Libya
(1999)
Section I. Freedom of Religion
The Government restricts freedom of religion.
The country is overwhelmingly Sunni Muslim (97 to 98
percent). 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 is also responsible for
relations with other religions, including the Christian churches in the
country. The ICS's main aim is to promote a moderate form of Islam, and
there are reports that Islamic groups whose beliefs and practices are at
variance with the state-approved teaching of Islam are banned. Although
most Islamic institutions are under state control, some mosques are endowed
by prominent families; however, they generally remain within the
government-approved interpretation of Islam.
According to recent reports, individuals rarely are
harassed because of their religious practices. Members of some minority
religions are allowed to conduct services. Christian churches operate
openly and are tolerated by the authorities. 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,
which is part of the Egyptian diocese; the Anglican Bishop of Libya is
resident in Cairo. The authorities reportedly have failed to honor a
promise made in 1970 to provide the Anglican Church with alternative
facilities when they took the property used by the Church. Since 1988 the
Anglicans have shared a villa with other Protestant denominations. There
are Union churches in Tripoli and Benghazi. There are an estimated 40,000
Roman Catholics who are served by two Bishops--one in Tripoli (Italian) and
one in Benghazi (Maltese). 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. However, Christians are restricted by
the lack of churches; there is a government limit of one church per
denomination per city.
In March 1997, the Vatican established diplomatic
relations with Libya, 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 may still 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.
There was no change in the status of respect for
religious freedom during the period covered by this report.
There were no reports of religious detainees or
prisoners.
There were no reports of the forced religious conversion
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 II. Societal Attitudes
Information on religious freedom is limited. There was
no information available regarding societal attitudes and relations among
the country's different religious groups.
Section III. U.S. Government Policy
The United States has no official presence in Libya, and
consequently maintains no dialog with the Government on religious freedom
issues.
Sources: U.S. State Department - Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor |