The constitution and other laws and policies protect religious freedom.
The Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Seventh-day Adventist churches, along with mosques and the Baha’i local spiritual assembly, are recognized by individual acts of incorporation. Other churches that are not corporate bodies are registered as associations with the Registrar of Associations. In order to receive tax privileges, religious bodies must also register with the Ministry of Finance. The Registrar of Associations, as the regulating body for both religious and secular associations, recognizes 54 religious associations.
The government provides broadcast time to different religious organizations on the national radio broadcasting service. The Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation reviews and approves the editorial content of pre-recorded messages and prohibits live broadcasts of all religious programming, except for selected services on alternate Sundays.
An amendment to the Broadcasting and Telecommunications Act prohibits political parties and religious groups from obtaining radio licenses. The amendment was under legal challenge before the Court of Appeal at the end of the year.
Government employees of all religious backgrounds can request paid leave on any of their holy days, and the government usually granted such requests. The Islamic Society of Seychelles generally submits requests to the Department of Public Administration for Muslim employees in both the public and private sectors to receive leave on Islamic festival days.
The government observes the following religious holidays as national holidays: Good Friday, Easter, Corpus Christi, Assumption of Mary, All Saints’ Day, Immaculate Conception Day, and Christmas.