Preface

International Religious Freedom Report 2008

Why the Reports are Prepared

The 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 law
provides that the Secretary of State, with the assistance of the Ambassador at
Large for International Religious Freedom, shall transmit to Congress "an Annual
Report on International Religious Freedom supplementing the most recent Human
Rights Reports by providing additional detailed information with respect to
matters involving international religious freedom."

How the Reports are Prepared

U.S. embassies prepare the initial drafts of these reports, gathering information
from a variety of sources, including government and religious officials,
nongovernmental organizations, journalists, human rights monitors, religious
groups, and academics. This information gathering can be hazardous, and U.S.
Foreign Service Officers regularly go to great lengths, under trying and sometimes
dangerous conditions, to investigate reports of human rights abuse, to monitor
elections, and to come to the aid of individuals at risk because of their
religious beliefs.

The Office of International Religious Freedom collaborated in collecting and

analyzing information for the country reports, drawing on the expertise of other
Department of State offices, religious organizations, other non-governmental
organizations, foreign government officials, representatives from the United
Nations and other international and regional organizations and institutions, and
experts from academia and the media. In compiling and editing the country reports,
the Office of International Religious Freedom consulted with experts on issues of
religious discrimination and persecution, religious leaders from a wide variety of
faiths, and experts on legal matters. The office’s guiding principle was to ensure
that all relevant information was assessed as objectively, thoroughly, and fairly
as possible.

A wide range of U.S. government departments, agencies, and offices will use the
report to shape policy; conduct diplomacy; inform assistance, training, and other
resource allocations; and help determine which countries have engaged in or
tolerated "particularly severe violations" of religious freedom, otherwise known
as 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 the
government attempted to protect religious freedom in the fullest sense. "Generally
respected" is thus the highest level of respect for religious freedom assigned by
this report. The phrase "generally respected" is used because the protection and
promotion of religious freedom is a dynamic endeavor; it cannot be stated
categorically that any government fully respected this right over the reporting
year, even in the best of circumstances.

Acknowledgements

The 2008 report covers the period from July 1, 2007, to June 30, 2008, and
reflects a year of dedicated effort by hundreds of Foreign Service and Civil
Service Officers in the Department of State and U.S. missions abroad. We thank the
many Foreign Service Officers at our embassies and consulates abroad for
monitoring and promoting religious freedom, and for chronicling in detail the
status of religious liberty. In addition to their efforts, we acknowledge the
diligent labor and tireless commitment to religious freedom of those within the
Office 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, Fatema
Munis, Aaron Pina, David Rodearmel, Abigail Skeans, Lauren Smith, H. Knox Thames,
Alexandra Tovar, Gregory Trunz, Raizza Ty, and Jessica Vu. The work of all of
these individuals advances the cause of freedom, ensures accuracy in our
reporting, and brings hope to repressed people around the world.
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I
Introduction

International Religious Freedom Report 2008

I

Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right
includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in
community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief
in 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, increasing
assault in many countries around the world. More than one-half of the world's
population lives under regimes that severely restrict or prohibit the freedom of
their 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 religious
freedom.
--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 International
Religious Freedom Act. Article 18 of the Universal Declaration has now, for six
decades, served as a standard by which to measure governments' respect for genuine
religious freedom, while at the same time standing as a beacon of hope to those
suffering persecution and harassment. Ten years ago, the passage of the
International Religious Freedom Act brought new emphasis and structure to
America's age-old priority of promoting religious freedom. Much good has come of
this intensified focus. Countless people of faith have enjoyed new-found freedoms,
and government policies on religion have improved in some nations. Yet, despite
such progress, the description of conditions quoted above from the Act still
provides an accurate picture of the situation of religious freedom in too many
countries around the world.
c

Because of the ongoing infringement of religious freedom and continuing instances

of outright persecution, the United States Government steadfastly promotes the
respect of this universal human right. The International Religious Freedom Act
reinforced the priority of this critical foreign policy objective by creating at
the U.S. Department of State the position of Ambassador at Large for International
Religious Freedom and the Office of International Religious Freedom, and by
mandating the annual issuance of this report. With these and other tools for the
advocacy and protection of religious freedom, the United States encourages
compliance with international commitments and obligations, condemns violations of
religious freedom, and fosters respect for religious freedom as a fundamental
right of all people.
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The 2008 Annual Report on International Religious Freedom is one of the most
visible products of this ongoing effort, and it serves as a testament of
cooperation among scores of State Department officers at embassies and consulates
around the world, in regional and functional bureaus, and in the Office of
International Religious Freedom, all of which have worked tirelessly to compile
this comprehensive document. Exceeding 800 pages in length and covering 198
countries and territories, the Annual Report is an unrivaled compendium. However,
the work would not be possible without the vital contributions of religious
groups, nongovernmental organizations, and individuals who have dedicated their
lives to the defense of human dignity. The ongoing support of the U.S. Congress is
also deeply appreciated. In short, we view the Annual Report as an extension of
support from the American people to those who silently struggle for their
religious rights all over the world.
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The coinciding anniversaries of the International Religious Freedom Act and the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights remind us of the universality of the human
rights these documents protect. Paramount to the issue of religious freedom is
Article 18 of the Universal Declaration, which protects the internal right to
believe, 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, along
with 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 is
endowed 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 presumed
innocent until proved guilty, that his person is inviolable, that he has the
natural right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion and expression.
n

In view of the global consensus on the importance of religious freedom, the United
States works to encourage all governments to uphold their international
obligations and commitments without advocating a specifically American approach to
the issue. In addition to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, religious
freedom is protected under numerous international instruments, including the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Declaration on the
Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or
Belief, 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 freedom
sections of these important documents can be found in the appendix of this Annual
Report.
While this year marks a decade of vigorous work under the International Religious
Freedom Act and 60 years of international commitment to universal human rights, we
celebrate these anniversaries with a solemn awareness of the enormous work that
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remains.

