WHATSHOULDBETHESTATERELIGIONINSRILANKA?

TheSriLankanconstitutiondoesnotciteastatereligion.Nonetheless,rather
ambiguously,Article9statesthat,"TheRepublicofSriLankashallgiveto
Buddhismtheforemostplace,andaccordingly,itshallbethedutyoftheState
1
toprotectandfostertheBuddhaSasana"
.
Nonetheless,inthefamousjudgmentonNoisepollution,theSupremeCourt
heldthatSriLankaisasecularstate:
IthastobefirmlyborneinmindthatSriLankaisasecularState.Intermsof
Article3oftheConstitution,SovereigntyisinthePeopleatcommondevoidof
anydivisionsbasedonperceptionsofracereligionlanguageandthelike.
Especiallyintheareaofpreservingtheenvironmentandtheprotectionof
publichealth,beingofimmediateconcerninthiscase,therecouldbeno
exceptionstoaccommodateperceivedreligiouspropensitiesofonegroupor
another.Noreligionadvocatesapracticethatwouldcauseharmtoanotheror
worsestillaswouldcausepollutionoftheenvironment,ahealthhazardora
2
publicnuisancebeinganannoyancetothepublic.

InthesaidJudgmenttheCourtalsonotedthesecularapproachofSriLankan
Courtsaswell:Wehavehadinthiscountryprobablytheoldest
jurisprudentialtraditionofasecularapproachindealingwithmattersthat
constituteapublicnuisance,quotingseveralrelatedSriLankanandIndian
3
Judgments.
In2004,aconstitutionalamendmentproposedbytheHelaUrumayatoa
clearreferencetoBuddhismasthestatereligion,wasrejectedbytheSupreme
4
Court.
Itisextremelyinterestingtonotethat,theSoulburyConstitutionof1949had
aprovisiontotheeffectthattheStatewassecularandquiteacomprehensive,
farthinkingandpracticalonewhich,iftakenovertothefollowingtwo
supposedtobemoremodernones,wouldhavespared,severallivesa
considerableamountofheartburnandwasteofresourcesonmererhetoric:

Article9,ConstitutionofSriLanka
AlHajM.T.M.Ashikandfourothers,TrusteesofKapuwattaMohideenJumma
Mosque,Denipitiya,WeligamavR.P.S.Bandula,O.I.C.Weligamaandnineothers
S.C.ApplicationNo.38/2005(FR),9November2007
3
MarshallvGunaratneUnnanse,1NLR179ChurchofGod(fullgospel)inIndiav
K.K.R.M.CWelfareAssociation,A.I.R.2000S.C.2773Re.NoisePollution,A.I.R.
2005S.C.3136
1

th
InthecaseconcerningtheDraft19
AmendmenttotheConstitutionJudgmentin
January2005
4

29.(1)

SubjecttotheprovisionsofthisOrder,Parliamentshallhave
powertomakelawsforthepeace,orderandgoodgovernmentof
theIsland.

(2)Nosuchlawshall
(a)

prohibitorrestrictthefreeexerciseofanyreligionor

(b)

makepersonsofanycommunityorreligionliableto
disabilitiesorrestrictionstowhichpersonsofother
communitiesorreligionsarenotmadeliableor

(c)

conferonpersonsofanycommunityorreligionany
privilegeoradvantagewhichisnotconferredonpersons
ofothercommunitiesorreligions,or

(d)

altertheconstitutionofanyreligiousbodyexceptwiththe
consentofthegoverningauthorityofthatbody,so,
however,thatinanycasewhereareligiousbodyis
incorporatedbylaw,nosuchalterationshallbemade
exceptattherequestofthegoverningauthorityofthat
body:

Provided,however,thattheprecedingprovisionsofthis
subsectionshallnotapplytoanylawmakingprovisionfor,
relatingto,orconnectedwith,theelectionofMembersofthe
HouseofRepresentatives,torepresentpersonsregisteredas
citizensofCeylonundertheIndianandPakistaniResidents
(Citizenship)Act.

