2008 international religious freedom report

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Preface

International Religious Freedom Report 2008

Why the Reports are PreparedThe Department of State submits this report to the Congress in compliance with

Section 102(b) of the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) of 1998. The lawprovides that the Secretary of State, with the assistance of the Ambassador atLarge for International Religious Freedom, shall transmit to Congress "an AnnualReport on International Religious Freedom supplementing the most recent HumanRights Reports by providing additional detailed information with respect tomatters involving international religious freedom."

How the Reports are Prepared

U.S. embassies prepare the initial drafts of these reports, gathering informationfrom a variety of sources, including government and religious officials,nongovernmental organizations, journalists, human rights monitors, religiousgroups, and academics. This information gathering can be hazardous, and U.S.

Foreign Service Officers regularly go to great lengths, under trying and sometimesdangerous conditions, to investigate reports of human rights abuse, to monitorelections, and to come to the aid of individuals at risk because of theirreligious beliefs.

The Office of International Religious Freedom collaborated in collecting andanalyzing information for the country reports, drawing on the expertise of otherDepartment of State offices, religious organizations, other non-governmentalorganizations, foreign government officials, representatives from the UnitedNations and other international and regional organizations and institutions, andexperts from academia and the media. In compiling and editing the country reports,the Office of International Religious Freedom consulted with experts on issues ofreligious discrimination and persecution, religious leaders from a wide variety of

faiths, and experts on legal matters. The offices guiding principle was to ensurethat all relevant information was assessed as objectively, thoroughly, and fairlyas possible.

A wide range of U.S. government departments, agencies, and offices will use thereport to shape policy; conduct diplomacy; inform assistance, training, and otherresource allocations; and help determine which countries have engaged in ortolerated "particularly severe violations" of religious freedom, otherwise knownas Countries of Particular Concern.

A Word on Usage

When this report states that a government "generally respected" the right of

religious freedom over the reporting period, this phrase signifies that thegovernment attempted to protect religious freedom in the fullest sense. "Generallyrespected" is thus the highest level of respect for religious freedom assigned bythis report. The phrase "generally respected" is used because the protection andpromotion of religious freedom is a dynamic endeavor; it cannot be statedcategorically that any government fully respected this right over the reportingyear, even in the best of circumstances.

Acknowledgements

The 2008 report covers the period from July 1, 2007, to June 30, 2008, and


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reflects a year of dedicated effort by hundreds of Foreign Service and CivilService Officers in the Department of State and U.S. missions abroad. We thank themany Foreign Service Officers at our embassies and consulates abroad formonitoring and promoting religious freedom, and for chronicling in detail thestatus of religious liberty. In addition to their efforts, we acknowledge thediligent labor and tireless commitment to religious freedom of those within theOffice of International Religious Freedom whose work made this report possible:Clarissa Adamson, Nasreen Badat, Judson Birdsall, Mary Anne Borst, Randy Brandt,

Natalia Buniewicz, Barbara Cates, Keeley Chorn, Warren Cofsky, A. Jack Croddy,Doug Dearborn, Daniel DeVougas, Lauren Diekman, Lauren Doll, Augustine Fahey,Carrie Flinchbaugh, Albert T. Gombis, Hakim Hasan, Nancy Hewett, Victor Huser,Emilie Kao, Justin Kern, Gwendolyn Mack, Safia Mohamoud, Joannella Morales, FatemaMunis, Aaron Pina, David Rodearmel, Abigail Skeans, Lauren Smith, H. Knox Thames,Alexandra Tovar, Gregory Trunz, Raizza Ty, and Jessica Vu. The work of all ofthese individuals advances the cause of freedom, ensures accuracy in ourreporting, and brings hope to repressed people around the world.r

IntroductionII

International Religious Freedom Report 2008II

Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this rightincludes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or incommunity with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or beliefin teaching, practice, worship and observance.--Article 18, Universal Declaration of Human Rights--

The right to freedom of religion is under renewed and, in some cases, increasingassault in many countries around the world. More than one-half of the world'spopulation lives under regimes that severely restrict or prohibit the freedom oftheir citizens to study, believe, observe, and freely practice the religious faith

of their choice. Religious believers and communities suffer both government-sponsored and government-tolerated violations of their rights to religiousfreedom.--International Religious Freedom Act of 1998--

This year marks the anniversary of two great documents for religious freedom --the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 1998 InternationalReligious Freedom Act. Article 18 of the Universal Declaration has now, for sixdecades, served as a standard by which to measure governments' respect for genuinereligious freedom, while at the same time standing as a beacon of hope to thosesuffering persecution and harassment. Ten years ago, the passage of theInternational Religious Freedom Act brought new emphasis and structure to

America's age-old priority of promoting religious freedom. Much good has come ofthis intensified focus. Countless people of faith have enjoyed new-found freedoms,and government policies on religion have improved in some nations. Yet, despitesuch progress, the description of conditions quoted above from the Act stillprovides an accurate picture of the situation of religious freedom in too manycountries around the world.c

Because of the ongoing infringement of religious freedom and continuing instancesof outright persecution, the United States Government steadfastly promotes therespect of this universal human right. The International Religious Freedom Actreinforced the priority of this critical foreign policy objective by creating at


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the U.S. Department of State the position of Ambassador at Large for InternationalReligious Freedom and the Office of International Religious Freedom, and bymandating the annual issuance of this report. With these and other tools for theadvocacy and protection of religious freedom, the United States encouragescompliance with international commitments and obligations, condemns violations ofreligious freedom, and fosters respect for religious freedom as a fundamentalright of all people.r

The 2008 Annual Report on International Religious Freedom is one of the mostvisible products of this ongoing effort, and it serves as a testament ofcooperation among scores of State Department officers at embassies and consulatesaround the world, in regional and functional bureaus, and in the Office ofInternational Religious Freedom, all of which have worked tirelessly to compilethis comprehensive document. Exceeding 800 pages in length and covering 198countries and territories, the Annual Report is an unrivaled compendium. However,the work would not be possible without the vital contributions of religiousgroups, nongovernmental organizations, and individuals who have dedicated theirlives to the defense of human dignity. The ongoing support of the U.S. Congress isalso deeply appreciated. In short, we view the Annual Report as an extension ofsupport from the American people to those who silently struggle for theirreligious rights all over the world.r

The coinciding anniversaries of the International Religious Freedom Act and theUniversal Declaration of Human Rights remind us of the universality of the humanrights these documents protect. Paramount to the issue of religious freedom isArticle 18 of the Universal Declaration, which protects the internal right tobelieve, the external right to worship and share, the individual right to choose,and the personal right to do so without fear of government intervention or harm.Notably, it was Charles Malik, an Arab diplomat from Lebanon, who in 1948, alongwith Eleanor Roosevelt, played a critical role in the formulation of this article.Later Malik said that the Universal Declaration reminds every person that,L

he is born free and equal in dignity and rights with his fellow men, that he isendowed by nature with reason and conscience, that he cannot be held in slavery or

servitude, that he cannot be subjected to arbitrary arrest, that he is presumedinnocent until proved guilty, that his person is inviolable, that he has thenatural right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion and expression.nn

In view of the global consensus on the importance of religious freedom, the UnitedStates works to encourage all governments to uphold their internationalobligations and commitments without advocating a specifically American approach tothe issue. In addition to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, religiousfreedom is protected under numerous international instruments, including theInternational Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Declaration on theElimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion orBelief, the Helsinki Accords, the European Convention for the Protection of Human

Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights,and the American Convention on Human Rights. The relevant religious freedomsections of these important documents can be found in the appendix of this AnnualReport.While this year marks a decade of vigorous work under the International ReligiousFreedom Act and 60 years of international commitment to universal human rights, wecelebrate these anniversaries with a solemn awareness of the enormous work thatremains.r

As President Bush recently noted at a White House event to celebrate the tenthanniversary of the International Religious Freedom Act:


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This legislation that we commemorate today builds on a tradition that defined ournation. After all, when the Founding Fathers adopted the Bill of Rights, the veryfirst liberty they enshrined was the freedom of religion. They recognized that themost basic freedom a man can have is the right to worshipWe are blessed to livein a country where freedom is respected. [Yet] in too many countries, expressionsof freedom are silenced by tyranny, intolerance, and oppression.o

Of course, the furtherance of religious freedom by no means lies solely in thehands of the United States Government, but is a goal shared by many othergovernments, by numerous religious and nongovernmental organizations, andespecially by those suffering on account of their beliefs.e

Having had the privilege now to present seven Annual Reports, I continue to beamazed by the bravery of individuals from around the world who stand up for theirbeliefs, who advocate for religious freedom, and who refuse to be silenced byintimidation and violence. It is these persons whom we seek to serve and for whomthis report is dedicated. It has also been my honor now, for more than 6 years, towork with an incredibly dedicated team of religious freedom advocates in theOffice of International Religious Freedom. The successes we have seen over thisperiod are a testament to their diligence.p

Much work remains, and because of the knowledge that millions of persons aredenied the right to believe, practice, and worship freely by their governments,the United States will continue steadfastly to pursue the establishment anddefense of religious rights for all people everywhere. It is our sincere wish thatour efforts, and those of others who labor in this cause, will give them a renewedsense of hope and, in time, contribute to the flourishing of this cherishedfreedom in all corners of the globe.John V. Hanford, IIIAmbassador at Large for International Religious FreedomAA

Executive SummaryEE

International Religious Freedom Report 2008II

The Annual ReportT

The purpose of this report is to record the status of respect for religiousfreedom in every country around the world during the most recent reportingperiod--July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2008. Our primary focus is to document theactions of governments--those that repress religious expression, persecutebelievers, and tolerate violence against religious minorities, as well as thosethat protect and promote religious freedom. We also address societal attitudes on

religion and religious minorities and record positive and negative actions takenby nongovernmental actors. We strive to report fairly and accurately, withsensitivity to the complexity of religious freedom issues.ss

Religious Freedom as a Core Objective of U.S. Foreign PolicyThe promotion of religious freedom for all is central to American identity and acore objective of U.S. foreign policy. Our advocacy for religious freedom isgrounded in our commitment to advance respect for human rights and fundamentalfreedoms worldwide. The right to believe or not to believe, without fear ofgovernment interference or restriction, is essential to human dignity, robust


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civil society, and sustainable democracy. Both the Universal Declaration of HumanRights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights articulate aright to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion.rr

The Department of State monitors religious persecution and discriminationworldwide, implements policies, develops initiatives, funds programs, and activelyworks bilaterally and multilaterally to foster greater respect for religious

freedom.ff

State-sponsored Challenges to Religious FreedomAll people are guided by certain core beliefs, and for the vast majority of theworld's population those beliefs are drawn from religious convictions.Accordingly, it is fair to say that religious freedom is cherished by most as afoundational human right, and restrictions on faith and practice are an affront tohuman dignity.hh

The right to religious freedom can be abused in many ways, both blatant andsubtle. It can be helpful to recognize that abuses of, or restrictions on,

religious freedom can take various forms, as suggested by the five broadcategories discussed below.First, the most severe abuses take place in certain totalitarian and authoritarianregimes that seek to control religious thought and expression. Such regimes regardsome groups as enemies of the state because of the perceived threatening nature oftheir religious beliefs or their allegiance to a source of authority other thanthe state. Some governments use security concerns, such as religion-basedterrorism, as a pretext to repress peaceful religious practice. This reportdistinguishes between groups of religious believers who express legitimatepolitical grievances and those who misuse religion to advocate violence againstother religious groups or the state.oo

Second, serious abuses occur in contexts of state hostility toward minority ornonapproved religious groups. While not exerting full control over these groups,some governments intimidate and harass religious minorities and tolerate societalabuses against them. In severe cases, governments may demand that minorityadherents renounce their faith or force them to relocate or even flee the country.This report notes the interconnectedness of religious identity and ethnicity,especially in cases where a government dominated by a majority ethno-religiousgroup suppressed the religious expression of minority groups. Also detailed inthis report are instances where governments were hostile to a minority religiousgroup because of the group's real or perceived political ideology or affiliation.

A third category of abuse stems from a state's failure to address forces of

intolerance against certain religious groups. In these countries, laws maydiscourage religious discrimination or persecution, but officials fail to preventattacks, harassment, or other harmful acts against certain individuals orreligious groups. Protecting religious freedom requires more than having good lawsand policies in place. Governments have the responsibility to work actively at alllevels to prevent abuses, bring abusers to justice, provide redress to victimswhen appropriate, and proactively foster an environment of respect and tolerancefor all people.ff

Fourth, abuses occur when governments have enacted discriminatory legislation or


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taken concrete action to favor majority religions. These circumstances oftenresult from historical dominance by a majority religious group and can result ininstitutionalized bias against new or historic minority religious communities.This report notes instances where government endorsement of a particularinterpretation of the majority religion resulted in restrictions even on adherentsof the majority faith.oo

A fifth category involves the practice of discriminating against certain religionsby identifying them as dangerous "cults" or "sects." This type of restrictionsometimes occurs even in countries where religious freedom is otherwise respected.

Multilateral, Regional, and Global Challenges to Religious FreedomThere is a wide spectrum of efforts to undermine the right to religious freedom,including some that extend to multilateral forums. For instance, over the pastdecade, the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), an intergovernmentalorganization comprised of 57 states with majority or significant Muslimpopulations, has worked through the United Nations system to weaken religiousfreedom protections. For instance, the OIC, speaking through the Pakistanidelegation at the December 2007 U.N. Human Rights Council session, declared that

the bloc does not recognize the right of individuals to freely change theirreligion. Several OIC delegations publicly aligned themselves with this position,and the OIC prevented consensus on an important religious freedom-relatedresolution.rr

A problematic long term endeavor of the OIC has been the advancement of theconcept of "defamation of religions" into U.N. resolutions and reports. Originallyphrased in 1999 as "defamation of Islam," the OIC broadened the title to encompassrespect for all religions, but Islam remains the only specifically mentioned faithin the resolutions passed on this topic at the U.N. Human Rights Council andGeneral Assembly. Despite a pretense of protecting religious practice andpromoting tolerance, the flawed concept attempts to limit freedom of religion and

restrict the rights of all individuals to disagree with or criticize religion, inparticular Islam. This concept is also being used by some governments to justifyactions that selectively curtail civil dissent, that halt criticism of politicalstructures, and that restrict the religious speech of minority faith communities,dissenting members of the majority faith, and persons of no religious faith. Theintroduction of the defamation concept in effect seeks to export the blasphemylaws found in many OIC countries to the international level. While the UnitedStates discourages actions that are offensive to particular religious traditions,including Islam, the "defamation of religions" concept is inconsistent with thefreedoms of religion and expression and the OIC's approach will weaken religiousfreedom protections, including protections for minority Muslim populations.ff

The forcible return of individuals from another country to face persecution orabuse in their home country in retribution for their religious activism is also ofgrave concern to the United States. During the reporting period, the Government ofChina reportedly sought the forcible return of several Muslims living abroad,including from Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, some of whom had reportedly protestedrestrictions on the Hajj and encouraged other Muslims to pray and fast duringRamadan.RR

Limits on proselytization and the ability to choose one's faith remained aconcern. Governments, often seeking to protect the beliefs, traditions, and


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ideology of the majority or dominant religion, took steps to restrict the rightsof individuals to proselytize and to change their religion. Some countries, suchas Malaysia, Greece, and Israel, continued to enforce laws that curb peacefulproselytizing activities. Other countries either passed or introducedanticonversion laws. Six of 28 states in India have passed anticonversion laws;the sixth did so during the reporting period. In Sri Lanka a national levelanticonversion bill introduced in 2004 remained under consideration. Althoughthese laws do not explicitly ban conversions, they infringe upon the individual's

right to convert and favor the majority religions. Some Muslim majority countries,such as Egypt, Malaysia, and Saudi Arabia, continued to accord a right toproselytize only to Muslims and/or to enforce harsh apostasy laws against thosewho chose to convert to another faith. Actions taken by these governments areinconsistent with the right to freedom of religion, which protects an individual'sright to convert, to communicate his or her religious viewpoints, and to receivecommunication of religious ideas.cc

In contrast to their traditional respect for religious freedom, Kazakhstan, theKyrgyz Republic, and Tajikistan introduced problematic legislative changes tocurrent religion laws that would place significant limits on this right. InKazakhstan, the Parliament introduced new draft amendments to the laws governing

religion that would, among other things, establish more restrictive registrationprocedures, prohibit smaller groups from preaching or teaching outside of thegroup, restrict publication of religious literature, and require local governmentauthorization for the construction of a religious facility. In the KyrgyzRepublic, a draft religion law under active consideration in the Parliament wouldincrease from 10 to 200 the number of members required for official registrationof a religious organization, eliminate alternative military service for all butpriests and religious laymen, ban proselytizing, and prohibit the conversion ofKyrgyz citizens to a different faith. Lastly, a draft religion law underconsideration in Tajikistan would regulate the registration and legal status ofreligious groups and associations, restrict religious education and literature,and limit other aspects of religious expression.aa

Some governments increased efforts to promote tolerance, dialogue, and anenvironment conducive to coexistence between religions during the reportingperiod. In October 2007 the Jordanian Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for IslamicThought led efforts which resulted in the issuing, on October 13, 2007, of an openletter calling for interfaith dialogue to be based on love of God and neighbor.The document, "A Common Word Between Us and You," was issued by 138 Muslimleaders, clerics, and scholars and addressed to Christians worldwide. TheInstitute collected signatures for the Common Word document representing all eightschools of Islamic thought. The document was finalized at a conference hosted bythe Institute under the patronage of King Abdullah in September 2007. Theconference brought together representatives from 40 Islamic and non-Islamiccountries. On June 4-6, 2008, the Government of Saudi Arabia, along with the

Muslim World League (MWL), organized an intrafaith conference in Mecca. The goalof the conference was to promote unity among various Islamic sects. Former IranianPresident Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani as well as Saudi Grand Mufti Abdulaziz Al al-Sheik attended. As a follow up, King Abdullah, along with King Juan Carlos I ofSpain, hosted an interfaith conference in Madrid that included prominent religiousfigures from Islam, Christianity, and Judaism.ff

The remainder of this Executive Summary consists of two parts. Part I summarizes,on a country-by-country basis, actions the U.S. Government has taken to advanceinternational religious freedom in the nations designated "Countries of Particular


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Concern" (CPCs) for particularly severe violations of religious freedom. Part IIprovides a summary of conditions in a number of countries where religious freedomis of significant interest, including in Countries of Particular Concern. For eachcountry, this section notes the legal situation and relevant policies and givesexamples of particular government abuses or positive steps governments have takento promote or protect religious freedom. In most cases, these countries exhibitone or more of the forms of abuse outlined above.oo

PART I: U.S. ACTIONS IN COUNTRIES OF PARTICULAR CONCERNPP

The International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (IRF Act) requires an annualreview of the status of religious freedom worldwide and the designation ofcountries that have "engaged in or tolerated particularly severe violations ofreligious freedom" during the reporting period as "Countries of ParticularConcern" (CPCs). Following the designation, a period of negotiation may ensue, inwhich the United States seeks to work with a designated country to bring aboutchange. Subsequently, depending upon the results of these discussions, one or moreactions are chosen by the Secretary of State, pursuant to the IRF Act. Options forCPC actions include application of sanctions or negotiation of a bilateral

agreement. The Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom and hisoffice take actions to promote religious freedom in each CPC throughout the year.This section highlights actions by other U.S. Government officials to promotereligious freedom and to encourage the governments to take positive steps toimprove conditions for religious believers. Currently, the countries that havebeen designated as CPCs are: Burma, China, North Korea, Iran, Sudan, Eritrea,Saudi Arabia, and Uzbekistan. Further details on U.S. actions in nationsdesignated as CPCs and in other countries may be found in each individual countryreport.rr

BurmaEvery year since 1999, the Secretary of State has designated Burma as a CPC.

During the reporting period, the Secretary continued the designation of asanction, consisting of a prohibition on exports or other transfers of defensearticles and defense services pursuant to the Arms Export Control Act, as theaction under the IRF Act. The U.S. Government has a wide array of financial andtrade sanctions in place against Burma for its violations of human rights.The U.S.Government advocated religious freedom with all strata of society, includinggovernment officials, religious leaders, private citizens, scholars, foreigndiplomats, and international business and media representatives. Through outreachand travel, when not blocked by regime officials, embassy representatives offeredsupport to and exchanged information with many, otherwise isolated, localnongovernmental organizations and religious leaders. The U.S. funded a UNHCRprogram to issue identification cards to undocumented Rohingya Muslims in aneffort to facilitate their registration of births and marriages, and access to

basic education and health care.bb

ChinaThe Secretary of State has designated the People's Republic of China a CPC everyyear since 1999. During the reporting period, the Secretary continued thedesignation of a sanction, consisting of the restriction of exports of crimecontrol and detection instruments and equipment pursuant to the Foreign RelationsAuthorization Act, as the action under the IRF Act. The U.S. Department of State,the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, and the consulates general in Chengdu, Guangzhou,Shanghai, and Shenyang made a concerted effort to encourage greater religious


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freedom in China, condemning abuses while supporting positive trends. In publicand in private, U.S. officials repeatedly urged the Chinese Government to respectcitizens' constitutional and internationally recognized rights to exercisereligious freedom and to release all those serving prison sentences for religiousactivities. President Bush raised religious freedom issues during meetings withPresident Hu Jintao, including at the September 2007 Asia-Pacific EconomicCooperation (APEC) Summit in Sydney, Australia. Secretary of State CondoleezzaRice raised concerns about religious freedom during multiple meetings with senior

Chinese officials and issued a statement after the March 2008 protests in Tibetcalling upon the Government of China to address restrictions on the practice ofTibetan Buddhism that contributed to tensions in the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR)and other Tibetan areas. The Ambassador at Large for International ReligiousFreedom and the Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, andLabor raised religious freedom concerns in the U.S.-China Human Rights Dialogue inMay and in separate meetings with the Chinese Government in Beijing and inWashington, D.C. The U.S. Ambassador to China and other senior officialshighlighted problems of religious freedom and cases of individual religiousprisoners of conscience in public speeches and in private diplomacy with Chineseofficials.oo

EritreaThe Secretary of State first designated Eritrea as a CPC in 2004. As the actionunder the IRF Act, the Secretary ordered the denial of commercial export toEritrea of any defense articles and services controlled under the Arms ExportControl Act, excluding certain items such as those used for peacekeeping andantiterrorism efforts. The U.S. Ambassador and other embassy officers have raisedthe cases of detention and restrictions on unregistered religious groups withofficials in the President's Office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and theMinistry of Justice, as well as with the leaders of the sole legal politicalparty, the People's Front for Democracy and Justice. Despite repeated attempts,U.S. embassy officials were not permitted by the Government to meet withgovernment authorities responsible for religious affairs.gg

IranEvery year since 1999, the U.S. Secretary of State has designated Iran as a CPCunder the International Religious Freedom Act for particularly severe violationsof religious freedom. The United States has no diplomatic relations with Iran andthus cannot raise directly the restrictions that the Iranian Government places onreligious freedom. The U.S. Government has expressed strongly its objections tothe Government's harsh and oppressive treatment of religious minorities throughpublic statements and reports, support for relevant U.N. and NGO efforts, andcooperative diplomatic initiatives involving other states concerned aboutreligious freedom in Iran. The United States calls on other countries withbilateral relations with Iran to use those ties to press Iran on religious freedomand human rights. On numerous occasions, the U.S. Department of State has

addressed publicly the situation faced by the Iranian Jewish community (guaranteedfreedom of worship in Iran's constitution) and the Baha'is (viewed as apostates bythe regime), and the U.S. Government has encouraged other governments to makesimilar statements. The U.S. Government has publicly condemned Iran in U.N.resolutions for its abuses of human rights, basic freedoms, and treatment ofreligious minorities. In 2005 and 2006, the U.N. General Assembly successfullyapproved resolutions, both cosponsored by the United States, specificallyaddressing religious freedom issues among other violations of human rights andfundamental freedoms. In 2007 the U.N. General Assembly passed another resolutionagainst Iran, condemning inter alia its treatment of minority religious groups,including Baha'is.