As President Bush recently noted at a White House event to celebrate the tenth
anniversary of the International Religious Freedom Act:
This legislation that we commemorate today builds on a tradition that defined our
nation. After all, when the Founding Fathers adopted the Bill of Rights, the very
first liberty they enshrined was the freedom of religion. They recognized that the
most basic freedom a man can have is the right to worship…We are blessed to live
in a country where freedom is respected. [Yet] in too many countries, expressions
of freedom are silenced by tyranny, intolerance, and oppression.
o

Of course, the furtherance of religious freedom by no means lies solely in the

hands of the United States Government, but is a goal shared by many other
governments, by numerous religious and nongovernmental organizations, and
especially by those suffering on account of their beliefs.
e

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

Much work remains, and because of the knowledge that millions of persons are
denied the right to believe, practice, and worship freely by their governments,
the United States will continue steadfastly to pursue the establishment and
defense of religious rights for all people everywhere. It is our sincere wish that
our efforts, and those of others who labor in this cause, will give them a renewed
sense of hope and, in time, contribute to the flourishing of this cherished
freedom in all corners of the globe.
John V. Hanford, III
Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom
A

Executive Summary
E

International Religious Freedom Report 2008

I

The Annual Report

T

The purpose of this report is to record the status of respect for religious
freedom in every country around the world during the most recent reporting
period--July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2008. Our primary focus is to document the
actions of governments--those that repress religious expression, persecute
believers, and tolerate violence against religious minorities, as well as those
that protect and promote religious freedom. We also address societal attitudes on
religion and religious minorities and record positive and negative actions taken
by nongovernmental actors. We strive to report fairly and accurately, with
sensitivity to the complexity of religious freedom issues.
s

Religious Freedom as a Core Objective of U.S. Foreign Policy

The promotion of religious freedom for all is central to American identity and a
core objective of U.S. foreign policy. Our advocacy for religious freedom is
grounded in our commitment to advance respect for human rights and fundamental
freedoms worldwide. The right to believe or not to believe, without fear of
government interference or restriction, is essential to human dignity, robust
civil society, and sustainable democracy. Both the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights articulate a
right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion.
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The Department of State monitors religious persecution and discrimination

worldwide, implements policies, develops initiatives, funds programs, and actively
works bilaterally and multilaterally to foster greater respect for religious
f
freedom.

State-sponsored Challenges to Religious Freedom

All people are guided by certain core beliefs, and for the vast majority of the
world's population those beliefs are drawn from religious convictions.
Accordingly, it is fair to say that religious freedom is cherished by most as a
foundational human right, and restrictions on faith and practice are an affront to
human dignity.
h

The right to religious freedom can be abused in many ways, both blatant and
subtle. It can be helpful to recognize that abuses of, or restrictions on,
religious freedom can take various forms, as suggested by the five broad
categories discussed below.
First, the most severe abuses take place in certain totalitarian and authoritarian
regimes that seek to control religious thought and expression. Such regimes regard
some groups as enemies of the state because of the perceived threatening nature of
their religious beliefs or their allegiance to a source of authority other than
the state. Some governments use security concerns, such as religion-based
terrorism, as a pretext to repress peaceful religious practice. This report
distinguishes between groups of religious believers who express legitimate
political grievances and those who misuse religion to advocate violence against
other religious groups or the state.
o

Second, serious abuses occur in contexts of state hostility toward minority or

nonapproved religious groups. While not exerting full control over these groups,
some governments intimidate and harass religious minorities and tolerate societal
abuses against them. In severe cases, governments may demand that minority
adherents 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-religious
group suppressed the religious expression of minority groups. Also detailed in
this report are instances where governments were hostile to a minority religious
group 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 may
discourage religious discrimination or persecution, but officials fail to prevent
attacks, harassment, or other harmful acts against certain individuals or
religious groups. Protecting religious freedom requires more than having good laws
and policies in place. Governments have the responsibility to work actively at all
levels to prevent abuses, bring abusers to justice, provide redress to victims
when appropriate, and proactively foster an environment of respect and tolerance
for all people.
f

Fourth, abuses occur when governments have enacted discriminatory legislation or

taken concrete action to favor majority religions. These circumstances often
result from historical dominance by a majority religious group and can result in
institutionalized bias against new or historic minority religious communities.
This report notes instances where government endorsement of a particular
interpretation of the majority religion resulted in restrictions even on adherents
of the majority faith.
o

A fifth category involves the practice of discriminating against certain religions

by identifying them as dangerous "cults" or "sects." This type of restriction
sometimes occurs even in countries where religious freedom is otherwise respected.

Multilateral, Regional, and Global Challenges to Religious Freedom

There is a wide spectrum of efforts to undermine the right to religious freedom,
including some that extend to multilateral forums. For instance, over the past
decade, the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), an intergovernmental
organization comprised of 57 states with majority or significant Muslim
populations, has worked through the United Nations system to weaken religious
freedom protections. For instance, the OIC, speaking through the Pakistani
delegation at the December 2007 U.N. Human Rights Council session, declared that
the bloc does not recognize the right of individuals to freely change their
religion. Several OIC delegations publicly aligned themselves with this position,
and the OIC prevented consensus on an important religious freedom-related
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resolution.

A problematic long term endeavor of the OIC has been the advancement of the
concept of "defamation of religions" into U.N. resolutions and reports. Originally
phrased in 1999 as "defamation of Islam," the OIC broadened the title to encompass
respect for all religions, but Islam remains the only specifically mentioned faith
in the resolutions passed on this topic at the U.N. Human Rights Council and
General Assembly. Despite a pretense of protecting religious practice and
promoting tolerance, the flawed concept attempts to limit freedom of religion and
restrict the rights of all individuals to disagree with or criticize religion, in
particular Islam. This concept is also being used by some governments to justify
actions that selectively curtail civil dissent, that halt criticism of political
structures, and that restrict the religious speech of minority faith communities,
dissenting members of the majority faith, and persons of no religious faith. The
introduction of the defamation concept in effect seeks to export the blasphemy
laws found in many OIC countries to the international level. While the United
States discourages actions that are offensive to particular religious traditions,
including Islam, the "defamation of religions" concept is inconsistent with the
freedoms of religion and expression and the OIC's approach will weaken religious
freedom protections, including protections for minority Muslim populations.
f

The forcible return of individuals from another country to face persecution or

abuse in their home country in retribution for their religious activism is also of
grave concern to the United States. During the reporting period, the Government of
China reportedly sought the forcible return of several Muslims living abroad,
including from Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, some of whom had reportedly protested
restrictions on the Hajj and encouraged other Muslims to pray and fast during
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Ramadan.

Limits on proselytization and the ability to choose one's faith remained a

concern. Governments, often seeking to protect the beliefs, traditions, and
ideology of the majority or dominant religion, took steps to restrict the rights
of individuals to proselytize and to change their religion. Some countries, such
as Malaysia, Greece, and Israel, continued to enforce laws that curb peaceful
proselytizing activities. Other countries either passed or introduced
anticonversion laws. Six of 28 states in India have passed anticonversion laws;
the sixth did so during the reporting period. In Sri Lanka a national level
anticonversion bill introduced in 2004 remained under consideration. Although
these 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 to
proselytize only to Muslims and/or to enforce harsh apostasy laws against those
who chose to convert to another faith. Actions taken by these governments are
inconsistent with the right to freedom of religion, which protects an individual's
right to convert, to communicate his or her religious viewpoints, and to receive
communication of religious ideas.
c

