State Newswire Report News
2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: China—Xinjiang
By State Newswire Report | May 24, 2023
The constitution of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), which cites the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), states that citizens “enjoy freedom of religious belief” but limits protections for religious practice to “normal religious activities,” without defining “normal.”
2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Indonesia
By State Newswire Report | May 24, 2023
The constitution provides a guarantee of freedom of religion and the right to worship according to one’s own beliefs, but it states that citizens must accept restrictions established by law to protect the rights of others and to satisfy “just demands based upon considerations of morality, religious values, security, and public order in a democratic society.”
2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Burma
By State Newswire Report | May 24, 2023
In 2021, the military overthrew the democratically elected civilian government, declaring a state of emergency and creating a State Administration Council, a military-run administrative organization led by armed forces Commander in Chief (CINC) Min Aung Hlaing that assumed executive, legislative, and judicial functions.
2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Kiribati
By State Newswire Report | May 24, 2023
The constitution provides for freedom of religion. Religious groups with memberships equal to or greater than 2 percent of the population are required to register with the government.
2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Fiji
By State Newswire Report | May 24, 2023
The constitution establishes a secular state and protects freedom of religion, conscience, and belief. It also mandates the separation of religion and state.
2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Papua New Guinea
By State Newswire Report | May 24, 2023
The constitution provides for freedom of conscience, thought, and religion and the right to practice religion freely, except where that practice infringes on another person’s rights or where it violates public laws, safety, and the welfare of marginalized groups.
2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Australia
By State Newswire Report | May 24, 2023
The constitution bars the federal government from making any law that imposes a state religion or religious observance, prohibits the free exercise of religion, or establishes a religious test for a federal public office.
2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Timor-Leste
By State Newswire Report | May 24, 2023
The constitution provides for freedom of conscience and worship and freedom of religious instruction.
2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: China—Tibet
By State Newswire Report | May 24, 2023
The constitution of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), which cites the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), states that citizens “enjoy freedom of religious belief,” but it limits protections for religious practice to “normal religious activities” without defining “normal.
2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Vietnam
By State Newswire Report | May 24, 2023
The constitution states that all individuals have the right to freedom of belief and religion.
2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: China—Macau
By State Newswire Report | May 24, 2023
The Basic Law of the Macau Special Administrative Region (SAR) grants residents freedom of religious belief, freedom to preach and participate in religious activities in public, and freedom to pursue religious education.
2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: China—Hong Kong
By State Newswire Report | May 24, 2023
The Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), as well as other laws and policies, states that residents have freedom of conscience, freedom of religious belief, and freedom to preach, conduct, and participate in religious activities in public.
2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: China (Includes Hong Kong, Macau, Tibet, and Xinjiang)
By State Newswire Report | May 24, 2023
Reports on Hong Kong, Macau, Tibet, and Xinjiang are appended at the end of this report.
2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Solomon Islands
By State Newswire Report | May 24, 2023
The constitution provides for religious freedom, including the freedom to change religions, proselytize, and establish religious schools.
2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Singapore
By State Newswire Report | May 24, 2023
The constitution, laws, and policies provide for religious freedom, subject to restrictions relating to public order, public health, and morality.
2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Samoa
By State Newswire Report | May 24, 2023
The constitution provides for the right to choose, practice, and change one’s religion, and it defines the country as a Christian nation.
2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Thailand
By State Newswire Report | May 24, 2023
The constitution “prohibits discrimination based on religious belief” and protects religious liberty as long as the exercise of religious freedom is not “harmful to the security of the State.
2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Nauru
By State Newswire Report | May 24, 2023
The constitution and other laws provide for freedom of conscience, thought, and religion, and for freedom to change one’s religion or beliefs.
2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Tonga
By State Newswire Report | May 24, 2023
The constitution grants freedom to practice, worship, and assemble for religious services.
2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Laos
By State Newswire Report | May 24, 2023
The constitution provides citizens with “the right and freedom to believe or not to believe in religion.