The constitution and other laws and policies protect religious freedom.
The constitution guarantees all citizens the freedom to observe their own religious practices and to change religions without interference from the government or members of other religious groups.
The Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender, and Children’s Affairs is responsible for religious matters. Religious groups seeking recognition by the ministry, which includes benefits such as tax concessions afforded only to recognized religious groups, must complete a registration form.
The government permits religious instruction in all schools. The government requires a standard Religion and Morals Education (RME) curriculum in all public schools through high school, which covers Christianity, Islam, and other religions. Private schools are not required to use RME, although many Christian schools did. Muslim schools generally did not use RME, asserting that it provided insufficient coverage of Islam. Instruction in a specific religion is permissible only in schools organized by religious groups.
The government observes the following religious holidays as national holidays: the Birth of the Prophet Muhammad, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, and Christmas.