In contrast to their traditional respect for religious freedom, Kazakhstan, the

Kyrgyz Republic, and Tajikistan introduced problematic legislative changes to
current religion laws that would place significant limits on this right. In
Kazakhstan, the Parliament introduced new draft amendments to the laws governing
religion that would, among other things, establish more restrictive registration
procedures, prohibit smaller groups from preaching or teaching outside of the
group, restrict publication of religious literature, and require local government
authorization for the construction of a religious facility. In the Kyrgyz
Republic, a draft religion law under active consideration in the Parliament would
increase from 10 to 200 the number of members required for official registration
of a religious organization, eliminate alternative military service for all but
priests and religious laymen, ban proselytizing, and prohibit the conversion of
Kyrgyz citizens to a different faith. Lastly, a draft religion law under
consideration in Tajikistan would regulate the registration and legal status of
religious groups and associations, restrict religious education and literature,
and limit other aspects of religious expression.
a

Some governments increased efforts to promote tolerance, dialogue, and an

environment conducive to coexistence between religions during the reporting
period. In October 2007 the Jordanian Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic
Thought led efforts which resulted in the issuing, on October 13, 2007, of an open
letter 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 Muslim
leaders, clerics, and scholars and addressed to Christians worldwide. The
Institute collected signatures for the Common Word document representing all eight
schools of Islamic thought. The document was finalized at a conference hosted by
the Institute under the patronage of King Abdullah in September 2007. The
conference brought together representatives from 40 Islamic and non-Islamic
countries. On June 4-6, 2008, the Government of Saudi Arabia, along with the
Muslim World League (MWL), organized an intrafaith conference in Mecca. The goal
of the conference was to promote unity among various Islamic sects. Former Iranian
President 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 of
Spain, hosted an interfaith conference in Madrid that included prominent religious
figures from Islam, Christianity, and Judaism.
f

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 advance
international religious freedom in the nations designated "Countries of Particular
Concern" (CPCs) for particularly severe violations of religious freedom. Part II
provides a summary of conditions in a number of countries where religious freedom
is of significant interest, including in Countries of Particular Concern. For each
country, this section notes the legal situation and relevant policies and gives
examples of particular government abuses or positive steps governments have taken
to promote or protect religious freedom. In most cases, these countries exhibit
one or more of the forms of abuse outlined above.
o

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

P

The International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (IRF Act) requires an annual
review of the status of religious freedom worldwide and the designation of
countries that have "engaged in or tolerated particularly severe violations of
religious freedom" during the reporting period as "Countries of Particular
Concern" (CPCs). Following the designation, a period of negotiation may ensue, in
which the United States seeks to work with a designated country to bring about
change. Subsequently, depending upon the results of these discussions, one or more
actions are chosen by the Secretary of State, pursuant to the IRF Act. Options for
CPC actions include application of sanctions or negotiation of a bilateral
agreement. The Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom and his
office take actions to promote religious freedom in each CPC throughout the year.
This section highlights actions by other U.S. Government officials to promote
religious freedom and to encourage the governments to take positive steps to
improve conditions for religious believers. Currently, the countries that have
been designated as CPCs are: Burma, China, North Korea, Iran, Sudan, Eritrea,
Saudi Arabia, and Uzbekistan. Further details on U.S. actions in nations
designated as CPCs and in other countries may be found in each individual country
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report.

Burma
Every year since 1999, the Secretary of State has designated Burma as a CPC.
During the reporting period, the Secretary continued the designation of a
sanction, consisting of a prohibition on exports or other transfers of defense
articles and defense services pursuant to the Arms Export Control Act, as the
action under the IRF Act. The U.S. Government has a wide array of financial and
trade sanctions in place against Burma for its violations of human rights.The U.S.
Government advocated religious freedom with all strata of society, including
government officials, religious leaders, private citizens, scholars, foreign
diplomats, and international business and media representatives. Through outreach
and travel, when not blocked by regime officials, embassy representatives offered
support to and exchanged information with many, otherwise isolated, local
nongovernmental organizations and religious leaders. The U.S. funded a UNHCR
program to issue identification cards to undocumented Rohingya Muslims in an
effort to facilitate their registration of births and marriages, and access to
basic education and health care.
b

China
The Secretary of State has designated the People's Republic of China a CPC every
year since 1999. During the reporting period, the Secretary continued the
designation of a sanction, consisting of the restriction of exports of crime
control and detection instruments and equipment pursuant to the Foreign Relations
Authorization 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
freedom in China, condemning abuses while supporting positive trends. In public
and in private, U.S. officials repeatedly urged the Chinese Government to respect
citizens' constitutional and internationally recognized rights to exercise
religious freedom and to release all those serving prison sentences for religious
activities. President Bush raised religious freedom issues during meetings with
President Hu Jintao, including at the September 2007 Asia-Pacific Economic
Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Sydney, Australia. Secretary of State Condoleezza
Rice raised concerns about religious freedom during multiple meetings with senior
Chinese officials and issued a statement after the March 2008 protests in Tibet
calling upon the Government of China to address restrictions on the practice of
Tibetan Buddhism that contributed to tensions in the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR)
and other Tibetan areas. The Ambassador at Large for International Religious
Freedom and the Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and
Labor raised religious freedom concerns in the U.S.-China Human Rights Dialogue in
May and in separate meetings with the Chinese Government in Beijing and in
Washington, D.C. The U.S. Ambassador to China and other senior officials
highlighted problems of religious freedom and cases of individual religious
prisoners of conscience in public speeches and in private diplomacy with Chinese
o
officials.

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

Iran
Every year since 1999, the U.S. Secretary of State has designated Iran as a CPC
under the International Religious Freedom Act for particularly severe violations
of religious freedom. The United States has no diplomatic relations with Iran and
thus cannot raise directly the restrictions that the Iranian Government places on
religious freedom. The U.S. Government has expressed strongly its objections to
the Government's harsh and oppressive treatment of religious minorities through
public statements and reports, support for relevant U.N. and NGO efforts, and
cooperative diplomatic initiatives involving other states concerned about
religious freedom in Iran. The United States calls on other countries with
bilateral relations with Iran to use those ties to press Iran on religious freedom
and human rights. On numerous occasions, the U.S. Department of State has
addressed publicly the situation faced by the Iranian Jewish community (guaranteed
freedom of worship in Iran's constitution) and the Baha'is (viewed as apostates by
the regime), and the U.S. Government has encouraged other governments to make
similar statements. The U.S. Government has publicly condemned Iran in U.N.
resolutions for its abuses of human rights, basic freedoms, and treatment of
religious minorities. In 2005 and 2006, the U.N. General Assembly successfully
approved resolutions, both cosponsored by the United States, specifically
addressing religious freedom issues among other violations of human rights and
fundamental freedoms. In 2007 the U.N. General Assembly passed another resolution
against Iran, condemning inter alia its treatment of minority religious groups,
including Baha'is.
North Korea
The 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 Secretary
continued the designation of a sanction, consisting of restrictions on normal
trade relations and other trade benefits pursuant to the Trade Act of 1974 and the
Jackson-Vanik Amendment, as the action under the IRF Act. The United States has no
diplomatic relations with North Korea but raises religious freedom concerns about
the country in multilateral forums and bilaterally with other governments,
particularly those that have diplomatic relations with the regime. The United
States has made clear that dialogue on the country's human rights record would be
necessary for the country to normalize relations with the United States. U.S.
Department of State officials meet regularly with North Korean defectors and with
NGOs focused on the country. In December 2007 the U.N. General Assembly adopted a
resolution, which the United States had cosponsored, that condemned the country's
poor human rights record, expressing special concern at "continuing reports of
systemic, widespread and grave violations" of human rights. The resolution called
on the country to fulfill its obligations under human rights instruments to which
it is a party and further urged the Government to permit U.N. special
representatives to visit and to ensure that humanitarian organizations have free
access to the country. In addition, the U.S Department of State continued to
provide funding to the National Endowment for Democracy to support Republic of
Korea-based NGOs in their efforts to improve and expand monitoring and reporting
of the human rights situation in the country. Radio Free Asia and Voice of America
also 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 to
join the growing international campaign urging the DPRK to address its human
rights conditions and abuses of religious freedom.
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Saudi Arabia
The 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 the
period covered by this report, senior U.S. officials and embassy officers met
numerous times with senior Saudi government and religious leaders regarding
religious freedom issues. Despite the fact that religious freedom remains severely
restricted in Saudi Arabia, during this reporting period there were incremental
improvements in specific areas, such as better protection of the right to possess
and use personal religious materials; greater restrictions on, and scrutiny of,
the religious police; and greater allowance for public and private celebrations of
Shi'a holidays in the Qatif oasis of the Eastern Province. There were also some
positive developments that could lead to important additional improvements in the
future. For example, the Government reiterated its policy to halt the
dissemination of intolerance and combat extremism, both within Islam and toward
non-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 remove
intolerant references to other religions. The Government continued to state its
goal of "balanced development," by promising greater infrastructure development in
predominantly Shi'a and Isma'ili areas of the Eastern and Najran Provinces. A
significant development this year was the beginning of an interfaith dialogue
process, led by King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud.
p

Sudan
Every year since 1999, the Secretary of State has designated Sudan a CPC. During
the reporting period, among the numerous U.S. sanctions against Sudan, the
Secretary continued the designation of one sanction consisting of the use of the
voice and vote of the United States to abstain or oppose loans or other uses of
the funds of the international financial institutions to or for Sudan, pursuant to
the International Financial Institutions Act, as the action under the IRF Act. The
U.S. Government encouraged the Government of National Unity to fulfill the
promises of religious freedom made in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and the
Interim 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 Christian
leaders, and U.S. officials met on a regular basis with such leaders in Khartoum,
Juba, and other locales.
J

Uzbekistan
In November 2006 the Secretary of State designated Uzbekistan as a CPC under the
International Religious Freedom Act. Uzbekistan's restrictive religion law, which
makes it difficult or impossible for many religious groups to obtain legal status,
resulted in raids and arrests and imprisonment of religious leaders. There were
continuing credible allegations that devout Muslims were arrested on suspicion of
membership in extremist groups. Some of those detained were simply conservative
Muslims whose beliefs or teachings differed from those of state-sanctioned
clerics. Following the CPC designation, the Ambassador at Large for International
Religious Freedom has held a series of meetings with officials of the Government
of Uzbekistan, both in Uzbekistan and in Washington, aimed at forging improvements
in religious freedom. The U.S. Ambassador to Uzbekistan and other U.S. officials
have also actively participated in this process to seek important improvements.
h

PART II: COUNTRY-SPECIFIC CONDITIONS OF INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

P

This section provides a summary of conditions in a number of countries where

religious freedom is of significant interest. For each country, this section notes
the legal situation and relevant policies and gives examples of particular
government abuses or positive steps governments have taken in the reporting period
to promote or protect religious freedom.
t

Afghanistan
The Constitution states that "followers of other religions are free to exercise
their faith and perform their religious rites within the limits of the provisions
of law." It also states that Islam is the "religion of the state" and that "no law
can be contrary to the beliefs and provisions of the sacred religion of Islam."
While the Government and political leaders aspire to a national environment that
respects the right to religious freedom, the residual effects of years of Taliban
rule, popular suspicion regarding outside influence of foreigners, and weak
democratic institutions hinder the respect for religious freedom. Intolerance was
manifested in harassment and occasional violence against religious minorities,
including Christians, Hindus, Sikhs, Shi'as, and Muslims who were perceived as not
respecting conservative Islamic strictures. During the reporting period,
authorities arrested and jailed three individuals for publishing or circulating
materials deemed to be offensive to Islam. The reprinting of one of the Danish
cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad and the airing of a film produced by a
Dutch opposition parliamentarian critical of the Qur'an were interpreted as
deliberate insults to Muslims, sparking protests, sometimes violent, in some
cities during the reporting period. Conversion is understood by many citizens to
contravene the tenets of Islam and Shari'a. Due to societal pressure, most local
converts hid their religion from their neighbors and others. Within the Muslim
population, relations among the different sects continued to be difficult.
p

Algeria
The Algerian Constitution provides for freedom of belief and opinion and permits
the people to set up institutions that protect fundamental liberties. The
Constitution also declares Islam to be the state religion and prohibits
institutions from engaging in behavior incompatible with Islamic morality. The
Government’s de facto and de jure policies have precipitated a decline in the
status of religious freedom during this reporting period. In February 2008 the
Government began enforcing Ordinance 06-03, which makes proselytizing a criminal
offense. Additionally, the ordinance mandates that anyone who makes, stores, or
distributes printed documents, or audiovisual materials with the intent of
"shaking the faith" of a Muslim may also face a maximum of 5 years' imprisonment
and a $7,100 (500,000 dinars) fine. The enforcement of Ordinance 06-03 resulted in
increased restrictions on non-Muslim religious practice. There were many reports
of Government restrictions on worship, including the arrest and sentencing of
converts to Christianity, the ordered closure of churches, the dismissal of a
Christian school director for allegedly using a school for evangelizing, and the
confiscation of Bibles.
c

Burma
The Burmese Government's repressive, authoritarian military regime imposed
restrictions on certain religious activities and frequently committed abuses of
the right to freedom of religion. Most adherents of registered religions were
permitted to worship as they chose, but the Government continued to infiltrate and
monitor activities of virtually all organizations, including religious ones. It
also systematically restricted efforts by Buddhist clergy to promote human rights
and political freedom. In September 2007 the regime violently suppressed peaceful
pro-democracy demonstrations led by Buddhist monks. Security forces raided
monasteries 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 and
prohibited minority religious groups from constructing new places of worship. The
Government actively promoted Theravada Buddhism, particularly among minority
ethnic groups. Although there were no new reports of forced conversions of non-
Buddhists, the Government applied pressure on students and poor youth to convert
to Buddhism. Adherence to Buddhism remains generally a prerequisite for promotion
to senior government and military ranks. Anti-Muslim violence continued, as did
the close monitoring of Muslims' activities. Restrictions on Christians and other
non-Buddhist minority groups also continued throughout the country.
n

