State religion Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! ===Islam=== Many [[List of Muslim-majority countries|Muslim-majority countries]] have constitutionally established Islam, or a specific form of it, as a state religion. [[Proselytism]] (converting people away from Islam) is often illegal in such states.<ref name="dpn">{{cite web|title=Saudi Arabia imposes death sentence for Bible smuggling|url=http://deathpenaltynews.blogspot.com/2014/11/saudi-arabia-imposes-death-sentence-for.html|website=deathpenaltynews|date=30 November 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.christianpost.com/news/saudi-arabias-new-law-imposes-death-sentence-for-bible-smugglers-131352/#!|title=Saudi Arabia's New Law Imposes Death Sentence for Bible Smugglers?|work=The Christian Post|date=18 December 2014 |access-date=5 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.handsoffcain.info/news/index.php?iddocumento=18309927|title=Saidi Arabia Imposes Death Sentence for Bible Smuggling |access-date=5 March 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408000107/http://www.handsoffcain.info/news/index.php?iddocumento=18309927|archive-date=8 April 2016}}</ref><ref>Sheen J. ''Freedom of Religion and Belief: A World Report.'' (Routledge, 1997) p. 452.</ref> * {{flagicon|Afghanistan}} [[Islam in Afghanistan|Afghanistan]]: Officially, Afghanistan has continuously been an Islamic state under various constitutions since at least 1987.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.aisa.org.af/laws/I.1%20Constitutions,Constituent%20%20docs/1357-%201380%20Republics/660%20E%201987%20Constitution%20(Najibullah).pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090703074851/http://www.aisa.org.af/laws/I.1%20Constitutions,Constituent%20%20docs/1357-%201380%20Republics/660%20E%201987%20Constitution%20(Najibullah).pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=2009-07-03|year=1987|title=The Constitution of Afghanistan|access-date=30 July 2009|location=Afghanistan}}</ref> * {{flagicon|Algeria}} [[Islam in Algeria|Algeria]]: "Islam shall be the religion of the State."<ref>Article 2 of the [[Algerian Constitution of 2016]]</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Avant Projet de Revision de la Constitution |url=http://www.constitutionnet.org/sites/default/files/algeria_french.pdf|website=ConstitutionNet|language=fr|date=28 December 2015}}</ref> * {{flag|Bangladesh}}: Article (2A) of the [[Constitution of Bangladesh]] declares: "Islam is the state religion of the republic".<ref name="bdlaws.minlaw.gov.bd">{{Cite web|url=http://bdlaws.minlaw.gov.bd/act-367/section-24549.html|title=The Constitution of the People's Republic of Bangladesh | 2A. The state religion|website=bdlaws.minlaw.gov.bd}}</ref> * {{flagicon|Bahrain}} [[Islam in Bahrain|Bahrain]]: "The religion of the State is Islam."<ref>Article 2 of the [[Constitution of Bahrain]]:</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Bahrain's Constitution of 2002 with Amendments through 2012|url=https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Bahrain_2012.pdf?lang=en|website=constituteproject.org|access-date=29 October 2017}}</ref> * {{flagicon|Brunei}} [[Islam in Brunei|Brunei]]: Article 3 of the [[Constitution of Brunei]]: "The official religion of Brunei Darussalam shall be the Islamic Religion{{nbsp}}..."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Brunei_2006.pdf?lang=en|title=Brunei Darussalam's Constitution of 1959 with Amendments through 2006|date=6 June 2017|website=constituteproject.org}}</ref> * {{flagicon|Djibouti}} [[Islam in Djibouti|Djibouti]]: Article 1 of the [[Constitution of Djibouti]]: "Islam is the Religion of the State."<ref>{{cite web|title=Djibouti's Constitution of 1992 with Amendments through 2010|url=https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Djibouti_2010.pdf?lang=en|website=constituteproject.org|date=6 June 2017}}</ref> * {{flagicon|Egypt}} [[Islam in Egypt|Egypt]]: Article 2 of the [[Egyptian Constitution of 2014]]: "Islam is the religion of the State".