Status of religious freedom Freedom of religion in Burundi

1 status of religious freedom

1.1 legal , policy framework
1.2 restrictions on religious freedom
1.3 abuses of religious freedom
1.4 forced religious conversion

status of religious freedom
legal , policy framework

the constitution, promulgated in march 2005, provides freedom of religion, , government respected right in practice. government @ levels sought protect right in full , did not tolerate abuse, either governmental or private actors. discrimination on basis of religious conviction prohibited. 1992 law covering nonprofit organizations, including religious groups, basis recognition , registration of religious bodies.

there no state religion.

the government requires religious groups register ministry of interior. each association religious nature must file following ministry: denomination or affiliation of religious institution, copy of statutes, address of headquarters in country, address abroad if local religious institution subsidiary, , information association s governing body , legal representative. if association religious nature fails register ministry, representative reminded of requirement so. if representative not comply, place of worship or association instructed close down. although representative of religious institution or association can jailed 6 months 5 years failing comply these instructions, during reporting period no representative received penalty.

the government requires religious groups maintain headquarters in country.

while there no law accords tax exemptions religious groups, government waives taxes on imported religious articles used religious institutions , on importation religious institutions of goods destined social development purposes. finance ministry negotiates these exemptions on case-by-case basis, , there no indication of religious bias in awarding of such exemptions.

the heads of major religious organizations accorded diplomatic status. foreign missionary groups openly promote religious beliefs. government has welcomed development assistance.

the government recognizes catholic holy days, including assumption, ascension, saints day, , christmas. in 2005 government officially recognized islamic holy days of eid al-fitr, commemorating end of ramadan, , eid al-adha, celebrated @ end of hajj.

restrictions on religious freedom

government policy , practice contributed free practice of religion.

abuses of religious freedom

there no known abuses of religious freedom government during period covered report.

in past, party liberation of hutu people-national liberation force (palipehutu-fnl) considered responsible killings of religious adherents, including 5 civilians attending religious service in bujumbura rural province in june 2005 , catholic priest gerard nzeyimana in makamba province in october 2004. no 1 has been charged in these killings.

there no reports of religious prisoners or detainees in country.

forced religious conversion

there no reports of forced religious conversion, including of minor u.s. citizens had been abducted or illegally removed united states, or of refusal allow such citizens returned united states.