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North KoreaThe Secretary of State has designated the Democratic People's Republic of Korea(DPRK) as a CPC every year since 2001. During the reporting period, the Secretarycontinued the designation of a sanction, consisting of restrictions on normaltrade relations and other trade benefits pursuant to the Trade Act of 1974 and theJackson-Vanik Amendment, as the action under the IRF Act. The United States has no

diplomatic relations with North Korea but raises religious freedom concerns aboutthe country in multilateral forums and bilaterally with other governments,particularly those that have diplomatic relations with the regime. The UnitedStates has made clear that dialogue on the country's human rights record would benecessary for the country to normalize relations with the United States. U.S.Department of State officials meet regularly with North Korean defectors and withNGOs focused on the country. In December 2007 the U.N. General Assembly adopted aresolution, which the United States had cosponsored, that condemned the country'spoor human rights record, expressing special concern at "continuing reports ofsystemic, widespread and grave violations" of human rights. The resolution calledon the country to fulfill its obligations under human rights instruments to whichit is a party and further urged the Government to permit U.N. specialrepresentatives to visit and to ensure that humanitarian organizations have free

access to the country. In addition, the U.S Department of State continued toprovide funding to the National Endowment for Democracy to support Republic ofKorea-based NGOs in their efforts to improve and expand monitoring and reportingof the human rights situation in the country. Radio Free Asia and Voice of Americaalso provide regular Korean-language broadcasting. Since his appointment in 2005,the U.S. Special Envoy on Human Rights in North Korea has urged other countries tojoin the growing international campaign urging the DPRK to address its humanrights conditions and abuses of religious freedom.rr

Saudi ArabiaThe Secretary of State first designated Saudi Arabia as a CPC in 2004. In 2006,because of new policies confirmed by the Saudi Arabian Government, the Secretary

renewed a waiver of sanctions "to further the purposes of the Act." During theperiod covered by this report, senior U.S. officials and embassy officers metnumerous times with senior Saudi government and religious leaders regardingreligious freedom issues. Despite the fact that religious freedom remains severelyrestricted in Saudi Arabia, during this reporting period there were incrementalimprovements in specific areas, such as better protection of the right to possessand use personal religious materials; greater restrictions on, and scrutiny of,the religious police; and greater allowance for public and private celebrations ofShi'a holidays in the Qatif oasis of the Eastern Province. There were also somepositive developments that could lead to important additional improvements in thefuture. For example, the Government reiterated its policy to halt thedissemination of intolerance and combat extremism, both within Islam and towardnon-Muslim religious groups, in the country and abroad. As part of this effort,

the Government reconfirmed its policies to reform its educational system,including teacher training, curriculum reform, and revising textbooks to removeintolerant references to other religions. The Government continued to state itsgoal of "balanced development," by promising greater infrastructure development inpredominantly Shi'a and Isma'ili areas of the Eastern and Najran Provinces. Asignificant development this year was the beginning of an interfaith dialogueprocess, led by King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud.pp

SudanEvery year since 1999, the Secretary of State has designated Sudan a CPC. During


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the reporting period, among the numerous U.S. sanctions against Sudan, theSecretary continued the designation of one sanction consisting of the use of thevoice and vote of the United States to abstain or oppose loans or other uses ofthe funds of the international financial institutions to or for Sudan, pursuant tothe International Financial Institutions Act, as the action under the IRF Act. TheU.S. Government encouraged the Government of National Unity to fulfill thepromises of religious freedom made in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and theInterim National Constitution and made clear that restrictions on religious

freedom impede improved relations between the United States and Sudan. The U.S.Embassy has developed working relationships with a number of Muslim and Christianleaders, and U.S. officials met on a regular basis with such leaders in Khartoum,Juba, and other locales.JJ

UzbekistanIn November 2006 the Secretary of State designated Uzbekistan as a CPC under theInternational Religious Freedom Act. Uzbekistan's restrictive religion law, whichmakes it difficult or impossible for many religious groups to obtain legal status,resulted in raids and arrests and imprisonment of religious leaders. There werecontinuing credible allegations that devout Muslims were arrested on suspicion ofmembership in extremist groups. Some of those detained were simply conservative

Muslims whose beliefs or teachings differed from those of state-sanctionedclerics. Following the CPC designation, the Ambassador at Large for InternationalReligious Freedom has held a series of meetings with officials of the Governmentof Uzbekistan, both in Uzbekistan and in Washington, aimed at forging improvementsin religious freedom. The U.S. Ambassador to Uzbekistan and other U.S. officialshave also actively participated in this process to seek important improvements.hh

PART II: COUNTRY-SPECIFIC CONDITIONS OF INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOMPP

This section provides a summary of conditions in a number of countries wherereligious freedom is of significant interest. For each country, this section notes

the legal situation and relevant policies and gives examples of particulargovernment abuses or positive steps governments have taken in the reporting periodto promote or protect religious freedom.tt

AfghanistanThe Constitution states that "followers of other religions are free to exercisetheir faith and perform their religious rites within the limits of the provisionsof law." It also states that Islam is the "religion of the state" and that "no lawcan be contrary to the beliefs and provisions of the sacred religion of Islam."While the Government and political leaders aspire to a national environment thatrespects the right to religious freedom, the residual effects of years of Talibanrule, popular suspicion regarding outside influence of foreigners, and weak

democratic institutions hinder the respect for religious freedom. Intolerance wasmanifested in harassment and occasional violence against religious minorities,including Christians, Hindus, Sikhs, Shi'as, and Muslims who were perceived as notrespecting conservative Islamic strictures. During the reporting period,authorities arrested and jailed three individuals for publishing or circulatingmaterials deemed to be offensive to Islam. The reprinting of one of the Danishcartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad and the airing of a film produced by aDutch opposition parliamentarian critical of the Qur'an were interpreted asdeliberate insults to Muslims, sparking protests, sometimes violent, in somecities during the reporting period. Conversion is understood by many citizens tocontravene the tenets of Islam and Shari'a. Due to societal pressure, most local


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converts hid their religion from their neighbors and others. Within the Muslimpopulation, relations among the different sects continued to be difficult.pp

AlgeriaThe Algerian Constitution provides for freedom of belief and opinion and permitsthe people to set up institutions that protect fundamental liberties. TheConstitution also declares Islam to be the state religion and prohibits

institutions from engaging in behavior incompatible with Islamic morality. TheGovernments de facto and de jure policies have precipitated a decline in thestatus of religious freedom during this reporting period. In February 2008 theGovernment began enforcing Ordinance 06-03, which makes proselytizing a criminaloffense. Additionally, the ordinance mandates that anyone who makes, stores, ordistributes printed documents, or audiovisual materials with the intent of"shaking the faith" of a Muslim may also face a maximum of 5 years' imprisonmentand a $7,100 (500,000 dinars) fine. The enforcement of Ordinance 06-03 resulted inincreased restrictions on non-Muslim religious practice. There were many reportsof Government restrictions on worship, including the arrest and sentencing ofconverts to Christianity, the ordered closure of churches, the dismissal of aChristian school director for allegedly using a school for evangelizing, and theconfiscation of Bibles.cc