(3)

Anylawmadeincontraventionofsubsection(2)ofthissection
5
shall,totheextentofsuchcontravention,bevoid.

Article29,SoulburyConstitution

SECULARISM?
A
secularstate
isaconcept,wherebya
state
isorpurportstobeofficially
6
neutralinmattersof
religion
,supportingneitherreligionnor
irreligion
.
Interestinglythough,thecreatorofthetermsecularism,Mr.GeorgeJacob
Holyoakepresenteditas
"aformofopinionwhichconcernsitselfonlywith
7
questions,theissuesofwhichcanbetestedbytheexperienceofthislife".
8

AspertheNationalSecularSociety(NSS),
Secularismisaprinciplethat
involvestwobasicpropositions:1.thestrictseparationofthestatefrom
religiousinstitutions2.peopleofdifferentreligionsandbeliefsareequal
beforethelaw.
AsperJacquesBerlinerblau,itisaflexibledoctrinethatcanembodyalotof
policypositions.Strictseparationismisone,butnottheonly,ofthose
positions.Atitscore,secularismisdeeplysuspiciousofanyentanglement
9
betweengovernmentandreligion.
Theseparationofreligionandstateisthefoundationofsecularism.Itensures
thatreligiousgroupsdonotinterfereinaffairsofstateandmakessurethat
10
thestatedoesnotinterfereinreligiousaffairs.
AsBerlinerblauverycorrectlypointsout,Secularismshouldnotbe
11 12
misunderstoodasatheism,asitiswidelydone.
, Atheism,putsimply,isa
termthatcoversawidevarietyofschoolsofthoughtthatponderand/orposit
13
thenonexistenceofGod/s.
Byintentionallyblurringthedistinction
betweenatheismandsecularism,thereligiousrightsucceedsindrowning
Madeley,JohnT.S.andZsoltEnyedi,
ChurchandstateincontemporaryEurope:
thechimeraofneutrality
,p.14,2003Routledge
6

http://atheism.about.com/od/secularismseparation/a/HolyoakeSecular.htm

http://www.secularism.org.uk/whatissecularism.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jacquesberlinerblau
10
ibid
11
3
12
SecularismmustbethemostmisunderstoodandmangledismintheAmerican
politicallexicon.Commentatorsontherightandtheleftroutinelyequateitwith
Stalinism,NazismandSocialism,amongotherdreadedisms.
13
4
8
9

14 15

both.
,

MEANWHILEINANDAROUNDTHEWORLD...
Thedynamismofideologiesandtheinevitabilityofchangethattakesplace
throughthepassageoftimeiscrystalisedbyworldhistory:WhentheStateof
Pakistanwascreatedin1947,andlateritsObjectivesResolutionwaspassed
withthesupportoftheEastPakistanin1949,Islamwasthekeyfeature.
Nonetheless,whenEastPakistanbecameBangladesh,theirconstitution
declaredittobeasecularstate.Eventhoughtherewasnoattempttomakeit
16
Islamic
,theSupremeCourtfoiledtheattempt.
Andthestoryrevolvesallovertheworld.The1999constitutionofNigeria,
doesnotdeclaretheStatetobesecular,butitprohibitsthestatesandthe
FederalGovernmentsfromadoptinganyreligionasstatereligion.
Nonetheless,thetwomaincommunitiesinNigeriabelieveintheState
headinginopposingdirections:WhilstthemajorityMuslimsbelievethatthe
17
countryshouldberunbyShariaLaw
theminorityChristiansbelievethatthe
stateshouldcompletelydetachfromReligionandbesecular.
ThisdivergenceofviewsrepeatsinTurkey,ChinaandNepal.Whereasthe
1990constitutionofNepaldeclaredtheStateasaHinduKingdom,the2007
InterimConstitutionofthecountryhasrecognisedsecularism.
InPakistan,theSupremeCourtisgrapplingwiththelegalissueastowhether
18
theParliamentcandeclarePakistanasasecularstate.
Arethereways
otherthanrevolutiontochangethebasicfeatureofthestate?noneother
19
thantheChiefJusticeNsirulMulkreportedlyasked,inopenCourt.
Inthecircumstances,theanswertoouroriginalquestiondependsonthe
variableofpublicopinion,whichashistoryunfolds,doesnotremainstatic.
Despitehownonsensicalitmaysound,itstillmakethsensegiventhefactthat,
ReligionisafirmsetofbeliefsnecessarilyrelatedtothefreedomofThought

