Secular state

Short description: State or country without a state religion

States with no state religion

States with state religion

Ambiguous states or no data

Template:Status of religious freedom

A secular state is an idea pertaining to secularity, whereby a state is or purports to be officially neutral in matters of religion, supporting neither religion nor irreligion.[1] A secular state claims to treat all its citizens equally regardless of religion, and claims to avoid preferential treatment for a citizen based on their religious beliefs, affiliation or lack of either over those with other profiles.[2]

Although secular states have no state religion, the absence of an established state religion does not mean that a state is completely secular or egalitarian. For example, some states that describe themselves as secular have religious references in their national anthems and flags, laws that benefit one religion or another, or are members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and of the International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance.

## Contents

* 1 Origin and practice
* 2 List of secular states by continent
* 2.1 Africa
* 2.2 Americas
* 2.3 Asia
* 2.4 Europe
* 2.5 Oceania
* 2.6 Transcontinental countries
* 3 Formerly secular states
* 4 Ambiguous countries
* 5 See also
* 6 Notes
* 7 References
* 8 Bibliography

## Origin and practice

Secularity can be established at a state's creation (e.g., the Soviet Union, the United States) or by it later secularizing (e.g., France or Nepal). Movements for laïcité in France and separation of church and state in the United States have defined modern concepts of secularism, the United States of America being the first explicitly secular government in history. Historically, the process of secularisation typically involves granting religious freedom, disestablishing state religions, stopping public funds being used for religion, freeing the legal system from religious control, freeing up the education system, tolerating citizens who change religion or abstain from religion, and allowing political leaders to come to power regardless of their religious beliefs.[3]

In France, Italy, and Spain, for example, official holidays for the public administration tend to be Christian feast days. Any private school in France that contracts with Éducation nationale means its teachers are salaried by the state—most of the Catholic schools are in this situation and, because of history, they are the majority; however, any other religious or non-religious schools also contract this way.[4] In some European states where secularism confronts monoculturalist philanthropy, some of the main Christian denominations and sects of other religions depend on the state for some of the financial resources for their religious charities.[5] It is common in corporate law and charity law to prohibit organized religion from using those funds to organize religious worship in a separate place of worship or for conversion; the religious body itself must provide the religious content, educated clergy and laypersons to exercise its own functions and may choose to devote part of their time to the separate charities. To that effect, some of those charities establish secular organizations that manage part of or all of the donations from the main religious bodies.

Many states that are nowadays secular in practice may have legal vestiges of an earlier established religion. Secularism also has various guises that may coincide with some degree of official religiosity. In the United Kingdom, the head of state is still required to take the Coronation Oath enacted in 1688, swearing to maintain the Protestant Reformed religion and to preserve the established Church of England.[6] The UK also maintains seats in the House of Lords for 26 senior clergymen of the Church of England, known as the Lords Spiritual.[7] In Canada the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms affords secular freedoms of conscience and religion, thought, belief, opinion and expression, including communication, assembly and association yet the Charter's preamble maintains the concept of "the supremacy of God" which would appear to disadvantage those who hold nontheistic or polytheistic beliefs, including Atheism and Buddhism.[8][9] Italy has been a secular state since the enactment of the Constitution in 1948 (stressed by a Constitutional court's decision in 1989),[10] but still recognizes a special status for the Catholic Church. The reverse progression can also occur, however; a state can go from being secular to being a religious state, as in the case of Iran where the secularized Imperial State of Iran was replaced by an Islamic Republic. Nonetheless, the last 250 years has seen a trend towards secularism.[11][12]

## List of secular states by continent

This is the list of countries that are explicitly described as secular in their constitutions or other official state documents.

### Africa

* Angola[13]
* Benin[14]
* Botswana[15]
* Burkina Faso[16]
* Burundi[17]
* Cameroon[18]
* Central African Republic[19]
* Chad[20]
* Comoros[21]
* Côte d'Ivoire[22]
* Template:Country data Congo DR[23]
* Congo[24]
* Equatorial Guinea[25]
* Eritrea[26]
* Eswatini[27]
* Ethiopia[28]
* Gabon[29]
* Gambia[30]
* Ghana[31]
* Guinea[32]
* Guinea-Bissau[33]
* Kenya[34]
* Lesotho[35]
* Liberia[36]
* Madagascar[37]
* Malawi[38]
* Mali[39]
* Mozambique[40]
* Namibia[41]
* Niger[42]
* Nigeria[43]
* Rwanda[44]
* Sao Tome and Principe[45]
* Senegal[46]
* Sierra Leone[47]
* South Africa[48]
* South Sudan[49]
* Sudan[50]
* Tanzania[51]
* Togo[52]
* Tunisia[53]
* Uganda[54]
* Zimbabwe[55]

### Americas

* Antigua and Barbuda[56]
* Argentina[57]
* Bahamas[58]
* Barbados[59]
* Belize[60]
* Bolivia[61]
* Brazil[62]
* Canada[63]
* Chile[64]
* Colombia[65]
* Cuba[66]
* Dominica[67]
* Dominican Republic[68]
* Ecuador[69]
* El Salvador[70]
* Grenada[71]
* Guatemala[72]
* Guyana[73]
* Haiti[74]
* Honduras[75]
* Jamaica[76]
* Mexico[77]
* Nicaragua[78]
* Paraguay[79]
* Panama[80]
* Peru[81]
* Saint Kitts and Nevis[82]
* Saint Lucia[83]
* Saint Vincent and the Grenadines[84]
* Suriname[85]
* Trinidad and Tobago[86]
* United States[87]
* Uruguay[88]
* Venezuela[89]

### Asia

* China (Atheist country)[90]
* Cyprus[91]
* Indonesia[92]
* India[93]
* Japan[94]
* Kyrgyzstan[95]
* Laos[96]
* Mongolia[97]
* Nepal[98]
* Northern Cyprus[99][lower-alpha 1]
* North Korea[100] (Juche doctrine)
* Philippines[101]
* Singapore[102]
* South Korea[103]
* Syria[104]
* Taiwan[105][lower-alpha 1]
* Tajikistan[107]
* Timor-Leste[108]
* Turkmenistan[109]
* Uzbekistan[110]
* Vietnam (Atheist country)[111]

### Europe

* Albania[112]
* Andorra[113]
* Austria[114]
* Belarus[115]
* Belgium[116]
* Bosnia and Herzegovina[117]
* Bulgaria[118]
* Croatia[119]
* Czechia[120]
* Estonia[121]
* Finland[122]
* France[123]
* Germany[124]
* Hungary[125]
* Ireland[126]
* Italy[127]
* Kosovo[128][lower-alpha 1]
* Latvia[129]
* Lithuania[130]
* Luxembourg
* Moldova[131]
* Netherlands[132]
* Norway[133]
* Poland[134]
* Portugal[135]
* Romania[136]
* Serbia[137]
* Slovakia[138]
* Slovenia[139]
* Spain[140]
* Sweden[141]
* Switzerland[142]
* Ukraine[143]

### Oceania

* Australia[144][lower-alpha 2]
* Fiji[147]
* Kiribati[148]
* Marshall Islands[149]
* Micronesia[150]
* Nauru[151]
* New Zealand[152]
* Palau[153]
* Vanuatu[154]

### Transcontinental countries

* Armenia[155]
* Azerbaijan[156]
* Georgia[157]
* Kazakhstan[158][159]
* Russia[160]
* Turkey[161][lower-alpha 3]

## Formerly secular states

* Bangladesh (1972–1977)
* Bangladesh was founded as a secular state by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman following the Liberation War. In 1977, secularism was removed from the constitution by a martial law directive during the Ziaur Rahman government. In 1988, the Parliament of Bangladesh declared Islam as the state religion during the presidency of Hussain Muhammad Ershad. In 2010, the Bangladesh Supreme Court ruled that the removal of secularism in 1977 was illegal because it was done by an unconstitutional martial law regime. The current Constitution of Bangladesh declares Islam as the state religion,[166] but also accepts the secularism as one of the fundamental principles of state policy.[167]
* Democratic Republic of Afghanistan (1978–1987)
* Afghanistan became a secular state following the Saur Revolution. However, Sunni Islam was briefly reinstated as the state religion under General Secretary Hafizullah Amin until his assassination in December 1979. President Mohammad Najibullah would reinstate Sunni Islam as the state religion in 1987.[168]
* People's Republic of Kampuchea (1979–1993)
* Kampuchea was a secular state from 1979 until the restoration of its monarchy in 1993.
* Djibouti (1977–2010)
* Djibouti became a secular state after gaining independence from France in 1977. Islam was installed as the state religion in 2010.
* Imperial State of Iran (1925–1979)
* Iran became a de facto secular state following the 1921 Persian coup d'état with the establishment of the Pahlavi dynasty as the ruling house of the country in 1925, until the Islamic Revolution in 1979.
* Iraq (1932–1993)
* Iraq became a secular state in 1958 after overthrowing the monarchy. However, the Ba'athist Government led by Saddam Hussein launched the Faith Campaign in 1993 and placed significant emphasis on Islam within all sectors of state and public life.[169]
* Burma (currently Myanmar) (1885–1961; 1962–2008)
* Myanmar was a secular state during the colonial period and post-independence period until 1961 and again under the socialist regime, and the military regime until 2008.
* Samoa (1962–2017)
* The Samoan legislative assembly approved a constitutional amendment in 2017 that instituted Christianity as the state religion.[170]
* Papua New Guinea (1975–2025)
* Parliament voted to amend the Constitution of Papua New Guinea to include in its preamble the words "[We] acknowledge and declare God, the Father; Jesus Christ, the Son; and Holy Spirit, as our Creator and Sustainer of the entire universe and the source of our powers and authorities, delegated to the people and all persons within the geographical jurisdiction of Papua New Guinea."[171][172]