China
During the period covered by this report, the Government's repression of religious
freedom intensified in some areas, including in Tibetan areas and in the Xinjiang
Uighur Autonomous Region (XUAR). Some unregistered Protestant religious groups in
Beijing also reported intensified harassment from government authorities in the
lead up to the 2008 Olympic Games. Media and China-based sources reported that
municipal authorities in Beijing closed some house churches or asked them to stop
meeting during the 2008 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. During the reporting
period, officials detained and interrogated several foreigners about their
religious activities and alleged that the foreigners had engaged in "illegal
religious activities" and cancelled their visas. Media reported that the total
number of expatriates expelled by the Government due to concerns about their
religious activities exceeded 100. The Government reportedly arrested two Uighur
Christians who were employed by foreign-owned companies whose expatriate manager
was expelled from the XUAR on charges of "illegal religious activities." Patriotic
education campaigns, which required monks and nuns to sign statements personally
denouncing the Dalai Lama, and other new restrictions on religious freedom were
major factors that led monks and nuns to mount peaceful protests at a number of
monasteries on March 10, 2008. The protests and subsequent security response gave
way 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 from
monasteries. Government officials increased public criticism of the Dalai Lama
after the March protests.
a

There was little evidence that regulations introduced in 2005 on religious affairs
improved the situation of religious freedom; they defined only government-approved
practices and faiths as normal or legitimate. Unregistered Protestant churches
continued to report that their applications for registration were rejected without
cause. "Underground" Catholic bishops also faced repression, in large part due to
their loyalty to the Vatican, which the government accused of interfering in
China's internal affairs. The Government of the XUAR continued to strictly control
religious activity, limiting participation on the Hajj to tours sponsored by the
Islamic Association of China. Foreign media reported that XUAR officials
confiscated the passports of more than 2,000 Uighur Muslims to prevent
unauthorized Hajj pilgrimages. The Government continued its repression of groups
that it categorized as "cults" in general, particularly small Christian-based
groups and the Falun Gong. Falun Gong practitioners continued to face arrest,
detention, and imprisonment, and there were reports of deaths due to torture and
abuse. However, the Government continued to emphasize the role of religion in
promoting a "harmonious society," allowed the Patriotic Religious Associations to
expand their cooperation with religious groups in other countries, and funded the
building of some new places for worship by registered religious groups. The
Government also allowed foreign and domestic religious groups to increase
cooperation on religious education and charitable work. The Government has granted
approval for an increasing number of religious books to be published by officially
approved publishers.
a

Cuba
The Constitution recognizes the right of citizens to practice any religious belief
within the framework of respect for the law. However, the Government continued to
place restrictions on freedom of religion. While the Government permitted
apolitical religious activity in government-approved sites, state security
officials subjected officially recognized religious groups as well as unregistered
house churches to surveillance and infiltration. Many religious organizations
noted a slight improvement in religious freedom, reporting fewer restrictions on
politically-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 are
obtained. However, the Government rarely issued the permits. The Government does
not permit private schools, including religious schools. Jehovah's Witnesses and
Seventh-day Adventists reported discrimination in schools. Prisoners reported that
prison officials ignored repeated written requests for religious visits. The
police beat and detained 18 persons at a Catholic church who earlier had
participated in a political protest. The Government signed the two international
human rights covenants but has yet to ratify them. U.S. government policy is to
promote a rapid, peaceful transition to democracy and respect for human rights,
including religious freedom.
i
Egypt
The Constitution provides for freedom of belief and the practice of religious
rites, although the Government places restrictions on these rights in practice.
Islam is the official state religion, and Shari'a (Islamic law) is the primary
source of legislation. Several government measures and practices undertaken during
the reporting period contributed to a decline in government respect for religious
freedom. Most significantly, a ruling by a lower court restricted the freedom to
convert to non-Muslims only. This ruling, which is under appeal, codified
previously de facto restrictions on conversion from Islam to any other religion.
Another ruling held that the Constitution's guarantee of freedom of religion does
not apply to Baha'is. Additionally, governmental authorities detained some
religious freedom advocates, some converts from Islam to Christianity, and some
Christian children of parents who converted to Islam. The Government also failed
to redress laws and practices that reinforce societal discrimination against non-
Muslim religious groups. Members of religious groups that are not recognized by
the Government continued to experience personal and collective hardship. There
were some positive steps in support of religious freedom, including a court ruling
on behalf of Baha'is that has allowed some to obtain civil documents, and a court
ruling allowing 13 Christian-born converts to Islam to obtain identity documents
indicating their conversion to Christianity. Members of non-Muslim religious
minorities officially recognized by the Government generally continued to worship
without harassment and maintained links with co-religionists in other countries.
Societal abuses and discrimination continued during the reporting period and were
manifest in attacks on Christian minorities, including the kidnapping and torture
of monks, death threats to a convert from Islam to Christianity, and harassment of
religious leaders, as well as in the destruction of Christian symbols and
property, and the burning and looting of a chapel.
p

Eritrea
The Government's record on religious freedom remained extremely poor during the
reporting period. The Eritrean Government severely restricted the freedom of
religion for groups that it had not registered and infringed upon the independence
of some registered groups. Following a 2002 decree that religious groups must
register, the Government closed all religious facilities not belonging to the
country's four principal religious communities: the Eritrean Orthodox Church, the
Roman Catholic Church, the Evangelical (Lutheran) Church of Eritrea, and Islam.
The Government continued to harass, arrest, detain, torture, and kill members of
independent evangelical groups (including Pentecostals), Jehovah's Witnesses, and
a reform movement within the Eritrean Orthodox Church, and it sought greater
control over the four approved religious groups. The Government also intervened in
procedural and administrative decisions of the Eritrean Orthodox Church by
supplanting the patriarch in favor of its own candidate. The Government failed to
register any of the religious groups that applied in 2002 for registration, and it
restricted religious meetings and arrested individuals during religious
ceremonies, 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 four
approved churches. According to some reports, over 3,000 religious detainees
continue to be held without due process in harsh conditions that include extreme
temperature fluctuations with limited or no access to family.
t

