The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom this week issued a Legislative Factsheet on Registration Laws for religious groups. It sets out seven standards necessary for registration laws to protect religious freedom:
- Registration of religious groups cannot be mandatory: Registration can only be required to confer legal personality and must not be compulsory in order to practice religion….
- Legislation cannot contain undue restrictions or other bureaucratic burdens that hinder access to legal personality….
- Requirements for registration must be precise and defined….
- Registration laws must be non-discriminatory….
- Religious organizations must be carefully defined…. religion and belief must be construed broadly and include both traditional and non-traditional religions and beliefs, including both theistic and non-theistic beliefs….
- Registration requirements cannot be onerous or invasive….
- There must be avenues for appealing denials…