Burundi

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Burundi is a landlocked country in the Great Lakes region of East Africa. Historically a Bantu Kingdom that was incorporated into German East Africa, it then came under Belgian rule until independence in 1962. It initially maintained its monarchy which was subsequently replaced by a one-party system. A multi-party system and new constitution was established in 1992.¹“Histoire”, Ministère des Affaires Etrangères et de la Cooperation au Développement, accessed September 2024 https://www.mae.gov.bi/histoire/; “Burundi”, Britannica, accessed September 2024, https://www.britannica.com/place/Burundi

Burundi’s history has long been fraught with ethnic tensions and violence between the Tutsi and Hutu ethnic groups. After a period of relative progress following the end of a 12-year civil war, the nation has faced a new phase of political and economic crisis since 2015. Fighting between the army and rebel groups has resulted in hundreds of thousands of refugees fleeing to neighboring countries. Widespread human rights violations, persecution of the political opposition and deep rooted corruption has long kept the country on the radar of the international human rights community.²“Burundi country profile”, BBC, last updated 31 July 2023, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13085064; UN, Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Burundi, 23 July 2024 https://reliefweb.int/report/burundi/situation-human-rights-burundi-report-special-rapporteur-situation-human-rights-burundi-fortune-gaetan-zongo-ahrc5758-enarruzh

Burundi has a population of about 13.2 million.³“Population, total – Burundi” World Bank Open Data, last updated 2023 https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL?locations=BI  It is one of the poorest countries in the world with more than half the population living below the poverty line.⁴“Burundi”, World Bank Open Data, accessed September 2024 https://data.worldbank.org/country/burundi?view=chart

According to the last available census data (2008), 62 % of the population is Roman Catholic, 21.6 % Protestant, 2.3 % Seventh-day Adventist, 2.5% Muslim and 3.7 % belong to Indigenous religious groups. An estimated 6.1 % have no religious affiliation.⁵

Religious groups appear to coexist and interact with few reports of tensions or conflict.⁵US Department of State, 2023 Report on International Religious Freedom: Burundi, accessed September 2024 https://www.state.gov/reports/2023-report-on-international-religious-freedom/burundi/

The state is secular, with separation of religious and political authorities, not discriminating against any religion or belief

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Countries: Belgium, Brazil, Central African Republic, Congo, Republic of the, Ecuador, Estonia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Japan, Kenya, Kosovo, Mongolia, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, São Tomé and Príncipe, Slovenia, South Africa, South Sudan, Suriname, Taiwan, Ukraine

Insufficient information or detail not included in this report

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Countries: Kazakhstan

Religious or ideological instruction is mandatory in all or most state-funded schools with no secular or humanist alternative

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Countries: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Croatia, Egypt, Eswatini, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Kenya, Lebanon, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritania, Morocco, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

No formal discrimination in education

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Countries: Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Austria, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Congo, Republic of the, Czech Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Iceland, India, Japan, Korea, Republic of, Kyrgyzstan, Madagascar, Mali, Mongolia, Montenegro, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Russia, São Tomé and Príncipe, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Sweden, Taiwan, Timor-Leste (East Timor), United States of America, Uruguay

Insufficient information or detail not included in this report

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Countries: Angola, Azerbaijan, Côte d'Ivoire, South Sudan, Tuvalu

Religious courts or tribunals rule directly on some family or ‘moral’ matters; it is legally an opt-in system, but the possibility of social coercion is very clear

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Countries: Comoros, Ethiopia, Gambia, Jamaica, Kenya, Lebanon, Niger, Philippines, Senegal, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom

No religious tribunals of concern, secular groups operate freely, individuals are not persecuted by the state

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Countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Canada, Chile, Congo, Republic of the, Czech Republic, Dominica, Ecuador, Estonia, France, Ghana, Guatemala, Iceland, Japan, Korea, Republic of, Kosovo, Latvia, Luxembourg, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, São Tomé and Príncipe, Slovenia, Sweden, Taiwan, Uruguay, Venezuela

Insufficient information or detail not included in this report

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Countries: Côte d'Ivoire, Honduras, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, South Africa, South Sudan

No fundamental restrictions on freedom of expression or advocacy of humanist values

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Countries: Bahamas, Belgium, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Iceland, Jamaica, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Romania, Slovenia, Sweden, United States of America

Insufficient information or detail not included in this report

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Countries: no countries relate to this boundary condition

No condition holds in this strand

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Countries: Azerbaijan, Lesotho, Uzbekistan

No condition holds in this strand

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Countries: Andorra

No condition holds in this strand

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Countries: Cyprus, Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Laos, Lesotho

No condition holds in this strand

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Countries: no countries relate to this boundary condition

Localised or infrequent but recurring and widespread social marginalisation or prejudice against the non-religious

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This condition is unusual in that it is applied in cases where there is some social discrimination, but it is not pervasive or nationwide. This condition is applied when there is sufficient background evidence to warrant the assertion that discrimination is not anomalous but widespread, and this condition may be applied for example even where if there is no legislative discrimination or where the non-religious may have legal recourse against such discrimination. However, societal discrimination (i.e. discrimination by peers, as opposed to state or legal discrimination) is not easily measured, and for this reason the Report does not currently have similar more severe boundary conditions to capture higher levels of social discrimination per se. In principle these may be introduced in future. However, we consider that countries with actual higher levels of social discrimination against the non-religious will generally already meet other higher level (more severe) boundary conditions under this thematic strand.

