New laws in Myanmar threaten religious freedom

New laws in Myanmar threaten religious freedom

NAYPYIDAW, Myanmar — Advocates for religious liberty are concerned about a new law passed by the parliament in Myanmar making it harder for a person to switch religions.

Human Rights Watch, an international nongovernmental organization, urged President Thein Sein not to sign the Religious Conversion Bill, one of four so-called “race and religion” laws that would enable the state to regulate religious profession and conversion. It would establish a Religious Conversion Scrutinizing and Registration Board in each township. Anyone over 18 wishing to change religion would file an application stating the reasons for conversion. 

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom called the laws “tools the government uses to continue to violate the freedom of religion and related human rights.”

(BNG)