## Ambiguous countries

* Bangladesh
* There is constitutional ambiguity whether Bangladesh is a secular country or an Islamic country. In 2010, the high court of Bangladesh reinstated secularism as a part of the Bangladesh constitution after terming the 1977 constitutional amendment done by then Bangladesh President Ziaur Rahman as illegal.[173] Political leaders and experts have expressed uncertainty if Bangladesh is a secular state or an Islamic state.[174] Bangladesh regime changes often advocate for different type of religious freedom as in secularism or pluralism.[175]
* Israel
* Since the Proclamation of Israeli independence in 1948, Israel is defined in several of its laws as a "Jewish and democratic state" (Hebrew: מדינה יהודית ודמוקרטית, romanized: medina yehudit ve-demokratit). However, the term "Jewish" is a polyseme that can describe the Jewish people as either an ethnic or a religious group. The debate about the meaning of the term "Jewish" and its legal and social applications is one of the most profound issues with which Israeli society deals. The problem of the status of religion in Israel, even though it is relevant to all religions, usually refers to the status of Judaism in Israeli society. Thus, even though from a constitutional point of view Judaism is not the state religion in Israel, its status nevertheless determines relations between religion and state and the extent to which religion influences the political center.[176]
* Thailand
* Article 67 of the Constitution of Thailand states: The State should support and protect Buddhism [...] In supporting and protecting Buddhism, [...] the State should promote and support education and dissemination of dharmic principles of Theravada Buddhism [...], and shall have measures and mechanisms to prevent Buddhism from being undermined in any form. The State should also encourage Buddhists to participate in implementing such measures or mechanisms.[177]

## See also

* Civil religion
* Freedom of religion
* Secular education
* Secularism
* Secularity
* Secular religion
* Separation of church and state
* State atheism
* State religion
* Theocracy
* Religious law

## Notes

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 State with limited recognition.[106]
2. ↑ Section 116 of the Constitution of Australia provides, "the Commonwealth shall not make any law for establishing any religion, or for imposing any religious observance, or for prohibiting the free exercise of any religion, and no religious test shall be required as a qualification for any office or public trust under the Commonwealth.[145] However, the states retain the power to pass religiously discriminatory laws.[146]
3. ↑ "Secularism in Turkey" is disputed by some scholars.[162][163][164][165]

