the UNCRC; Western Sahara did not vote on either the UDHR or theUNDRIP.Basic religious activitiesConversion (not free; illegal); hieroncy (not free; non-Islamic materials illegal); monasticism (not free;restricted); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free; restricted); pastoral services (not free; restricted);private expression and observance (free); proselytism (not free; illegal for all non-Muslims); publicexpression and observance (not free; non-Islamic expression and observance illegal); receiving donations(not free; restricted); religious buildings (not free; restricted); religious instruction (not free; restricted);religious literature (not free; illegal for non-Muslims); religious and worship services (not free; restricted);religious trade (not free; illegal).Conditions of state recognition and registrationProtections: Explicit protection was granted against discrimination on thebasis of religion in Article 25 the latest constitution from 2015.Xinjiang UygurAutonomousRegion2532023 RoRB Classification: TerminalFoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made.RecommendationsNot without changes first made in the Chinese heartland will a reversal in these restrictive laws imposed inXinjiang be practical but the consequences of what the CCP has done in interning innocent citizens into“re-education facilities” and in turning the Uighur society into a police state will likely be irreversible.Secularity: Xinjiang is a hypersecular territory controlled by the People’sRepublic of China that professes state atheism; the CCP recognises Buddhism,Catholicism, Islam, Protestantism and Taoism under its framework ofpatriotic religious associations.Mandatoriness of registration: non-registration.Registration policy: non-registration – there are no separate registration procedures for religious groups in Xinjiang.Only religious groups belonging to one of five state-sanctioned “patriotic religious associations” (the BuddhistAssociation of China, the Chinese Taoist Association, the Islamic Association of China, the Three-Self PatrioticMovement, and the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association) representing these religions are permitted to register withthe government and legally hold worship services or other religious ceremonies and activities. The Regulations onReligious Affairs require that religious activity “must not harm national security.” While the regulations stipulatereligious groups must abide by the law, safeguard national unity, and respond to “religious extremism,” the term“extremism” is undefined. Measures to safeguard unity and respond to “religious extremism” include monitoringgroups, individuals, and institutions, and recommending penalties such as suspending groups and canceling clergycredentials. To apply to become an Islamic cleric, applicants first need to submit an “Application Form for theQualification of Islamic Clerics.” In addition, they must provide a certificate of education from an Islamic school, aneducation certificate from junior high school or above, and a physical examination certificate issued by a designatedhospital (including items such as “mental history”). Applicants are also required to submit a household registrationcertificate and national identification card. The applicant must receive a letter of recommendation written by theAdministration of Islamic Activity Sites where the applicant’s household registration is located and submit it to theIslamic Association of the province, autonomous region, or municipality after review and approval by the local IslamicAssociation. Radio Free Asia (RFA) reported authorities continued to ban civil servants, students, and teachers fromfasting during Ramadan. In April, RFA reported authorities sent notices to neighbourhood committees in Urumqi andmultiple prefectures that only 10-50 Muslims in certain areas would be allowed to fast during Ramadan and individualsobserving the fast must register with the government. A local police officer in Kashgar Prefecture’s Tokkuzak(Toukezhake) township told RFA the purpose of the registrations was to “allay the fears of [Muslims] who are afraid tofast, in addition to security, because there should not be any misconception about the CCP’s religious policy. The Partynever said to abolish religion, but to Sinicise it.”Key restriction tools imposed: restrictions on religious attire, state preapproval of all religious activities(such as proselytising, religious instruction, publishing and distributing religious literature) is mandatory.Basic religious activitiesConversion (not free; restricted); hieroncy (not free; highly restricted; preapproval required);monasticism (not free; restricted); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free; restricted); pastoralservices (not free; restricted); private expression and observance (not free; restricted); proselytism (notfree; preapproval required); public expression and observance (not free; restricted); receiving donations(not free; restricted); religious buildings (not free; restricted); religious instruction (not free; restricted);religious literature (not free; restricted); religious and worship services (not free; restricted); religioustrade (not free; illegal).Conditions of state recognition and registration254GLOSSARY OF KEY TERMSAmalgamation: the lack of distinctionbetween registration and recognition,usually in favour of one, in some nationalrecognition systems, causing either alack of symbolic recognition for religionsand denominations or a lack ofprovisions for the legal registration ofbelief-based organisations (BBOs).Basic religious activities: activitiesperformed with religious purpose orbased on philosophical belief that areconsidered central to the practice ofreligion or belief that their subjection toregistration by the state before they canperformed is regarded impermissible;the category of 'basic religious activities'currently includes conversion,importation of religious materials (calledhieroncy), monasticism, nuptial,initiatory and burial rites, pastoralservices, private expression andobservance, proselytism, publicexpression and observance, receivingdonations, renting property for religiousservices, religious instruction, religiousliterature, religious and worshipservices, and religious trade.Malregistration: the situation in which agovernment does not have the ability toenforce its registration laws throughoutthe territory it claims, typically due to anongoing conflict or civil war;malregistration is problematic because itallows for non-state actors to imposetheir own registration law andundermines the authenticity of areligious group's receipt of registeredstatus.Mandatoriness: the degree to which stateregistration is mandatory for religiousgroups ranging from stipulatory (non-mandatory) to pseudo-mandatory tobroad mandatory; conditional anddiscriminatory forms of registration alsoexist which are mostly categorised asmandatory.Non-registration: a government hasestablished no procedures for the legalregistration of religious groups, especiallyas a means of constraining religious activityto state-approved forms. Pseudo-mandatory: denoting the instancein which a government claims that areligious group's registration with it is notmandatory but in fact stipulates that one ormore benefits of registration is a 'basicreligious activity' that, according to RoRBstandards, should not be subject toregistration; therefore, the registration inquestion is pseudo-mandatory.Registrable religious activities: activitiesperformed with religious purpose or relatedto the administration of a religious groupwhose subjection to state registration isconsidered permissible due to suchactivities being less intrinsic to religiouspractice; the category of 'registrablereligious activities' currently includesconstructing and owning a religiousbuilding, tax-exemption, receiving non-monetary donations, the ability to receivestate funding, the ability to sign contracts,the ability to open bank accounts, theability to perform a legal nuptial, funeraryand baptismal ceremonies (without a civilrepresentative), and internationalmissionary activity.State privilege: a specific denomination orwhole religion is not established as thestate religion but nonetheless receivepreferential treatment by the state,especially in the form of exclusive benefitsgranted that no other denominationreceives.Stipulatory registration: the instance inwhich a government only states thatregistration with it is necessary for areligious group to conduct 'registrablereligious activities', activities regardedpermissible to subject to registration.255ABRIDGED ARTICLE BYDR MONICA GYIMAHWhile state recognition or registration of religious organisations is not legally required for theexercise of freedom of religion or belief, a lack of it can significantly impact people’s ability toexercise that right and other fundamental freedoms. Registered and/or recognised religiouscommunities receive several privileges and benefits, including access to state funds, nationalinclusion, protection of sacred sites and tax exemptions and deductions, that are not oftenavailable to unregistered or unrecognised groups.     Freedom of religion or belief is enshrined in many international human rights instrumentssuch as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), and applies to thefollowers of all religions, including indigenous spirituality. Despite this, the religious beliefs andpractices of indigenous peoples are often disrespected and not given adequate recognitioncompared to other religions by authorities in many states, including by courts. In Westerndemocracies such as Canada and the United States, indigenous peoples’ exercise of theirspirituality has been subjected to historical and ongoing political, cultural and racialdiscriminatory policies and practices, leading to the limitation, dismissal and denial of theirrights. According to the former United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion orBelief, Ahmed Shaheed, the spirituality of indigenous peoples is denied recognition andrestricted in eighteen states and territories where arbitrary administrative requirements areimposed.     The dismissal or absence of recognition for indigenous peoples’ spirituality and practices hasfacilitated indifference, marginalisation, discrimination and human rights violations, includingthe destruction of sacred sites belonging to indigenous communities. In many states,government policies, practices and laws have caused the dispossession and loss of manyindigenous lands, including sacred sites, knowledge, language and other practices that areessential to indigenous religious traditions.     This article explores the implications of religious registration and recognition practices onindigenous peoples’ right to practice their beliefs or spirituality. It focuses on government laws,policies and actions and other practices, and how they favour or disfavour indigenousspirituality and the impacts on indigenous peoples’ rights. The article argues that while states’recognition of indigenous spirituality has grown in recent decades, it remains amongst the mostmarginalised, discriminated against, least respected and unrecognised religion or belieftradition in many states.     Besides being misunderstood, indigenous religious traditions have been impacted by religiouschauvinism, prejudice and racially motivated policies that privilege Christianity, Islam andother imperialistic traditions and their cultures. The article concludes that states’discriminatory policies and laws denying recognition limit the religious freedom of indigenouspeoples. This includes the dispossession and damage of traditional lands and sacred sites andthe loss of the right to self-determination.Article title: Recognition and Registration Issues and Their Impacts on the Religious Rights of IndigenousPeoplesAbstract: Although the international legal framework protects the rights of all persons to adopt ormanifest any religion or belief of choice without discrimination, indigenous spirituality is generallydismissed, marginalised or denied respect and recognition in many states. The dismissal and denial ofrecognition of indigenous spirituality has led to severe discrimination against many indigenouscommunities and human rights violations, including the dispossession and loss of sacred sites, theobstruction of spiritual practices and the violation of the right to religious freedom. This article examinesstate policies and practices on the recognition and registration of indigenous religious groups and theimplications for their exercise of religious freedom. It argues that while states’ recognition of indigenousspirituality has grown in recent decades, indigenous beliefs remain among the most marginalised,disrespected, discriminated and unrecognised. Consequently, many indigenous groups cannot fullyexercise their religious freedom.Introduction256     The article largely draws on a wide range of publicly available sources of information,including the U.S. Department of State’s annual International Religious Freedom Report, reportsby the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, the United Nations SpecialRapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, court rulings and academic literature. Finally, thearticle draws some concluding remarks and makes recommendations on how to enhance thevisibility and recognition of indigenous religious practices to ensure the protection ofindigenous peoples’ freedom to exercise their right to practice, manifest, teach and maintaintheir spirituality and beliefs or mitigate violations of that right.International legal frameworkFreedom of religion and belief (FoRB) is protected in Article 18 of the Universal Declaration ofHuman Rights (UDHR), Articles 18 and 27 of the ICCPR, and several other international humanrights instruments and national constitutions. This right is further elaborated on in theDeclaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based onReligion or Belief of 1981. The right includes the freedom of all persons, including indigenouspeoples, to have or adopt their religion or belief of choice, whether theistic, non-theistic oratheistic, and extend to individuals or groups even if they do not adhere to ‘institutionalised’belief systems. Freedom of religion also guarantees the right of every person to freely manifesttheir religion or belief in the form of worship, observance, practice, teaching and disseminationwithout interference or the fear of punishment.     Articles 18 and 27 grant indigenous peoples the right to define and determine their spiritualityand identity. In his interim report of 2022, Shaheed articulated that indigenous peoples’ FoRB isalso connected with their right to self-determination. This means that indigenous peoples areguaranteed the freedom to define and determine their own spiritual identity. Although there isno universally accepted definition of “indigenous peoples” under international law, one of themost fundamental and generally accepted criterions is “community self-identification.” Manyindigenous people consider themselves ‘distinct’ from others by their shared identity, culture,language and their possession of a “historical continuity with pre-colonial societies on theirland.”     The term ‘spirituality’ instead of ‘religion’ is used by many indigenous communities todescribe their religious beliefs and practices. This is because there is no equivalent word inEnglish for the term ‘religion’ to describe indigenous spirituality, which is considered to bemuch broader. The term ‘spirituality’ is also preferred because spirituality is central toindigenous peoples’ identity in ways that are distinctive from other religions, includingChristianity and Islam. Unlike in most European cultures, many indigenous cultures do notconceptually draw a clear distinction between what is “sacred and secular”, or culture, languageand identity, or between “spirituality and the land on or through which it is expressed.” Thus,the term ‘spirituality’ represents the holistic nature of indigenous beliefs in how they transcendspiritual ceremonies and encompasses a wide range of activities, including hunting, fishing,herding and gathering plants, medicines and goods “[with] a spiritual dimension.” Manyindigenous communities view their spirituality as a ‘way of life’, and transcendental worshipintrinsically linked to local culture and worldview that forms an integral part of their emotions,habits, daily experiences and practices or virtues, ways of thinking, health and a particular wayof living together and communicating.     