LEGAL FRAMEWORK

The constitution provides for freedom of religion and worship, including the right to choose and change one’s religion. The constitution protects the right of religious groups to provide religious instructions to their adherents. No citizen is compelled to take part in any religious education, ceremony, or observance without the individual’s consent. The constitution forbids taking an oath contrary to one’s religion or belief without the individual’s consent. An unenforced law prescribes a prison term of one year for a blasphemous libel conviction; however, the law exempts religious expression made in “good faith and decent language.”

The constitution mandates the establishment of the ERC, with the purpose of promoting ethnic harmony, eliminating ethnic discrimination, and encouraging respect for religious diversity. The ERC includes representatives of the country’s main religious traditions, including Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Rastafarianism.

There is no official system for formal registration of a religious group, but to receive government recognition, all places of worship must be registered through the Deeds Registry. The Deeds Registry requires an organization to submit a proposed name and address for the place of worship, as well as the names of executive group members or congregation leaders. Once formally recognized, a place of worship falls under legislation governing nonprofit organizations, allowing the organization to conduct financial operations, buy property, and receive tax benefits in its name.

Foreign religious workers require a visa from the Ministry of Home Affairs. Religious groups seeking to enter an Indigenous village for the purpose of proselytizing must apply for and obtain permission from the village council. Application to a village council must include the name of the group, the names of its members who will be going to the village, their purpose, and the estimated date of arrival. Reportedly, however, village councils rarely enforce this requirement.

There is no religious education in public schools, regardless of whether the school is religiously affiliated. Most public schools are unaffiliated with a religious group but the majority that are affiliated are Anglican or Methodist. There are also private religiously affiliated schools. Private schools are operated entirely by private groups and are not funded by the state. All students attending private religious schools must participate in religious education, regardless of a student’s religious beliefs.

Children must show proof of vaccination to attend public or private schools. There are no exemptions for religious reasons.

The country is a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

GOVERNMENT PRACTICES

The Rastafari Council continued to state that a law criminalizing the possession of 15 grams (.53 ounces) or more of marijuana infringed on Rastafarian religious practices. The law continued to criminalize the possession of marijuana after a 2022 amendment replaced the prison sentence for possession of 30 grams (1.06 ounces) or less of marijuana with counselling or community service. The Rastafari Council stated this change in law still restricted the use of marijuana as part of the group’s religious expression. In September, the Rastafari Council petitioned the ERC to press the government to decriminalize the possession of 30 grams (1.06 ounces) or less of marijuana. As of year’s end, the ERC had not responded to the council’s request.

The government continued to maintain regulations limiting the number of visas for foreign representatives of religious groups based on historical trends, the relative size of the group, and the president’s discretion; however, the government and religious groups, whose membership included foreign 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 not adversely affect their activities.

In March, the government reconstituted the ERC, appointing 10 new commissioners to serve for three years. During the swearing in of the new commissioners, President Mohammed Irfaan Ali stated, “Diversity is an asset we must value and cherish. Greater inclusion and equality are goals to which we must continuously aspire.”

In September, the ERC assessed reports that a fast-food restaurant had sold fried chicken in paper bags labelled with the Hindu religious ‘OM’ symbol, the most sacred symbol in Hinduism according to its followers. According to the ERC, the fast-food restaurant’s actions amounted to “religious intolerance.” The restaurant owners subsequently issued a written apology to the Hindu community and stopped using the paper bags.

The government continued to promote interfaith harmony and respect for diversity through its public messaging and initiatives that fostered social cohesion. On all major Christian, Hindu, and Islamic holidays, President Ali delivered national messages.

Government representatives continued to meet with leaders of various religious groups with the expressed aim of promoting social cohesion and discussing the government’s strong support for diversity, including of Muslim, Hindu, and Christian groups. Government officials also participated regularly in the observance of Christian, Hindu, and Islamic religious holidays throughout the year. The government continued to declare some holy days of the country’s three major religious groups, including Eid al-Adha, Holi, Easter, and Diwali, as national holidays.