Overview:

• Recognition and registration are amalgamated rather than ideally differentiated; a focus is placed on legal registration with no procedures established for existential recognition.

• An appropriate registration fee exists.

• Informational requirements exist for the registration process but these do not necessarily amount to intrusion although they should still be monitored for being overbearing or for misuse.

• Further requirements for registration in membership quotas, restrictions on multiformism, and restrictions on foreigners in leading religious activities are evidential of the government’s restrictive approach; the government participates in violent acts to pursue these ends then Burundi will move to the censorious classification.

• The rule of mandatory registration contravenes the Bielefeldt provision.

• Provisions are not put in place for the financial support of religious groups and their activities which do not demonstrate dynamic character.

• Government monitoring of religious groups for political subversion is also of concern as reported by Freedom House.

Positive elements:

• Horizontal recognition is in effect.

Recommendations:

• End membership quotas and other unnecessary registration requirements.

• End the cited retributions.

• Halt government involvement in the internal affairs of religious bodies and halt government monitoring of religious activity.

• Reverse laws restricting on religious activity.

• Revoke the mandatory registration policy.

• Take a more receptive approach to non-traditional religious and belief groups.