## References

1. ↑ Church and State in Contemporary Europe: The Chimera of Neutrality. Psychology Press. 2003. p. 14. ISBN 978-0-7146-5394-5. https://books.google.com/books?id=n5Brda6FmswC.
2. ↑ "What is Secularism?" (in en-GB). https://www.secularism.org.uk/what-is-secularism.html.
3. ↑ Jean Baubérot The secular principle
4. ↑ Teese, Richard (1986). "Private Schools in France: Evolution of a System". Comparative Education Review 30 (2): 247–259. doi:10.1086/446591.
5. ↑ Twinch, Emily. "Religious charities: Faith, funding and the state". Article dated 22 June 2009. Third Sector – a UK Charity Periodical. http://www.thirdsector.co.uk/news/Article/914534/religious-charities-faith-funding-state/.
6. ↑ "Coronation Oath". http://www.royal.gov.uk/royaleventsandceremonies/coronation/coronation.aspx.
7. ↑ "How members are appointed". UK Parliament. http://www.parliament.uk/business/lords/whos-in-the-house-of-lords/members-and-their-roles/how-members-are-appointed/#jump-link-3.
8. ↑ Hogg, Peter W. Canada Act 1982 Annotated. Toronto, Canada: The Carswell Company Limited, 1982.
9. ↑ Paul Russell, "The supremacy of God" does not belong in the Constitution": The Globe & Mail, June 11, 1999
10. ↑ Articles 3, 7, 8, 19, 20 of the Constitution of Italy; Constitutional Court's Decision n. 203/1989
11. ↑ "Harris Interactive: Resource Not Found". http://www.harrisinteractive.com/news/allnewsbydate.asp?NewsID=1131.
12. ↑ "A Portrait of "Generation Next"". Pew Research Center for the People and the Press. 9 January 2007. http://people-press.org/reports/display.php3?ReportID=300.
13. ↑ "ICL - Angola Constitution". http://www.servat.unibe.ch/icl/ao00000_.html#A008_. , Article 8: "The Republic of Angola shall be a secular State..."
14. ↑ "Article 2 of Constitution". http://www.trazibule.fr/anglais/BENIN.txt. : "The Republic of Benin shall be one - indivisible, secular, and democratic."
15. ↑ Leaders say Botswana is a secular state
16. ↑ "Article 31 of Constitution". http://www.chr.up.ac.za/hr_docs/constitutions/docs/Burkina FasoC (englishsummary)(rev).doc. : "Burkina Faso is a democratic, unitary and secular state."
17. ↑ Article 4 of Constitution : "Le Burundi est une République unitaire, indépendante et souveraine, laïque et démocratique."
18. ↑ "Preamble of Constitution". http://confinder.richmond.edu/admin/docs/Cameroon.pdf. : "... the State shall be secular."
19. ↑ Article 24 of the Central African Republic's Constitution of 2016, constituteproject.org: "The Central African Republic is a State of law, unitary, sovereign, indivisible, secular and democratic."
20. ↑ "Article 1 of Constitution". http://www.chr.up.ac.za/hr_docs/constitutions/docs/ChadC (english summary)(rev).doc. : "Chad is a sovereign, independent, secular, social, and indivisible ..."
21. ↑ "Comoros 2018 Constitution - Constitute". https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Comoros_2018.
22. ↑ "Côte d'Ivoire's Constitution of 2000". https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Cote_DIvoire_2000.pdf?lang=en. , Article 30: "The Republic of Côte d’Ivoire is one and indivisible, secular, democratic and social."
23. ↑ "Constitution de la République démocratique du Congo". http://fr.wikisource.org/wiki/Constitution_de_la_République_démocratique_du_Congo#Article_1er. , article 1er: "République Démocratique du Congo est, dans ses frontières du 30 juin 1960, un État de droit, indépendant, souverain, uni et indivisible, social, démocratique et laïc."
24. ↑ "ICL - Congo-Brazzaville - Constitution". http://www.servat.unibe.ch/icl/cf00000_.html#A001_. , Article 1: "The Republic of the Congo is a sovereign and independent State, decentralized, indivisible, secular, democratic, and social."
25. ↑ "2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Equatorial Guinea". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/equatorial-guinea/.
26. ↑ "2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Eritrea". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/eritre/.
27. ↑ "2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Eswatini". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/eswatini/.
28. ↑ "2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Ethiopia". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/ethiopia/.
29. ↑ "2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Gabon". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/gabon/.
30. ↑ "2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Gambia". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/gambia/.
31. ↑ "2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Ghana". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/ghana/.
32. ↑ Article 1 of Constitution : "La Guinée est une République unitaire, indivisible, laïque, démocratique et sociale."