BurmaThe Burmese Government's repressive, authoritarian military regime imposedrestrictions on certain religious activities and frequently committed abuses ofthe right to freedom of religion. Most adherents of registered religions werepermitted to worship as they chose, but the Government continued to infiltrate andmonitor activities of virtually all organizations, including religious ones. Italso systematically restricted efforts by Buddhist clergy to promote human rightsand political freedom. In September 2007 the regime violently suppressed peacefulpro-democracy demonstrations led by Buddhist monks. Security forces raidedmonasteries and arrested monks in response to these demonstrations. In some cases,government officials destroyed existing places of worship, including monasteries

believed to be involved in the September demonstrations, and discouraged andprohibited minority religious groups from constructing new places of worship. TheGovernment actively promoted Theravada Buddhism, particularly among minorityethnic groups. Although there were no new reports of forced conversions of non-Buddhists, the Government applied pressure on students and poor youth to convertto Buddhism. Adherence to Buddhism remains generally a prerequisite for promotionto senior government and military ranks. Anti-Muslim violence continued, as didthe close monitoring of Muslims' activities. Restrictions on Christians and othernon-Buddhist minority groups also continued throughout the country.nn

ChinaDuring the period covered by this report, the Government's repression of religious

freedom intensified in some areas, including in Tibetan areas and in the XinjiangUighur Autonomous Region (XUAR). Some unregistered Protestant religious groups inBeijing also reported intensified harassment from government authorities in thelead up to the 2008 Olympic Games. Media and China-based sources reported thatmunicipal authorities in Beijing closed some house churches or asked them to stopmeeting during the 2008 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. During the reportingperiod, officials detained and interrogated several foreigners about theirreligious activities and alleged that the foreigners had engaged in "illegalreligious activities" and cancelled their visas. Media reported that the totalnumber of expatriates expelled by the Government due to concerns about theirreligious activities exceeded 100. The Government reportedly arrested two Uighur


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Christians who were employed by foreign-owned companies whose expatriate managerwas expelled from the XUAR on charges of "illegal religious activities." Patrioticeducation campaigns, which required monks and nuns to sign statements personallydenouncing the Dalai Lama, and other new restrictions on religious freedom weremajor factors that led monks and nuns to mount peaceful protests at a number ofmonasteries on March 10, 2008. The protests and subsequent security response gaveway to violence in Lhasa by March 14 and 15. Following the outbreak of unrest,authorities locked down monasteries, intensified "patriotic education" campaigns,

and detained an unknown number of monks and nuns or expelled them frommonasteries. Government officials increased public criticism of the Dalai Lamaafter the March protests.aa

There was little evidence that regulations introduced in 2005 on religious affairsimproved the situation of religious freedom; they defined only government-approvedpractices and faiths as normal or legitimate. Unregistered Protestant churchescontinued to report that their applications for registration were rejected withoutcause. "Underground" Catholic bishops also faced repression, in large part due totheir loyalty to the Vatican, which the government accused of interfering inChina's internal affairs. The Government of the XUAR continued to strictly controlreligious activity, limiting participation on the Hajj to tours sponsored by the

Islamic Association of China. Foreign media reported that XUAR officialsconfiscated the passports of more than 2,000 Uighur Muslims to preventunauthorized Hajj pilgrimages. The Government continued its repression of groupsthat it categorized as "cults" in general, particularly small Christian-basedgroups and the Falun Gong. Falun Gong practitioners continued to face arrest,detention, and imprisonment, and there were reports of deaths due to torture andabuse. However, the Government continued to emphasize the role of religion inpromoting a "harmonious society," allowed the Patriotic Religious Associations toexpand their cooperation with religious groups in other countries, and funded thebuilding of some new places for worship by registered religious groups. TheGovernment also allowed foreign and domestic religious groups to increasecooperation on religious education and charitable work. The Government has grantedapproval for an increasing number of religious books to be published by officially

approved publishers.aa

CubaThe Constitution recognizes the right of citizens to practice any religious beliefwithin the framework of respect for the law. However, the Government continued toplace restrictions on freedom of religion. While the Government permittedapolitical religious activity in government-approved sites, state securityofficials subjected officially recognized religious groups as well as unregisteredhouse churches to surveillance and infiltration. Many religious organizationsnoted a slight improvement in religious freedom, reporting fewer restrictions onpolitically-sensitive expression, fewer importation and travel restrictions,permission to repair buildings, and significant increases in membership. The law

allows for the construction of new houses of worship once the required permits areobtained. However, the Government rarely issued the permits. The Government doesnot permit private schools, including religious schools. Jehovah's Witnesses andSeventh-day Adventists reported discrimination in schools. Prisoners reported thatprison officials ignored repeated written requests for religious visits. Thepolice beat and detained 18 persons at a Catholic church who earlier hadparticipated in a political protest. The Government signed the two internationalhuman rights covenants but has yet to ratify them. U.S. government policy is topromote a rapid, peaceful transition to democracy and respect for human rights,including religious freedom.i


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EgyptThe Constitution provides for freedom of belief and the practice of religiousrites, although the Government places restrictions on these rights in practice.Islam is the official state religion, and Shari'a (Islamic law) is the primarysource of legislation. Several government measures and practices undertaken duringthe reporting period contributed to a decline in government respect for religiousfreedom. Most significantly, a ruling by a lower court restricted the freedom to

convert to non-Muslims only. This ruling, which is under appeal, codifiedpreviously de facto restrictions on conversion from Islam to any other religion.Another ruling held that the Constitution's guarantee of freedom of religion doesnot apply to Baha'is. Additionally, governmental authorities detained somereligious freedom advocates, some converts from Islam to Christianity, and someChristian children of parents who converted to Islam. The Government also failedto redress laws and practices that reinforce societal discrimination against non-Muslim religious groups. Members of religious groups that are not recognized bythe Government continued to experience personal and collective hardship. Therewere some positive steps in support of religious freedom, including a court rulingon behalf of Baha'is that has allowed some to obtain civil documents, and a courtruling allowing 13 Christian-born converts to Islam to obtain identity documentsindicating their conversion to Christianity. Members of non-Muslim religious

minorities officially recognized by the Government generally continued to worshipwithout harassment and maintained links with co-religionists in other countries.Societal abuses and discrimination continued during the reporting period and weremanifest in attacks on Christian minorities, including the kidnapping and tortureof monks, death threats to a convert from Islam to Christianity, and harassment ofreligious leaders, as well as in the destruction of Christian symbols andproperty, and the burning and looting of a chapel.pp

EritreaThe Government's record on religious freedom remained extremely poor during thereporting period. The Eritrean Government severely restricted the freedom ofreligion for groups that it had not registered and infringed upon the independence

of some registered groups. Following a 2002 decree that religious groups mustregister, the Government closed all religious facilities not belonging to thecountry's four principal religious communities: the Eritrean Orthodox Church, theRoman Catholic Church, the Evangelical (Lutheran) Church of Eritrea, and Islam.The Government continued to harass, arrest, detain, torture, and kill members ofindependent evangelical groups (including Pentecostals), Jehovah's Witnesses, anda reform movement within the Eritrean Orthodox Church, and it sought greatercontrol over the four approved religious groups. The Government also intervened inprocedural and administrative decisions of the Eritrean Orthodox Church bysupplanting the patriarch in favor of its own candidate. The Government failed toregister any of the religious groups that applied in 2002 for registration, and itrestricted religious meetings and arrested individuals during religiousceremonies, gatherings, and prayer meetings in private homes. There were also

reports of forced recantations in detention. During the reporting period,authorities arrested numerous religious believers not affiliated with the fourapproved churches. According to some reports, over 3,000 religious detaineescontinue to be held without due process in harsh conditions that include extremetemperature fluctuations with limited or no access to family.tt

