The constitution and other laws and policies protect religious freedom.
The law does not discriminate based on religion regarding citizenship and residency.
High-level government officials are required to take an oath when assuming their new offices. Christians kiss the Bible and Muslims the Qur’an on those occasions.
Government ceremonies opened and closed with prayers. The prayers were usually Christian but occasionally were both Christian and Muslim. In Lofa County, the program would alternate openings and closings between Christian and Muslim prayers.
All organizations, including non-indigenous religious groups, must register their articles of incorporation with the government along with their organizations’ statements of purpose. The government did not require indigenous religious groups to register, and they generally did not.
The government treated ritualistic killings (the act of killing for body parts for use in traditional rituals) as homicides and investigated and prosecuted them accordingly. Because they are investigated as homicides, there are no reliable figures on how many suspected cases occurred during the year.
Public schools offered religious education, particularly Christian education, but did not require it. The government subsidized private schools, most of which were affiliated with either Christian or Muslim organizations.
The government observes two religious holidays as national holidays: Fast and Prayer Day and Christmas. The government mandated that public businesses and markets, including Muslim businesses and shops, remain closed on Sundays and Christmas. There was no legal requirement to excuse Muslims from employment or classes for Friday prayers, although some employers did so.