India
The Constitution provides for freedom of religion, and the National Government
generally respected this right in practice. However, some state and local
governments, including those of Gujarat and Rajasthan, enacted or amended
"anticonversion" laws during the reporting period. The vast majority of citizens
of every religious group lived in peaceful coexistence. However, there were
reports of organized societal attacks against minority religious groups. State
police and enforcement agencies often did not act swiftly enough to effectively
counter societal attacks. In Orissa, which is governed by a coalition government
that includes the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Hindu
extremists attacked Christian villagers and churches in the Kandhamal district
over the Christmas holidays. Extremists damaged approximately 100 churches and
Christian institutions and destroyed 700 Christian homes which led villagers to
flee to nearby forests. The violence affected 22 Christian-owned businesses.
Numerous cases were in the courts at the end of the reporting period, including
cases in connection with the 2002 Gujarat violence, the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, and
attacks against Christians. Some extremists continued to view ineffective
investigation and prosecution of attacks as a signal that they could commit such
violence with impunity. Some nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) reported that
communal violence against religious minorities was part of a larger Hindu
nationalist agenda and corresponded with ongoing state electoral politics. There
were 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 May
2007. These attacks reflect a soft target focus and appear designed to foment
communal violence.
c

Indonesia
The Constitution provides for freedom of religion. However, the Government
officially recognized only six religions, and legal restrictions continued on
certain types of religious activity, particularly among unrecognized religions and
sects of recognized religions considered "deviant." The Government generally
respected religious freedom in practice. However, recommendations by government-
appointed bodies and a subsequent government decree restricting the ability of the
Ahmadiyya Muslim Community to practice freely were significant exceptions. In some
cases, the Government tolerated discrimination against and the abuse of religious
groups by private actors and often failed to punish perpetrators, although the
Government prevented several vigilante actions during Ramadan. Aceh remained the
only province authorized to implement Islamic law (Shari'a). Many local
governments outside of Aceh maintained laws with elements of Shari'a that
abrogated the rights of women and religious minorities. However, no new Shari'a-
inspired laws were known to have passed during the reporting period. Even though
the central government holds authority over religious matters, it failed to
overturn any local laws that restricted rights guaranteed in the Constitution.
Persons of minority religious groups continued to experience some official
discrimination in the form of administrative difficulties, often in the context of
civil registration of marriages and births or the issuance of identity cards.
There were a number of reports of societal abuses or discrimination based on
religious affiliation, belief, or practice. Extremist groups used violence and
intimidation to force at least 12 churches and 21 Ahmadiyya mosques to close.
Several churches and Ahmadiyya places of worship remained closed after mobs
forcibly shut them down in previous years. Some Muslim organizations and
government officials called for the dissolution of Ahmadiyya religious expression,
resulting in some violence and discrimination against its followers. Some
perpetrators of violence were undergoing trials during the reporting period.
However, many perpetrators of past abuse against religious minorities were not
brought to justice.
b

Iran
The Constitution provides that "other Islamic denominations are to be accorded
full respect," while the country's pre-Islamic religious groups--Zoroastrians,
Christians, and Jews--are recognized as "protected" religious minorities. Article
4 of the Constitution states that all laws and regulations must be based on
Islamic criteria. Despite Constitutional guarantees, in practice those who are not
Shi'a Muslims face substantial discrimination, and government actions continued to
support elements of society that create a threatening atmosphere for some
religious minorities. There was continued deterioration of the poor status of
respect for religious freedom during the reporting period. Government actions and
rhetoric created a threatening atmosphere for nearly all non-Shi'a religious
groups, most notably for Baha'is, as well as Sufi Muslims, evangelical Christians,
and members of the Jewish community. Government-controlled media intensified
negative campaigns against religious minorities, particularly the Baha'is. Reports
of imprisonment, harassment, intimidation, and discrimination based on religious
beliefs continued during the reporting period. Baha'i groups often reported
arbitrary arrests, expulsions from universities, and confiscation of property. The
Iranian Government regards the Baha'i faith as a heretical Islamic group with a
political orientation that is antagonistic to the country's Islamic revolution and
continued to prohibit Baha'is from teaching and practicing their faith. (Baha'is
view themselves not as Muslims, but as an independent religion with origins in the
Shi'a Islamic tradition.) Zoroastrians, Jews, and Christians legally recognized
religious minorities, have reported imprisonment, harassment, intimidation, and
discrimination based on their religious beliefs.
d

During the reporting period there was a rise in officially sanctioned anti-Semitic
propaganda involving official statements, media outlets, publications, and books,
creating a threatening atmosphere for the Jewish community. The Government
vigilantly enforced its prohibition on proselytizing by some Christian groups by
closely monitoring their activities, closing some churches, and arresting
Christian converts. Members of evangelical congregations are required to carry
membership cards, photocopies of which must be provided to the authorities.
Government restrictions on Sufi Muslim groups and houses of worship also became
more pronounced in recent years, and Sufis reported the constant harassment and
intimidation of prominent Sufi leaders by the intelligence and security services.
There were reports that the Government called for a full ban on the practice of
Sufism and required some adherents to sign documents renouncing Sufism.
Reportedly, the President called for an end to the development of Christianity in
the country as well.
t

Iraq
The Constitution guarantees freedom of thought, conscience, and religious belief
and practice for Muslims and non-Muslims alike. While the Government generally
endorsed these rights, violence conducted by terrorists, extremists, and criminal
gangs restricted the free exercise of religion and posed a significant threat to
the 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's
precepts; and sectarian violence, including attacks on clergy and places of
worship, hampered the ability to practice religion freely. As the Government began
to exhibit the will and capacity to challenge its militant opponents, the violence
began to abate and the Government became increasingly successful in restoring
security, in a generally nonsectarian manner, throughout the country. Overall,
there was some progress in government commitment and action in support of
religious freedom during the period covered by this report. Moreover, since 2003
the Government has generally not engaged in the persecution of any religious
group, calling instead for tolerance and acceptance of all religious minorities.
This commitment was publicly reinforced by comments from the Prime Minister
following security operations against violent groups in Basrah, Baghdad, and
Ninewa Provinces, the latter of which is the province with the largest
concentration of non-Muslim minorities.
c

Israel and Occupied Territories

I

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 no
constitution, government policy continued to support the generally free practice
of religion. Nevertheless, some increases in societal abuses and discrimination
contributed to a slight decline in respect for religious freedom during the
reporting period. Specifically, societal abuses and discrimination increased
against some evangelical Christian groups as well as Messianic Jews (persons who
identify as Jews but who believe Jesus was the Messiah). Relations among religious
and ethnic groups--between Jews and non-Jews, Muslims and Christians, Arabs and
non-Arabs, secular and religious Jews, and among the different streams of
Judaism--often were strained during the reporting period. This was due primarily
to the continuing Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the Government's unequal
treatment of non-Orthodox Jews, including the Government's recognition of only
Orthodox Jewish religious authorities in personal and some civil status matters
concerning Jews. For example, Government allocations of state resources favor
Orthodox (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 the
Government will implement certain policies based on Orthodox Jewish
interpretations of religious law. Jewish marriages performed in the country are
not recognized by the Government unless they are performed by the Orthodox Jewish
establishment. The Orthodox Jewish establishment also determines other state
practices such as who is buried in Jewish state cemeteries, limiting this right to
individuals considered "Jewish" by Orthodox standards. The construction of a
separation barrier by the Government of Israel due to security concerns,
particularly in and around East Jerusalem, severely limited access to holy sites
and 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 religious
organizations, and at times the Israeli Government made efforts to lessen the
impact on religious communities.
i

