Swaziland Near Final Adoption of Constitution With Religious Freedoms Included

Today the Associated Press reports that the legislature in the African kingdom of Swaziland has approved the country's first constitution. The king must still give his approval. Section 24 of the new Constitution provides for freedom of thought, conscience or religion, including the right to worship alone or with a community; the right to change one's religion; and the protection of religious educational institutions. However it does permit reasonable governmental regulation, including protection against unsolicited proselytizing. The Constitution declares that official religion of Swaziland is Christianity, but that this shall not prevent the existence or practice of other religions (Section 4).