Countries: Albania, Botswana, Greece, Serbia, United States of America

The dominant influence of religion in public life undermines the right to equality and/or non-discrimination

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Applied when the influence of religion on public life undermines others’ rights, such as SRHR, women’s rights, LGBTI+ rights.

May be applied when the influence is overt (i.e. when religious laws are applied to undermine others’ rights) or covert (i.e. where religious pressure groups exert influence to affect policy)

Countries: Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Bahamas, Belize, Bolivia, Brunei Darussalam, Burundi, Chile, Congo, Democratic Republic of, Croatia, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Eritrea, Eswatini, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Hungary, Iran, Italy, Jamaica, Jordan, Liberia, Lithuania, Mexico, Moldova, Montenegro, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Oman, Paraguay, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Timor-Leste (East Timor), Trinidad and Tobago, Ukraine, Zambia

Use of Conscientious Objection clauses resulting in the denial of lawful services to women and LGBTI+ people

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Countries: Armenia, Chile, Croatia, Italy, Portugal, Romania, Uruguay

Complete tyranny precludes all freedoms of expression and thought, religion or belief

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Applied when overriding acts of oppression by the State are extreme, to the extent that the question of freedom of thought and expression is almost redundant, because all human rights and freedoms are quashed by authorities.

Countries: Afghanistan, North Korea

The non-religious are barred from some government offices (including posts reserved for particular religions or sects)

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Countries: Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Comoros, Eritrea, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Myanmar (Burma), Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Syria, Thailand, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen

There is systematic religious privilege

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Countries: Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Bahrain, Belize, Botswana, Brazil, Cambodia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Latvia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Madagascar, Malta, Moldova, Nepal, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste (East Timor), Togo, Tunisia, United Kingdom, Zambia, Zimbabwe

There is a nominal state church with few privileges or progress is being made toward disestablishment

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Countries: Bulgaria, Norway, Peru, Rwanda

Religious or ideological indoctrination is utterly pervasive in schools

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Countries: Afghanistan, Congo, Democratic Republic of, North Korea, Saudi Arabia

There is state funding of at least some religious schools

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Countries: Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Comoros, Costa Rica, Croatia, Denmark, Dominica, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Fiji, Finland, Germany, Ghana, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Jamaica, Kosovo, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Morocco, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Switzerland, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, United Kingdom, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Yemen, Zimbabwe

State-funded schools offer religious or ideological instruction with no secular or humanist alternative, but it is optional

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Countries: Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, Gambia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Italy, Kiribati, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Moldova, Monaco, New Zealand, Oman, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, Spain, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom, Vanuatu, Venezuela

Expression of non-religious views is severely persecuted, or is rendered almost impossible by severe social stigma, or is highly likely to be met with hatred or violence

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Countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Iran, Pakistan, Yemen

The non-religious are persecuted socially or there are prohibitive social taboos against atheism, humanism or secularism

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Countries: Algeria, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Malaysia, Maldives, Nigeria, Oman, Rwanda, Sri Lanka, Turkey

There is significant social marginalisation of the non-religious or stigma associated with expressing atheism, humanism or secularism

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Countries: Bangladesh, Barbados, Colombia, Egypt, Georgia, Ghana, Guyana, Iraq, Malaysia, Poland, Samoa, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Uganda

Expression of core Humanist principles on democracy, freedom and human rights is brutally repressed

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Countries: Afghanistan, Bahrain, Brunei Darussalam, Chad, China, Eritrea, Iran, Kuwait, Mauritania, North Korea, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, United Arab Emirates, Yemen

Expression of core humanist principles on democracy, freedom or human rights is severely restricted

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Countries: Algeria, Angola, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Brazil, Burundi, Central African Republic, Congo, Democratic Republic of, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Laos, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Morocco, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Philippines, Russia, Rwanda, Samoa, Somalia, Sudan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Expression of core humanist principles on democracy, freedom or human rights is somewhat restricted

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Countries: Andorra, Armenia, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Congo, Republic of the, Côte d'Ivoire, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Israel, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar (Burma), Niger, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uganda

Some concerns about political or media freedoms, not specific to the non-religious

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Countries: Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Denmark, Dominica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, France, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Greece, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, India, Ireland, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Korea, Republic of, Kosovo, Kuwait, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste (East Timor), Tonga, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Viet Nam, Zambia

Religious authorities have supreme authority over the state

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Countries: Iran

State legislation is partly derived from religious law or by religious authorities

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Countries: Algeria, Bangladesh, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Comoros, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, Malaysia, Morocco, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates

Preferential treatment is given to a religion or religion in general

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This condition is applied where there are miscellaneous indicators that organs of the state offer various forms of support for a religion, or to religion in general over non-religious worldviews, suggesting a preference for those beliefs, or that the organs of that religion are privileged.

