U.S. Department of State Annual Report on International Religious Freedom for 1999 - Seychelles
| Publisher | United States Department of State |
| Publication Date | 9 September 1999 |
| Cite as | United States Department of State, U.S. Department of State Annual Report on International Religious Freedom for 1999 - Seychelles , 9 September 1999, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6a88314.html [accessed 31 May 2023] |
| Comments | The Annual Report to Congress on International Religious Freedom describes the status of religious freedom in each foreign country, and government policies violating religious belief and practices of groups, religious denominations and individuals, and U.S. policies to promote religious freedom around the world. It is submitted in compliance with P.L. 105-292 (105th Congress) and is cited as the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998. |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Section I. Freedom of Religion
The Constitution provides for freedom of religion, and the Government respects this right in practice.
The Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Seventh-Day Adventist churches and the Islamic mosques each have their own acts of incorporation. Other churches that are not a body corporate are registered as associations with the Registrar General and are entitled to tax-free privileges, similar to a charity. All religious organizations must register in order to be entitled to tax-free privileges. If an organization does not want tax-free privileges, it does not have to register.
According to figures gathered in the 1994 census, 88 percent of the population are Roman Catholic and 8 percent are Anglican. There are other Christian churches, including Baptists, Seventh-Day Adventists, the Assembly of God, the Pentecostal Church, and Jehovah's Witnesses. Hinduism, Islam, and the Baha'i Faith also are practiced. Almost 50 percent of the population are estimated to regularly practice their faith.
The Government has not demonstrated favoritism towards one religion over another. The leader of the opposition is an Anglican minister. The majority of the government ministers are Catholic. The Government tends to remain outside of religious matters but provides program time to different religious organizations on the national television and radio broadcasting service. On Sunday mornings, a televised broadcast of a Catholic Mass alternates each week with a broadcast of an Anglican service. Whichever religion, either Catholic or Anglican, that did not have its service televised in the morning has a 15-minute radio program broadcast on Sunday evening. On Fridays, there is a 15-minute Islamic radio broadcast. On Saturdays, a 15-minute Baha'i radio program alternates each week with an Adventist broadcast.
There was no change in the status of respect for religious freedom during the period covered by this report.
There were no reports of religious detainees or prisoners.
There were no reports of the forced religious conversion of minor U.S. citizens who had been abducted or illegally removed from the United States, or of the Government's refusal to allow such citizens to be returned to the United States.
Section II. Societal Attitudes
There are amicable relations among the various religious groups and tolerance for individual religious choice.
Section III. U.S. Government Policy
The U.S. Embassy discusses religious freedom issues with the Government in the overall context of the promotion of human rights.
