[10] It also specifies that eliminating religious intolerance is a goal of education in Malawi. [7], The constitution of Ethiopia codifies the separation of religion and the state, establishes freedom of religious choice, prohibits religious discrimination, and stipulates that the government will not interfere in the practice of any religion. There were also reports of plainclothes officers monitoring the content of Friday sermons and the activities of people attending mosque services. The government of Zanzibar appoints Muslim religious officials in Zanzibar. [4], The government of Zimbabwe has on several occasions in 2017 arrested religious leaders and disrupted or prohibited religious gatherings which were perceived to be critical of the government. Several countries establish Islam as a state religion,[14][15][16] and some countries with significant Muslim populations also have significant government oversight of Islamic practice in the country, up to and including the establishment of religious Islamic courts, which are most commonly used for family law. PDF FACTSHEET MUSLIMS IN AFRICA - United States Commission on International As an unrecognized religious group that faced explicit government persecution for much of the 20th century, members of the Bah Faith in Egypt (est. [95], Intermarriage between religious groups is common in Sierra Leone, and many families have members of more than one religion. [16], It is mandatory for students in public schools to attend courses on Islam approximately one hour per week. [51] The issue is presumed to have been resolved as of 2009.[51]. He is nominated by the president of Comoros. It provides for the separation of state and religion and prohibits religiously affiliated political parties. In order to learn about the experiences of Muslims living in non-Muslim However, the Catholic Church maintains a privileged position in national life. People of the Book are looked upon by Muslims as God-fearing, God-loving, and God-conscious. [70], Religious groups may not own radio or television stations, but the government provides broadcast time for religious groups on state-owned television channels, and privately owned radio stations are allowed to air religious programming. Laws in Sierra Leone prohibit discrimination on religious grounds, and safeguard the right of citizens to change religions. Other laws protect individual religious freedom against abuses by government or private actors. In the Middle East, the non-Arab countries of Iran and Turkey are the largest Muslim-majority countries, while Egypt and Nigeria in Africa have the same status. [18], The constitution of Lesotho prohibits religious discrimination and provides for freedom of conscience, thought, and religion, including the freedom to change religion or belief and to manifest and propagate one's religion. Overview Partners Documents & Reports Context The Islamic finance industry has expanded rapidly over the past decade, growing at 10-12% annually. [24], Private Muslim and Christian schools are prevalent, and some Muslim schools receive funding from the local government. [40], Constitutionally, freedom of belief is "absolute" and the practice of religious rites is provided in Egypt, but the government has historically persecuted its Coptic minority and unrecognized religions. Freedom of religion in Mauritania is limited by the government. [61] Protestant and Muslim groups have alleged that the government discriminates against them. The government provides money to the Roman Catholic Church, Church of England, Presbyterian Church of Mauritius, Seventh-day Adventists, Hindus, and Muslims according to their numbers in the census in addition to tax-exempt status. The constitution prohibits forced religious instruction, forced participation in religious ceremonies, or taking oaths that run counter to an individual's religious beliefs. Members of different religious groups regularly invite one another to their respective ceremonies. Dinguiraye town authorities have also refused permission to build a church within its boundaries. [16], In June 2017, during Ramadan, police arrested five individuals in Bizerte, who were subsequently sentenced to one month in prison for public indecency for eating or smoking in public during the daytime. Interstate wars wars between nations are now rare, and civil wars are now largely concentrated in an arc from Central Africa to the Caucasus. [87] 12 states in Nigeria use a sharia-based penal code, which can include penalties for apostasy. [116], In December 2016, the Uganda Police Force raided two Salafi mosques in Kampala and arrested fourteen individuals for suspected involvement in the November 2016 killing of Sheikh Mohammed Kigundu, a Muslim cleric. Missionary groups are present and operate without impediment. This decree, which was established in 2015, received broad support from religious leaders and the general population, including Muslims. [83], Religious education is allowed in public and private schools, at both the primary and high school levels. The survey was carried out by the research network, Arab Barometer. Ethnic Somali and other Muslim communities reported difficulties in obtaining government-mandated identification documents, citing heightened requirements for Muslim communities. [97] Following the collapse of this government, Somalia has experienced a prolonged civil war which has continued on and off since the 1990s. Since May 2016, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant has lost all significant territory that it held in Libya. [28], There are no laws against proselytizing. [102], The Witchcraft Suppression Act of 1957 based on colonial witchcraft legislation criminalises claiming a knowledge of witchcraft, conducting specified practices associated with witchcraft including the use of charms and divination, and accusing others of practising witchcraft. The Arabic script on the Saudi Arabian Flag is the Islamic creed, known as the Shahada ; it translates to: "There is no god but God and Muhammad is . [117] As of 2017, new registration requirements for religious groups have been criticized as excessively bureaucratic, and have resulted in difficulties for smaller religious groups, and resulted in at least one denial of entry and one deportation. Islamic Finance - World Bank Group [16], Provisions of law addressing marriage, divorce, and other personal status issues are largely based on principles of civil law, combined with elements of sharia. Nevertheless, non-Catholic students at Catholic schools were not provided with alternative activities during religious lessons. [15], In 2014, the government issued a decree executing a law on state control of mosques which converted the status of imams into civil service employees under the Ministry of Islamic Affairs and transferred ownership of mosque properties and other assets to the government. [25] According to the federal Ministry of Religious Affairs, more than 99 percent of the population is Sunni Muslim. [2], The constitution of the Gambia guarantees and protects the freedom of religion in Articles 17, 25, 32, 33, and 212. These include Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, 1 Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Morocco, Palestinian territories, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Western Sahara and Yemen. The equality of citizens regardless of religion is also stressed repeatedly in other articles as well. There exists a minority of Ibadi who mostly resides in the M'zab Valley region. In Tripoli some militias reportedly imposed restrictions on women's dress and movement, and punished men for behavior they deemed to be un-Islamic. The RADA-SDF has also been accused of deliberately destroying Sufi shrines during military clashses, although it denies these claims. Religious instruction is permitted without government interference in private schools. Members of these groups were not harassed, but two leaders were convicted in 2006 of child abuse and sentenced to 8 years' imprisonment. In particular, Shia Muslims and members of the Bah Faith face discrimination from the government, as do some Christian groups. Religious groups are not taxed, and proselytization is allowed. These mosques are directly under the administration of the government. [37], Article 1 of the Constitution of Djibouti names Islam as the sole state religion, and Article 11 provides for the equality of citizens of all faiths and freedom of religious practice. They have been conducting surveys like this since 2006. [40], According to article 23 of the Family Code, a non-Muslim man may marry a Muslim woman only after converting to Islam. [35] However, some policies favor Islam in practice. [71][72] Fighting between ethnic Kpelle, who are Christian or animist, and ethnic Konianke, who are Muslims and close to the larger Malinke ethnic group, left at least 54 dead. The government also prohibits open-air, public proselytization events due to stated safety concerns. [63][64], The constitution establishes Qadi courts, with Muslim judges trained in the Islamic legal tradition for matters pertaining to marriage, divorce, child custody, and inheritance for Muslims. View history The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation founded in 1969 has 57 members, 56 of which are also member states of the United Nations, with 48 countries being Muslim majority countries. Consequently, adherents of any other faith (or no faith) became unable to obtain any government identification documents (such as national identification cards, birth certificates, death certificates, marriage or divorce certificates, or passports) necessary to exercise their rights in their country unless they lied about their religion. At grant-aided schools, a board appointed by the school's operators decides whether the Bible knowledge or the moral and religious education curriculum will be used. The constitution further designates that the government is the "guardian of religion" and that its duties include the promotion of the values of "moderation and tolerance", as well as prohibiting the use of mosques and other houses of worship to promote political agendas. [36], The Constitution of the Comoros provides for freedom of religion, but the government limits this right in practice. [20] The region of Somaliland, which seceded at the outset of the civil war and remains nominally independent but internationally unrecognized, has established its own constitution founded on similar religious precepts. [41] Non-Islamic marriages are not legally recognized by the government, which only recognizes marriages performed in accordance with the Ministry of Islamic Affairs or the Ministry of the Interior. [116], According to the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council, the