<ref>[http://www.sis.gov.eg/Newvr/Dustor-en001.pdf Unofficial translation of the 2014 constitution]</ref> * {{flagicon|Iran}} [[Islam in Iran|Iran]]: Article 12 of the [[Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran|Constitution of Iran]]: "The official religion of Iran is Islam and the [[Twelver]] [[Ja'fari jurisprudence|Ja'farî school]] [in usul al-Dîn and fiqh], and this principle will remain eternally immutable."<ref>{{cite web|title=Iran (Islamic Republic of)'s Constitution of 1979 with Amendments through 1989|url=https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Iran_1989.pdf?lang=en|website=constituteproject.org|access-date=29 October 2017}}</ref> Islam has been Iran's state religion since 1501 dating back to the [[Safavid dynasty]] and has continued ever since, excluding the period of breaks in the [[Pahlavi dynasty]]. * {{flagicon|Iraq}} [[Islam in Iraq|Iraq]]: Article 2 of the [[Constitution of Iraq]]: "Islam is the official religion of the State and is a foundation source of legislation{{nbsp}}..."<ref>{{cite web|title=Iraqi Constitution |url=http://www.iraqinationality.gov.iq/attach/iraqi_constitution.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161128152712/http://www.iraqinationality.gov.iq/attach/iraqi_constitution.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=2016-11-28 }}</ref> * {{flagicon|Jordan}} [[Islam in Jordan|Jordan]]: Article 2 of the [[Constitution of Jordan]]: "Islam is the religion of the State and Arabic is its official language."<ref>{{cite web|title=The Constitution of The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan|url=http://www.kinghussein.gov.jo/constitution_jo.html|access-date=29 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130426230052/http://www.kinghussein.gov.jo/constitution_jo.html|archive-date=26 April 2013|date=1 January 1952}}</ref> * {{flagicon|Kuwait}} [[Islam in Kuwait|Kuwait]]: Article 2 of the [[Constitution of Kuwait]]: "The religion of the State is Islam and Islamic Law shall be a main source of legislation."<ref>{{cite web|title=Kuwait's Constitution of 1962, Reinstated in 1992|url=https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Kuwait_1992.pdf?lang=en|website=constituteproject.org|access-date=29 October 2017}}</ref> * {{flagicon|Libya}} [[Islam in Libya|Libya]]: Article 1 of the [[Libyan interim Constitutional Declaration]]: "Islam is the Religion of the State and the principal source of legislation is Islamic Jurisprudence (Shari'a)."<ref>{{cite web|title=Draft Constitutional Charter For the Transitional Stage|url=http://portal.clinecenter.illinois.edu/REPOSITORYCACHE/114/w1R3bTIKElG95H3MH5nvrSxchm9QLb8T6EK87RZQ9pfnC4py47DaBn9jLA742IFN3d70VnOYueW7t67gWXEs3XiVJJxM8n18U9Wi8vAoO7_24166.pdf|access-date=29 October 2017|archive-date=25 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425112207/http://portal.clinecenter.illinois.edu/REPOSITORYCACHE/114/w1R3bTIKElG95H3MH5nvrSxchm9QLb8T6EK87RZQ9pfnC4py47DaBn9jLA742IFN3d70VnOYueW7t67gWXEs3XiVJJxM8n18U9Wi8vAoO7_24166.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> * {{flagicon|Malaysia}} [[Islam in Malaysia|Malaysia]]: Article 3 of the [[Constitution of Malaysia|Federal Constitution of Malaysia]]: "Islam is the religion of the Federation; but other religions may be practised in peace and harmony in any part of the Federation."<ref>{{cite web|title=Federal Constitution Incorporating all amendments up to P.U.(A) 164/2009|url=http://www.jac.gov.my/images/stories/akta/federalconstitution.pdf|publisher=Laws of Malaysia|access-date=29 October 2017|archive-date=14 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170614105535/http://www.jac.gov.my/images/stories/akta/federalconstitution.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> * {{flagicon|Maldives}} [[Islam in the Maldives|Maldives]]: Article 10 of the [[Constitution of the Maldives|Maldives's Constitution of 2008]]: "The religion of the State of the Maldives is Islam. Islam shall be the one of the bases of all the laws of the Maldives."