BURMA 2013 INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM REPORT
Executive Summary
While the constitution grants freedom of religion, some articles in the constitution,
as well as other laws and policies, restrict those rights. The constitution notes that
“every citizen is equally entitled to freedom of conscience and the right to freely
profess and practice religion,” but explicitly makes that right “subject to public
order, morality or health and to the other provisions of this Constitution.”
Continued significant deficiencies in the respect for and protection of the right to
religious freedom included reports of unwritten government policies requiring
adherence or conversion to Buddhism for promotion into senior government and
military ranks, reported violence against Christians, the destruction of religious
buildings in areas of active conflict in Kachin State, and policies prohibiting or
impeding Muslim land ownership in some areas. Local government officials
reportedly participated in anti-Muslim discrimination and failed to stop violence in
Rakhine State, and local officials were slow to respond to anti-Muslim violence in
Meiktila, Mandalay Division. Despite positive steps to address communal and
sectarian violence, these deficiencies heightened tensions between faith
communities. The government’s continued political and economic reforms