Countries: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Burundi, Canada, Cape Verde, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Finland, Germany, Ghana, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Montenegro, Mozambique, Nepal, New Zealand, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Oman, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Rwanda, San Marino, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Timor-Leste (East Timor), Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, United Kingdom, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Zimbabwe

Official symbolic deference to religion

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Countries: Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Democratic Republic of, Croatia, Cyprus, Djibouti, Dominica, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Finland, Germany, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Kiribati, Korea, Republic of, Laos, Latvia, Liberia, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia, Singapore, Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States of America, Vanuatu, Zimbabwe

Religious or ideological instruction in a significant number of schools is of a coercive fundamentalist or extremist variety

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This condition highlights countries where schools subject children to fundamentalist religious instruction with no real opportunity to question fundamentalist tenets, or where lessons routinely encourage hatred (for example religious or ethnic hatred). The wording “significant number of schools” is not given a rigid quantification (sometimes the worst-offending schools are unregistered, illegal, or otherwise uncounted); however the condition is not applied in cases where only a small number of schools meet the description and may be anomalous, as opposed to being indicative of a widespread problem.

Countries: Bangladesh, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia

Religious schools have powers to discriminate in admissions or employment

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Countries: Argentina, Armenia, Bangladesh, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Equatorial Guinea, Finland, Germany, Haiti, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Jamaica, Lebanon, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Morocco, Myanmar (Burma), Sri Lanka, Uganda, United Kingdom, Zimbabwe

State-funded schools provide religious education which may be nominally comprehensive but is substantively biased or borderline confessional

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Countries: Djibouti, Finland, India, Laos, Latvia, Norway, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Sierra Leone, Ukraine

There is a pattern of impunity or collusion in violence by non-state actors against the nonreligious

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Countries: Bangladesh, Egypt, Mauritania, Pakistan

Systemic religious privilege results in significant social discrimination

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Countries: Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ghana, Guinea, Guyana, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, Oman, Palestine, Paraguay, Qatar, Russia, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Thailand, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Zimbabwe

Some religious courts rule in civil or family matters on a coercive or discriminatory basis

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Countries: Bangladesh, Comoros, Egypt, Haiti, Jamaica, Malaysia, Nigeria, Palestine, Philippines, Singapore, Turkey

‘Apostasy’ or conversion from a specific religion is outlawed and punishable by death

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Countries: Afghanistan, Brunei Darussalam, Iran, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritania, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Yemen

‘Apostasy’ is outlawed and punishable with a prison sentence

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Countries: Bahrain, Comoros, Jordan, Kuwait

Blasphemy or criticism of religion is restricted in law and is punishable by a fine

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Countries: Australia, Austria, Barbados, Brazil, Cambodia, Finland, Italy, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Moldova, Montenegro, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Saint Lucia, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Kingdom

Concerns that secular or religious authorities interfere in specifically religious freedoms

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Countries: Angola, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cameroon, China, Congo, Republic of the, Denmark, Ethiopia, Germany, Ghana, Haiti, Hungary, Italy, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritania, Mexico, Nepal, North Korea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Serbia, Singapore, Tajikistan, Tonga, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam

State legislation is largely or entirely derived from religious law or by religious authorities

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Countries: Afghanistan, Bahrain, Brunei Darussalam, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Maldives, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, United Arab Emirates, Yemen

There is an established church or state religion

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Countries: Algeria, Argentina, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Costa Rica, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Finland, Georgia, Haiti, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Liechtenstein, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritania, Monaco, Morocco, Myanmar (Burma), Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Tuvalu, United Kingdom, Yemen, Zambia

Anomalous discrimination by local or provincial authorities, or overseas territories

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Countries: Cameroon, Dominica, Ethiopia, France, Ghana, Guinea, India, Jamaica, Malawi, Malaysia, Mexico, Micronesia, Mongolia, Niger, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Rwanda, Switzerland, Thailand, Tonga, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States of America

Religious or ideological instruction is mandatory in at least some public schools (without secular or humanist alternatives)

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Countries: Argentina, Armenia, Belize, Cambodia, Chad, China, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Georgia, Germany, Guinea, Haiti, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Jamaica, Jordan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Lesotho, Libya, Malawi, Malaysia, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Palestine, Peru, Philippines, Samoa, Switzerland, Thailand, Uganda, United Kingdom

Government figures or state agencies openly marginalize, harass, or incite hatred or violence against the non-religious

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Countries: Afghanistan, Egypt, Hungary, Iran, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritania, Morocco, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan

Government authorities push a socially conservative, religiously or ideologically inspired agenda, without regard to the rights of those with progressive views

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Countries: Afghanistan, Algeria, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burundi, China, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Estonia, Grenada, Hungary, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Kyrgyzstan, Madagascar, Malaysia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Russia, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Slovakia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Vanuatu, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zimbabwe

Discriminatory prominence is given to religious bodies, traditions or leaders

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Countries: Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Bahamas, Bahrain, Benin, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Denmark, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Finland, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Haiti, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kiribati, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Micronesia, Moldova, Morocco, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Qatar, Romania, Samoa, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste (East Timor), Tonga, Tunisia, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States of America, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

‘Blasphemy’ or criticism of religion is outlawed and punishable by death

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Countries: Afghanistan, Brunei Darussalam, Iran, Mauritania, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia

‘Blasphemy’ is outlawed or criticism of religion (including de facto ‘blasphemy’ laws) is restricted and punishable with a prison sentence

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Countries: Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Comoros, Cyprus, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Finland, Gambia, Germany, Grenada, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Morocco, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, Oman, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, São Tomé and Príncipe, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Vanuatu, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Quasi-divine veneration of a ruling elite is enforced, or a single-party regime holds uncontested power, subject to severe punishment

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Countries: Brunei Darussalam, China, Cuba, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Viet Nam

Legal or constitutional provisions exclude non-religious views from freedom of belief

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Countries: Argentina, Burundi, Canada, Eritrea, Haiti, Jordan, Madagascar, Malaysia, Morocco, Oman, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Sri Lanka, Tonga

It is illegal to register an explicitly Humanist, atheist, secularist or other non-religious NGO or other human rights organization, or such groups are persecuted by authorities

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Countries: Afghanistan, Brunei Darussalam, Burundi, China, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Kuwait, Maldives, Morocco, North Korea, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, United Arab Emirates, Yemen

Prohibitive interreligious social control (including interreligious marriage bans)

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Countries: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Djibouti, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Israel, Libya, Maldives, Mauritania, Morocco, Myanmar (Burma), Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen

Religious groups control some public or social services

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Countries: Algeria, Argentina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, Denmark, Germany, Haiti, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Rwanda, Solomon Islands, Switzerland, Tunisia, United Kingdom, Vanuatu

It is illegal to advocate secularism or church-state separation, or such advocacy is suppressed

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Countries: Afghanistan, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Indonesia, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Maldives, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, United Arab Emirates, Yemen

The non-religious are barred from holding government office

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Countries: Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Iran, Maldives, Mauritania, Pakistan, Rwanda, Somalia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen

There is a religious tax or tithing which is compulsory, or which is state-administered and discriminates by precluding non-religious groups

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Countries: Argentina, Austria, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ghana, Haiti, Hungary, Italy, Pakistan, Peru, Rwanda, Samoa, Sweden, Switzerland

Religious control over family law or legislation on moral matters

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Countries: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritania, Morocco, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen

It is illegal or unrecognised to identify as an atheist or as non-religious

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Countries: Comoros, Egypt, Eritrea, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Malaysia, Maldives, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, United Arab Emirates

Some concerns about children's right to specifically religious freedom

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This condition may apply if specifically religious education, religious materials, or specific religious denominations are so tightly controlled that children are in fact over-protected from exposure to religion and are likely unable to explore or construct their own worldview in accordance with their evolving capacities. This condition helps us to classify states (perhaps with secular constitutions) which have criminalized specifically religious beliefs or practices. This condition is not applied if the restricted beliefs or practices are found to be outlawed due to their being of an extremist variety. While this condition does not directly reflect discrimination against non-religious persons or non-religious ideas, it does represent an overall threat to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief; such restrictions could spill over to affect non-religious beliefs later; and they pose a risk of backlash against over-zealous secular authorities or even against non-religious individuals by association.

Countries: China, Congo, Democratic Republic of, Cuba, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guinea, Guyana, Italy, Kazakhstan, Laos, Madagascar, Mexico, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Tajikistan, Togo, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam, Zimbabwe

State-funding of religious institutions or salaries, or discriminatory tax exemptions

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It is made difficult to register or operate an explicitly Humanist, atheist, secularist or other non-religious NGO or other human rights organization

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Countries: Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Comoros, Congo, Democratic Republic of, Egypt, Eritrea, Malaysia, Mauritania, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine, Senegal, Somalia, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan

Constitution and government

The Constitution defines the State as secular.⁶Constitution de la République du Burundi, updated 31 May 2018 (accessed September 2024) https://www.presidence.gov.bi/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/constitution-promulguee-le-7-juin-2018.pdf The law protects religious freedom and outlaws religious discrimination (Articles 13, 22, 31).

Decline in democracy

General Evariste Ndayishimiye has been Burundi’s President since June 2020, taking over from Pierre Nkurunziza who favored him as the next candidate for the ruling National Council for the Defense of Democracy – Forces for the Defense of Democracy (CNDD-FDD) political party. It was Nkurunziza’s decision to stand for a third term in office, in violation of the two-term constitutional limit, which led to the violent turmoil in 2015.

In what appears to be a further move to restrict democratic freedom in the country, a new Electoral Code was adopted by Parliament in April 2020. The code makes it more difficult for political candidates to stand for election. According to the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Burundi, “this measure appears to be aimed specifically at Agathon Rwasa, the opposition figurehead who was ousted from the leadership of the Congrès national pour la liberté in March 2024, to prevent him from standing in the 2025 elections.”⁷UN, Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Burundi, (A/HRC/57/58), 23 July 2024 https://reliefweb.int/report/burundi/situation-human-rights-burundi-report-special-rapporteur-situation-human-rights-burundi-fortune-gaetan-zongo-ahrc5758-enarruzh

Impunity for human rights violations

According to the report of the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Burundi, the country has experienced “a narrowing of civic space and repression of political opponents, media professionals and human rights defenders”. There is a climate of fear and impunity for serious human rights violations. Organizations based outside the country have documented alarming numbers of arbitrary arrests, torture and extrajudicial killings.

“For the period from July 2023 to April 2024, Ligue Iteka reported 591 cases of arbitrary arrest, 43 cases of torture, 415 cases of extrajudicial execution, 25 cases of enforced disappearance and 129 cases of gender-based violence. Between August 2023 and May 2024, Action by Christians for the Abolition of Torture in Burundi (ACAT-Burundi) reported 154 cases of extrajudicial execution, 151 cases of arbitrary arrest and 38 cases of torture.”⁸UN, Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Burundi, (A/HRC/57/58), 23 July 2024 https://reliefweb.int/report/burundi/situation-human-rights-burundi-report-special-rapporteur-situation-human-rights-burundi-fortune-gaetan-zongo-ahrc5758-enarruzh

Instrumentalization of religion

President Ndayishimiye is described as a “fervent” Catholic⁹“S.E. Evariste Ndayishimiye” Site Officiel de la Présidence de la République, accessed September 2024
https://presidence.gov.bi/le-president/le-president/s-e-evariste-ndayishimiye-president-de-la-republique/ and, like his predecessor, emphasizes the role of God in politics.¹⁰ “Burundi’s Evariste Ndayishimiye is sworn in as president”, BBC News, 18 June 2020 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-53084769 He has accused those opposing him as going against the will of God and those who do not believe in his promises for the country as being in the service of Satan.¹¹“Burundi: le rituel de la «croisade religieuse» du président se poursuit, malgré la crise économique” Radio France Internationale, 23 June 2024 https://www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/20240623-burundi-le-rituel-de-la-croisade-religieuse-du-pr%C3%A9sident-se-poursuit-malgr%C3%A9-la-crise-%C3%A9conomique During the latest annual celebration organized by the President and his family to mark the anniversary of his inauguration, a preacher reminded those who did not support the President that, “all those who oppose the one chosen by God expose themselves to his fury”.¹²Intumwa Burundi (@IntumwaNews) “Au 3è et dernier jour de la croisade, dans ses enseignements, Apôtre Isidore #Mbayahaga a invité tout #Burundi-ais conscient de ce qu’il est à soutenir SE @GeneralNeva dans ses projets de développement, rappelant que celui qui combat l’élu de Dieu s’expose à sa fureur” Twitter (now X) 23 June 2024 https://x.com/IntumwaNews/status/1804775541788065874

Legal restrictions on the non-religious

According to Article 68 of the law on religious groups, it is against the law for any individual to profess themselves to be God and it is illegal to promote atheism.

Government interference in religion

Although freedom of religion is generally observed by the Burundi government and law, government interference in religion has occurred. The President and numerous other high level government officials have frequently visited a variety of churches and Muslim communities, and are even given opportunities to preach.¹³US Department of State, 2023 Report on International Religious Freedom: Burundi, accessed September 2024 https://www.state.gov/reports/2023-report-on-international-religious-freedom/burundi/ In 2019, the UN Commission of Inquiry on Burundi reported that the government was exerting more control over churches to curb political dissent.¹⁴Freedom House,“Burundi”, Freedom in the World 2024, accessed September 2024 https://freedomhouse.org/country/burundi/freedom-world/2024

A revision to the law on religious groups came into force in September 2024¹⁵Projet de loi portant modification de la loi portant cadre organique des confessions religieuses No. 1/35, 21 décembre 2014, accessed October 2024 https://senat.bi/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Projet-de-loi-Cadre-organique-des-Confessions-religieuses.pdf with the aim of resolving conflicts within church leaderships. The new law does away with the previous body responsible for regulation and mediation of religious groups and places responsibility directly with the Ministry of the Interior. A framework for dialogue has been established between religious groups and the State.¹⁶“Contribution de la CNIDH du Burundi au rapport préliminaire sur le combat contre l’intolérance basée sur la religion ou la croyance, Call for inputs – 52HRC Report on combating intolerance based on religion or belief” CNIDH, uploaded 2 march 2023
https://adsdatabase.ohchr.org/IssueLibrary/BURUNDI_Contribution%20to_A_HRC_52_79.pdf All groups must register with the Ministry of the Interior and report annually on their activities.

The penalty for failing to register or practicing religion if registration is denied, is a prison sentence of between six months and five years, or a fine of up to 1 million Burundian Francs (approx. 344 USD).¹⁷Projet de loi portant modification de la loi portant cadre organique des confessions religieuses No. 1/35, 21 décembre 2014 https://senat.bi/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Projet-de-loi-Cadre-organique-des-Confessions-religieuses.pdf

The new law also stipulates a list of rules that religious groups must adhere to (e.g. the distance to be maintained between places of worship, the academic level of the legal representative of the group etc) which religious leaders are reported to find restrictive and cumbersome.¹⁸Aristide Niyonkuru, Alexandrine Ndayishimiye et Jules Bercy Igiraneza “La loi sur les confessions religieuses: défis et adaptation”, Iwacu, 4 septembre 2024 https://www.iwacu-burundi.org/la-loi-sur-les-confessions-religieuses-defis-et-adaptation/

In April 2023, 61 worshippers of the “World’s Glory Church of Christ” were arrested in Ngozi Province, charged with making noise and worshiping in an unauthorized location. They were detained at a police station in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions.¹⁹ACAT-Burundi, Rapport sur le Monitoring des Violations et atteintes aux droits de l’homme commises au Burundi – Période du mois d’avril 2023, accessed September 2024 https://www.acatburundi.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Rapport-de-monitoring-des-violations-et-atteintes-aux-droits-humains-recense-pour-avril-2023.pdf;“Ngozi : la police a arrêté 61 fidèles d’une église locale”, SOS Médias Burundi, 5 April 2023 https://www.sosmediasburundi.org/2023/04/05/ngozi-la-police-a-arrete-61-fideles-dune-eglise-locale/

Religious groups are not exempt from tax or eligible for other benefits, however they are entitled to a tax exemption on imported goods if these goods are for social projects or public benefit. The State does not fund the functioning of any religious group but it may support their programs within the framework of a specific agreement.²⁰US Department of State, 2023 Report on International Religious Freedom: Burundi, accessed September 2024 https://www.state.gov/reports/2023-report-on-international-religious-freedom/burundi/

Education and children’s rights

The official education program includes religious and moral classes in the curriculum for all secondary and primary schools. The program includes religious classes for Catholicism, Protestantism, and Islam, depending to some extent on demand or on local religious backgrounds. Students are free to choose from one of these three classes or attend a Moral education class instead.²¹“Contribution de la CNIDH du Burundi au rapport préliminaire sur le combat contre l’intolérance basée sur la religion ou la croyance, Call for inputs – 52HRC Report on combating intolerance based on religion or belief” CNIDH, uploaded 2 march 2023 https://adsdatabase.ohchr.org/IssueLibrary/BURUNDI_Contribution%20to_A_HRC_52_79.pdf

Many secondary schools are run by religious groups, predominantly the Catholic Church, under contract to the Education Ministry.²²“Contribution de la CNIDH du Burundi au rapport préliminaire sur le combat contre l’intolérance basée sur la religion ou la croyance, Call for inputs – 52HRC Report on combating intolerance based on religion or belief” CNIDH, uploaded 2 march 2023 https://adsdatabase.ohchr.org/IssueLibrary/BURUNDI_Contribution%20to_A_HRC_52_79.pdf

The government allows some religious schools to benefit from tax exemptions when purchasing school equipment and materials or investing in infrastructure.²³US Department of State, 2023 Report on International Religious Freedom: Burundi, accessed September 2024 https://www.state.gov/reports/2023-report-on-international-religious-freedom/burundi/

Family, community and society

“Moralizing” society

In 2017, President Nkurunziza launched a campaign to “moralize society”, cracking down on cohabiting, unmarried couples. President Ndayishimiye has continued on this trajectory.

Article 554 of the Penal Code²⁴ Burundi – Code pénal Loi n°1/27, 29 December 2017, accessed October 2024 https://www.droit-afrique.com/uploads/Burundi-Code-2017-penal.pdf and Article 42 of the Law on the Protection of Victims of Gender Based Violence²⁵Loi portant Prévention, Protection des Victimes et Répression des Violences basées sur le Genre N°1/013, 22 septembre 2016, accessed October 2024 https://presidence.gov.bi/2016/09/22/loi-n1013-du-22-septembre-2016-portant-prevention-protection-des-victimes-et-repression-des-violences-basees-sur-le-genre/ criminalizes cohabitation of unmarried couples. This is in spite of Article 42 of the Constitution which states that:

“no one may be subjected to arbitrary interference with his or her privacy, family, home or correspondence or to attacks on his or her honor or reputation.”