IndiaThe Constitution provides for freedom of religion, and the National Governmentgenerally respected this right in practice. However, some state and localgovernments, including those of Gujarat and Rajasthan, enacted or amended


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"anticonversion" laws during the reporting period. The vast majority of citizensof every religious group lived in peaceful coexistence. However, there werereports of organized societal attacks against minority religious groups. Statepolice and enforcement agencies often did not act swiftly enough to effectivelycounter societal attacks. In Orissa, which is governed by a coalition governmentthat includes the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Hinduextremists attacked Christian villagers and churches in the Kandhamal districtover the Christmas holidays. Extremists damaged approximately 100 churches and

Christian institutions and destroyed 700 Christian homes which led villagers toflee to nearby forests. The violence affected 22 Christian-owned businesses.Numerous cases were in the courts at the end of the reporting period, includingcases in connection with the 2002 Gujarat violence, the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, andattacks against Christians. Some extremists continued to view ineffectiveinvestigation and prosecution of attacks as a signal that they could commit suchviolence with impunity. Some nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) reported thatcommunal violence against religious minorities was part of a larger Hindunationalist agenda and corresponded with ongoing state electoral politics. Therewere terrorist attacks at or near places of worship during the reporting period,including a coordinated series of bombings in market and temple areas in Jaipur,Rajasthan in May 2008 and an explosion at the main mosque in Hyderabad in May2007. These attacks reflect a soft target focus and appear designed to foment

communal violence.cc

IndonesiaThe Constitution provides for freedom of religion. However, the Governmentofficially recognized only six religions, and legal restrictions continued oncertain types of religious activity, particularly among unrecognized religions andsects of recognized religions considered "deviant." The Government generallyrespected religious freedom in practice. However, recommendations by government-appointed bodies and a subsequent government decree restricting the ability of theAhmadiyya Muslim Community to practice freely were significant exceptions. In somecases, the Government tolerated discrimination against and the abuse of religiousgroups by private actors and often failed to punish perpetrators, although the

Government prevented several vigilante actions during Ramadan. Aceh remained theonly province authorized to implement Islamic law (Shari'a). Many localgovernments outside of Aceh maintained laws with elements of Shari'a thatabrogated the rights of women and religious minorities. However, no new Shari'a-inspired laws were known to have passed during the reporting period. Even thoughthe central government holds authority over religious matters, it failed tooverturn any local laws that restricted rights guaranteed in the Constitution.Persons of minority religious groups continued to experience some officialdiscrimination in the form of administrative difficulties, often in the context ofcivil registration of marriages and births or the issuance of identity cards.There were a number of reports of societal abuses or discrimination based onreligious affiliation, belief, or practice. Extremist groups used violence andintimidation to force at least 12 churches and 21 Ahmadiyya mosques to close.

Several churches and Ahmadiyya places of worship remained closed after mobsforcibly shut them down in previous years. Some Muslim organizations andgovernment officials called for the dissolution of Ahmadiyya religious expression,resulting in some violence and discrimination against its followers. Someperpetrators of violence were undergoing trials during the reporting period.However, many perpetrators of past abuse against religious minorities were notbrought to justice.bb

IranThe Constitution provides that "other Islamic denominations are to be accorded


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full respect," while the country's pre-Islamic religious groups--Zoroastrians,Christians, and Jews--are recognized as "protected" religious minorities. Article4 of the Constitution states that all laws and regulations must be based onIslamic criteria. Despite Constitutional guarantees, in practice those who are notShi'a Muslims face substantial discrimination, and government actions continued tosupport elements of society that create a threatening atmosphere for somereligious minorities. There was continued deterioration of the poor status ofrespect for religious freedom during the reporting period. Government actions and

rhetoric created a threatening atmosphere for nearly all non-Shi'a religiousgroups, most notably for Baha'is, as well as Sufi Muslims, evangelical Christians,and members of the Jewish community. Government-controlled media intensifiednegative campaigns against religious minorities, particularly the Baha'is. Reportsof imprisonment, harassment, intimidation, and discrimination based on religiousbeliefs continued during the reporting period. Baha'i groups often reportedarbitrary arrests, expulsions from universities, and confiscation of property. TheIranian Government regards the Baha'i faith as a heretical Islamic group with apolitical orientation that is antagonistic to the country's Islamic revolution andcontinued to prohibit Baha'is from teaching and practicing their faith. (Baha'isview themselves not as Muslims, but as an independent religion with origins in theShi'a Islamic tradition.) Zoroastrians, Jews, and Christians legally recognizedreligious minorities, have reported imprisonment, harassment, intimidation, and

discrimination based on their religious beliefs.dd

During the reporting period there was a rise in officially sanctioned anti-Semiticpropaganda involving official statements, media outlets, publications, and books,creating a threatening atmosphere for the Jewish community. The Governmentvigilantly enforced its prohibition on proselytizing by some Christian groups byclosely monitoring their activities, closing some churches, and arrestingChristian converts. Members of evangelical congregations are required to carrymembership cards, photocopies of which must be provided to the authorities.Government restrictions on Sufi Muslim groups and houses of worship also becamemore pronounced in recent years, and Sufis reported the constant harassment andintimidation of prominent Sufi leaders by the intelligence and security services.

There were reports that the Government called for a full ban on the practice ofSufism and required some adherents to sign documents renouncing Sufism.Reportedly, the President called for an end to the development of Christianity inthe country as well.tt

IraqThe Constitution guarantees freedom of thought, conscience, and religious beliefand practice for Muslims and non-Muslims alike. While the Government generallyendorsed these rights, violence conducted by terrorists, extremists, and criminalgangs restricted the free exercise of religion and posed a significant threat tothe country's vulnerable religious minorities throughout the reporting period:radical Islamic elements from outside the Government exerted pressure on

individuals and groups to conform to extremist interpretations of Islam'sprecepts; and sectarian violence, including attacks on clergy and places ofworship, hampered the ability to practice religion freely. As the Government beganto exhibit the will and capacity to challenge its militant opponents, the violencebegan to abate and the Government became increasingly successful in restoringsecurity, in a generally nonsectarian manner, throughout the country. Overall,there was some progress in government commitment and action in support ofreligious freedom during the period covered by this report. Moreover, since 2003the Government has generally not engaged in the persecution of any religiousgroup, calling instead for tolerance and acceptance of all religious minorities.This commitment was publicly reinforced by comments from the Prime Minister


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following security operations against violent groups in Basrah, Baghdad, andNinewa Provinces, the latter of which is the province with the largestconcentration of non-Muslim minorities.cc

Israel and Occupied TerritoriesI

The Israeli Basic Law on Human Dignity and Liberty provides for freedom of worship

and the Government generally respected this right in practice. While there is noconstitution, government policy continued to support the generally free practiceof religion. Nevertheless, some increases in societal abuses and discriminationcontributed to a slight decline in respect for religious freedom during thereporting period. Specifically, societal abuses and discrimination increasedagainst some evangelical Christian groups as well as Messianic Jews (persons whoidentify as Jews but who believe Jesus was the Messiah). Relations among religiousand ethnic groups--between Jews and non-Jews, Muslims and Christians, Arabs andnon-Arabs, secular and religious Jews, and among the different streams ofJudaism--often were strained during the reporting period. This was due primarilyto the continuing Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the Government's unequaltreatment of non-Orthodox Jews, including the Government's recognition of onlyOrthodox Jewish religious authorities in personal and some civil status matters

concerning Jews. For example, Government allocations of state resources favorOrthodox (including Modern and National Religious streams of Orthodoxy) and Haredi(sometimes called "ultra-Orthodox") Jewish religious groups and institutions. The"status quo" agreement reached at the founding of the state provides that theGovernment will implement certain policies based on Orthodox Jewishinterpretations of religious law. Jewish marriages performed in the country arenot recognized by the Government unless they are performed by the Orthodox Jewishestablishment. The Orthodox Jewish establishment also determines other statepractices such as who is buried in Jewish state cemeteries, limiting this right toindividuals considered "Jewish" by Orthodox standards. The construction of aseparation barrier by the Government of Israel due to security concerns,particularly in and around East Jerusalem, severely limited access to holy sitesand seriously impeded the work of religious organizations that provide education,

healthcare, and other humanitarian relief and social services to Palestinians.Such impediments were not exclusive to religious believers or to religiousorganizations, and at times the Israeli Government made efforts to lessen theimpact on religious communities.i

