Part 3 of 2022 Global Religious Recognition Report

Published in

Freedom of Religion Journal

27 min readJun 29, 2022

Part 1 covers the countries Afghanistan to Lesotho. Go to part 2 for Liberia to Zimbabwe and Part 3 for dependent territories.

Official cover of the 2022 Global Religious Recognition Report by Cometan

Abkhazia, Republic of

2022 RoRB Classification: Censorious

FoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made

Secularity: Abkhazia is a secular territory; State privilege (Abkhazian Orthodox Church).

Human rights instruments: Abkhazia is partied to the UNCRC; Abkhazia is neither partied to the ICCPR nor the ICESCR; Abkhazia did not vote on the UDHR or the UNDRIP; Abkhazia is not partied to the ECHR.

Mandatoriness of registration: unknown (insufficient data)

Registration policy: insufficient reliable information exists for registration procedures for religious groups in Abkhazia as of the 2022 GRR Report.

Key restriction tools imposed: prohibition of Jehovah’s Witnesses since 1995 although this is not strictly enforced by the territory.

Basic religious activities: Conversion (not free; restricted); hieroncy (not free; restricted); monasticism (not free; restricted); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free; restricted); pastoral services (not free; restricted); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (not free; restricted); public expression and observance (free); receiving donations (not free; restricted); religious buildings (not free; restricted); religious instruction (not free; restricted); religious literature (not free; restricted); religious and worship services (not free; restricted); religious trade (not free; restricted).

Recommendations: revoke the prohibition of Jehovah’s Witnesses and any other form of religious prohibition.

American Samoa

2022 RoRB Classification: Apathetic

FoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made

Secularity: American Samoa is a secular territory

Human rights instruments: American Samoa is partied to the UNCRC; American Samoa is neither partied to the ICCPR nor the ICESCR; American Samoa did not vote on the UDHR or the UNDRIP.

Mandatoriness of registration: unknown (insufficient data)

Registration policy: insufficient reliable information exists for registration procedures for religious groups in American Samoa as of the 2022 GRR Report.

Key restriction tools imposed: insufficient data exists on restriction tools imposed in American Samoa at this time.

Basic religious activities: Conversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (free); public expression and observance (free); receiving donations (free); religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religious literature (free); religious and worship services (free); religious trade (free).

Anguilla

2022 RoRB Classification: Apathetic

FoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made

Secularity: Anguilla is a secular territory

Human rights instruments: Anguilla is partied to the UNCRC; Anguilla is neither partied to the ICCPR nor the ICESCR; Anguilla did not vote on the UDHR or the UNDRIP; Anguilla is partied to the ECHR.

Mandatoriness of registration: unknown (insufficient data)

Registration policy: insufficient reliable information exists for registration procedures for religious groups in Anguilla as of the 2022 GRR Report.

Key restriction tools imposed: insufficient data exists on restriction tools imposed in Anguilla at this time.

Artsakh, Republic of

2022 RoRB Classification: Censorious

FoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made

Secularity: Artsakh is a secular territory; State privilege (Armenian Apostolic Church).

Human rights instruments: Artsakh is partied to the UNCRC; Artsakh is neither partied to the ICCPR nor the ICESCR; Artsakh did not vote on the UDHR or the UNDRIP; Artsakh is not partied to the ECHR.

Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory

Registration policy: the government mandates that all religious groups register with it in order to conduct even basic religious activities.

Key restriction tools imposed: membership quota, non-recognition for any religion or denomination other than the Armenian Apostolic Church, proselytism by minorities has been banned since 2009, unregistration and unregistered religious activity have been prohibited since 2008.

Basic religious activities: Conversion (not free; restricted); hieroncy (not free; restricted); monasticism (not free; subject to registration); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free; subject to registration); pastoral services (not free; subject to registration); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (not free; illegal); public expression and observance (not free; restricted); receiving donations (not free; subject to registration); religious buildings (not free; subject to registration); religious instruction (not free; subject to registration); religious literature (not free; subject to registration); religious and worship services (not free; subject to registration); religious trade (not free; subject to registration).

Recommendations: revoke the imposition of a membership quota and the criminalisation of unregistration and unregistered religious activity.

Aruba, Country of

2022 RoRB Classification: Apathetic

FoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made

Secularity: Aruba is a secular territory

Human rights instruments: Aruba is partied to the UNCRC; Aruba is also partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR and the UNDRIP via the Netherlands; Aruba did not vote on the UDHR; Aruba is partied to the ECHR.

Mandatoriness of registration: unknown (insufficient data)

Registration policy: insufficient reliable information exists for registration procedures for religious groups in Aruba as of the 2022 GRR Report.

Key restriction tools imposed: insufficient data exists on restriction tools imposed in Aruba at this time.

Bermuda

2022 RoRB Classification: Apathetic

FoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made

Secularity: Bermuda is a secular territory

Human rights instruments: Bermuda is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP either by its own ratification or via the United Kingdom; United Kingdom voted in favour of the UDHR; Bermuda is partied to the ECHR.

Mandatoriness of registration: unknown (insufficient data)

Registration policy: insufficient reliable information exists for registration procedures for religious groups in Bermuda as of the 2022 GRR Report.

Key restriction tools imposed: insufficient data exists on restriction tools imposed in Bermuda at this time.

British Virgin Islands

2022 RoRB Classification: Apathetic

FoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made

Secularity: British Virgin Islands is a secular territory

Human rights instruments: British Virgin Islands is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP either by its own ratification or via the United Kingdom; United Kingdom voted in favour of the UDHR; British Virgin Islands is partied to the ECHR.

Mandatoriness of registration: unknown (insufficient data)

Registration policy: insufficient reliable information exists for registration procedures for religious groups in the British Virgin Islands as of the 2022 GRR Report.

Key restriction tools imposed: insufficient data exists on restriction tools imposed in the British Virgin Islands at this time.

Cayman Islands

2022 RoRB Classification: Apathetic

FoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made

Secularity: Cayman Islands is a secular territory

Human rights instruments: Cayman Islands is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP either by its own ratification or via the United Kingdom; United Kingdom voted in favour of the UDHR; Cayman Islands is partied to the ECHR.

Mandatoriness of registration: non-mandatory

Registration policy: registration is not mandatory for religious groups in the Cayman Islands in order for them to conduct “basic religious activities”.

Key restriction tools imposed: insufficient data exists on restriction tools imposed in the Cayman Islands at this time.

Cook Islands

2022 RoRB Classification: Restrictive

FoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made

Secularity: Cook Islands is a secular territory

Human rights instruments: Cook Islands is partied to the UNCRC; Cook Islands is not partied to the ICCPR or the ICESCR; Cook Islands did not vote on the UDHR or the UNDRIP.

Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory

Registration policy: registration is directly controlled by the prime minister.

Key restriction tools imposed: authoritative decree (by way of the prime minister’s direct approval of a religious group).

Recommendations: revoke the president’s exercise of an authoritative decree.

Crimea, Republic of

2022 RoRB Classification: Censorious

FoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made

Secularity: Crimea is a secular territory; State privilege (Russian Orthodox Church).

Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory

Registration policy: mandatory registration — the Russian occupying focuses have instituted a mandatory registration policy for religious groups in Crimea that much reflects the mandatory registration order enforced throughout Russia.

Key restriction tools imposed: forced reregistration under new rules which sharply reduced the number of registered groups in the territory, mass deregistration of religious groups, Russia’s exportation of worst practice regarding religious recognition and registration procedures.

Recommendations: denounce the forced reregistration and deregistration orders; denounce the Russian Federation’s exportation of worst practice in Crimea on matters regarding religious activity.

Curaçao, Country of

2022 RoRB Classification: Apathetic

FoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made

Secularity: Curaçao is a secular territory

Human rights instruments: Curaçao is partied to the UNCRC; Curaçao is partied to the ICCPR and the ICESCR via the Netherlands; Curaçao did not vote on either the UDHR or the UNDRIP; Curaçao is partied to the ECHR.

Mandatoriness of registration: non-mandatory

Registration policy: registration is not mandatory for religious groups to conduct “basic religious activities”.

Key restriction tools imposed: insufficient data exists on restriction tools imposed in Curaçao at this time.

Eastern Donbas

2022 RoRB Classification: Terminal

FoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made in the draft constitutions of both Republics

Secularity: Donetsk and Luhansk are both secular territories; State privilege (Russian Orthodox Church).

Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory

Registration policy: mandatory registration — the Russian Federation applies its own registration laws in the territory its occupies in Eastern Donbas.

Key restriction tools imposed: mass deregistration, police raids, prohibition of Jehovah’s Witnesses since 2018, Russia’s exportation of worst practice regarding religious recognition and registration procedures.

Recommendations: denounce the deregistration order; denounce the Russian Federation’s exportation of worst practice into the Donbas on matters regarding religious activity; revoke the prohibition of Jehovah’s Witnesses and reinstate their right to legally operate in the region.

Gibraltar

2022 RoRB Classification: Apathetic

FoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made

Secularity: Gibraltar is a secular territory

Human rights instruments: Gibraltar is partied is the ICCPR, the ICESCR, and the UNDRIP via the United Kingdom; Gibraltar is not partied to the UNCRC; United Kingdom voted in favour of the UDHR; Gibraltar is partied to the ECHR.

Mandatoriness of registration: non-mandatory

Registration policy: registration is not mandatory for religious groups to conduct “basic religious activities”.

Key restriction tools imposed: insufficient data exists on restriction tools imposed in Gibraltar at this time.

Guernsey, Bailiwick of

2022 RoRB Classification: Apathetic

FoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made

Secularity: State denomination (Anglicanism)

Human rights instruments: Guernsey is not partied is the ICCPR, the ICESCR, and the UNDRIP; Guernsey is also not partied to the UNCRC; Guernsey did not vote on the UDHR; Guernsey is not partied to the ECHR.

Mandatoriness of registration: unknown (insufficient data)

Registration policy: insufficient reliable information exists for registration procedures for religious groups in Guernsey as of the 2022 GRR Report.

Key restriction tools imposed: insufficient data exists on restriction tools imposed in Guernsey at this time.

Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

2022 RoRB Classification: Receptive

FoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made

Secularity: Hong Kong is a secular territory

Human rights instruments: Hong Kong is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP; Hong Kong did not vote on the UDHR.

Mandatoriness of registration: non-mandatory

Registration policy: stipulatory registration — religious groups are not required to register to conduct religious services but must register to receive certain financial and legal benefits. There are two legal designations for religious groups in Hong Kong: a society or tax-exempt organisation. Groups may also apply for both designations. The registration process normally takes approximately 12 working days.

Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, membership quota, nationality quota, qualifications for registered status are ambiguous.

Recommendations: due to the ongoing encroachment of the CCP into life in Hong Kong, it is doubtful that the Special Administrative Region will maintain its status of receptive if CCP successfully imposes anything like its own policies on religion in Hong Kong; on this basis, protection of the Basic Law of Hong Kong regarding religious freedom and religious recognition against CCP encroachment is essential as is bringing attention to the ongoing increase of restrictions on civil life in Hong Kong; to maintain its receptivity and to become Dynamic, Hong Kong would need to establish distinct procedures for recognising and registering religious entities anti would need to establish a recognition agency to manage its recognition system independent of the government.

Isle of Man

2022 RoRB Classification: Restrictive

FoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made

Secularity: State denomination (Anglicanism)

Human rights instruments: Isle of Man is not partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC or the UNDRIP; Isle of Man did not vote on the UDHR; Isle of Man is not partied to the ECHR.

Mandatoriness of registration: unknown (insufficient data)

Registration policy: insufficient reliable information exists for registration procedures for religious groups in the Isle of Man as of the 2022 GRR Report.

Key restriction tools imposed: insufficient data exists on restriction tools imposed in the Isle of Man at this time.

Jersey, Bailiwick of

2022 RoRB Classification: Apathetic

FoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made

Secularity: State denomination (Anglicanism)

Human rights instruments: Jersey is partied to the UNCRC; Jersey is not partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, or the UNDRIP; Jersey did not vote on the UDHR; Jersey is not partied to the ECHR.

Mandatoriness of registration: unknown (insufficient data)

Registration policy: insufficient reliable information exists for registration procedures for religious groups in Jersey as of the 2022 GRR Report.

Key restriction tools imposed: insufficient data exists on restriction tools imposed in Jersey at this time.

Macao Special Administrative Region

2022 RoRB Classification: Receptive

FoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made

Secularity: Macau is a secular territory

Human rights instruments: Macau is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP; Macau did not vote on the UDHR.

Mandatoriness of registration: non-mandatory

Registration policy: stipulatory registration — religious groups are not mandated to register in order to conduct religious activities but registration does come with certain benefits through the bestowal of legal entity status.

Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation, nationality quota, nominal restriction, secondary procedure.

Recommendations: establish a recognition system that is able to bestow both existential recognition and legal registration simultaneously and at various levels of activity; revoke the imposed nationality quota, the nominal restriction policy and the secondary procedure within the registration process; to be classified Dynamic, establish a recognition agency that is independent of government to manage the recognition system.

Montserrat

2022 RoRB Classification: Apathetic

FoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made

Secularity: Montserrat is a secular territory

Human rights instruments: Monserrat is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP via the United Kingdom; United Kingdom favoured in favour of the UDHR; Montserrat is partied to the ECHR.

Mandatoriness of registration: unknown (insufficient data)

Registration policy: insufficient reliable information exists for registration procedures for religious groups in Montserrat as of the 2022 GRR Report.

Key restriction tools imposed: insufficient data exists on restriction tools imposed in Montserrat at this time.

New Caledonia

2022 RoRB Classification: Receptive

FoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made

Secularity: New Caledonia is a secular territory

Human rights instruments: New Caledonia is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP via France; France voted in favour of the UDHR; New Caledonia is partied to the ECHR.

Mandatoriness of registration: unknown (insufficient data)

Registration policy: insufficient reliable information exists for registration procedures for religious groups in New Caledonia as of the 2022 GRR Report.

Key restriction tools imposed: insufficient data exists on restriction tools imposed in New Caledonia at this time.

Niue

2022 RoRB Classification: Apathetic

FoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made

Secularity: Niue is a secular territory

Human rights instruments: Niue is partied to the UNCRC; Niue is not partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, or the UNDRIP; Niue did not vote on the UDHR.

Mandatoriness of registration: unknown (insufficient data)

Registration policy: insufficient reliable information exists for registration procedures for religious groups in Niue as of the 2022 GRR Report.

Key restriction tools imposed: insufficient data exists on restriction tools imposed in Niue at this time.

Northern Ireland

2022 RoRB Classification: Apathetic

FoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made

Secularity: Northern Ireland is a secular territory

Human rights instruments: Northern Ireland is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP via the United Kingdom; United Kingdom voted in favour of the UDHR; Northern Ireland is partied to the ECHR via the United Kingdom.

Mandatoriness of registration: non-mandatory

Registration policy: registration of religious groups is not mandated by the authorities in Northern Ireland.

Key restriction tools imposed: insufficient data exists on restriction tools imposed in Northern Ireland at this time.

Palestine, State of

2022 RoRB Classification: Censorious

FoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made

Secularity: State religion (Islam); State recognition is also granted to the Armenian Catholic, Armenian Orthodox, Coptic Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox, Greek Orthodox, Maronite, Melkite Greek Catholic, Roman Catholic, Syrian Catholic, and Syrian Orthodox denominations.

Human rights instruments: Palestine is partied to the ICCPR, and the ICESCR; Palestine is not partied to the UNCRC; Palestine did not vote on the UDHR or the UNDRIP.

Mandatoriness of registration: non-registration

Registration policy: non-registration — there is no specified process by which religious organisations gain official recognition.

Key restriction tools imposed: proselytism is prohibited from all unrecognised religious groups, vertical recognition is in effect (verticalism) due to Islam being the state religion and then some Christian churches receiving bilateral cooperation agreements (with various categories among them) and other groups remaining unrecognised.

Basic religious activities: Conversion (free); hieroncy (not free; non-Islamic materials intended for propagational use requires preapproval); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (free); pastoral services (free); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (not free; subject to registration); public expression and observance (free); receiving donations (free); religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religious literature (free); religious and worship services (free); religious trade (free).

Recommendations: dismantlement of the current apparatus of laws restricting reasonable religious activity; establish a recognition system for the country that has jurisdiction over both West Bank and the Gaza Strip to provide both existential recognition and legal registration to all belief systems and their derivatives and at multiple levels of activity; repeal laws on proselytism, conversion and blasphemy and deconstruct the system of partial recognition that is currently in place even if this requires the disestablishment of Islam as the state religion; remove all subjective language from the law to help reduce arbitrary enforcement.

Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic

2022 RoRB Classification: Restrictive

FoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made

Secularity: Transnistria is a secular territory; State privilege (Moldovan Orthodox Church).

Human rights instruments: Transnistria is partied to the UNCRC; Transnistria is not partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, or the UNDRIP; Transnistria did not vote on the UDHR; Transnistria is not partied to the ECHR.

Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory

Registration policy: mandatory registration — the government requires religious groups to register with them to conduct their activities legally.

Key restriction tools imposed: denial of registration based on religion or belief, Jehovah’s Witnesses have faced registration hurdles in the past, limitations on GFO and the religious activities of foreigners, non- recognition for any religion or denomination other than the MOC.

Recommendations: revoke the mandatory registration order and the discriminatory denial of registration; revoke discrimination between GFOs and domestic groups as well as the policy of non-recognition for all denominations except the MOC.

Puerto Rico, Commonwealth of

2022 RoRB Classification: Apathetic

FoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made

Secularity: Puerto Rico is a secular territory

Human rights instruments: Puerto Rico is partied to the ICCPR; Puerto Rico is a signatory of the ICESCR (via the United States) but this has not been ratified; Puerto Rico is neither partied to the UNCRC nor the UNDRIP; Puerto Rico did not vote on the UDHR.

Mandatoriness of registration: non-mandatory

Registration policy: registration of religious groups is not mandated by the authorities in Puerto Rico.

Key restriction tools imposed: amalgamation.

Saint Barthélemy

2022 RoRB Classification: Receptive

FoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made

Secularity: Saint Barthélemy is a secular territory

Human rights instruments: Saint Barthélemy is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP via France; France voted in favour of the UDHR; Saint Barthélemy is partied to the ECHR.

Mandatoriness of registration: unknown (insufficient data)

Registration policy: insufficient reliable information exists for registration procedures for religious groups in Saint Barthélemy as of the 2022 GRR Report.

Key restriction tools imposed: insufficient data exists on restriction tools imposed in Saint Barthélemy at this time.

Saint Martin, Collectivity of

2022 RoRB Classification: Receptive

FoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made

Secularity: Saint Martin is a secular territory

Human rights instruments: Saint Martin is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP via France; France voted in favour of the UDHR; Saint Martin is partied to the ECHR.

Mandatoriness of registration: unknown (insufficient data)

Registration policy: insufficient reliable information exists for registration procedures for religious groups in Saint Martin as of the 2022 GRR Report.

Key restriction tools imposed: insufficient data exists on restriction tools imposed in the Collectivity of Saint Martin at this time.

Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, Territorial Collectivity of

2022 RoRB Classification: Receptive

FoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made

Secularity: Saint-Pierre and Miquelon is a secular territory

Human rights instruments: Saint-Pierre and Miquelon is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP via France; France voted in favour of the UDHR; Saint-Pierre and Miquelon is partied to the ECHR.

Mandatoriness of registration: non-mandatory

Registration policy: insufficient reliable information exists for registration procedures for religious groups in Saint-Pierre and Miquelon as of the 2022 GRR Report.

Key restriction tools imposed: insufficient data exists on restriction tools imposed in Saint-Pierre and Miquelon at this time.

Scotland

2022 RoRB Classification: Apathetic

FoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made

Secularity: Scotland is a secular territory

Human rights instruments: Scotland is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP via the United Kingdom; United Kingdom voted in favour of the UDHR; Scotland is partied to the ECHR.

Mandatoriness of registration: non-mandatory

Registration policy: registration of religious groups is not mandated by the authorities in Scotland.

Key restriction tools imposed: insufficient data exists on restriction tools imposed in Scotland at this time.

Recommendations: establish distinct provisions for legal registration and existential recognition of religious entities.

Sint Maarten

2022 RoRB Classification: Apathetic

FoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made

Secularity: Sint Maarten is a secular territory

Human rights instruments: Sint Maarten is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP via the Netherlands; the Netherlands voted in favour of the UDHR; Sint Maarten is partied to the ECHR via the Netherlands.

Mandatoriness of registration: non-mandatory

Registration policy: registration of religious groups is not mandated by the authorities in Sint Maarten.

Key restriction tools imposed: insufficient data exists on restriction tools imposed in Sint Maarten at this time.

Somaliland, Republic of

2022 RoRB Classification: Terminal

FoRB Claim: Caveated claim is made

Secularity: State religion (Islam)

Human rights instruments: Somaliland is not partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, nor the UNDRIP; Somaliland did not vote on the UDHR.

Mandatoriness of registration: non-registration

Registration policy: non-registration — there is no mechanism for religious groups and organisations to register with the government.

Key restriction tools imposed: criminalisation of conversion from Islam, Islamic places of worship must obtain government permission to operate, non-Islamic proselytism is prohibited by the Constitution, and the prohibition of the importation of non-Islamic religious materials.

Basic religious activities: Conversion (not free; illegal to convert from Islam); hieroncy (not free; illegal); monasticism (not free; restricted); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free; restricted); pastoral services (not free; restricted); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (not free; illegal for all non-Muslim groups); public expression and observance (not free; non- Islamic expression and observance illegal); receiving donations (not free; restricted); religious buildings (not free; restricted); religious instruction (not free; restricted); religious literature (not free; restricted); religious and worship services (not free; subject to government preapproval); religious trade (not free; illegal).

Recommendations: abolish the criminalisation of conversion from Islam and other fundamental exercises of freedom of religion or belief such as the repressive laws on non- Islamic proselytism; establish provisions for the existential recognition of religions other than Islam; establish provisions for the legal registration of belief-based organisations other than those of Islamic affiliation.

South Ossetia — the state of Alania, Republic of

2022 RoRB Classification: Censorious

FoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made

Secularity: South Ossetia is a secular territory; State privilege (South Ossetian Orthodox Church).

Human rights instruments: South Ossetia is partied to the UNCRC; South Ossetia is not partied to the ICCPR or the ICESCR; South Ossetia did not vote on the UDHR or the UNDRIP; South Ossetia is not partied to the ECHR.

Mandatoriness of registration: unknown (insufficient data)

Registration policy: insufficient reliable information exists for registration procedures for religious groups in South Ossetia as of the 2022 GRR Report.

Key restriction tools imposed: prohibition of Jehovah’s Witnesses since 2017.

Recommendations: revoke the prohibition of Jehovah’s Witnesses and any other form of religious prohibition; ensure that the Russian Federation’s exportation of worst practice does not continue to take place in the territory to the detriment of RoRB and FoRB conditions.

Tibet Autonomous Region

2022 RoRB Classification: Terminal

FoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made

Secularity: Tibet is a hypersecular territory (state atheism); the CCP recognises Buddhism, Catholicism, Islam, Protestantism and Taoism.

Mandatoriness of registration: mandatory

Registration policy: broad mandatory registration — the central government’s Regulations on Religious Affairs require religious groups to register with the government, impose fines on landlords who provide facilities for unauthorised religious activities, and restrict contact with overseas religious institutions.

Key restriction tools imposed: fines on landlords who provide facilities for unapproved religious activities, preapproval by the state of the online activities of a religious group, pseudo-recognition of five religions, restriction of contact with foreign affiliates or the foreign headquarters of a religious institution, the CCP controls the selection of Tibetan Buddhist lamas.

Basic religious activities: Conversion (not free; restricted); hieroncy (not free; restricted); monasticism (not free; restricted); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free; restricted); pastoral services (not free; restricted); private expression and observance (not free; restricted); proselytism (not free; restricted); public expression and observance (free); receiving donations (not free; restricted); religious buildings (not free; restricted); religious instruction (not free; restricted); religious literature (not free; restricted); religious and worship services (not free; restricted); religious trade (not free; restricted).

Recommendations: complete dismantlement of the present terminally restrictive apparatus of laws and policies for religion and belief; however, realistically, such a dismantlement could only take place if a similar reversal in attitudes, policy and legislation was made for China as a whole.

Tokelau Islands

2022 RoRB Classification: Apathetic

FoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made

Secularity: Tokelau Islands is a secular territory

Human rights instruments: Tokelau is not partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, or the UNDRIP; Tokelau did not vote on the UDHR.

Mandatoriness of registration: unknown (insufficient data)

Registration policy: insufficient reliable information exists for registration procedures for religious groups in the Tokelau Islands as of the 2022 GRR Report.

Key restriction tools imposed: insufficient data exists on restriction tools imposed in the Tokelau Islands at this time.

Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

2022 RoRB Classification: Censorious

FoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made

Secularity: Northern Cyprus is a secular territory; State privilege (Islam).

Human rights instruments: Northern Cyprus is partied to the UNCRC; Northern Cyprus is not partied to the ICCPR or the ICESCR; Northern Cyprus did not vote on the UDHR nor on the UNDRIP; Northern Cyprus is not partied to the ECHR.

Mandatoriness of registration: unknown (insufficient data)

Registration policy: insufficient reliable information exists for registration procedures for religious groups in Northern Cyprus as of the 2022 GRR Report.

Key restriction tools imposed: Government intervention in the internal affairs of religious organisations; state privilege.

