Equatorial Guinea - Religion
Although there are no current estimates, according to earlier figures, 93 percent of the population is Christian and more than 80 percent of the population is Roman Catholic. Many Christians reportedly practice some aspects of traditional, indigenous religions as well. Five percent of the population adheres exclusively to indigenous religious beliefs. Muslims, Bahais, members of other religious groups, and atheists each constitute a small percentage of the population. The Muslim population has increased due to immigration from West and Central Africa, as well as from the Middle East.
The constitution provides for freedom of religion and worship. It prohibits political parties based on religious groups. The law also provides for freedom of religion and states there is no national religion. Regulations establish an official preference for the Roman Catholic Church and the Reformed Church of Equatorial Guinea and outline procedures for registration of other religious groups.
To register, religious groups at the congregational level must submit a written application to the director general of religion in the Ministry of Justice, Religious Affairs, and Penitentiary Institutions. The director general oversees compliance with the law and the registration process. A commission, comprised of representatives of several government agencies, is designated by law to adjudicate applications for registration. The commission, however, is inactive, leaving the adjudication to the director general. Those seeking to register must supply information about the group and its membership, and the ministry may conduct an inspection before processing the application. The Catholic and Reformed Churches are not required to register. Some other long-standing religious groups, such as Muslims or Bahais, need register only once while newer denominations may be required to renew their registration periodically, sometimes annually. Unregistered groups may be fined or closed. The law requires a permit for door-to-door proselytism.
A Ministry of Justice, Religious Affairs, and Penitentiary Institutions decree specifies any religious activities taking place outside the hours of 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. or outside of registered places of worship require prior authorization from the ministry. The decree prohibits religious acts or preaching within private residences if it involves people who do not live there. It requires foreign religious representatives or authorities to obtain advance permission from the ministry to participate in religious activities. The decree exempts the Catholic Church.
The constitution states individuals are free to study their religion in schools and may not be forced to study another faith. Catholic religious classes are part of the public school curriculum, but with a note from a leader of another religious group, such study may be replaced by non-Catholic religious study, or by a recess. The law states individuals are free to change religions. Christians converting to Islam are permitted to add Muslim names to their Christian names on their official documents.
While the government routinely granted religious groups permission for any activities outside of places of worship, except in private homes, it usually denied permits to hold activities outside of the prescribed hours of 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Evangelical groups continued to hold activities outside the prescribed period. The authorities routinely issued permits for proselytism. Religious leaders said door-to-door proselytism occurred without incident. Some religious leaders stated they were concerned that, because the commission designated by law to adjudicate applications for registration was inactive, the government was granting registration too freely, including to entities without an authentic religious motivation.
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