Libya
(2001)
The Government restricts freedom of religion.
There was no change in the status of respect
for religious freedom during the period covered by this report.
According to recent reports, persons rarely are harassed
because of their religious practices unless such practices
are perceived as having a political dimension or motivation.
Information regarding relations among the
country's different religious groups is limited.
The U.S. Government has no official presence
in the country and maintains no bilateral dialog with the
Government.
Section I. Religious Demography
The country's total land area is approximately
679,362 square miles and its population is approximately
5,115,450. The country is overwhelmingly Sunni Muslim (97
to 98 percent). There are small Christian communities, composed
almost exclusively of foreigners. There is a small Anglican
community, made up mostly of African immigrant workers in
Tripoli, that is part of the Egyptian Diocese; the Anglican
Bishop of Libya is resident in Cairo. There are Union churches
in Tripoli and Benghazi. There are an estimated 40,000 Roman
Catholics who are served by 2 Bishops--1 in Tripoli (serving
the Italian community) and 1 in Benghazi (serving the Maltese
community). Catholic priests and nuns serve in all the main
coastal cities, and there is one priest in the southern city
of Sebha. Most of them work in hospitals and with the handicapped;
they enjoy good relations with the Government. There are
also Coptic and Greek Orthodox priests in both Tripoli and
Benghazi.
In March 1997, the Vatican established
diplomatic relations with the country, stating that Libya
had taken steps to protect freedom of religion. The Vatican
hoped to be able to address more adequately the needs of
the estimated 50,000 Christians in the country.
There still may be a very small number
of Jews. Most of the Jewish community, which numbered around
35,000 in 1948, left for Italy at various stages between
1948 and 1967. The Government has been rehabilitating the
"medina" (old city) in Tripoli and has renovated
the large synagogue there; however, the synagogue has not
reopened.
Adherents of other non-Muslim religions,
such as Hindus, Baha'is, and Buddhists are present.
There is no information on the number of
atheists in the country.
There is no information on the number of
foreign missionaries in the country, or whether proselytizing
is restricted.
Section II: Status of Religious Freedom
Legal/Policy Framework
The Government restricts freedom of religion.
The country's leadership states publicly its preference for
Islam. In an apparent effort to eliminate all alternative
power bases, the regime has banned the once powerful Sanusiyya
Islamic order. In its place, Libyan leader Colonel Mu'ammar
Al-Qadhafi established the Islamic Call Society (ICS), which
is the Islamic arm of the Government's foreign policy and
is active throughout the world. The ICS also is responsible
for relations with other religions, including the Christian
churches in the country. The ICS's main purpose is to promote
a moderate form of Islam that reflects the religious views
of the Government, and there are reports that Islamic groups
whose beliefs and practices are at variance with the state-approved
teaching of Islam are banned. In 1992 the Government announced
that the ICS would be disbanded; however, its director still
conducts activities, suggesting that the organization remains
operational. Although most Islamic institutions are under
government control, prominent families endow some mosques;
however, the mosques generally remain within the government-approved
interpretation of Islam.
Restrictions on Religious Freedom
The Government controls most mosques and
Islamic institutions, and even mosques endowed by prominent
families generally remain within the government-approved
interpretation of Islam. According to recent reports, individuals
rarely are harassed because of their religious practices,
unless such practices are perceived as having a political
dimension or motivation.
Members of some minority religions are
allowed to conduct services. Christian churches operate openly
and are tolerated by the authorities; however, Christians
are restricted by the lack of churches and there is a government
limit of one church per denomination per city. The Government
reportedly has failed to honor a promise made in 1970 to
provide the Anglican Church with alternative facilities when
it took the property used by the Church. Since 1988 the Anglicans
have shared a villa with other Protestant denominations.
There are no known places of worship for
other non-Muslim religions such as Hinduism, the Baha'i Faith,
and Buddhism, although adherents are allowed to practice
within the privacy of their homes. Foreign adherents of these
religions are allowed to display and sell religious items
at bazaars and other gatherings.
Abuses of Religious Freedom
In June 1998, at least 100 professionals
in Benghazi and several other major cities were arrested
on suspicion of political opposition activities, specifically
support of or sympathy for the Libyan Islamic Group, an underground
Islamic movement that is not known to have used or advocated
violence. Some practicing Muslims have shaved their beards
to avoid harassment from security services. Qadhafi has criticized
publicly Libyan "mujaheddin" (generally, conservative
Islamic activists who fought with the Afghan resistance movement
against Soviet forces) as threats to the regime.
There continue to be reports of armed clashes
between security forces and Islamic groups that oppose the
current regime and advocate the establishment of a more traditional
form of Islamic government.
Forced Religious Conversion
There were no reports of forced religious conversion, including
of minor U.S. citizens who had been abducted or illegally
removed from the United States, or of the Government's refusal
to allow such citizens to be returned to the United States.
Section III. Societal Attitudes
Information on religious freedom is limited,
although members of minority religions report that they do
not face harassment by authorities or the Muslim majority
on the basis of their religious practices.
Section IV. U.S. Government Policy
The United States has no official presence
in the country and maintains no bilateral dialog with the
Government on religious freedom issues.
Sources: U.S. State Department - Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor |