Legal framework on freedom of religion and actual application
According to the 2001 constitution, Islam is the state religion. The constitution’s preamble affirms equality in rights and duties without making any reference to sex, origin, race, religion or belief. Religion falls under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Union (Article 9).Not all Islamic groups are allowed in Comoros. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairsonly the Sunni Shafiite rite of the Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaah doctrine is allowed in the country. All forms of proselytism or religious propaganda of all religions other than the above-mentioned Sunni school are prohibited. Foreigners involved in such activities may be deported.There is continuous pressure and intimidation against any local converts to Christianity; foreigners, however, are free of this threat.Pressure to conform to orthodox Muslim regulations and customs are felt everywhere. The government does not seem to be even-handed in its punishment of followers of other religions.The Ministry of Internal Affairs is working with the National Mufti Council (muftiate) to improve control over imams and preachers by introducing a “professional card” of academic and religious competence. It seems this move is intended to prevent religious radicalism.Incidents
On 11th October 2016, the Ministry of Internal Affairs issued a ban on non-Sunni practices. Over the following days, some Shi‘a clerics in Moroni and Mutsamudu were temporarily arrested after they were caught celebrating the Ashura Festival in private homes.On 30th November 2016, the Council of Ministers banned the celebration of the Mawlid (Birth of the Prophet) festival in all state corporations, but allowed the one organised by the government in Independence Square.Government officials ordered that the minarets of an Ahmadiyya Muslim mosque in Anjouan be torn down on 8th January 2017. The Minister of Internal Affairs Mohamed Daoudou ordered the demolition, accusing the Ahmadis of supporting sedition. The rest of the building was turned into a police station. In a statement, the Ministry of Justice and Islamic Affairs distanced itself from this decision.On 4th April 2017, the ulemas of Comoros called on the government to take measures to stop local radios from broadcasting “Yiyo Yiremwa”, a song by local artist Ali Combo, claiming the song “threatens good practices”.On 4th September 2017, the authorities in the village of Nioumadzaha Bambao (Ngazidja) chased away a local preacher nicknamed “Pilote” after accusing him of supporting “subversive” religious ideas.Twenty-eight people were sentenced on 9th September 2017 to between one and two months in prison for celebrating the Aid-el-Kebir on Friday 1st September instead of Saturday 2nd September, the officially designated day set by the Grand Mufti. They had been accused of threatening social cohesion and religious unity. The public prosecutor stressed that the Comoros is not a secular state.Prospects for freedom of religion
There is no freedom of religion in Comoros except for the one Sunni Shafiite rite. There is no indication that there will be any changes in the near future. 
Comoros