U.S. Department of State Annual Report on International Religious Freedom for 2000 - Western Sahara
| Publisher | United States Department of State |
| Publication Date | 5 September 2000 |
| Cite as | United States Department of State, U.S. Department of State Annual Report on International Religious Freedom for 2000 - Western Sahara , 5 September 2000, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6a8828.html [accessed 12 October 2022] |
| Comments | This report is submitted to the Congress by the Department of State in compliance with Section 102(b) of the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) of 1998. The 2000 Report covers the period from July 1, 1999 to June 30, 2000 |
| 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. |
Although the Moroccan Constitution provides for freedom of religion, only Islam, Christianity, and Judaism are tolerated in practice; however, several foreign communities enjoy some religious privileges.
There was no change in the status of respect for religious freedom during the period covered by this report.
Relations among religious believers were generally amicable.
The U. S. Embassy in Morocco discusses religious freedom issues in the overall context of the promotion of human rights in the Western Sahara.
Section I. Government Policies on Freedom of Religion
Legal/Policy Framework
Due to continuing Moroccan administrative control of the territory of the Western Sahara, conditions for religious freedom in that territory are similar to those found in the Kingdom of Morocco. Although the Moroccan Constitution provides for freedom of religion, only Islam, Christianity and Judaism are tolerated in practice; however, several foreign communities enjoy some religious privileges.
Religious Demography
Apart from a tiny foreign community working for the United Nations Interposition Force in the territory (known by its French acronym, MINURSO), the overwhelming majority of the population are Sunni Muslim.
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.
Forced Religious Conversion of Minor U.S. Citizens
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 authorities' refusal to allow such citizens to be returned to the United States.
Section II. Societal Attitudes
Relations among religious believers were generally amicable.
Section III. U.S. Government Policy
The U.S. Embassy in Morocco discusses religious freedom issues in the overall context of the promotion of human rights in the Western Sahara.
