Overview:

• Sunni Islam, specifically the Shafi’i school, is the state denomination.

• Existential recognition is conferred only to Sunni Islam; procedures for legal registration do not equate to state recognition hence a partial system of recognition exists in which all other forms of religion or belief are provided only legal registration.

• There exists a multi-level system of legal registration; registration does not grant permission for a group to conduct all its activities; each of its activities must still be accepted by state officials before being conducted.

• Laws on religious gathering look to heavily restrict both public and private religious life.

• The rule of mandatory registration violates the Bielefeldt provision and various other laws violate many of the Durham principles.

• Brunei is not partied to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which is a further demonstration to its aversion to basic human rights.

Positive elements:

• Nil.

Recommendations:

• Dismantlement of the current abusive recognition system.

• Dissolve all laws that perpetuate abuses of freedom of religion or belief, including the mandatory registration law.