Although Article 19 of Eritrea’s constitution, ratified in 1997, states that ‘no person may be discriminated against on account of…religion’, the ruling People’s Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ) has not implemented this document, and claims to be drafting a new one.
From May 2002 the government effectively outlawed religious practices not affiliated with the Catholic, Evangelical Lutheran or Orthodox Christian denominations, or with Sunni Islam. Other religious groups must register in order to practise their faith; however, the registration process is onerous, overly intrusive, restrictive and inconclusive.