33. ↑ Article 1 of Constitution : "Guinea-Bissau is a sovereign, democratic, secular and unitary republic."
34. ↑ "The Constitution of Kenya". Archived from the original on 21 December 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131221100933/http://www.kenyalaw.org:8181/exist/rest//db/kenyalex/Kenya/The Constitution of Kenya/docs/ConstitutionofKenya 2010.pdf.
35. ↑ "2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Lesotho". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/lesotho/.
36. ↑ "2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Liberia". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/liberia/.
37. ↑ "Madagascar's Constitution of 2010". https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Madagascar_2010.pdf?lang=en. , Article 1: "The Malagasy People constitute a nation organized as a sovereign, unitary, republican and secular State."
38. ↑ "2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Malawi". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/malawi/.
39. ↑ Constitution , Article 25: "Mali is an independent, sovereign, indivisible, democratic, secular, social Republic."
40. ↑ "2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Mozambique". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/mozambique/.
41. ↑ "ICL - Namibia - Constitution". http://www.servat.unibe.ch/icl/wa00000_.html. , Article 1: "The Republic of Namibia is hereby established as a sovereign, secular, democratic and unitary State ..."
42. ↑ "2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Niger". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/niger/.
43. ↑ "2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Nigeria". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/nigeria/.
44. ↑ Article 4 of the Rwanda's Constitution of 2003 with Amendments through 2015, constituteproject.org, Article 4: "The Rwandan State is an independent, sovereign, democratic, social and secular Republic."
45. ↑ Article 154 of the Sao Tome and Principe's Constitution of 1975 with Amendments through 2003, constituteproject.org, "The following may not be the subject of a revision to the Constitution: [...] b. The secular status of the State;"
46. ↑ Article 1 of the Senegal's Constitution of 2001 with Amendments through 2016, constituteproject.org, "The Republic of Senegal is secular, democratic, and social."
47. ↑ "2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Sierra Leone". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/sierra-leone/.
48. ↑ "2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: South Africa". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/south-africa/.
49. ↑ "2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: South Sudan". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/south-sudan/.
50. ↑ "2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Sudan". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/sudan/.
51. ↑ Article 3 of the Tanzania (United Republic of)'s Constitution of 1977 with Amendments through 2005, constituteproject.org, "The United Republic is a democratic, secular and socialist state which adheres to multi-party democracy"
52. ↑ Article 1 of the Togo's Constitution of 1992 with Amendments through 2007, constituteproject.org, "The Togolese Republic is a State of law, secular, democratic and social."
53. ↑ "Why Tunisia abandoning Islam as a state religion?". https://groundreport.in/why-tunisia-abandoning-islam-as-a-state-religion/.
54. ↑ "2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Uganda". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/uganda/.
55. ↑ "2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Zimbabwe". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/zimbabwe/.
56. ↑ "2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Antigua and Barbuda". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/antigua-and-barbuda/.
57. ↑ "2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Argentina". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/argentina/.
58. ↑ "2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Bahamas". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/bahamas/.
59. ↑ "2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Barbados". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/barbados/.
60. ↑ "2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Belize". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/belize/.
61. ↑ "2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Bolivia". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/bolivia/.
62. ↑ "2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Brazil". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/brazil/.
63. ↑

* Bramadat, Paul; Seljak, David (2009). Religion and Ethnicity in Canada. University of Toronto Press. p. 3. ISBN 978-1-4426-1018-7. https://books.google.com/books?id=VymssyK1Hs0C&pg=PA3.
* Bowen, Kurt (2004). Christians in a Secular World: The Canadian Experience. McGill-Queen's Press. p. 174. ISBN 978-0-7735-7194-5. https://books.google.com/books?id=__38sGZLrvYC&pg=PA174.
* Gregory, Derek; Johnston, Ron; Pratt, Geraldine; Watts, Michael; Whatmore, Sarah (2009). The Dictionary of Human Geography. John Wiley & Sons. p. 672. ISBN 978-1-4443-1056-6. https://books.google.com/books?id=5liCbG4J9LYC&pg=PT672.
* "2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Canada". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/canada/.

64. ↑ "2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Chile". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/chile/.
65. ↑ "2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Colombia". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/colombia/.
66. ↑ "2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Cuba". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/cuba/.
67. ↑ "2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Dominica". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/dominica/.
68. ↑ "2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Dominican Republic". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/dominican-republic/.
69. ↑ "2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Ecuador". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/ecuador/.
70. ↑ "2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: El Salvador". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/el-salvador/.
71. ↑ "2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Grenada". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/grenada/.
72. ↑ "2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Guatemala". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/guatemala/.
73. ↑ "2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Guyana". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/guyana/.
74. ↑ "2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Haiti". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/haiti/.
75. ↑ "2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Honduras". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/honduras/.
76. ↑ "2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Jamaica". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/jamaica/.
77. ↑ "2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Mexico". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/mexico/.
78. ↑ "2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Nicaragua". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/nicaragua/.
79. ↑ "2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Paraguay". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/paraguay/.
80. ↑ "2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Panama". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/panama/.
81. ↑ "2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Peru". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/peru/.
82. ↑ "2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Saint Kitts and Nevis". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/saint-kitts-and-nevis/.
83. ↑ "2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Saint Lucia". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/saint-lucia/.
84. ↑ "2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/saint-vincent-and-the-grenadines/.
85. ↑ "2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Suriname". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/suriname/.
86. ↑ "2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Trinidad and Tobago". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/trinidad-and-tobago/.
87. ↑ "Religion and the US Constitution: The First Amendment". Cornell Law School. https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/religion_and_the_constitution.
88. ↑ "2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Uruguay". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/uruguay/.
89. ↑ "2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Venezuela". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/venezuela/.
90. ↑ "2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: China". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/china/.
91. ↑ "2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Cyprus". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/cyprus/.
92. ↑ "2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Indonesia". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/indonesia/.
93. ↑ "The Constitution (Amendment)". http://indiacode.nic.in/coiweb/amend/amend42.htm. , "We, The People of India having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic and to secure to all its..."
94. ↑ "2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Japan". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/japan/.
95. ↑ Article 1 of Constitution , Article 1: "The Kyrghyz Republic (Kyrghyzstan) shall be a sovereign unitary democratic republic created on the basis of a legal secular state."
96. ↑ "2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Laos". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/laos/.
97. ↑ "2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Mongolia". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/mongolia/.
98. ↑ Dodd 2003, p. 571, The rough guide to Nepal: "After 2005, the Marxist-Leninist government of reunified Nepal declared the state atheist while theoretically allowing people the right to practice their religion under the constitution."
99. ↑ "Northern Cyprus Constitution". http://ombudsman.gov.ct.tr/Portals/20/Constitution of TRNC.pdf.
100. ↑ "2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: North Korea". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/democraticpeople'srepublicofkorea/.
101. ↑ "Article II Section 6 of the Constitution of the Philippines". https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/constitutions/1987-constitution/. , "The separation of Church and State shall be inviolable."
102. ↑ See Declaration of Religious Harmony, which explicitly states the secular nature of society
103. ↑ "2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: South Korea". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/south-korea/.
104. ↑ "Constitutional Declaration of the Syrian Arab Republic". Syrian Arab News Agency. https://sana.sy/?p=2198312.
105. ↑ "2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Taiwan". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/taiwan/.
106. ↑ "Introduction: Secular State and Pious Muslims", Secular State and Religious Society (Palgrave Macmillan), 2011, doi:10.1057/9781137010643.0003, ISBN 9781137010643, http://dx.doi.org/10.1057/9781137010643.0003, retrieved 2022-04-11
107. ↑ "Tajikistan's Constitution of 1994 with Amendments through 2003". https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Tajikistan_2003.pdf?lang=en. , Article 1: "The Republic of Tajikistan is a sovereign, democratic, law-governed, secular, and unitary State."
108. ↑ Preamble to the Constitution, "The elaboration and adoption of the Constitution of the Democratic Republic of East Timor is the culmination of the secular resistance of the Timorese People ..."
109. ↑ "Constitution of Turkmenistan". http://www.uta.edu/cpsees/TURKCON.htm. , Article 1: "Turkmenistan is a democratic secular state ..."
110. ↑ "2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Uzbekistan". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/uzbekistan/.
111. ↑ Dodd 2003, p. 571, The rough guide to Vietnam: "After 1975, the Marxist-Leninist government of reunified Vietnam declared the state atheist while theoretically allowing people the right to practice their religion under the constitution."
112. ↑ "ICL - Albania - Constitution". http://www.servat.unibe.ch/icl/al00000_.html#A007_.
113. ↑ "2020 Report on International Religious Freedom:Andorra". 12 May 2021. https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/andorra/.
114. ↑ "ICL - Austria Constitution". http://www.servat.unibe.ch/icl/au00000_.html.
115. ↑ Nielsen, Jørgen; Akgönül, Samim; Alibašić, Ahmet; Racius, Egdunas (19 September 2013). Yearbook of Muslims in Europe. BRILL. ISBN 9789004255869. https://books.google.com/books?id=ia5AAQAAQBAJ.
116. ↑ In Belgium, Article 20 of the Constitution provides: No one can be obliged to contribute in any way whatsoever to the acts and ceremonies of religion, nor to observe the days of rest. "ICL - Belgium - Constitution". http://www.servat.unibe.ch/icl/be00000_.html.
117. ↑ "United States Department of State". 12 May 2021. https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/bosnia-and-herzegovina/.
118. ↑ "National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria - Constitution". http://www.parliament.bg/?page=const&lng=en.
119. ↑ "The consolidated text of the Constitution of the Republic of Croatia as of 15 January 2014". https://www.usud.hr/sites/default/files/dokumenti/The_consolidated_text_of_the_Constitution_of_the_Republic_of_Croatia_as_of_15_January_2014.pdf.
120. ↑ Article 2 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights and Basic Freedoms
121. ↑ "ICL - Estonia - Constitution". http://www.servat.unibe.ch/icl/en00000_.html#A040_.
122. ↑ "2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Finland". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/finland/.
123. ↑ "ICL - France Constitution". http://www.servat.unibe.ch/icl/fr00000_.html#A002_.
124. ↑ "2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Germany". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/germany/.
125. ↑ "2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Hungary". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/hungary/.
126. ↑ Fifth Amendment of the Constitution Act, 1972.
127. ↑ Articles 3, 7, 8, 19, 20 of Constitution; Constitutional Court's Decision n. 203/1989
128. ↑ Naamat, Talia; Porat, Dina; Osin, Nina (19 July 2012). Legislating for Equality: A Multinational Collection of Non-Discrimination Norms. Volume I: Europe. Martinus Nijhoff Publishers. ISBN 978-9004226128. https://books.google.com/books?id=R1vU9p9ftlsC&q=kosovo+constitution+article+7&pg=PA235.
129. ↑ "ICL - Latvia - Constitution". http://www.servat.unibe.ch/icl/lg00000_.html#A099_.
130. ↑ "2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Lithuania". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/lithuania/.
131. ↑ "2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Moldova". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/moldova/.
132. ↑ "2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Netherlands". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/netherlands/.
133. ↑ "2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Norway". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/norway/.
134. ↑ "2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Poland". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/poland/.
135. ↑ "Constitution". Diário da República Eletrónico. https://dre.pt/part-i.
136. ↑ "2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Romania". United States Department of State. United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/romania/.
137. ↑ Article 11 of the Constitution
138. ↑ "Article 1 of Constitution". http://www.concourt.sk/en/A_ustava/ustava_a.pdf.
139. ↑ "Constitution". http://www.us-rs.si/en/about-the-court/legal-basis/constitution/.
140. ↑ "Article 16 of Constitution". http://www.congreso.es/portal/page/portal/Congreso/Congreso/Hist_Normas/Norm/const_espa_texto_ingles_0.pdf.
141. ↑ The Swedish head of state must according to the Swedish Act of Succession adhere to the Augsburg Confession
142. ↑ "2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Switzerland". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/switzerland/.
143. ↑ "Constitution". constituteproject.org. https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Ukraine_2016.pdf?lang=en. , article 35: "The Church and religious organisations in Ukraine are separated from the State, and the school - from the Church."
144. ↑ Barker, Renae (October 9, 2024). "Is Australia a secular country? It depends what you mean". https://theconversation.com/is-australia-a-secular-country-it-depends-what-you-mean-38222.
145. ↑ "ICL - Australia Constitution". http://www.servat.unibe.ch/icl/as00000_.html#S116_.
146. ↑ Puls, Joshua (1998). "The Wall of Separation: Section 116, the First Amendment and Constitutional Religious Guarantees". Federal Law Review: 160. https://www.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/FedLRev/1998/6.pdf.