To indigenous peoples, land is not merely material and nature is not just natural. Rather, bothhave spiritual dimensions and are part of a sacred substance that is “the source, sustenance andend of all cosmic life on which everything depends.” Indigenous spirituality is thus interrelatedto the land, and all that is within it, including plants, the animal world, supernatural beings,forces and rituals, as they “are all interrelated.” Researchers have reported for example that“religion” for the Inuit people in Alaska is connected to “their traditional ways of relating totheir land and the life that is present in seas and other waterways.” An Inuit way of life includesthe transmission of their traditions and customs across generations to ensure their communalwell-being and survival.257     Recent growth in international human rights standards and mechanisms has led to asignificant expansion in the conception of indigenous peoples’ right to FoRB. For example, the2007 Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP; hereafter “the Declaration”) isan internationally-recognised framework that sets the minimum standards for the protection ofthe human rights of indigenous peoples. The Declaration was developed in consultation withindigenous peoples to articulate their rights, including their spiritual practices. It provides animportant clarification on the standards of the specific rights of indigenous people provided inArticle 18 of the UDHR and Articles 18 and 27 of the legally binding instrument ICCPR and howthey are applied to indigenous peoples. Several provisions directly relate to rights associatedwith practising indigenous spirituality, including but not limited to Articles 8, 10, 11, 12 (2), 13and 18. For instance, Article 12 (1) states the following:Indigenous peoples have the right to manifest, practise, develop and teach their spiritual andreligious traditions, customs and ceremonies; the right to maintain, protect, and have access inprivacy to their religious and cultural sites; the right to the use and control of their ceremonialobjects; and the right to the repatriation of their human remains.Article 25 of the Declaration extends beyond the conventional concept of religious rights ofindividuals to manifest and practise their religion or belief outlined in Article 18 of the ICCPR.Article 12 of the Declaration guarantees indigenous peoples’ access to and maintenance ofreligious and cultural sites, ceremonial objects and repatriation while Article 25 provides forrecognition of their spiritual connection with traditional lands.     Many international actors, including states, regional and domestic courts, scholars andrights-holders rely on the Declaration to interpret ICCPR provisions concerning the rights ofindigenous peoples. The United Nations Human Rights Committee has observed that theprotections of minority rights provided under Article 27 of the ICCPR include indigenouspeoples’ relationship with “the use of land resources…[such as] traditional activities as fishingor hunting.” Article 15 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights(ICESCR) also protects the right of everyone to participate in cultural life, which has beeninterpreted to include ‘religion or belief systems.’ The Committee on Economic, Social andCultural Rights also affirms that ‘culture’ in Article 15 requires states to respect the rights ofindigenous peoples to maintain and strengthen their spiritual relationship with their ancestrallands and other natural resources.State policies and practicesDespite the religious protections provided for all persons in Article 18 of the ICCPR and theexpansion in the concept of indigenous peoples’ right to FoRB in recent decades, indigenousbeliefs or spirituality is not respected or recognised in many states. In this context, recognitionand registration issues encompass various state efforts, including laws, practices and policies ofstates that privilege certain religious groups or their members, ban, restrict or discriminateagainst others or limit their ability to practise their religion or beliefs, including the freedom topreach, publish or convert to another religion.     Legal commentators, rights-holders and key stakeholders argue that the existinginternational legal framework for protecting freedom of religion or belief fails to provideadequate or appropriate protection for a wide range of practices and beliefs that constituteindigenous spirituality. Several states have failed to protect believers of indigenous spiritualityequally, often dismissing legal claims invoking their right to FoRB as a justification to denyprotection of indigenous practices as well as access to and use of traditional lands.     Many human rights experts observed that indigenous spirituality was poorly understood andlargely dismissed in the conceptualisation of FoRB within the international legal framework. Forinstance, the conceptualisations of Articles 18 of the UDHR and the ICCPR were shaped mainlyby debates between Islamic and Protestant Christian groups, albeit its expansion having alsobeen influenced by the rights of atheists in states of the former Union of Soviet SocialistRepublics. Moreover, indigenous peoples’ religion and traditions have too often been articulatedthrough the lens of non-indigenous people, including theologians, lawyers and politicians. Thisis because the term ‘religion’ is a Western concept that fails to capture the full understanding ofbeliefs, spiritualities and worldviews, leading to a narrower interpretation of indigenouspeoples’ right to FoRB.258     As a consequence, the legal protections provided for religious freedom in the internationallegal framework usually privilege Abrahamic religions, in particular Christianity and Islam.These religions are generally recognised as “voluntary, individual, textual and believed”, andcentred on a clear distinction between religion and culture. On the contrary, indigenous peoples’religions are defined as primarily “public, obligatory, collective, oral, local”, and a matter ofpractice rather than conventional belief. Indigenous spirituality is often oriented to indigenouspeoples’ communities, local culture, identity, relationship with the ‘Creator’, traditional landsand “all their relations”, including waters and other natural resources in ways that arecompletely distinct from universal religions.     According to Shaheed, indigenous spirituality is broader than the universal religions. Itencompasses diverse spiritual beliefs and localised practices that are “integral to [the]indigeneity” of the indigenous group in question, and their “distinctive” spiritual relationshipwith “traditionally owned or otherwise occupied and used” lands, territories, waters, coastalseas, and other resources. In their submission to the Special Rapporteur, the Indigenous ValuesInitiative and American Indian Law Alliance opined that indigenous spirituality is sointrinsically intertwined with the indigenous peoples’ way of life, worldview or culture that it“cannot be divided into frameworks and categories.”     State policies and practices that govern the recognition and registration of religious groupsand their activities are rooted in racism, colonisation, forced assimilation and the dispossessionof indigenous people of ancestral or sacred sites. For many centuries, indigenous peoples, theirspirituality, culture and other traditions have been subjected to historical and ongoing political,cultural and racial discriminatory policies and practices to deny their worldviews adequateprotection. The cultural hierarchies and their supporting theories are justified on the basis ofracially motivated theories, science and legal arrangements. Since the colonial era, mostindigenous peoples and their cultures have been considered less worthy and inferior to colonialpeople and their cultures.     Religions such as Christianity and Islam have been used to justify the annihilation of manyindigenous peoples, their worldviews and cultures and to perpetrate gross rights violationsagainst them. This was the case in Latin America where Catholicism was instrumental in theannihilation of indigenous cultures for centuries. While such racially based cultural hierarchieshave long been denounced and rejected by science, they have considerable influence on currentlegal regimes, policies and state practices with significant implications on the lives andpractices of indigenous people in the present day. Studies show that substantial aspects of thelaws that were created during the colonial era remain in current law books and continue toinfluence the opinions of authorities who apply the law. The Doctrine of Discovery for instancehas long been used in many states as a justification to dismiss, destroy or deny recognition toindigenous spirituality.     Despite being a secular state, Canada’s laws and institutions, including in the fields ofeducation, healthcare and social services are greatly influenced by past Christian institutionalstructures, teachings and traditions. According to the Ontario Human Rights Commission,secular Canada is structured in favour of Protestant Christian groups, including Anglicans andPresbyterians as well as Roman Catholics to some extent. The establishment of weekends (restdays), public holidays and other Christian traditions such as Easter and Christmas also favourdominant Christian groups, allowing them to attend their religious services. Canadian religiouspractices are deeply rooted in religious chauvinism combined with racism, sexism, classism andgender-based prejudice. These practices are rooted in Protestant Christian faiths which somesociologists have argued are Canada’s “shadow establishment.” The dismissal anddelegitimisation of indigenous spirituality, ways of life and policies to ‘civilise’ and convertCanada’s indigenous peoples have been justified on the assumption that one must be Christianto be a ‘proper’ Canadian citizen.     Current U.S. laws are rooted in the legal doctrine of Christian discovery and the fifteenth-century Christian theological presumptions that justified the dispossession of indigenouspeoples by transferring absolute titles to Christian sovereigns by virtue of “discovery.” Issues ofreligious freedom arising in the context of forced assimilation often centred on equal access ofboth Catholic and Protestant institutions to government resources to the neglect of indigenousgroups. The law has been used as a justification for the dispossession and forced culturalassimilation of indigenous people based on a presumed lack of cognisable religion.Gyimah’s full article can be found in Volume 1Issue 1 of the Journal of Astronist Studiespublished August 2024.259OTHER WORKSReleased in July 2022. Released in December 2019.Released in May 2023.Released in July 2021.

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