The 2024 report of the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Burundi noted the renewed crackdown on cohabiting couples which has reportedly driven at least 900 women and 3,600 children from their homes in the North of the country.²⁶ “Burundi: plus de 900 concubines «chassées» de leurs ménages dans le nord du pays” Radio France Internationale, 4 June 2024 https://www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/20240604-burundi-plus-de-900-concubines-chass%C3%A9es-de-leurs-m%C3%A9nages-dans-le-nord-du-pays;
Jérémie Misago, “Chasse des concubines, une mesure illégale contre un acte illégal”, Iwacu, 10 April 2024 https://www.iwacu-burundi.org/chasse-des-concubines-une-mesure-illegale-contre-un-acte-illegal/

“In some cases, women in cohabiting relationships, along with their children, have been sent back to their parents’ homes. In other cases, families have been separated, children have been separated from their mothers and forced to live with their father’s first wife, or men have been forced to live with their first wife.”²⁷UN, Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Burundi, (A/HRC/57/58), 23 July 2024 https://reliefweb.int/report/burundi/situation-human-rights-burundi-report-special-rapporteur-situation-human-rights-burundi-fortune-gaetan-zongo-ahrc5758-enarruzh

Women’s rights

Discrimination against women in Burundi persists in law as well as practice. Due to customary law, women are typically unable to inherit property.²⁸ Freedom House, “Burundi”, Freedom in the World 2024, accessed September 2024 https://freedomhouse.org/country/burundi/freedom-world/2024 According to the citizenship code, a Burundian woman married to a foreign national cannot pass on her citizenship to her husband or children.²⁹Freedom House, “Burundi”, Freedom in the World 2024, accessed September 2024 https://freedomhouse.org/country/burundi/freedom-world/2024

In July 2023, the UN Human Rights Committee expressed concern about persistent violence against women in Burundi and the low rate of reporting and prosecutions.³⁰Amnesty International, Burundi 2023 Report, accessed September 2024 https://www.amnesty.org/en/location/africa/east-africa-the-horn-and-great-lakes/burundi/report-burundi/#endnote-2 In the same year, according to Amnesty International,

“the minister of interior made threatening and derogatory remarks about single mothers, following his earlier drive to prevent the registration of births of children to “unknown fathers”. He called on local administrators in Busiga commune in Ngozi province to beat them until they revealed the name of their children’s father.”³¹Amnesty International, Burundi 2023 Report, accessed September 2024 https://www.amnesty.org/en/location/africa/east-africa-the-horn-and-great-lakes/burundi/report-burundi/#endnote-2

Abortion

The law on abortion in Burundi is reflective of the deeply conservative attitudes prevalent in the country.³²Egide Nikiza, “À quand la dépénalisation de l’avortement ?”, YAGA, 7 October 2017
https://www.yaga-burundi.com/a-quand-la-depenalisation-de-lavortement/ Article 534 of the penal code allows abortion only on the grounds of serious danger to the life or health of the woman.³³Burundi – Code pénal Loi n°1/27 du 29 décembre 2017 https://www.droit-afrique.com/uploads/Burundi-Code-2017-penal.pdf Despite past debates initiated by women’s rights groups proposing that the law should be amended to allow abortion in the case of rape, the law has remained unchanged.³⁴Martine Nzeyimana, “Avortement, le débat relancé”, IWACU, 14 October 2016 https://www.iwacu-burundi.org/avortement-le-debat-relance/

LGBTI+ rights

Article 29 of the Constitution forbids same sex marriages, but “homosexuality” was only made illegal in Burundi in 2009 (Article 590 of revised Penal Code).³⁵Burundi – Code pénal Loi n°1/27, 29 December 2017, accessed October 2024 https://www.droit-afrique.com/uploads/Burundi-Code-2017-penal.pdf Since then there has been a rise in arbitrary arrests on “homosexuality” charges.³⁶“Burundi” Human Dignity Trust, effective 5 March 2024 https://www.humandignitytrust.org/country-profile/burundi/

In February 2024, 24 people were arrested in the capital, Gitega, at a workshop on HIV/AIDS. They, and two others later added to the case, were charged with “homosexual practices and incitement to homosexual practices”. In August, seven were found guilty. One of the accused, due to be released, died in custody.³⁷“Burundi charges 24 people with ‘homosexual practices’ in anti-gay crackdown” Radip France Internationale, 9 March 2023 https://www.rfi.fr/en/africa/20230309-burundi-charges-24-people-with-homosexual-practices-in-anti-gay-crackdown;
Amnesty International, Burundi 2023 Report, accessed September 2024 https://www.amnesty.org/en/location/africa/east-africa-the-horn-and-great-lakes/burundi/report-burundi/

