UNITED STATES COMMISSION ON INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

ANTI-CONVERSION LAWS

COMPENDIUM
UNITED STATES COMMISSION ON INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

02 2023 Anti-conversion Laws Compendium

USCIRF’S MISSION

To advance international freedom of religion or belief, by 

independently assessing and unflinchingly confronting threats 

to this fundamental right.

chair Abraham Cooper

vice chair Frederick A. Davie

commissioners David Curry

Susie Gelman

Mohamed Magid

Stephen Schneck

Nury Turkel 

Eric Ueland

Frank Wolf

executive director Erin D. Singshinsuk
CONTENTS

3 About The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom

5 Executive Summary

6 Methodology

7 The Four Types of Statutes

9 Global and Regional Analysis

11 Anti-Conversion Laws vs. International Human Rights Standards

12 Conclusion

13 About the Authors 

15 Text of National Anti-Conversion Laws

16 Sub-Saharan Africa

17 East Asia and the Pacific

20 Europe and Eurasia

21 Middle East (MENA)

25 South and Central Asia

2023 Anti-conversion Laws Compendium 1
2 2023 Anti-conversion Laws Compendium
ABOUT THE UNITED STATES COMMISSION ON 

INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

WHO WE ARE

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom 

(USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan U.S. federal 

government commission created by the 1998 International 

Religious Freedom Act (IRFA). USCIRF uses international 

standards to monitor violations of freedom of religion 

or belief abroad and makes policy recommendations 

to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress. 

USCIRF Commissioners are appointed by the President 

and Congressional leaders of both political parties. 

The Commission’s work is supported by a professional, 

nonpartisan staff of regional and subject matter experts. 

USCIRF is separate from the State Department, although 

the Department’s Ambassador-at-Large for International 

Religious Freedom is a non-voting, ex officio Commissioner.

WHAT RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IS

Inherent in religious freedom is the right to believe or not 

believe as one’s conscience leads, and to live out one’s beliefs 

openly, peacefully, and without fear. Freedom of religion 

or belief is an expansive right that includes the freedoms of 

thought, conscience, expression, association, and assembly. 

While religious freedom is America’s first freedom, it also is a 

core human right that international law and treaty recognize; 

a necessary component of U.S. foreign policy and America’s 

commitment to defending democracy and freedom globally; 

and a vital element of national security, critical to ensuring a 

more peaceful, prosperous, and stable world.

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4 2023 Anti-conversion Laws Compendium
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

International human rights law provides that the right to 

freedom of religion or belief protects an individual’s freedom 

to convert to a new faith or to no faith. Unfortunately, 

countries around the world retain legislation restricting an 

individual’s right to leave or change their religion or belief. 

This report details how many countries have national-level 

anti-conversion laws and explains how those anti-conversion 

laws are inconsistent with international human rights law. 

The report also provides the text of the national-level anticonversion laws in the appendix.

There are four types of anti-conversion laws, in descending 

order of prevalence: anti-proselytism laws, interfaith marriage 

laws, apostasy laws, and identity documentation laws. 

Forty-six countries around the world maintain at least one 

type of anti-conversion law. Globally, 73 anti-conversion 

laws are on the books in those countries. Researchers found 

33 laws restricting proselytization, 26 laws restricting 

interfaith marriage, 7 laws criminalizing apostasy, and 7 laws 

mandating that the government record individuals’ religion 

or belief affiliation on official identification documents in a 

manner that restricts the individuals’ freedom to convert. 

The following table shows the total number of nationallevel anti-conversion laws, organized by region and type 

of anti-conversion law. Some countries maintain two laws 

within a particular category. For example, Malaysia has two 

laws restricting interfaith marriage. In the following table, 

an asterisk (*) indicates when a country maintains two laws 

within a particular category. 

The 46 nations with an anti-conversion law amount to 

approximately 25% of countries globally. The total number 

of countries in each region that maintain at least one type of 

anti-conversion law is as follows: 16 countries in the Middle 

East and North Africa, 10 countries in East Asia and the 

Pacific, 9 countries in South and Central Asia, 7 countries in 

Europe and Eurasia, and 4 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. 

The total count of countries with anti-conversion laws is 

based exclusively on primary source materials. If researchers 

found secondary source materials suggesting that a country 

had an anti-conversion law but could not validate the finding 

with primary source materials, the country was not included 

in the total count. Countries for which only secondary source 

materials were found indicating the existence of an anticonversion law are the following: apostasy (Afghanistan, 

Syria); anti-proselytization (Afghanistan, Cambodia, 

Palestinian Territories, Sri Lanka, Turkmenistan, Equatorial 

Guinea, Eritrea, Niger, Guyana); interfaith marriage 

(Afghanistan); identity documentation (Iceland, Norway, 

Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Oman, Pakistan, Tanzania).

Proselytization Interfaith Marriage Apostasy Identity Documentation Total

East Asia and 

the Pacific

Brunei, