USCIRF Suggests Standards For Registration of Religious Groups

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom this week issued a Legislative Factsheet on Registration Laws for religious groups.  It sets out seven standards necessary for registration laws to protect religious freedom:

• Registration of religious groups cannot be mandatory: Registration can only be required to confer legal personality and must not be compulsory in order to practice religion....
• Legislation cannot contain undue restrictions or other bureaucratic burdens that hinder access to legal personality....
• Requirements for registration must be precise and defined....
• Registration laws must be non-discriminatory....
• Religious organizations must be carefully defined....  religion and belief must be construed broadly and include both traditional and non-traditional religions and beliefs, including both theistic and non-theistic beliefs....
• Registration requirements cannot be onerous or invasive....
• There must be avenues for appealing denials...