News from May 2018
By State Newswire | May 29, 2018
Release: The constitution prohibits religious discrimination and grants individuals freedom of religion in conformity with the law. The law criminalizes abuses against religious freedom. Terrorist groups used violence and launched attacks against civilians, security forces, peacekeepers, and others they reportedly...
By State Newswire | May 29, 2018
News Release: The constitution states that everyone has freedom of thought, conscience, and religion. The constitution recognizes the Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC) as the national church and preserver of national identity, but also establishes separation of “religious organizations" and the state. Religious minority...
By State Newswire | May 29, 2018
Release: The constitution provides for freedom of religion, including the freedom of individuals to change their religion. The government prohibits the use of marijuana, including for religious reasons. Rastafarians continued to state they disagreed with the government’s ban on marijuana, stating it was integral...
By State Newswire | May 29, 2018
News Release: The constitution prohibits discrimination based on religion and provides for freedom of conscience, religion, belief, and thought. An investigation by the Malawi Human Rights Commission regarding a 2016 case of religious discrimination against a Rastafarian student for wearing dreadlocks remained unresolved...
By State Newswire | May 29, 2018
Release: The constitution provides for freedom of religion, including freedom of thought, freedom to practice one’s religion, and freedom from oaths contrary to one’s beliefs. Rastafarians continued to disagree with the government’s prohibition of marijuana use. Members of the Rastafarian community said police...
By State Newswire | May 29, 2018
Release: The constitution provides for religious freedom and prohibits the government from taking any action to compel, prohibit, or hinder the exercise of religion. A law enacted on April 13 established a National Day of Prayer that “welcomes all expressions of religion, no matter of his or her choosing without reservation or reproach.".
By State Newswire | May 29, 2018
News Release: The constitution grants individuals freedom to profess and practice any religious belief but prohibits religious activities directed against the sovereignty of the state, its constitutional system, and “civic harmony." The law recognizes the “determining role" of the Belarusian Orthodox Church (BOC).
By State Newswire | May 29, 2018
Release: The constitution defines the state as secular, prohibits religious discrimination, and provides for freedom of religion. The law requires religious groups to seek government recognition by meeting rigorous criteria. On Nov. 24, a court in Luanda sentenced four Muslims to three years’ imprisonment...
By State Newswire | May 29, 2018
News Release: The constitution provides for the freedom of religious choice, as long as doing so does not impinge on the rights of others or the national interest. It prohibits religious discrimination, establishment of a state religion, and formation of political parties based on religious affiliation. In January...
By State Newswire | May 29, 2018
Release: The constitution, laws, and policies provide for religious freedom, subject to restrictions relating to public order, public health, and morality. The government continued to ban Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (Unification Church). The government restricted...
By State Newswire | May 29, 2018
News Release: The constitution defines the country as an Islamic republic and designates Islam as the sole religion of the citizenry and state. Only Muslims may be citizens, and apostasy is a crime punishable by death. On November 9, the Court of Appeals in Nouadhibou ordered the release of Mohamed Cheikh Ould Mohamed...
By DOJ Newswire | May 29, 2018
News Release: PHILADELPHIA - A Philadelphia man was charged May 24 in connection with armed robberies of convenience stories, announced U.S. Attorney William M. McSwain.
By Interior Newswire | May 29, 2018
News Release: WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of the Interior and the National Park Service (NPS) today announced $48.9 million in historic preservation grants for U.S. states, territories, and partnering nations, and $11.4 million for historic preservation grants to 175 tribal historic preservation offices.
By DOJ Newswire | May 29, 2018
News Release: WILLIAMSPORT - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Marc Punzalan, age 24, of Rockville, Maryland, was indicted on May 24, 2018, by a federal grand jury on one count of stalking and one count of the attempted sexual exploitation of a minor.
By State Newswire | May 29, 2018
News Release: The constitution guarantees the freedom of religion and provides for the right of individuals to choose their religion, express and disseminate their religious beliefs, and participate in religious observances and ceremonies. The constitution maintains the separation of government and religion, stipulating...
By State Newswire | May 29, 2018
Release: The constitution guarantees the freedom of religion, as well as the right to change one’s religion. It states everyone shall have the freedom to worship individually or with others, in private or in public. It also states the freedom to express one’s religious beliefs may be restricted by law only as ...
By State Newswire | May 29, 2018
Release: The constitution provides for freedom of religion as well as the right to change, manifest, and propagate the religion of one’s choice. Starting in January the government officially recognized marriages conducted under Rastafarian rites. Rastafarians said they continued to be reluctant to use marijuana...
By State Newswire | May 29, 2018
Release: The constitution accords individuals the right to choose, change, and freely practice their religion and prohibits religious discrimination. It specifically recognizes the right of indigenous communities to express their religion freely. The constitution states the relationship between the state and...
By State Newswire | May 29, 2018
Release: The constitution protects the right of individuals to practice their religion and states religious groups are autonomous and independent from the state. The law, however, recognizes the “exceptional importance" of Orthodox Christianity. Minority religious groups and others reported the government continued ...
By State Newswire | May 29, 2018
Release: The constitution states that all people have freedom of belief and religion. Current law, however, provides for significant government control over religious practices and includes vague provisions that permit restrictions on religious freedom in the stated interest of national security and social unity.