The Palestinian Authority (PA) does not have a constitution. However, the
Palestinian Basic Law provides for freedom of religion, and the PA generally
respected this right in practice. The Basic Law states that Islam is the official
religion 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 Muslim
Palestinians, personal status law is derived from Shari'a, while various
ecclesiastical courts rule on personal status issues for Christians. President
Abbas took steps to eliminate religious incitement, although some incidents still
occurred, and the PA sought to protect religious freedom. There were unconfirmed
reports of Christians being targeted for extortion or abuse during the reporting
period, and the PA did not take action to investigate these injustices allegedly
perpetrated by PA officials. The Gaza Strip was under the control of the Islamic
Resistance Movement (HAMAS) during the reporting period, limiting the ability of
the PA to enforce respect for religious freedom or address reports of harassment
of Christians in the Gaza Strip.
o

Laos
During the period covered by this report, the overall status of respect for
religious freedom did not significantly change. Throughout the country, religious
practice was restrained by official rules and policies that allowed religious
groups to practice their faith only under circumscribed conditions; however, the
degree to which local authorities imposed restrictions and carried out abuses
varied by region and by religion. Authorities in some areas continued to display
intolerance 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 Protestants
occurred in Luang Namtha, Oudomsai, Bokeo, and Vientiane provinces, although this
occurred less frequently than in previous reporting periods. In some areas,
minority Protestants were forbidden from gathering to worship. In areas where
Protestants have actively proselytized, local officials have sometimes subjected
them to "reeducation." Conflicts between ethnic groups sometimes exacerbated
religious tensions.
r

Malaysia
The Constitution of Malaysia provides for religious freedom. However, other
constitutional provisions designate Islam as "the religion of the Federation,"
define all ethnic Malays as Muslim, give the Government authority to regulate
Islam, and prohibit the propagation of other faiths among Muslims. Malaysia
maintains a dual legal system with both secular and Shari'a courts, the latter of
which have jurisdiction over the Muslim population in certain civil matters.
Shari'a courts generally prohibited those officially registered as Muslims from
legally converting to another faith. Those who attempted conversion were deemed
"apostates" and sometimes sent to religious "rehabilitation" centers, where they
received coerced religious instruction. The Government maintained a list of 56
"deviant" Islamic sects, and members of these and other banned groups may also be
subject to "rehabilitation." Officials at the state level sometimes interfered
with mosque activity by using mosques to convey political messages, preventing
certain imams from speaking, and overseeing the content of sermons. Religious
minorities remained generally free to practice their beliefs. Nevertheless, over
the past several years, many have expressed concern that the civil court system
has gradually ceded jurisdiction to Shari'a courts, particularly in areas of
family law involving disputes between Muslims and non-Muslims. Religious
minorities continued to face alleged violations of property rights and limitations
on religious expression. The Hindu community continued to express concern about
the demolition of Hindu temples. The Government restricts the distribution of
Malay-language Christian materials in peninsular Malaysia and maintains bans on a
number of other materials that deal with sensitive religious issues.
n

North Korea
Although the Constitution provides for "freedom of religious belief," genuine
religious 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 of
personality of Kim Jong-il and his father remained important ideological
underpinnings of the regime, at times resembling tenets of a state religion. The
Government severely restricts religious freedom, including organized religious
activity, except that which is supervised tightly by officially recognized groups
linked to the Government. Some foreigners who have visited the country stated that
services at state-authorized churches appeared staged and contained political
content supportive of the regime. Defectors reported that they had witnessed the
arrests and execution of members of underground Christian churches by the regime
in 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
for their reported disappearance was not known.An estimated 150,000 to 200,000
persons were believed to be held in political prison camps in remote areas, some
for religious reasons. Prison conditions are harsh; torture and starvation are
common. Refugees and defectors who had been in prison stated that prisoners held
on the basis of their religious beliefs generally were treated worse than other
i
inmates.

Pakistan
The country is an Islamic republic. Islam is the state religion, and the
Constitution requires that laws be consistent with Islamic principles. The
Government took some steps to improve the treatment of religious minorities during
the period covered by this report, but serious problems remained. Law enforcement
personnel abused religious minorities in custody. Security forces and other
government agencies did not adequately prevent or address societal abuse against
minorities. Discriminatory legislation and the Government's failure to take action
against societal forces hostile to those who practice a different religious belief
fostered religious intolerance, acts of violence, and intimidation against
religious minorities. Specific laws that discriminate against religious minorities
include anti-Ahmadi and blasphemy laws that provide the death penalty for defiling
Islam 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. Freedom
of speech is constitutionally "subject to any reasonable restrictions imposed by
law in the interest of the glory of Islam." Relations between religious
communities were tense. Societal discrimination against religious minorities was
widespread, and societal violence against such groups occurred. Societal actors,
including terrorist and extremist groups and individuals, targeted religious
c
congregations.

Russia
While the Government generally respected freedom of religion for most of the
population, in some cases authorities imposed restrictions on certain groups and
did not always respect separation of church and state and the equality of all
religions before the law. Some federal agencies and many local authorities
continued to restrict the rights of some religious minorities. Over the past year,
the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled that the Russian Government
violated its international religious freedom obligations in cases involving the
Moscow Church of Scientology and the Christ’s Grace Church of Evangelical
Christians. Some earlier ECHR decisions have still not been fully implemented.
Vague legislation countering "extremism" has had a detrimental effect on religious
freedom. There were indications that the security services, including the Federal
Security Service, treated the leadership and literature of some minority religious
groups as security threats. Popular attitudes toward traditionally Muslim ethnic
groups are negative in many regions, and there are manifestations of anti-Semitism
as 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 was
difficult to determine whether xenophobic, religious, or ethnic prejudices were
the primary motivation behind violent attacks. Some Russian Orthodox Church clergy
have stated publicly their opposition to any expansion of the presence of Roman
Catholics, Protestants, and other non-Orthodox denominations. Instances of
problems in securing entry visas for clergy increased.
p

