Bahá'í
Academics Resource Library
HRP: Country Reports on Human Rights Practices
IRF: Annual Reports to Congress on International Religious Freedom
FREEDOM OF RELIGION
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HRP 1998-2001
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IRF 1999-2000
Islam is the state religion. The Constitution provides for the free exercise
of other religions that do not disturb the public order, and the Government
generally observes and enforces this right; however, there were some restrictions
and abuses....
The Government does not permit the establishment
of political parties on the basis of Islam, prohibits proselytizing, and
partially limits the religious freedom of Baha'is...
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HRP 1998-2001
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IRF 1999-2001
The Government regards the Baha'i Faith as a heretical sect of Islam and
permits its 150 adherents to practice their faith only in private. Although
the Government permits Baha'is to hold meetings of their National Council
in private homes, it reportedly has prohibited them from organizing local
councils. The Government reportedly pressures Baha'is to eschew organized
religious activities.
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HRP 2000-01
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IRF 1999-2001
The Government also does not permit Baha'is to accept a declaration of
faith from persons who wish to convert to the Baha'i Faith. There were
credible reports that four members of the Baha'i Faith were interrogated
by Ministry of Interior officials in 1999 and pressed to sign a statement
that they would not practice their religion and would not hold meetings
in their homes.
There are credible reports that prominent Baha'is periodically are called
in by police for questioning. [HRP 2001: however, the number of
such incidents decreased during the year. ] The Government unofficially
denied Baha'i requests during the year for permission to elect local assemblies.
Since 1984 there has been a ban on public Baha'i religious activities because
the Government considers this faith a heretical sect of Islam.
TRAVEL
However, the Government appears to have eased some other restrictions,
which in the past included the denial of passports to Bahai's.
US GOVERNMENT POLICY
The U.S. Embassy maintains good relations with leaders of majority and
minority religious groups throughout the country, and the Ambassador and
other embassy officials met regularly with Muslim, Christian, Jewish, and
Baha'i religious leaders throughout the period covered by this report.
The Department of State delivered a private demarche on alleged harassment
of the Baha'i community in June 1998, which appears to have resulted in
greater government tolerance of Baha'i activities.