government discriminates against Muslims when hiring government officials. Military situation in Libya on 7 November 2018. [39], In 2012, a law was passed that grants the Ministry of Religious Affairs increased oversight of Djibouti's mosques, including of messages disseminated during Friday prayers. The most important thing is to re-examine the role of religion, religious scholarship, and formal religious institutions. Generally, the judiciary in most areas relies on xeer (traditional and customary law), sharia, and the penal code. The law requires that all public and private schools respect all philosophical and religious doctrines. In every place questioned, research suggested at least one in five people were considering emigrating. [5], There is societal discrimination against non-Muslims, particularly Christians, in some sectors of society. The corruption in Muslim countries cannot be justified with a weak argument based on mere theories. Four Maps that Explain Islam in Africa - American Security Project Outspoken atheists, like Alber Saber, have been convicted under this law. Apr 28, 2023 Islam is the major religion in many African countries, especially in the north of the continent. [1], According to the Directorate of Religious Affairs in the Ministry of Territorial Affairs, disputes continued to occur when new churches established themselves in neighborhoods, particularly those led by religious leaders from Nigeria. [81], In April the minister of education threatened to close 16 Islamic schools he classified as Quranic, stating the schools were among 190 private schools identified as not complying with various administrative requirements. In some schools, the religious curriculum is a Christian-oriented Bible knowledge course, while in others it is an interfaith moral and religious education course drawing from the Christian, Islamic, Hindu, and Bah faiths. Almost one-third of the world's Muslim population resides in Africa. Most countries in the region are included but several Gulf governments refused full and fair access to the survey. Asia Europe North America Oceania South America Religion portal v t e Religion in Africa is multifaceted and has been a major influence on art, culture and philosophy. Christianity is the religion of the vast majority of the population, with Catholicism as the largest single religious group. All sex outside of . The government denied directing such actions. The political party Hizb ut-Tahrir was suspended for one month by a court in Tunis for violating laws against the incitement of religious hatred and for advocating the establishment of a Caliphate. [19], Muslims may choose either the civil family code or Sharia to adjudicate family conflicts, such as marriage and inheritance disputes. [111], The government of Tanzania and the semiautonomous government of Zanzibar both recognize religious freedom as a principle and make efforts to protect it. [16], In September 2017, the government abolished a law prohibiting Muslim women from marrying non-Muslim men. Although the government does not explicitly prohibit religious instruction in public schools, such instruction is not part of the overall public school curriculum, nor is it common. [47][48], Egypt's government-issued ID cards have historically declared the holder's religion, but only the religions of Islam, Christianity, and Judaism were considered valid options by the government. [84] There are no reliable statistics available on the numbers of members of different religious groups represented in the civil service; however, the Truth and Justice Commission had stated in its latest report in 2011 that employment in the civil service did not represent national ethnoreligious diversity. "When a religious group's practices conflict with tradition and culture as defined by chiefs, they may direct community pressure against the group." Faith-based nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) must meet the same registration and licensing requirements as other NGOs. It also provides for equal protection under the law. Syria could not be included due to the difficulty of access. Libya has a restrictive social environment, including efforts designed to prevent women from traveling alone outside the country. Islam by country - Wikipedia [28], Religious education is part of the curriculum in public schools; it emphasizes Christianity (the religion of roughly 70% of the population[29]) but addresses other religious groups in the country. The RADA Special Deterrence Forces (RADA-SDF), a religious police force aligned with the GNA, was involved in the arrests of several individuals whom it accused of violating Islamic law. Laws of inheritance are principally based on requirements in sharia, but there are some provisions that allow for exceptions as outlined in the Code of Personal Status. Acceptance of homosexuality varies but is low or extremely low across the region. Some imams reported being questioned by security services following sermons with strong political and social justice themes. No discrimination shall prevail because The government school curriculum contains a nonsectarian religious and moral education component that includes education on moral principles and human rights and introduces students to a variety of African traditions and religions, as well as world religions such as Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, the Bah Faith, and Rastafarianism. Non-Muslim resident expatriates and a few non-Muslim citizens practice their religion openly with certain limitations against proselytizing to Muslims and transmitting religious materials. During World War II, Morocco fell under the Nazi-backed Vichy Regime, which attempted to deport the Jewish population to concentration camps. [13], The practice of witchcraft is a criminal offense under the national penal code, punishable by a 2 to 10-year prison term. Most people across the region supported the right of a woman to become prime minister or president. Analysis | Here are the 10 countries where homosexuality may be Several countries have anti-discrimination laws which prohibit religious discrimination. Non-Muslims in Muslim History - IslamiCity ", "Govt announces campaign to save youth from atheism", "The World's Muslims: Religion, Politics and Society", "Egypt 2015 International Religious Freedom Report", SHADOW REPORT TO THE AFRICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES' RIGHTS, "Gambia's Constitution of 1996 with Amendments through 2004", International Religious Freedom Report 2007: Gambia, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, United States International Religious Freedom Report for 2017, International Religious Freedom Report for 2017 Guinea, "Guinean troops deployed after deadly ethnic clashes", "Atheism Not Against Kenya's Constitution", "Atheism is greatly misunderstood in Kenya", "Misratans report they have recaptured Abu Grain from IS", "Freed Gaddafi loyalists found dead in Libya's Tripoli", "Libyan security forces pushing Islamic State back from vicinity of oil terminals", "Al-Bunyan Al-Marsoos captures Harawa district, says will free Sirte in two days", "Libyan forces clear last Islamic State hold-out in Sirte", "Libyan forces seize last Daesh positions in Sirte", "International Religious Freedom Report for 2015", "Refworld | Nigeria: Recent reports regarding the treatment of persons who convert from Islam to Christianity. [27], The Constitution of Botswana provides for freedom of religion, and the government enforces this practice at all levels. [67], Ghanaian society is very tolerant of differences in religion. This article is devoted to a special group of Non-Muslims, namely those who are called Christians (Catholics, Protestants, others) and Jews. [17], The government created an Islamic Forum with the goal of standardizing the practice of Islam in Niger and preventing the use of Islamic institutions to spread Islamic extremism. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. 17 December 2009. The government at all levels sought to protect this right in full and did not tolerate its abuse, either by governmental or private actors. Respondents could choose more than one option. [96], Islam has been a core part of Somali national identity for the entirety of its modern history. The mosque is one of the most visual expressions of global Muslim religious identity in non-Muslim context. [100][101] The Equality Act does not apply to unfair discrimination in the workplace, which is covered by the Employment Equity Act. The poor quality of Chad's educational system has prompted many Muslim families to look to Islamic schools as an opportunity for educating children who would otherwise have little or no access to formal schooling. Click the card to flip Chad and Sudan Click the card to flip 1 / 32 Flashcards Learn Test Match Created by Taylor_Mahon8 Teacher Terms in this set (32) Following independence in 1956, Morocco established a constitution which re-established Islam as a state religion, and nominally provides for the freedom of religion, although as mentioned above, discrimination against certain minority groups continues to the present day. [1] The Qadi courts are located in each of the country's seven regions. Only in Morocco did fewer than half the population think a husband should always be the ultimate decision-maker. [34], Although witchcraft is a criminal offense punishable by execution under the penal code, most sentences are from 1 to 5 years in prison or a fine of up to $1,500 (817,836 CFA francs). While some time limits are officially imposed on public religious activities, Evangelical Christian groups often hold activities outside the prescribed period without government intervention. The government distinguishes between witchcraft and traditional indigenous religious practices; witchcraft is defined by the law as attempts to do harm by spiritual means and is a common explanation for diseases. Read about our approach to external linking. These are Bosnia and Herzegovina, Russia, Thailand, the Central African Republic and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. [78] This campaign has been supported by the United People's Party, which is currently an opposition party in the Liberian government. [31], The Constitution of Burundi provides for the freedom of religion and the government enforces this in practice. [93] Religious groups in So Tom and Prncipe must register with the government. Today, the continent's various populations and individuals are mostly adherents of Christianity, Islam, and to a lesser extent several traditional African religions.
645 Front Street San Diego,
New City Church Macon,
Most Common Cause Of Cancer Death In Females,
Waterfront Park Models For Sale In Mn,
Articles N