President Ndayishimiye has used bible references to oppose “homosexuality” and made extreme homophobic remarks, describing “homosexuality” as a “curse”. In December 2024, he told journalists at a press conference that “homosexuals” found in Burundi “should be stoned”.³⁸“Burundi’s president says gay people should be stoned”, Reuters, 30 December 2023
https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/burundis-president-says-gay-people-should-be-stoned-2023-12-30/; Samba Cyuzuzo, “Burundi’s President Ndayishimiye hits out over gay rights and aid”, BBC, 29 December 2023 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-67840417

The UN Human Rights Committee has expressed concern about the incitement of hatred and violence towards LGBTI+ people in Burundi, including by those at the highest levels of government. It has called for the abolishment of discriminatory laws and for those responsible for discrimination and violence to be investigated and prosecuted.³⁹Amnesty International, Burundi 2023 Report, accessed September 2024 https://www.amnesty.org/en/location/africa/east-africa-the-horn-and-great-lakes/burundi/report-burundi/#endnote-2

Freedom of expression, advocacy of humanist values

Under Ndayishimiye, democratic space in Burundi has been shrinking and an increasingly authoritarian government continues to repress political opponents. Corruption is widespread and there is general impunity for human rights violations.

While freedom of expression is guaranteed in the Constitution (Article 32), press laws place restrictions on journalists.⁴⁰Loi portant modification de la Loi N°1/ 15 du 9 mai 2015 régissant la presse au Burundi, N°1/019, 14 September 2018, accessed October 2024 https://presidence.gov.bi/2018/09/28/loi-n1019-du-14-septembre-2018-portant-modification-de-la-loi-n1-15-du-9-mai-2015-regissant-la-presse-au-burundi/ Defamation and insult are prohibited and may be punished with harsh fines and imprisonment. Journalists have been censored by authorities and have censored themselves as well.

The government dominates the media. Radio is the primary news source for many Burundians, but most privately owned radio stations were shut down in the 2015 crisis. Some private broadcast media outlets still exist, but many Burundians look to social media as a news source. There are over 1.6 million internet users in the country.⁴¹“Burundi media guide”, BBC News, last updated 28 July 2023 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13085066

Burundi ranks poorly on the World Press Freedom Index⁴²Reporters without Borders, Global Index, accessed September 2024 https://rsf.org/en/index and is described as maintaining a hostile environment for the press. The released journalist, Floriane Irangabiye, spent nearly two years in prison between 2022-2024 on charges of endangering the integrity of the national territory after hosting a debate with two critics of the Burundian government.⁴³ “Burundi: RSF relieved by the release of Radio Igicaniro journalist Floriane Irangabiye”, Reporters Without Borders,16 August 2024 https://rsf.org/en/burundi-rsf-relieved-release-radio-igicaniro-journalist-floriane-irangabiye Another journalist, Sandra Muhoza, is still held in detention at the time of writing, having been charged with “endangering state security and ethnic hatred”. She was arrested following a comment she posted on a whatsapp group for journalists about a story implicating people in the government. She faces a possible life sentence.⁴⁴“Burundi : RSF dénonce la détention arbitraire de la journaliste Sandra Muhoza qui risque la prison à perpétuité”, Reporteurs Sans Frontières, 25 April 2024 https://rsf.org/fr/burundi-rsf-d%C3%A9nonce-la-d%C3%A9tention-arbitraire-de-la-journaliste-sandra-muhoza-qui-risque-la-prison-%C3%A0

Morality laws used to curtail blasphemous expression

While Burundi does not have any specific ‘blasphemy’ laws in place, Article 587 of the Penal Code does criminalize acts that “offend public decency”. In April 2022, a young Burundian rapper was detained for almost six months for releasing a video considered to be “blasphemous”, featuring himself and a woman dressed in religious attire and dancing erotically.⁴⁵“Burundi: le rappeur Olegue emprisonné à cause d’une chanson qualifiée de «blasphématoire»”, Radio France Internationale, 28 April 2022 https://www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/20220427-burundi-le-rappeur-olegue-emprisonn%C3%A9-%C3%A0-cause-d-une-chanson-qualifi%C3%A9e-de-blasph%C3%A9matoire; “Bujumbura : le chanteur Olègue est libre”, SOS Médias, 14 Octobre 2022 https://www.sosmediasburundi.org/2022/10/14/bujumbura-le-chanteur-olegue-est-libre/

Stifled civic space

The Constitution provides for freedoms of assembly and association (Article 32), but the government has threatened members of human rights groups that criticize it and subjected them to surveillance. The laws for registering NGOs are restrictive⁴⁶Loi portant Cadre Organique des Associations Sans But Lucratif, N°1/ 02, 27 January 2017 accessed October 2024 https://presidence.gov.bi/2017/01/27/loi-n1-02-du-27-janvier-2017-portant-cadre-organique-des-associations-sans-but-lucratif/ and organizations face persecution for activity seen as hostile to the government.⁴⁷Freedom House, “Burundi”, Freedom in the World 2024, accessed September 2024 https://freedomhouse.org/country/burundi/freedom-world/2024