4
Mr.BerlinerblausconcernsweresubstantiatedbyMs.ThaslimaNasrinwhenshe
said"MostsecularpeopleareproMuslimsandantiHindu.Theyprotestagainstthe
actsofHindufundamentalistsanddefendtheheinousactsofMuslim
fundamentalists."

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/reporttaslimanasreenhitsoutatprotestingwrite
rssaysmostsecularsarepromuslimandantihindu2135824
16
ByGeneralIrshad
17
UniversalcodeofconductforMuslims
th
st
18
InthePetitionsagainstthe18
and21
AmendmentstotheConstitution
14
15

19

http://tribune.com.pk/story/881083/supremecourtasksifparliamentcan
declarepakistanasecularstate/

andConscience.Andasinglethoughthoweversimpleitis,asweknow,is
whatittakethtoreroutemankindandrewritehistory.
Thus,itisnosurprisethat,thechallengetoconstitutionalsecularismcomes
fromtheemotionallychargedrevivalofreligiousidentityandalsofrom
20
religionbecoming,amajororganizingforceofcollectiveaction.

LEGALBACKGROUND:GLOBAL

Article2.1oftheUniversalDeclarationofHumanRights(UDHR)mapsthe
basisforsecularismattheoutsetbydeclaringReligionasanonconsideration
21
asfarasHumanRightsareconcerned.
ThescopeofRighttoBelief,interalia,underArticle18oftheUDHR,isfar
22
reachingandprofound
.Thefundamentalcharacterofthesefreedomsis
alsoreflectedinthefactthatthisprovisioncannotbederogatedfrom,evenin
23
timeofpublicemergency,asstatedinarticle4.2oftheCovenant.
TheGeneralCommentNo.22explainsastohowArticle18protectsand
promotessecularism,withoutevenmentioningtheword,evenonce:Article
18protectstheistic,nontheisticandatheisticbeliefs,aswellastherightnot
toprofessanyreligionorbelief.Itgoesontobroadenthehorizonsoftheterms
"belief"and"religion"bydeclaringthat,Article18isnotlimitedinits
applicationtotraditionalreligionsortoreligionsandbeliefswithinstitutional
characteristicsorpracticesanalogoustothoseoftraditionalreligions.It
specificallylooksdownuponanytendencytodiscriminateagainstanyreligion
orbeliefforanyreason,includingthefactthattheyarenewlyestablished,or
representreligiousminoritiesthatmaybethesubjectofhostilityonthepart
24
ofapredominantreligiouscommunity.

EveryoneisentitledtoalltherightsandfreedomssetforthinthisDeclaration,
withoutdistinctionofanykind,suchasrace,colour,sex,language,religion,political
orotheropinion,nationalorsocialorigin,property,birthorotherstatus.
Furthermore,nodistinctionshallbemadeonthebasisofthepolitical,jurisdictional
orinternationalstatusofthecountryorterritorytowhichapersonbelongs,whether
itbeindependent,trust,nonselfgoverningorunderanyotherlimitationof
sovereignty.
22
HumanRightsCommittee,GeneralComment22,Article18(Fortyeighthsession,
1993).CompilationofGeneralCommentsandGeneralRecommendationsAdopted
byHumanRightsTreatyBodies,U.N.Doc.HRI/GEN/1/Rev.1at35(1994).
23
ibid
24
ibid
20
21

Ratherinterestingly,theGeneralCommentdoesnotmindanyStatemaking
anyReligionthestatereligionaslongastheRightsofotherReligionsarenot
impairedordiscriminated:Thefactthatareligionisrecognizedasastate
religionorthatitisestablishedasofficialortraditionalorthatitsfollowers
comprisethemajorityofthepopulation,shallnotresultinanyimpairmentof
theenjoymentofanyoftherightsundertheCovenant,includingarticles18
and27,norinanydiscriminationagainstadherentstootherreligionsor
25
nonbelievers.

ThemeasurescontemplatedbyArticle20,paragraph2oftheCovenant
constituteimportantsafeguardsagainstinfringementoftherightsofreligious
minoritiesandofotherreligiousgroupstoexercisetherightsguaranteedby
articles18and27,andagainstactsofviolenceorpersecutiondirectedtowards
26
thosegroups.
Article3,4and33oftheConventionrelatingtothestatusofrefugeeswhilst
confirmingReligionasanoncriterionreHumanRightsofferssafetyand
27
solaceforthosewhoareatriskduetotheirbeliefsandconvictions.
Article14oftheInternationalCovenantonCivilandPoliticalRights(ICCPR)
professestheRighttoReligionratherpassionately,byelaboratingmuchonits
28
componentRights.
Yet,thereisnoreferencetosecularism.

ibid
ibid
27

Article3[Nondiscrimination]

TheContractingStatesshallapplytheprovisionsofthisConventiontorefugees
withoutdiscriminationastorace,religionorcountryoforigin.
Article4[Religion]

TheContractingStatesshallaccordtorefugeeswithintheirterritoriestreatmentat
leastasfavourableasthataccordedtotheirnationalswithrespecttofreedomto
practicetheirreligionandfreedomasregardsthereligiouseducationoftheir
children.
28
Everyoneshallhavetherighttofreedomofthought,conscienceandreligion.This
rightshallincludefreedomtohaveortoadoptareligionorbeliefofhischoice,and
freedom,eitherindividuallyorincommunitywithothersandinpublicorprivate,to
manifesthisreligionorbeliefinworship,observance,practiceandteaching.
25

26

2.Nooneshallbesubjecttocoercionwhichwouldimpairhisfreedomtohaveorto
adoptareligionorbeliefofhischoice.
3.Freedomtomanifestone'sreligionorbeliefsmaybesubjectonlytosuch
limitationsasareprescribedbylawandarenecessarytoprotectpublicsafety,order,
health,ormoralsorthefundamentalrightsandfreedomsofothers.

Articles24,26and27toopromoteandprotecttheRighttoReligionand
29
30
Belief
andArticle27specificallyadvocatesthenotionofsecularism.
AmongsttheUNConventionsthatsecureandpromotetheRight
toReligionandBeliefthefollowingstandtaller:
UNESCOConventionAgainstDiscriminationinEducation(1960)
InternationalConventionontheEliminationofAllFormsofRacial
Discrimination(1965)
InternationalCovenantonCivilandPoliticalRights(1966)
DeclarationontheEliminationofAllFormsofIntoleranceand
ofDiscriminationBasedonReligionorBelief(1981)
DeclarationontheHumanRightsofIndividualswhoarenotNationals
oftheCountryinWhichTheyLive(1985)
ConventionontheRightsoftheChild(1989)
InternationalConventionontheProtectionoftheRightsofallMigrant
WorkersandMembersoftheirFamilies(1990)
DeclarationontheRightsofPersonsBelongingtoNationalorEthnic,
ReligiousandLinguisticMinorities(1992)
AmongsttheRegionalHumanRightsConventions,thefollowing
professandpromotethesame:

EuropeanConventiononHumanRights(1950)andProtocolNr.11(1954)
FinalActoftheConferenceonSecurityandCooperationinEurope(1975)
ConcludingDocumentoftheMadridMeetingoftheCSCE(1983)
ConcludingDocumentoftheViennaMeetingoftheCSCE(1989)
CharterofParisforaNewEurope(1990)
DocumentoftheCopenhagenMeetingoftheCSCE(1990)
CSCEHelsinkiSummitDecisions(1992)

4.TheStatesPartiestothepresentCovenantundertaketohaverespectfortheliberty
ofparentsand,whenapplicable,legalguardianstoensurethereligiousandmoral
educationoftheirchildreninconformitywiththeirownconvictions.

