News from August 2017
By State Newswire | Aug 15, 2017
News Release: The constitution provides for the free exercise of all religions. The law establishes the conditions for recognition and practice of religious groups. Vodou has been a registered religious group since 2003 but has not been able to perform civilly recognized marriages or baptisms. By law, the government...
By State Newswire | Aug 15, 2017
Release: The constitution guarantees freedom of faith and conscience, and it and the penal code prohibit discrimination against any religion or religious adherents. The constitution delegates regulation of the relationship between government and religious groups to the 26 cantons. The canton of Ticino’s ban on ...
By State Newswire | Aug 15, 2017
Release: Since 1974, the northern part of the country has been run by a Turkish Cypriot administration that proclaimed itself the “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" (“TRNC") in 1983. The United States does not recognize the “TRNC," nor does any country other than Turkey. The Turkish Cypriot “constitution" ...
By DOJ Newswire | Aug 15, 2017
News Release: Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark W. Pletcher (619) 546-9714 and Patrick Hovakimian (619) 546-9718.
By State Newswire | Aug 15, 2017
News Release: The constitution provides for freedom of religion on the condition its practice does not violate public morality, decency, or public order. The Directorate of Justice and Religion (DJR), an office in the Ministry of Interior, Justice, and Peace (MOI), is charged with maintaining a registry of religious...
By State Newswire | Aug 15, 2017
Release: The constitution establishes Islam as the state religion, but mandates equality for all faiths. The government maintained its authority over all Islamic matters and institutions, including assets and personnel of all mosques. Implementation of the decree effecting state control of mosques, conversion...
By State Newswire | Aug 15, 2017
News Release: The Interim National Constitution (INC) provides for freedom of religious creed and the rights to worship, assemble, and maintain places of worship. Some laws and government practices are based on the government’s interpretation of a sharia system of jurisprudence and do not provide protections for religious...
By State Newswire | Aug 15, 2017
News Release: The constitution defines the country as a secular state; it provides for freedom of conscience, religious belief, conviction, expression, and worship; and prohibits discrimination based on religious grounds. Religious matters are coordinated and governed by the Directorate of Religious Affairs (Diyanet),...
By State Newswire | Aug 15, 2017
Release: The constitution bars the federal and state governments from adopting a state religion, prohibits religious discrimination, and provides for individuals’ freedom to choose, practice, propagate, or change their religion. Human rights groups reported the federal government often failed to prevent, quell...
By State Newswire | Aug 15, 2017
Release: The constitution provides for freedom of religion, guaranteeing equal rights irrespective of religious belief and the right to worship and profess one’s religion. The law states government officials may prohibit the activity of a religious association for violating public order or engaging in “extremist ...
By Interior Newswire | Aug 15, 2017
News Release: A swimming-related fatality occurred off Cape Hatteras National Seashore, near Ocracoke Island’s Pony Pen beach access, at around 5:10 pm on Monday, August 14.
By State Newswire | Aug 15, 2017
Release: The constitution guarantees freedom of conscience and religion. It stipulates there is no official religion, says the state is neutral in matters of belief, recognizes the equality and independence of religious groups, and prohibits discrimination based on religion. The government has agreements with ...
By State Newswire | Aug 15, 2017
News Release: The constitution provides for freedom of religion and belief and prohibits discrimination on the basis of religion. The government does not require religious groups to register; however, registered groups receive tax-exempt status. In October the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights...
By State Newswire | Aug 15, 2017
Release: The constitution guarantees freedom of religion and prohibits discrimination on the grounds of religion. Based on a constitutional provision, the law makes blasphemy a punishable offense. The government said it was committed to holding a referendum on the possibility of removing this constitutional provision.
By Interior Newswire | Aug 15, 2017
News Release: An ongoing search is underway for a visitor at Big Bend National Park. On the afternoon of Sunday, Aug. 13, Rene Cervantes, Jr., of Pharr, Texas, was swimming with friends in the Rio Grande near Hot Springs. The swift current swept him downstream around 1:15pm.
By DOJ Newswire | Aug 15, 2017
News Release: Joon H. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that JEFFREY GREEN, a former correction officer at the Bedford Hills Correctional Facility for Women (the “Bedford Facility"), was sentenced in White Plains federal court to nine months in prison for violating...
By State Newswire | Aug 15, 2017
News Release: The United States recognizes the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) and Tibetan autonomous prefectures and counties in other provinces to be a part of the People’s Republic of China. The constitution of the People’s Republic of China states citizens “enjoy freedom of religious belief" but limits protections...
By State Newswire | Aug 15, 2017
Release: The constitution provides for freedom of religion, freedom of religious practice, and state recognition of religious organizations, provided they do not contradict the constitution or the law. The government extended special benefits to nine “traditional" religious groups and more limited benefits to ...
By Homeland Newswire | Aug 15, 2017
Release: RICHMOND, Va. - A Richmond, Virginia, resident was arrested at Richmond International Airport Monday, Aug. 14 after Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officials found a loaded semi-automatic handgun in the traveler’s carry-on bag.
By State Newswire | Aug 15, 2017
News Release: The constitution provides for the right to practice or not to practice religion freely and prohibits discrimination based on religion. These and other rights may only temporarily be suspended or restricted in the event of a declaration of a state of war, siege, or emergency. The constitution prohibits...