The Palestinian Authority (PA) does not have a constitution. However, thePalestinian Basic Law provides for freedom of religion, and the PA generallyrespected this right in practice. The Basic Law states that Islam is the officialreligion and the principles of Shari'a shall be the main source of legislation,but it also calls for respect and sanctity for other "heavenly" religions.Personal status law for Palestinians is based on religious law. For MuslimPalestinians, personal status law is derived from Shari'a, while variousecclesiastical courts rule on personal status issues for Christians. President

Abbas took steps to eliminate religious incitement, although some incidents stilloccurred, and the PA sought to protect religious freedom. There were unconfirmedreports of Christians being targeted for extortion or abuse during the reportingperiod, and the PA did not take action to investigate these injustices allegedlyperpetrated by PA officials. The Gaza Strip was under the control of the IslamicResistance Movement (HAMAS) during the reporting period, limiting the ability ofthe PA to enforce respect for religious freedom or address reports of harassmentof Christians in the Gaza Strip.oo

Laos


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During the period covered by this report, the overall status of respect forreligious freedom did not significantly change. Throughout the country, religiouspractice was restrained by official rules and policies that allowed religiousgroups to practice their faith only under circumscribed conditions; however, thedegree to which local authorities imposed restrictions and carried out abusesvaried by region and by religion. Authorities in some areas continued to displayintolerance for minority religious practices, especially by Protestant Christians.Some local officials pressured minority Protestants to renounce their faith on

threat of arrest or forceful eviction from their villages in Bolikhamsai,Houaphan, and Luang Namtha provinces. Arrests and detention of Protestantsoccurred in Luang Namtha, Oudomsai, Bokeo, and Vientiane provinces, although thisoccurred less frequently than in previous reporting periods. In some areas,minority Protestants were forbidden from gathering to worship. In areas whereProtestants have actively proselytized, local officials have sometimes subjectedthem to "reeducation." Conflicts between ethnic groups sometimes exacerbatedreligious tensions.rr

MalaysiaThe Constitution of Malaysia provides for religious freedom. However, otherconstitutional provisions designate Islam as "the religion of the Federation,"

define all ethnic Malays as Muslim, give the Government authority to regulateIslam, and prohibit the propagation of other faiths among Muslims. Malaysiamaintains a dual legal system with both secular and Shari'a courts, the latter ofwhich have jurisdiction over the Muslim population in certain civil matters.Shari'a courts generally prohibited those officially registered as Muslims fromlegally converting to another faith. Those who attempted conversion were deemed"apostates" and sometimes sent to religious "rehabilitation" centers, where theyreceived coerced religious instruction. The Government maintained a list of 56"deviant" Islamic sects, and members of these and other banned groups may also besubject to "rehabilitation." Officials at the state level sometimes interferedwith mosque activity by using mosques to convey political messages, preventingcertain imams from speaking, and overseeing the content of sermons. Religiousminorities remained generally free to practice their beliefs. Nevertheless, over

the past several years, many have expressed concern that the civil court systemhas gradually ceded jurisdiction to Shari'a courts, particularly in areas offamily law involving disputes between Muslims and non-Muslims. Religiousminorities continued to face alleged violations of property rights and limitationson religious expression. The Hindu community continued to express concern aboutthe demolition of Hindu temples. The Government restricts the distribution ofMalay-language Christian materials in peninsular Malaysia and maintains bans on anumber of other materials that deal with sensitive religious issues.nn

North KoreaAlthough the Constitution provides for "freedom of religious belief," genuinereligious freedom does not exist, and there was no change in the extremely poor

level of respect for religious freedom during the reporting period. The cult ofpersonality of Kim Jong-il and his father remained important ideologicalunderpinnings of the regime, at times resembling tenets of a state religion. TheGovernment severely restricts religious freedom, including organized religiousactivity, except that which is supervised tightly by officially recognized groupslinked to the Government. Some foreigners who have visited the country stated thatservices at state-authorized churches appeared staged and contained politicalcontent supportive of the regime. Defectors reported that they had witnessed thearrests and execution of members of underground Christian churches by the regimein prior years. According to an unconfirmed claim from one foreign Christian NGO,nine North Korean nationals in its network disappeared during the year. The reason


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for their reported disappearance was not known.An estimated 150,000 to 200,000persons were believed to be held in political prison camps in remote areas, somefor religious reasons. Prison conditions are harsh; torture and starvation arecommon. Refugees and defectors who had been in prison stated that prisoners heldon the basis of their religious beliefs generally were treated worse than otherinmates.ii

PakistanThe country is an Islamic republic. Islam is the state religion, and theConstitution requires that laws be consistent with Islamic principles. TheGovernment took some steps to improve the treatment of religious minorities duringthe period covered by this report, but serious problems remained. Law enforcementpersonnel abused religious minorities in custody. Security forces and othergovernment agencies did not adequately prevent or address societal abuse againstminorities. Discriminatory legislation and the Government's failure to take actionagainst societal forces hostile to those who practice a different religious belieffostered religious intolerance, acts of violence, and intimidation againstreligious minorities. Specific laws that discriminate against religious minoritiesinclude anti-Ahmadi and blasphemy laws that provide the death penalty for defilingIslam or its prophets. The Ahmadiyya community continued to face governmental and

societal discrimination and legal bars to the practice of its religious beliefs.Members of other Islamic sects also claimed governmental discrimination. Freedomof speech is constitutionally "subject to any reasonable restrictions imposed bylaw in the interest of the glory of Islam." Relations between religiouscommunities were tense. Societal discrimination against religious minorities waswidespread, and societal violence against such groups occurred. Societal actors,including terrorist and extremist groups and individuals, targeted religiouscongregations.cc

RussiaWhile the Government generally respected freedom of religion for most of thepopulation, in some cases authorities imposed restrictions on certain groups and

did not always respect separation of church and state and the equality of allreligions before the law. Some federal agencies and many local authoritiescontinued to restrict the rights of some religious minorities. Over the past year,the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled that the Russian Governmentviolated its international religious freedom obligations in cases involving theMoscow Church of Scientology and the Christs Grace Church of EvangelicalChristians. Some earlier ECHR decisions have still not been fully implemented.Vague legislation countering "extremism" has had a detrimental effect on religiousfreedom. There were indications that the security services, including the FederalSecurity Service, treated the leadership and literature of some minority religiousgroups as security threats. Popular attitudes toward traditionally Muslim ethnicgroups are negative in many regions, and there are manifestations of anti-Semitismas well as hostility toward Roman Catholics and other non-Orthodox Christian

denominations. Some observant Muslims claimed harassment because of their faith.Instances of religiously motivated violence continued, although it often wasdifficult to determine whether xenophobic, religious, or ethnic prejudices werethe primary motivation behind violent attacks. Some Russian Orthodox Church clergyhave stated publicly their opposition to any expansion of the presence of RomanCatholics, Protestants, and other non-Orthodox denominations. Instances ofproblems in securing entry visas for clergy increased.pp

Saudi ArabiaWhile overall Government policies continue to place severe restrictions on