Article24

1.Everychildshallhave,withoutanydiscriminationastorace,colour,sex,language,
religion,nationalorsocialorigin,propertyorbirth,therighttosuchmeasuresof
protectionasarerequiredbyhisstatusasaminor,onthepartofhisfamily,society
andtheState.
Article26

Allpersonsareequalbeforethelawandareentitledwithoutanydiscriminationto
theequalprotectionofthelaw.Inthisrespect,thelawshallprohibitany
discriminationandguaranteetoallpersonsequalandeffectiveprotectionagainst
discriminationonanygroundsuchasrace,colour,sex,language,religion,politicalor
otheropinion,nationalorsocialorigin,property,birthorotherstatus.
30

Article27

InthoseStatesinwhichethnic,religiousorlinguisticminoritiesexist,persons
belongingtosuchminoritiesshallnotbedeniedtheright,incommunitywiththe
othermembersoftheirgroup,toenjoytheirownculture,toprofessandpractisetheir
ownreligion,ortousetheirownlanguage.

29

 ViennaDeclarationandProgrammeofActionadoptedattheWorld
ConferenceonHumanRights(1993)

FrameworkConventionfortheProtectionofNationalMinorities(1994)

AmericanDeclarationoftheRightsandDutiesofMan(1948)
AmericanConventionofHumanRights(1969)

AdditionalProtocoltotheAmericanConventiononHumanRightsinthe
AreaofEconomic,SocialandCulturalRights(1988)
AfricanCharteronHumanandPeoples'Rights(1981)

AfricanCharterontheRightsandWelfareoftheChild

Outoftheseprovisions,Article13oftheAdditionalProtocoltotheAmerican
ConventiononHumanRightsintheAreaofEconomic,SocialandCultural
RightscontainsthemostenviableprovisionwithregardtoReligion
31
EducationPeaceandsecularism.

Article13RighttoEducation
2.TheStatesPartiestothisProtocolagreethateducationshouldbedirectedtowards
thefulldevelopmentofthehumanpersonalityandhumandignityandshould
strengthenrespectforhumanrights,ideologicalpluralism,fundamentalfreedoms,
justiceandpeace.Theyfurtheragreethateducationoughttoenableeveryoneto
participateeffectivelyinademocraticandpluralisticsocietyandachieveadecent
existenceandshouldfosterunderstanding,toleranceandfriendshipamongall
nationsandallracial,ethnicorreligiousgroupsandpromoteactivitiesforthe
maintenanceofpeace.
31

LEGALBACKGROUND:NATIONAL

TheConstitutionoftheUSA,mincesnowordswithregardtotheir
32
commitmenttosecularism.AmendmentI
ofthesame,expresslyproclaims
that,the

Congressshallmakenolawrespectinganestablishmentofreligion,
orprohibitingthefreeexercisethereof...
33

ArticleVIoftheUSConstitutionreiteratesthisbystatingthat,...
butno
religiousTestshalleverberequiredasaQualificationtoanyOfficeorpublic
TrustundertheUnitedStates.
Section116oftheAustralianConstitutioncombinesboththeseprovisionsinto
one:TheCommonwealthshallnotmakeanylawforestablishinganyreligion,
orforimposinganyreligiousobservance,orforprohibitingthefreeexerciseof
anyreligion,andnoreligioustestshallberequiredasaqualificationforany
officeorpublictrustundertheCommonwealth

[1791Religion,Speech,Press,Assembly,Petition]

(3)TheSenatorsandRepresentativesbeforementioned,andtheMembersofthe
severalStateLegislatures,andallexecutiveandjudicialOfficers,bothoftheUnited
StatesandoftheseveralStates,shallbeboundbyOathorAffirmation,tosupport
thisConstitution
32
33

IndiabeingadiversecountrywithmultitudeofReligions,thewordsecularis
embeddedintoitsPreambleandtoitsname:WE,THEPEOPLEOFINDIA,
havingsolemnlyresolvedtoconstituteIndiaintoaSOVEREIGNSOCIALIST
SECULARDEMOCRATICREPUBLICandtosecuretoallitscitizens:Andit
34
goesontoconfirmthisRightintoitsArticle25aswell,ingraphicdetail.

25.Freedomofconscienceandfreeprofession,practiceand
propagationofreligion.
(
1)Subjecttopublicorder,moralityandhealthandto
theotherprovisionsofthisPart,allpersonsareequallyentitledtofreedomof
conscienceandtherightfreelytoprofess,practiseandpropagatereligion.
34

(2)Nothinginthisarticleshallaffecttheoperationofanyexistinglaworpreventthe
Statefrommakinganylaw
(
a
)regulatingorrestrictinganyeconomic,financial,politicalorothersecularactivity
whichmaybeassociatedwithreligiouspractice
(
b
)providingforsocialwelfareandreformorthethrowingopenofHindureligious
institutionsofapubliccharactertoallclassesandsectionsofHindus.
ExplanationI.
Thewearingandcarryingof
kirpans
shallbedeemedtobeincluded
intheprofessionoftheSikhreligion.
ExplanationII.
Insubclause(
b
)ofclause(2),thereferencetoHindusshallbe
construedasincludingareferencetopersonsprofessingtheSikh,JainaorBuddhist
religion,andthereferencetoHindureligiousinstitutionsshallbeconstrued
accordingly.
26.Freedomtomanagereligiousaffairs
.Subjecttopublicorder,morality
andhealth,everyreligiousdenominationoranysectionthereofshallhavetheright
(
a
)toestablishandmaintaininstitutionsforreligiousandcharitablepurposes
(
b
)tomanageitsownaffairsinmattersofreligion(
c
)toownandacquiremovable
andimmovablepropertyand(
d)
toadministersuchpropertyinaccordancewithlaw.
27.Freedomastopaymentoftaxesforpromotionofanyparticular
religion
.Nopersonshallbecompelledtopayanytaxes,theproceedsofwhichare
specificallyappropriatedinpaymentofexpensesforthepromotionormaintenance
ofanyparticularreligionorreligiousdenomination.

TheCanadianConstitutionincludesaprovisionsimilartotheSriLankanone:
2.Everyonehasthefollowingfundamentalfreedoms:
(a)freedomofconscienceandreligion
(b)freedomofthought,belief,opinionandexpression,includingfreedomof
thepressandothermediaofcommunication
(c)freedomofpeacefulassemblyand
(d)freedomofassociation.

TheStateofBangladeshConstitutionalprovisionisratherinteresting:
ThestatereligionoftheRepublicisIslam,butotherreligionsmaybe
practicedinpeaceandharmonyintheRepublic.

28.Freedomastoattendanceatreligiousinstructionorreligious
worshipincertaineducationalinstitutions.
(1)Noreligiousinstructionshall
beprovidedinanyeducationalinstitutionwhollymaintainedoutofStatefunds.
(2)Nothinginclause(1)shallapplytoaneducationalinstitutionwhichis
administeredbytheStatebuthasbeenestablishedunderanyendowmentortrust
whichrequiresthatreligiousinstructionshallbeimpartedinsuchinstitution.
(3)NopersonattendinganyeducationalinstitutionrecognisedbytheStateor
receivingaidoutofStatefundsshallberequiredtotakepartinanyreligious
instructionthatmaybeimpartedinsuchinstitutionortoattendanyreligious
worshipthatmaybeconductedinsuchinstitutionorinanypremisesattached
theretounlesssuchpersonor,ifsuchpersonisaminor,hisguardianhasgivenhis
consentthereto.

IFYOUDO,SAYIT!

Thus,thereisadequateexamplesofexpressedsecularism,bothnationallyas
wellasglobally.
ThepresentSriLankanconstitutionalprovisionassaid,reReligionbeingthe
uncertain,vagueandambiguousArticle9,weare
neitherherenorthere
asfar
assecularismisconcerned,whichinvariablyleadstodividedopinion
unnecessarydebatesuspicionamongstcommunitiesandstrainedstate
relationswithpeople.
Assuch,theonlywaytoensuresecularism,ifthestatehonestlybelievesin
that,istosaythatexpresslyandexplicitlyinorderthat,noReligionor
religiousgroupwouldfeelmarginalisedand/ornoronegroupunfairly
thrives.Further,itensuresthatthereisnocompetitionamongstreligionsthus
noneedforthestatetoplaypopularityconteststocounterinterpretitsown
wordings.
Nonetheless,choosingSecularismisjustthebeginning.Itrequiresan
unequivocalcommitmentonthepartofeveryStatewhochoosesnottobe
religiouslybiased.Itneedstogobeyondthosetenwordsandcreatea
frameworkthatembracesallbelieversandnonbelieverswithopenarmsbut
letthemalonewiththeirbeliefornonbeliefandcontinuetogovern
regardless,throughtheExecutive,LegislatureandtheJudiciary.Thekeyword
isinclusion.Thespaceforreligiousdiversityisopenandunabridged.Further
more,theenvironmentneedstobefreefromfearanddiscrimination.Andthe
processneedstobeimmediatelyaswellasprogressivelyrealized,untilthe
realizationofthefullRight.

InthiscontexttheWriterhasnohesitationtoborrowthegivenquotation
fromtheIndianConstitutionandbereintroducedintoaneworamended
constitution.
DRAFTPROVISION:

Freedomofreligion,beliefandopinion
1.

(1)
Everyoneshallhavetherighttofreedomofthought,conscienceand
religion.Thisrightshallincludefreedomtohaveortoadoptareligionor
beliefofhischoice,andfreedom,eitherindividuallyorincommunitywith

othersandinpublicorprivate,tomanifesthisreligionorbeliefinworship,
observance,practiceandteaching.

2.

(2)

Nooneshallbesubjecttocoercionwhichwouldimpairhisfreedom
tohaveortoadoptareligionorbeliefofhischoice.

(3)

Freedomtomanifestone'sreligionorbeliefsmaybesubjectonlyto
suchlimitationsasareprescribedbylawandarenecessaryto
protectpublicsafety,order,health,ormoralsorthefundamental
rightsandfreedomsofothers.

(4)

TheRepublicshallrespectforthelibertyofparentsand,when
applicable,legalguardianstoensurethereligiousandmoral
educationoftheirchildreninconformitywiththeirownconvictions.

(1)

NolawtheParliamentshallmakeshall
(a)

prohibitorrestrictthefreeexerciseofanyreligionor

(b)

makepersonsofanycommunityorreligionliableto
disabilitiesorrestrictionstowhichpersonsofother
communitiesorreligionsarenotmadeliableor

(c)

conferonpersonsofanycommunityorreligionanyprivilege
oradvantagewhichisnotconferredonpersonsofother
communitiesorreligions,or

(d)

altertheconstitutionofanyreligiousbodyexceptwiththe
consentofthegoverningauthorityofthatbody,so,however,
thatinanycasewhereareligiousbodyisincorporatedby
law,nosuchalterationshallbemadeexceptattherequestof
thegoverningauthorityofthatbody:

(2)

Anylawmadeincontraventionofsubsection(1)ofthissectionshall,
totheextentofsuchcontravention,bevoid.

(3)

Religiousobservancesmaybeconductedatstateorstateaided
institutions,providedthat

(4)

(a)

thoseobservancesfollowrulesmadebytheappropriate
publicauthorities

(b)

theyareconductedonanequitablebasisand

(c)

attendanceatthemisfreeandvoluntary.

(a)Thissectiondoesnotpreventlegislationrecognising
(i)marriagesconcludedunderanytradition,ora
systemofreligious,personalorfamilylawor
(ii)systemsofpersonalandfamilylawunderany
tradition,oradheredtobypersonsprofessinga
particularreligion.

(b)Recognitionintermsofparagraph(a)mustbeconsistent
withthissectionandtheotherprovisionsoftheConstitution.