Overview:

• Recognition and registration are differentiated but the former is bestowed only to Catholicism, Protestantism and Islam; all other belief systems and denominations are only offered legal registration as a means of state recognition of their existence; a system of partial recognition is in place because legal registration does not equate to the same degree of recognition that these three religions have received.

• Informational requirements do seem slightly intrusive particularly as they demand specific details on the internal affairs of religious organisations.

• The registration process taking several years to complete is highly censorious even though temporary is granted in the meantime as it creates a situation of partial recognition.

• The rule of mandatory registration, even though it is not imposed on all groups, nevertheless violates the Bielefeldt provision; the fact that this mandatory registration rule is not universally applied actually indicates the discrimination present within the system; also there exists some contradictions within the legislation regarding whether registration is obligatory.

Positive elements:

• The freedom of religion or belief of individuals is generally, though not broadly, upheld in practice by the government.

Recommendations:

• Re-establish the recognition system in such a way that it extends existential recognition and legal registration to all belief systems and their derivatives equally.

• Dismantlement of the present body of policies restricting registration such as the relatively high fee.

• Revoke the rule of mandatory registration and ensure that informational requirements are not intrusive.