Overview:

• A degree of state privilege is conferred to the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church (EOTC or EOC).

• A relatively small membership quota is in effect.

• The rule of mandatory registration violates the Bielefeldt provision meaning automatic designation as restrictive in the Spectrum of Religious Recognition.

• The extensive informational requirements are restrictive and could easily be misused in the future to surveil or otherwise deny registration of groups.

• Although violence frequently takes place between religious communities due to ongoing political instability, it is not known that the government incites or otherwise partakes in violence to achieve it ends of restricting religious activity therefore it cannot currently be classified as censorious.

• The rule that charitable works of religious groups requires separate registration is restrictive especially considering that a proportion of religious activity is centred on charitable works.

Positive elements:

• Nil.

Recommendations:

• Reduction of the systematic restrictions imposed on religious groups unless the classification of censorious is likely to be bestowed if the situation does not improve.

• Revoke the mandatory registration rule and other types of restriction tools.