Albania respects religious freedom, says US report

TIRANA, Oct 27 – The US State Department issued its annual International Religious Freedom report Monday, noting that Albania respects religious freedom, as provided in its constitution.
There are no indications of social discrimination based on religious grounds in Albania.
It said that the Government generally respected religious freedom in practice.
There were no reports of societal abuses or discrimination based on religious affiliation, belief, or practice.
It also mentions one fact: No reliable data were available on religious participation or membership; the last official census including such data was held in 1939.
The majority of citizens do not actively practice a faith; however, the four traditional religious groups are Muslim (Sunni), Bektashi (a form of Shi’a Sufism), Orthodox Christian (the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania), and Roman Catholic. In addition, there are substantial numbers of Protestant denominations and other religious groups, including Baha’is, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons).
The State Committee on Cults reported a total of 245 religious groups, organizations, and foundations in addition to the four traditional religious groups. This number included 34 Islamic organizations and 189 Protestant organizations, mostly associated with the Albanian Evangelical Alliance (VUSH).
The Government is secular. According to the Constitution, there is no official religion and all religions are equal; however, the predominant religious communities (Sunni Muslim, Bektashi, Orthodox, and Catholic) enjoy a greater degree of official recognition (e.g., national holidays) and social status based on their historical presence in the country. Official holidays include holy days of all four predominant faiths.
The Government does not require registration or licensing of religious groups; however, the State Committee on Cults maintains records and statistics on foreign religious organizations that contact it for assistance.
The State Committee on Cults, under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, Youth, and Sports, is charged with regulating relations between the Government and religious communities as well as protecting freedom of religion and promoting interreligious cooperation and understanding.
Public schools are secular and the law prohibits ideological and religious indoctrination.
There is no law prohibiting the wearing of religious clothing or symbols. School principals have the right to set standards for “appropriate clothing,” which at times included restrictions on public displays of religious symbols. During the reporting period, three female public high school students were prevented from attending classes for wearing headscarves.
There were no reports of religious detainees or prisoners in the country.
The report also mentioned that the U.S. Embassy supported the efforts of the State Committee on Cults to develop and complete bilateral agreements between the state and some religious communities.