147. ↑ Article 4 of the 2013 Constitution of Fiji explicitly provides that Fiji is a secular state. It guarantees religious liberty, while stating, "religious belief is personal", and, "religion and the State are separate." Constitution of the Republic of Fiji , 2013
148. ↑ "2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Kiribati". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/kiribati/.
149. ↑ "2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Marshall Islands". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/marshall-islands/.
150. ↑ Section 2 of Article IV of the Micronesian constitution provides, "no law may be passed respecting an establishment of religion or impairing the free exercise of religion, except that assistance may be provided to parochial schools for non-religious purposes." "Constitution of the Federated States of Micronesia". http://www.fsmlaw.org/fsm/constitution/constitution.htm.
151. ↑ "2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Nauru". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/nauru/.
152. ↑ "2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: New Zealand". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/new-zealand/.
153. ↑ "2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Palau". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/palau/.
154. ↑ "2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Vanuatu". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/vanuatu/.
155. ↑ "2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Armenia". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/armenia/.
156. ↑ "2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Azerbaijan". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/azerbaijan/.
157. ↑ "2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Georgia". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/georgia/.
158. ↑ "2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Kazakhstan". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/kazakhstan/.
159. ↑ "2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Kazakhstan". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2022-report-on-international-religious-freedom/kazakhstan/.
160. ↑ "2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Russia". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/russia/.
161. ↑ "2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Turkey". United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/turkey/.
162. ↑ Orhan, Özgüç. "The Paradox of Turkish Secularism." Turkish Journal of Politics 4.1 (2013)
163. ↑ Topal, Semiha (2012). "Everybody Wants Secularism—But Which One? Contesting Definitions of Secularism in Contemporary Turkey". International Journal of Politics, Culture, and Society 25 (1–3): 1–14. doi:10.1007/s10767-011-9114-z. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10767-011-9114-z.
164. ↑ Davison, Andrew. "Turkey, a "secular" state?: The challenge of description." The South Atlantic Quarterly 102.2 (2003): 333-350.
165. ↑ Kaymakcan, Recep, and İbrahim Aşlamacı. "Understanding of Turkish secularism in terms of freedom of religion: Example of compulsory religious education in schools." Human Rights and the Separation of State and Religion: International Case Studies. Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland, 2023. 179-198.
166. ↑ Article 2A:
The state religion of the Republic is Islam, but the State shall ensure equal status and equal right in the practice of the Hindu, Buddhist, Christian and other religions.
167. ↑ Article 8:
(1) The principles of nationalism, socialism, democracy and secularism, together with the principles derived from those as set out in this Part, shall constitute the fundamental principles of state policy.
(2) The principles set out in this Part shall be fundamental to the governance of Bangladesh, shall be applied by the State in the making of laws, shall be a guide to the interpretation of the Constitution and of the other laws of Bangladesh, and shall form the basis of the work of the State and of its citizens, but shall not be judicially enforceable.
168. ↑ Gurcan, M. (2016). What Went Wrong in Afghanistan?: Understanding Counter-insurgency Efforts in Tribalized Rural and Muslim Environments. Wolverhampton Military Studies. Helion Limited. p. 76. ISBN 978-1-911096-84-9. https://books.google.com/books?id=S2TyDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA76. Retrieved Sep 15, 2023.
169. ↑ "Americanchronicle.com". http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=2889.
170. ↑ "Samoa Officially Becomes a Christian State - The Diplomat". 16 June 2017. https://thediplomat.com/2017/06/samoa-officially-becomes-a-christian-state/.
171. ↑ "PARLIAMENT PASSES AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION TO DECLARE PNG'S CHRISTIAN IDENTITY; SECTION 45 PROTECTING FREEDOM TO PRACTISE OTHER FAITHS REMAINS INTACT" (in en). 2025-04-11. https://pmnec.gov.pg/parliament-passes-amendment-to-the-constitution-to-declare-pngs-christian-identity-section-45-protecting-freedom-to-practise-other-faiths-remains-intact/.
172. ↑ "PNG parliament passes bill declaring god as 'creator and sustainer of the entire universe'" (in en-AU). 2025-03-13. https://www.abc.net.au/pacific/programs/pacificbeat/png-puka-temu/105050958.
173. ↑ "Bangladesh's court restores 'secularism' in Constitution". 29 July 2010. https://zeenews.india.com/news/south-asia/bangladeshs-court-restores-secularism-in-constitution_644258.html.
174. ↑ "Bangladesh's Ambiguity on Religion Has Been Expensive for the Country". 7 October 2023. https://thediplomat.com/2020/09/bangladeshs-ambiguity-on-religion-has-been-expensive-for-the-country/.
175. ↑ "Ali Riaz on Recommendations of Bangladesh's Constitutional Reform Commission". 3 February 2025. https://thediplomat.com/2025/02/ali-riaz-on-recommendations-of-bangladeshs-constitutional-reform-commission/.
176. ↑ Trouble in Utopia: The Overburdened Polity of Israel, by Dan Horowitz and Moshe Lissak, pp. 51–52
177. ↑ "Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand". http://www.constitutionnet.org/sites/default/files/2017-05/CONSTITUTION+OF+THE+KINGDOM+OF+THAILAND+(B.E.+2560+(2017)).pdf.

## Bibliography

* Dodd, Jan (2003). The rough guide to Vietnam (7th ed.). London: Rough Guides. ISBN 9781405389730. OCLC 762991000. https://books.google.com/books?id=wImNYmmgcA0C.
* Temperman, Jeroen, State Religion Relationships and Human Rights Law: Towards a Right to Religiously Neutral Governance, BRILL, 2010, ISBN 9004181482

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