Saudi Arabia
While overall Government policies continue to place severe restrictions on
religious freedom, there were incremental improvements in specific areas during
the period covered by this report. In addition, there were some positive
developments in Government policy that, if fully implemented, could lead to other
important improvements in the future. Nevertheless, non-Muslims and Muslims who do
not adhere to the Government's interpretation of Islam continued to face
significant political, economic, legal, social, and religious discrimination.
Charges of harassment, abuse, and alleged killings at the hands of the religious
police 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. These
kinds of incidents caused many non-Muslims to worship in fear of discovery by the
police and religious police. At the same time, the Government reiterated its
policy to halt the dissemination of intolerant literature, combat extremism, and
improve the climate of tolerance, both within Islam and toward non-Muslim
religious groups. To that end, the Government confirmed that it was reviewing
educational materials to remove or revise disparaging references to minority
religious traditions; that it was undertaking to screen out prospective teachers
who hold extremist religious views and would dismiss teachers who espouse such
views; and that it was monitoring sermons at government-supported mosques and
would dismiss or retrain imams whose preaching promotes religious extremism.
w

Sri Lanka
The Constitution accords Buddhism the "foremost place," and commits the government
to protecting it, but does not recognize it as the state religion. The
Constitution also provides for the right of members of other religious groups to
freely practice their religious beliefs. While the Government publicly endorses
this right, in practice there were problems in some areas. Anticonversion
legislation, first introduced in 2004, remained under consideration. There were
sporadic attacks on Christian churches by Buddhist extremists and and some
societal tension due to ongoing allegations of forced conversions. There were also
attacks on Muslims in the Eastern province by progovernment Tamil militias; these
appeared to be due to ethnic and political tensions rather than the Muslim
community's religious beliefs.
c

Sudan
Although the 2005 Interim National Constitution (INC) provided for freedom of
religion throughout the entire country, the INC enshrined Shari'a as a source of
legislation in the north, and the official laws and policies of the Government
favored Islam in the north. The Constitution of Southern Sudan provided for
freedom of religion in the south, and other laws and policies of the Government of
South Sudan contributed to the generally free practice of religion in that region.
Some restrictions on Christians in the north were relaxed, continuing gains
realized 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 Christian
schools. The Commission for the Rights of Non-Muslims in the National Capital, a
government mechanism designed to protect religious freedom, obtained the release
or leniency for some non-Muslims arrested for violating Shari'a and provided a
forum for dialogue on religious issues.
f

Turkmenistan
The Constitution provides for freedom of religion and does not establish a state
religion. However, in practice the Government continued to restrict the free
practice of religion. There were small improvements in the status of respect for
religious freedom by the Government during the period covered by this report, but
troubling developments in the treatment of some registered and unregistered groups
continued. All groups must register in order to gain legal status; unregistered
religious activity is illegal and may be punished by administrative fines.
Government promotion of the Ruhnama decreased, two religious groups were
registered, and the former mufti of the country was pardoned and given an official
government position. However, the Government threatened members of minority
religious groups with fines, loss of employment and housing, and imprisonment
because of their beliefs. There were also reports of raids. The Government also
continued arresting and charging Jehovah's Witnesses who conscientiously objected
to military service.
t

Uzbekistan
The Constitution provides for freedom of religion and for the principle of
separation of church and state. However, the 1998 Religion Law restricts many
rights 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. The
Government 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, importing
and disseminating religious literature, and offering private religious instruction
are subject to criminal penalties. The Government permitted the operation of
religious groups it considered mainstream. However, a number of religious groups
remained unregistered because they were unable to satisfy the strict registration
requirements set out by the law. Some unregistered Christian groups, particularly
those with ethnic Uzbek members, experienced raids, harassment and the detention
of their leaders and members; some faced criminal charges. The Government's
campaign against unauthorized Islamic groups suspected of extremist sentiments or
activities appeared to have slowed but did not cease. Alleged members of extremist
groups continued to be arrested and sentenced to lengthy jail terms. Religious
groups enjoyed generally tolerant relations, although neighbors, family, and
employers sometimes continued to pressure ethnic Uzbek Christians, especially
recent converts and residents of smaller communities. Some minority religious
groups, including Jehovah's Witnesses, Pentecostals, and evangelical Christians,
continued to face negative coverage from the state-dominated media.
c

Venezuela
The Constitution provides for freedom of religion, on the condition that its
practice does not violate public morality, decency, or the public order, and the
Government generally respected this right in practice. Religious groups are
required to register to obtain legal status as religious organizations.
Registration requirements are largely administrative but stipulate that groups
serve 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 require
special visas to enter the country, and they noted increased difficulties,
especially for access to indigenous areas. Power was increasingly concentrated in
the executive branch and limits placed on free expression. Outspoken religious
leaders who criticized this trend were subjected to President Chavez's virulent
rhetoric. He specifically warned Roman Catholic bishops to refrain from
criticizing the Government's proposal to reform the 1999 Constitution, which
failed in a December 2, 2007, public referendum. The Catholic Church denounced the
Reform Catholic Venezuelan Church for usurping its rites. One Catholic archbishop
alleged 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
residence for a short time. The President, other government officials, and
government-affiliated media outlets made numerous anti-Semitic comments that
created a spillover effect into mainstream society. Anti-Semitic vandalism,
caricatures, intimidation, and physical attacks against Jewish institutions
continued. On the day of the public referendum to reform the 1999 Constitution,
members of the police intelligence unit came to a Jewish community center in
Caracas with a search warrant to look for weapons. They found none.
C

Vietnam
The status for the respect of religious freedom continued to experience important
improvements. Vietnam deepened implementation of its legal framework on religion,
introduced in 2004 and 2005. During the reporting period, the Government granted
national recognition--the highest legal status--to the United World Mission
Church, the Grace Baptist Church, and the Pure Land Buddhist Home Practice. The
Government also granted national registration certificates to four additional
Protestant denominations, including the Vietnam Mennonite Church, the Baptist
Convention Church in Vietnam, the Vietnam Presbyterian Church, and the Vietnam
Christian Inter-Fellowship Church, as well as to two additional religious groups--
the Threefold Enlightened Truth Path and the Threefold Southern Tradition. The
national Committee on Religious Affairs organized a number of programs to offer
training to religious denominations on registration procedures and to local
authorities on how to implement the national legal framework on religion. Many new
churches were registered throughout the country. Despite progress, however,
serious problems remain. These include slowness or inaction in the registration of
Protestant congregations, bureaucratic delays and impediments, ongoing
restrictions on proselytism, incidents of harassment and abuse of religious
believers, difficulties in the establishment of Protestant pastor training
courses, and unresolved land expropriation claims involving a number of religious
denominations. Stringent restrictions remain on the United Buddhist Church of
Vietnam and the Khmer Krom Buddhists, as well as on unregistered Hoa Hao, Cao Dai,
and Protestant groups. While most provincial authorities have been active in
implementing the legal framework on religion, a few have been much less so.
Nevertheless, most religious groups reported improved conditions.
N

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