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religious freedom, there were incremental improvements in specific areas duringthe period covered by this report. In addition, there were some positivedevelopments in Government policy that, if fully implemented, could lead to otherimportant improvements in the future. Nevertheless, non-Muslims and Muslims who donot adhere to the Government's interpretation of Islam continued to facesignificant political, economic, legal, social, and religious discrimination.Charges of harassment, abuse, and alleged killings at the hands of the religiouspolice continued to surface. Saudi textbooks continued to contain statements of

intolerance towards Shi'a, Ismailis, Jews, Christians, and other religious groups,and such statements were also made by public officials, teachers, and government-paid imams. Some foreign workers were arrested for practicing their faith. Thesekinds of incidents caused many non-Muslims to worship in fear of discovery by thepolice and religious police. At the same time, the Government reiterated itspolicy to halt the dissemination of intolerant literature, combat extremism, andimprove the climate of tolerance, both within Islam and toward non-Muslimreligious groups. To that end, the Government confirmed that it was reviewingeducational materials to remove or revise disparaging references to minorityreligious traditions; that it was undertaking to screen out prospective teacherswho hold extremist religious views and would dismiss teachers who espouse suchviews; and that it was monitoring sermons at government-supported mosques andwould dismiss or retrain imams whose preaching promotes religious extremism.ww

Sri LankaThe Constitution accords Buddhism the "foremost place," and commits the governmentto protecting it, but does not recognize it as the state religion. TheConstitution also provides for the right of members of other religious groups tofreely practice their religious beliefs. While the Government publicly endorsesthis right, in practice there were problems in some areas. Anticonversionlegislation, first introduced in 2004, remained under consideration. There weresporadic attacks on Christian churches by Buddhist extremists and and somesocietal tension due to ongoing allegations of forced conversions. There were alsoattacks on Muslims in the Eastern province by progovernment Tamil militias; theseappeared to be due to ethnic and political tensions rather than the Muslim

community's religious beliefs.cc

SudanAlthough the 2005 Interim National Constitution (INC) provided for freedom ofreligion throughout the entire country, the INC enshrined Shari'a as a source oflegislation in the north, and the official laws and policies of the Governmentfavored Islam in the north. The Constitution of Southern Sudan provided forfreedom of religion in the south, and other laws and policies of the Government ofSouth Sudan contributed to the generally free practice of religion in that region.Some restrictions on Christians in the north were relaxed, continuing gainsrealized with the creation of the Government of National Unity (GNU) in 2005.However, the GNU continued to place restrictions on Christians in the North, such

as the requirement that all students in the North study Islam in school,regardless of whether they were Muslim, and even if enrolled in private Christianschools. The Commission for the Rights of Non-Muslims in the National Capital, agovernment mechanism designed to protect religious freedom, obtained the releaseor leniency for some non-Muslims arrested for violating Shari'a and provided aforum for dialogue on religious issues.ff

TurkmenistanThe Constitution provides for freedom of religion and does not establish a statereligion. However, in practice the Government continued to restrict the free


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practice of religion. There were small improvements in the status of respect forreligious freedom by the Government during the period covered by this report, buttroubling developments in the treatment of some registered and unregistered groupscontinued. All groups must register in order to gain legal status; unregisteredreligious activity is illegal and may be punished by administrative fines.Government promotion of the Ruhnama decreased, two religious groups wereregistered, and the former mufti of the country was pardoned and given an officialgovernment position. However, the Government threatened members of minority

religious groups with fines, loss of employment and housing, and imprisonmentbecause of their beliefs. There were also reports of raids. The Government alsocontinued arresting and charging Jehovah's Witnesses who conscientiously objectedto military service.tt

UzbekistanThe Constitution provides for freedom of religion and for the principle ofseparation of church and state. However, the 1998 Religion Law restricts manyrights only to registered religious groups and limits which groups may register.Respect for religious freedom remained restricted during the reporting period.However, religious freedom conditions improved for the Muslim majority. TheGovernment generally did not interfere with worshippers attending sanctioned

mosques and granted approvals for new Islamic print, audio, and video materials.Violators of the law's prohibitions on activities such as proselytizing, importingand disseminating religious literature, and offering private religious instructionare subject to criminal penalties. The Government permitted the operation ofreligious groups it considered mainstream. However, a number of religious groupsremained unregistered because they were unable to satisfy the strict registrationrequirements set out by the law. Some unregistered Christian groups, particularlythose with ethnic Uzbek members, experienced raids, harassment and the detentionof their leaders and members; some faced criminal charges. The Government'scampaign against unauthorized Islamic groups suspected of extremist sentiments oractivities appeared to have slowed but did not cease. Alleged members of extremistgroups continued to be arrested and sentenced to lengthy jail terms. Religiousgroups enjoyed generally tolerant relations, although neighbors, family, and

employers sometimes continued to pressure ethnic Uzbek Christians, especiallyrecent converts and residents of smaller communities. Some minority religiousgroups, including Jehovah's Witnesses, Pentecostals, and evangelical Christians,continued to face negative coverage from the state-dominated media.c

VenezuelaThe Constitution provides for freedom of religion, on the condition that itspractice does not violate public morality, decency, or the public order, and theGovernment generally respected this right in practice. Religious groups arerequired to register to obtain legal status as religious organizations.Registration requirements are largely administrative but stipulate that groupsserve the community's social interests. There were some efforts by the Government,motivated by political reasons, to limit the influence of religious groups in

certain geographic, social, and political areas. Foreign missionaries requirespecial visas to enter the country, and they noted increased difficulties,especially for access to indigenous areas. Power was increasingly concentrated inthe executive branch and limits placed on free expression. Outspoken religiousleaders who criticized this trend were subjected to President Chavez's virulentrhetoric. He specifically warned Roman Catholic bishops to refrain fromcriticizing the Government's proposal to reform the 1999 Constitution, whichfailed in a December 2, 2007, public referendum. The Catholic Church denounced theReform Catholic Venezuelan Church for usurping its rites. One Catholic archbishopalleged that the Government funded the new church in order to create a schism.Members of a small progovernment party forcibly occupied the Catholic archbishop's


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residence for a short time. The President, other government officials, andgovernment-affiliated media outlets made numerous anti-Semitic comments thatcreated a spillover effect into mainstream society. Anti-Semitic vandalism,caricatures, intimidation, and physical attacks against Jewish institutionscontinued. On the day of the public referendum to reform the 1999 Constitution,members of the police intelligence unit came to a Jewish community center inCaracas with a search warrant to look for weapons. They found none.CC

VietnamThe status for the respect of religious freedom continued to experience importantimprovements. Vietnam deepened implementation of its legal framework on religion,introduced in 2004 and 2005. During the reporting period, the Government grantednational recognition--the highest legal status--to the United World MissionChurch, the Grace Baptist Church, and the Pure Land Buddhist Home Practice. TheGovernment also granted national registration certificates to four additionalProtestant denominations, including the Vietnam Mennonite Church, the BaptistConvention Church in Vietnam, the Vietnam Presbyterian Church, and the VietnamChristian Inter-Fellowship Church, as well as to two additional religious groups--the Threefold Enlightened Truth Path and the Threefold Southern Tradition. Thenational Committee on Religious Affairs organized a number of programs to offer

training to religious denominations on registration procedures and to localauthorities on how to implement the national legal framework on religion. Many newchurches were registered throughout the country. Despite progress, however,serious problems remain. These include slowness or inaction in the registration ofProtestant congregations, bureaucratic delays and impediments, ongoingrestrictions on proselytism, incidents of harassment and abuse of religiousbelievers, difficulties in the establishment of Protestant pastor trainingcourses, and unresolved land expropriation claims involving a number of religiousdenominations. Stringent restrictions remain on the United Buddhist Church ofVietnam and the Khmer Krom Buddhists, as well as on unregistered Hoa Hao, Cao Dai,and Protestant groups. While most provincial authorities have been active inimplementing the legal framework on religion, a few have been much less so.Nevertheless, most religious groups reported improved conditions.N

To view complete Country Reports, visit:http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2008/index.htm

2008 international religious freedom report

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