<ref>{{cite web|title=Maldives's Constitution of 2008|url=https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Maldives_2008.pdf?lang=en|website=constituteproject.org|access-date=29 October 2017}}</ref> * {{flagicon|Mauritania}} [[Islam in Mauritania|Mauritania]]: Article 5 of the [[Constitution of Mauritania]]: "Islam is the religion of the people and of the State."<ref>{{cite web|title=Mauritania's Constitution of 1991 with Amendments through 2012|url=https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Mauritania_2012.pdf|website=constituteproject.org|access-date=29 October 2017}}</ref> * {{flagicon|Morocco}} [[Islam in Morocco|Morocco]]: Article 3 of the [[Constitution of Morocco]]: "Islam is the religion of the State, which guarantees to all the free exercise of beliefs [cultes]."<ref>{{cite web|title=Morocco Draft Text of the Constitution Adopted at the Referendum of 1 July 2011|url=http://www.constitutionnet.org/sites/default/files/morocco_eng.pdf|website=ConstitutionNet|publisher=William S. Hein & Co., Inc.|location=Buffalo, New York|year=2011}}</ref> * {{flagicon|Oman}} [[Islam in Oman|Oman]]: Article 2 of the [[Constitution of Oman]]: "The religion of the State is Islam and Islamic Sharia is the basis for legislation."<ref>{{cite web|title=Oman's Constitution of 1996 with Amendments through 2011|url=https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Oman_2011.pdf?lang=en|website=constituteproject.org|access-date=29 October 2017}}</ref> * {{flagicon|Pakistan}} [[Islam in Pakistan|Pakistan]]: Article 2 of the [[Constitution of Pakistan]]: "Islam shall be the State religion of Pakistan."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pakistani.org/pakistan/constitution/part1.html |title=Part I: "Introductory" |publisher=Pakistani.org |access-date=4 June 2013}}</ref> * {{flagicon|Palestine}} [[Islam in Palestine|Palestine]]: Article 4 of the [[Palestine Basic Law|Basic Law of the State of Palestine]]: "Islam is the official religion in Palestine. Respect and sanctity of all other heavenly religions shall be maintained."<ref name="mideast">{{Cite web|title=Palestine Basic Law|url=http://www.mideastweb.org/basiclaw.htm|access-date=2023-01-02|website=www.mideastweb.org}}</ref> * {{flagicon|Qatar}} [[Islam in Qatar|Qatar]]: Article 1 of the [[Constitution of Qatar]]: "Qatar is an independent sovereign Arab State. Its religion is Islam and Shari'a law shall be a main source of its legislations."<ref>{{cite web|title=The Constitution|url=http://english.mofa.gov.qa/details.cfm?id=80|access-date=29 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041024231923/http://english.mofa.gov.qa/details.cfm?id=80|archive-date=24 October 2004}}</ref> * {{flagicon|Saudi Arabia}} [[Islam in Saudi Arabia|Saudi Arabia]]: Article 1 of the [[Basic Law of Saudi Arabia]]: "The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a sovereign Arab Islamic State. Its religion is Islam."<ref>{{cite web|title=Basic Law of Governance|url=https://www.saudiembassy.net/basic-law-governance|website=The Embassy of The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia|access-date=2 April 2024}}</ref> * {{flag|Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic}}: Article 2 of the [[Constitution of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic]] declares that Islam is the state religion and law origin.<ref name="books.google.com"/> * {{flagicon|Somalia}} [[Islam in Somalia|Somalia]]: Article 2 of the [[Constitution of Somalia|Provisional Constitution of the Federal Republic of Somalia]]: "Islam is the religion of the State."<ref>{{cite web|title=The Federal Republic of Somalia Provisional Constitution|url=http://www.somaliweyn.com/pages/news/Aug_12/Somalia_Constitution_English_FOR_WEB.pdf|access-date=29 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130124010543/http://www.somaliweyn.com/pages/news/Aug_12/Somalia_Constitution_English_FOR_WEB.pdf|archive-date=24 January 2013}}</ref> * {{flagicon|Syria}} [[Islam in Syria|Syria]]: Article 29 Constitution of Syrian Kurd Autonomous: "The preamble celebrates the ethnic and religious mosaic of the AANES-administered territory."<ref>{{cite web|title=Syria's Kurdish Northeast Ratifies a New Constitution|access-date=1 April 2024|url=https://newlinesmag.com/argument/syrias-kurdish-northeast-ratifies-a-new-constitution/|date=31 January 2024|website=[[Fairfax University of America#New Lines Institute for Strategy and Policy|New Lines magazine]]}}</ref> * {{flagicon|United Arab Emirates}} [[Islam in the United Arab Emirates|United Arab Emirates]]: Article 7 of the [[Constitution of the United Arab Emirates]]: "Islam shall be the official religion of the Union."<ref>{{cite web|title=United Arab Emirates's Constitution of 1971 with Amendments through 2004|url=https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/United_Arab_Emirates_2004.pdf|website=constituteproject.org|access-date=29 October 2017}}</ref> * {{flagicon|Yemen}} [[Islam in Yemen|Yemen]]: Article 2 of the [[Constitution of Yemen]]: "Islam is the religion of the state, and Arabic is its official language."<ref>{{cite web|title=The Constitution of the Republic of Yemen As amended on 20 February 2001|url=http://www.constitutionnet.org/sites/default/files/2001_constitution_of_the_republic_of_yemen.pdf|website=ConstitutionNet|access-date=29 October 2017}}</ref> In some countries, Islam is not recognized as a state religion, but holds special status: * {{flagicon|Tajikistan}} [[Islam in Tajikistan|Tajikistan]]: Although there is a separation of religion from politics, certain aspects of law also privilege Islam. One such law declares "Islam to be a traditional religion of Tajikistan, with more rights and privileges given to Islamic organizations than to religious groups of non-Muslim origin".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.loc.gov/item/global-legal-monitor/2009-04-03/tajikistan-new-law-on-religious-organizations/|title=Tajikistan: New Law on Religious Organizations|website=Library of Congress}}</ref> * {{flagicon|Tunisia}} [[Islam in Tunisia|Tunisia]]: Article 5 of the Constitution declares that "Tunisia is part of the [[Muslim world]], and the state alone must work to achieve the goals of pure Islam in preserving honourable life of religious freedom". Although, Islam has been given special privileges by the Constitution, though it is no longer the state religion.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://groundreport.in/why-tunisia-abandoning-islam-as-a-state-religion/|title=Why Tunisia abandoning Islam as a state religion?|website=GR|date=24 June 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Factbox: What's in Tunisia's new constitution? |website=[[Reuters]] |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/whats-tunisias-new-constitution-2022-07-25/|access-date=9 December 2022}}</ref> * {{flagicon|Turkmenistan}} [[Islam in Turkmenistan|Turkmenistan]]: The Constitution claims to uphold a secular system in which religious and state institutions are separate. However, in Turkmenistan, the state actively privileges a form of traditional Islam. The culture, including Islam, is a key facet, contributes to the Turkmen national identity. The state encourages the conceptualization of "Turkmen Islam".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://isdp.eu/publication/religion-and-the-secular-state-in-turkmenistan/|title=Religion and the Secular State in Turkmenistan - Silk Road Paper|website=Institute for Security and Development Policy}}</ref> * {{flagicon|Uzbekistan}} [[Islam in Uzbekistan|Uzbekistan]]: Since independence, Islam has taken on an altogether new role in the nation-building process in Uzbekistan. The government affords Islam in special status and declared it as a national heritage and a moral guideline.<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://journals.openedition.org/asiecentrale/1527|title=Islam and Secular State in Uzbekistan: State Control of Religion and its Implications for the Understanding of Secularity|first=Henrik|last=Ohlsson|date=12 December 2011|journal=Cahiers d'Asie centrale|issue=19–20|pages=485–493|via=journals.openedition.org}}</ref> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Christianpedia:Copyrights for details). Do not submit copyrighted work without permission! Cancel Editing help (opens in new window) Discuss this page