Recommendations: establish a recognition system that is able to provide procedures for existential recognition and legal registration, procedures which should remain distinct from each other; remove restrictions that are currently imposed on minority religious groups.

Wales

2022 RoRB Classification: Apathetic

FoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made

Secularity: Wales is a secular territory

Human rights instruments: Wales is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP via the United Kingdom; United Kingdom voted in favour of the UDHR; Wales is partied to the ECHR.

Mandatoriness of registration: non-mandatory

Registration policy: registration of religious groups is not mandated by the authorities in Wales.

Key restriction tools imposed: insufficient data exists on restriction tools imposed in Wales at this time.

Basic religious activities: Conversion (free); hieroncy (free); monasticism (free); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free; subject to the registration of a place of worship); pastoral services (free); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (free); public expression and observance (free); receiving donations (free); religious buildings (free); religious instruction (free); religious literature (free); religious and worship services (free); religious trade (free).

Wallis and Futuna Islands, Territory of the

2022 RoRB Classification: Receptive

FoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made

Secularity: Wallis and Futuna is a secular territory

Human rights instruments: Wallis and Futuna is partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC, and the UNDRIP via France; France voted in favour of the UDHR.

Mandatoriness of registration: unknown (insufficient data)

Registration policy: insufficient reliable information exists for registration procedures for religious groups in Wallis and Futuna as of the 2022 GRR Report.

Key restriction tools imposed: insufficient data exists on restriction tools imposed in Wallis and Futuna at this time.

Western Sahara (Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic)

2022 RoRB Classification: Censorious

FoRB Claim: No claim is made

Secularity: State religion (Islam)

Human rights instruments: Western Sahara is not partied to the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the UNCRC; Western Sahara did not vote on either the UDHR or the UNDRIP.

Mandatoriness of registration: non-registration and malregistration

Registration policy: non-registration — there are no official procedure for legal registration of groups in Western Sahara. Malregistration — any registration procedures conducted by the Sahrawi government would not have jurisdiction across the entire Western Sahara.

Key restriction tools imposed: criminalisation of the criticism of Islam, non-recognition for any religion or denomination other than Islam, prohibition on non- Islamic proselytism and the importation of non-Islamic religious materials with the intention to propagate.

Basic religious activities: Conversion (not free; illegal); hieroncy (not free; non-Islamic materials illegal); monasticism (not free; restricted); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free; restricted); pastoral services (not free; restricted); private expression and observance (free); proselytism (not free; illegal for all non-Muslims); public expression and observance (not free; non-Islamic expression and observance illegal); receiving donations (not free; restricted); religious buildings (not free; restricted); religious instruction (not free; restricted); religious literature (not free; illegal for non-Muslims); religious and worship services (not free; restricted); religious trade (not free; illegal).

Recommendations: revoke the censorial Moroccan laws that have been imposed such as bans on proselytism, public expression of belief and conversion from Islam; establish a system that extends opportunities for both existential recognition and legal registration to all belief systems; remove all instances of the politicisation of religion and belief and of the registration procedures.

Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region

2022 RoRB Classification: Terminal

FoRB Claim: Explicit claim is made

Secularity: Xinjiang is a hypersecular territory (state atheism); the CCP recognises Buddhism, Catholicism, Islam, Protestantism and Taoism.

Mandatoriness of registration: non-registration

Registration policy: non-registration — there are no separate registration procedures for religious groups in Xinjiang.

Key restriction tools imposed: restrictions on religious attire, state preapproval of all religious activities (such as proselytising, religious instruction, publishing and distributing religious literature) is mandatory.

Basic religious activities: Conversion (not free; restricted); hieroncy (not free; highly restricted; preapproval required); monasticism (not free; restricted); nuptial, initiatory and burial rites (not free; restricted); pastoral services (not free; restricted); private expression and observance (not free; restricted); proselytism (not free; preapproval required); public expression and observance (not free; restricted); receiving donations (not free; restricted); religious buildings (not free; restricted); religious instruction (not free; restricted); religious literature (not free; restricted); religious and worship services (not free; restricted); religious trade (not free; illegal).

Recommendations: not without changes first made in the Chinese heartland will a reversal in these restrictive laws imposed in Xinjiang be practical but the consequences of what the CCP has done in interning innocent citizens into “re-education facilities” and in turning the Uighur society into a police state will likely be irreversible.

Part 3 of 2022 Global Religious Recognition Report

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Western Sahara (Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic)

Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region

Written by Cometan 🪐🔭