U.S. Department of State Annual Report on International Religious Freedom for 2002 - Western Sahara
| Publisher | United States Department of State |
| Publication Date | 7 October 2002 |
| Cite as | United States Department of State, U.S. Department of State Annual Report on International Religious Freedom for 2002 - Western Sahara , 7 October 2002, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3da3f08628.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 law provides that the Secretary of State, with the assistance of the Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom, shall transmit to Congress "an Annual Report on International Religious Freedom supplementing the most recent Human Rights Reports by providing additional detailed information with respect to matters involving international religious freedom." This Annual Report includes 195 reports on countries worldwide. The 2002 Report covers the period from July 1, 2001, to June 30, 2002. |
| 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. |
The Constitution provides for freedom of religion; due to continuing Moroccan administrative control of the territory of the Western Sahara, the laws and restrictions regarding religious organizations and religious freedom are similar to those found in the Kingdom of Morocco.
There was no change in the status of respect for religious freedom during the period covered by this report.
The generally amicable relationship among religions in society contributed to religious freedom.
The U. S. Government discusses religious freedom issues in the context of its overall dialog and policy of promoting human rights.
Section I. Religious Demography
The territory has a total area of approximately 102,706 square miles, and its population is approximately 245,000. The overwhelming majority of the population is Sunni Muslim.
There is a tiny foreign community working for the United Nations Interposition Force in the territory (known by its French acronym, MINURSO).
Section II. Status of Religious Freedom
Legal/Policy Framework
The Constitution provides for freedom of religion; due to continuing Moroccan administrative control of the territory of the Western Sahara, the laws and restrictions regarding religious organizations and religious freedom are similar to those found in the kingdom of Morocco.
Restrictions on Religious Freedom
Restrictions on religious freedom in the Western Sahara are similar to those found in Morocco.
There were no reports of religious detainees or prisoners.
Forced Religious Conversion
There were no reports of forced religious conversion, including of minor U.S. citizens who had been abducted or illegally removed from the United States, or of the refusal to allow such citizens to be returned to the United States.
Section III. Societal Attitudes
The generally amicable relationship among religions in society contributed to religious freedom.
Section IV. U.S. Government Policy
The U.S. Government, through the U.S. Embassy in Morocco, discusses religious freedom issues in the context of its overall dialog and policy of promoting human rights in the Western Sahara.
