US Report: Faiths free in TT

Religious freedom is alive and well in Trinidad and Tobago according to a recent report by the United States Government’s Department of State. “The International Religious Freedom Report 2003” was published last Thursday by the US State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labour. While certain countries of the Middle East and Far East were criticised for restricting religious freedom, Trinidad and Tobago was highly praised. The Report said TT had no instances of forced religious conversion, nor any religious prisoners/detainees. Instead Government policy had contributed to the generally free practice of religion. “The Constitution provides for freedom of religion, and the Government generally respects this right in practice.

The generally amicable relationship among religions in society contributed to religious freedom.” Under “Religious Demography,” the Report said there was no dominant faith among our multi-ethnic population. The 1.3 million citizenry was comprised of 29 percent Roman Catholic, 24 percent Hindu, six percent Muslim, and 31 percent Protestant,  plus African-rooted faiths. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), Baptists, Mennonites, and Muslims had foreign missionaries in TT. But the Report also claimed: “Ethnic divisions in political life are reflected in the messages and ceremonies of political parties, which sometimes carry religious overtones. For example, the United National Congress (UNC) party, whose supporters are predominantly of Indian descent, occasionally incorporates Hindu references and cultural expressions in its public events.” Under “Status of Religious Freedom,” the Report said the Government respected the constitutional right to freedom of religion, saying: “The Government at all levels strives to protect this right in full, and does not tolerate its abuse, either by governmental or private actors.” Freedom of faith, said the Report, had both legal and governmental protection. 

“The law prohibits acts that offend or insult another person or group on the grounds of race, origin, or religion, or which incite racial or religious hatred, and provides for prosecution for the desecration of any place of worship. Government officials routinely speak out against religious intolerance and generally do not favour any one religion publicly. In recent years, the Government has strengthened legal  prohibitions against religious discrimination by amending legislation to remove certain discriminatory religious references.” The Report said judicial review was available to  victims of religious discrimination. “For example, in the 1995 case of Sumayyah Mohammed vs Moraine and Another, a Muslim student who had been prohibited from modifying her school uniform to conform with religious requirements was granted redress on constitutional grounds.” Under “Restrictions on Religious Freedom,” the Report said that Government policy and practice contributed to the generally free practice of religion. Foreign missionaries operated relatively freely in the country, although the Government has limited their numbers  to 35 per denomination.

But the US report added: “The Government is known to monitor closely only one religiously affiliated group, a radical Muslim organisation called the Jamaat al Muslimeen, some members of which attempted a coup in 1990. The Government’s surveillance has focused on the group’s repeated attempts to seize control of state-owned property adjoining its central mosque and on any actions intended to incite revolt...In connection with its efforts to prevent terrorist acts, the Government also monitors the rhetoric of certain independent mosques for any incitement to religiously motivated violence.” The Report said there were no reports of religious prisoners or detainees, nor any reports of forced religious conversion. Under “ Societal Attitudes,” the Report said our various religious groups peacefully coexist and generally respect each other’s beliefs and practices. “Followers of one faith often participate in public celebrations of another faith, most notably in the Hindu celebration of Divali.” But the Report said complaints occasionally were made about the efforts of some groups to proselytise in neighbourhoods where another religion was dominant.

“The most frequent public complaints have been lodged by Hindu religious leaders against evangelical and Pentecostal Christians. Such objections may reflect racial tensions that at times arise between the Afro-Trinidadian and Indo-Trinidadian communities.” The Report added that the IRO, composed of our main faiths,  promoted interfaith dialogue and tolerance through study groups, publications, and cultural and religious exhibitions. Noting the IRO’s bylaws do not exclude any specific groups from membership, it said that in 1993, the Mormons applied for IRO membership, but was not accepted. Under “US Government Policy” the Report said the US Government discusses religious freedom issues with the TT Government in the context of its overall dialogue and policy of promoting human rights.