Status of religious freedom Freedom of religion in Cameroon

1 status of religious freedom

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

status of religious freedom
legal , policy framework

the constitution 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. there no official state religion.

christian , islamic holy days celebrated national holidays. these include christian holy days of friday, ascension day, assumption day, , christmas day, , islamic holy days of feast of lamb , eid al-fitr, end of ramadan.

the law on religious congregations governs relations between government , religious groups. ministry of territorial administration , decentralization (minatd) must approve , register religious groups in order them function legally. there no reports government refused register group; however, process can take number of years. illegal religious group operate without official recognition, law prescribes no specific penalties. there growth within major cities of so-called sects, leaders consider subgroups of protestant denominations; few of these registered, , of them operate freely. although official recognition confers no general tax benefits, allows religious groups receive real estate tax-free gifts , legacies conduct of activities.

to register, religious denomination must legally qualify religious congregation. definition includes group of natural persons or corporate bodies vocation divine worship or group of persons living in community in accordance religious doctrine. denomination submits file minatd. file must include request authorization, copy of group s charter describing planned activities, , names , functions of group s officials. minister reviews file , sends presidency recommendation approve or deny. president follows recommendation of minister , grants authorization presidential decree. approval process may take several years.

the religious groups known registered christian, muslim, , bahai. according latest minatd statistics (released in 2002), there 38 officially registered denominations, of christian. there numerous unregistered small religious groups operate freely. government not register traditional indigenous religious groups, stating practice of traditional religion private concern observed members of particular ethnic or kinship group or residents of particular locality.

the minatd, rather judiciary, resolves disputes between or within registered religious groups control of places of worship, schools, other real estate, or financial assets.

missionary groups present , operate without impediment. licensing requirements foreign groups same domestic religious denominations.

the practice of witchcraft criminal offense under national penal code, punishable 2 10-year prison term.

several religious denominations operate primary , secondary schools. although post-secondary education continues dominated state institutions, private schools affiliated religious denominations, including catholic, protestant, , qur anic schools, have been among best schools @ primary , secondary levels many years. law charges ministry of basic education , ministry of secondary education ensuring private schools run religious groups meet same standards state-operated schools in terms of curriculum, infrastructure, , teacher training. schools affiliated religious groups, sub-department of confessional education of department of private education performs oversight function. school attendance—at public, private, or parochial schools—is mandatory through junior high school. campuses of central africa catholic university, [the cameroon christian university] , international adventist university located in country.

the presbyterian church in cameroon operates 1 of country s few modern private printing presses , roman catholic church publishes weekly newspaper through own modern printing press.

a 2000 government decree requires potential commercial radio broadcasters submit licensing application, pay fee when application approved, , pay annual licensing fee. government has been slow in granting authorization; consequently, there many unauthorized radio stations operating. 2 private religious radio stations, pentecostal radio bonne nouvelle , radio reine (managed catholic priest although not officially sponsored catholic church), had been broadcasting without licenses continued broadcast while awaiting official authorization, many other radio stations awaiting licenses. catholic station radio veritas has temporary authorization broadcast , has been broadcasting without incident.

the state-sponsored television station, crtv, carries 2 hours of christian programming on sunday mornings, hour of catholic mass , hour of protestant service. there 1 broadcast hour dedicated islam on friday evenings. state-sponsored radio broadcasts christian , islamic religious services on regular basis, , both radio , television stations periodically broadcast religious ceremonies on national holidays or during national events. state television broadcasts ecumenical ceremonies on major occasions such commemoration of national event.

restrictions on religious freedom

government policy , practice contributed free practice of religion.

the practice of witchcraft criminal offense under national penal code. people prosecuted offense in conjunction other offense such murder; however, there no reports of convictions of witchcraft under law. government distinguishes between witchcraft , traditional indigenous religious practices; witchcraft defined law attempts harm spiritual means , common explanation diseases.

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. in 2004 government responded promptly assist u.s. embassy in case of forced conversion of american citizens private actor.