U.S. Department of State Annual Report on International Religious Freedom for 1999 - Western Sahara
| Publisher | United States Department of State |
| Author | Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor |
| 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 - Western Sahara , 9 September 1999, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6a88210.html [accessed 6 June 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
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. 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.
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.
