Legal framework on freedom of religion and actual application
Under the Constitution of Liberia, Church and State are separate; consistent with this there shall be no state religion; everyone is entitled to “freedom of thought, conscience and religion” (Article 14), and; all religious groups are guaranteed equal treatment subject to laws protecting “public safety, order, health, or morals or the fundamental rights and freedoms of others”. Article 18 upholds the equality of opportunity for all Liberian citizens, “regardless of sex, creed, religion, ethnic background, place of origin or political affiliation”.
Religious organisations, including missionary groups, are required to register with the government. This gives them tax advantages as well as the right to appear in court as “a single entity.” Indigenous religious groups do not have to register with the authorities, as they are subject to customary law.
The curriculum at government-run schools offers “nonsectarian religious and moral education” and covers religious traditions and moral values. Private schools, many of which are administered by Christian or Islamic organisations, receive state financial support.
Incidents and developments
Liberia was founded by freed American slaves resettled in Africa. Christians are the largest group, but it is not unusual for people to combine religious practices. Liberian society is broadly tolerant towards religion. The (Protestant) Liberian Council of Churches and the National Muslim Council of Liberia represent the two largest religious communities. Liberia’s religious groups generally live in peace with each other, a practice that is encouraged and upheld by many Liberian politicians. The current President, George Weah, a Christian Methodist, is recognised in the international community as one who appeals for “harmony between religions” and who has “reached out to Muslims.”
In recent years, Muslim groups and clerics have been calling on the government to recognise Islamic holidays.
On 13 May 2021, Sheikh Ali Krayee, the Chief Imam of Liberia, reopened a debate calling for the government to recognize Muslim holidays, stating “Liberia will never have peace until Muslims holidays are given”.
On 25 May, Senator Snowe, a Christian representing the majority Muslim Bomi County, introduced three draft bills making Easter Monday, Eid al-Adha, and Eid al-Fitr public holidays. Although Senator Snowe stated that the bills were not intended to “bring conflict or seek favor from any particular segment of our Liberian society” but rather “represent his belief in equality and religious freedom as guaranteed by his Constitution and laws of the Liberia”, the proposed bills unleashed a political polemic between different religions, and within faith groups.
On 30 May, the Archbishop of Dominion Christian Fellowship Church, Isaac Winker, referring to the country’s 1986 constitution declaring Liberia as a secular state, said the bill was ill advised and the action by Senator Snowe wrong “since the Constitution does not discriminate against any religion, as there is no religious dominance in the country as purported by the senator”. Archbishop Winker also warned that statements such as that of Sheikh Ali Krayee threatened national security saying: “I call on all Liberians and the government to draw their attention to this constant and consistent threat coming from our Muslim brothers. I also call on the Security apparatus to take such statements seriously, because they are an indicator of terroristic ideology. The security of the State should be above any individual or movement.”
On 5 June, Ayoubah G. Dauda Swaray, president of the University of Liberia Muslim Students Association, stated: “Liberia is one of the only two countries in the entire West African that has not legislated the festivals of the Muslims as public holidays when in fact in Muslim dominated countries, Christmas, Easter Monday, Assumption of Mary Day and other major Christian festivals are holidays in spite of the low percentage of Christian population.”
On 8 June, Bishop Kortu Brown, the president of the Liberia Council of Churches (LCC), rebuffed the religious holiday bills stating that “the introduction of Islamic religious holidays could trigger more interreligious conflict”, and on June 15 bishops and pastors from various in Liberian Churches petitioned President Pro Tempore Albert Chie urging the Senate “not to endorse religious bills the interest of peace”.
On 20 July, during an Eid al-Adha speech addressing the Muslim community, Sheikh Krayee stated that the discrimination against Muslims, as evidenced by the refusal to grant recognition of Islamic holidays, were “provoking revolution in this country.”
On 27 July, Imam Abdullai Mansaray, chairman of the National Muslim Council of Liberia (NMCL) and president of the Inter-Religious Council of Liberia (IRCL), criticized Krayee’s statements declaring: “While many Muslims may consider this as a genuine call, we however hold the belief that the approach employed by the Imam [Krayee] has the propensity to create acrimony in the society and therefore does not represent the views and position of the Muslim Community in Liberia.”
In an August 16 statement in the newspaper FrontPage Africa, the Liberia Islamic Network Incorporated (LNI) “defended Krayee and criticized the NMCL, calling its July statement against the chief imam disrespectful and likely to cause division among Muslims”.
Notwithstanding the heated political debate concerning holidays, signs of the normally good interreligious relations were evidenced in the city of Kortuma, where in September Catholics and Muslims gathered to build a school together in an area where almost 500 children have no access to education.
On 20 January 2022, at least 29 people were reportedly killed following a stampede caused by an attack by armed robbers on worshippers during a Christian ceremony in a densely populated area in the capital, Monrovia.
On 2 May, during the Eid prayer, Grand Mufti Sheikh Abubakar Sumaworo accused Shia Muslims of being terrorists. In his sermon, he called on the government to prohibit them from working in Liberia and from opening schools or mosques. Shia Muslim leader Sheikh Askary M. Kromah responded, stating that Shias have never committed violence and asked the Grand Mufti to retract his statement. Sheikh Kromah pointed to Liberia’s Christian community, noting that they have no problems coexisting despite their many denominations.
On 10 May, the National-Muslim Council of Liberia announced a new national membership drive with the goal of recruiting 600,000 members. Lusinee F. Kamara, leader of the All-Liberia Coalition Party, praised the plan, which seeks to make the Council independent, transparent, and competent. Zainab Assaf, the principal of the Muslim Congress High School, also stressed that Liberia needs to promote religious tolerance in order to enjoy stability.
After years of pressure from Islamic leaders in the country, the Monrovia Consolidated School System, in an unprecedented move, allowed Muslim girls to wear the hijab during the celebration of Ramadan. The administration said that the decision was taken to “promote religious tolerance, with unity in diversity, and respect for each and everyone’s religion”.
In June, Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor visited the rehabilitation facilities run by the Oum el Nour (Mother of Light) Liberia Inc., a Catholic NGO founded by Maronite Eparch Guy Paul Noujaim. The Vice President praised the organisation for its work.
On 18 July, Sheikh Akibu Sheriff, the Secretary General of the National Hajj and Urmah Committee, criticized the government formation of a “so-called” Hajj Committee by Internal Affairs Minister Varney Sirleaf. According to Sheikh Sheriff, the Hajj Committee “posed a serious rivalry to the National Muslim Council of Liberia and has the sole objective of undermining the legitimacy of the National Muslim Council of Liberia with respect to its authority as the regulatory body of the Hajj and Umrah programs in Liberia”.
Prospects for freedom of religion
Despite the heated debate concerning Muslim holidays, and some internal tensions within the Muslim community, interreligious relations in the country generally remain good and the government has taken steps to continue to protect religious freedom. The prospects for religious freedom in the country remain positive.
Liberia