Overview:

• Existential recognition and legal registration look to be amalgamated with a focus on the latter.

• An administration fee is applied which is not inappropriate.

• Concerning subjectivity exists in what “applicable regulations" entails; the subjectivity here needs to be monitored so that regulations are not unjustly applied or do not morph into restrictions.

• The government’s request for publications and broadcasts of religious groups is concerning as this demonstrates state intrusion into the internal affairs of the organisation; although this request may be taken as a precaution by the government, its application must be monitored to ensure it does not descend into restrictivity; although in other cases, such a policy would result in restrictive status, the general approach of the government in all other areas of religious freedom protection suggest that this policy does not have the intentional of undue regulation.

• Ongoing violence perpetrated by extremist groups needs to be combatted through education and greater means of existential recognition to demonstrate the importance of the diversity of religion and belief.

Positive elements:

• Provisions are put in place for the state to provide support for registered groups which highlights a dynamic characteristic in the present system.

• Horizontal recognition in effect.

Recommendations:

• To achieve dynamic status, an independent recognition agency needs to be established to monitor and guide religious recognition activity and its meaningful impact.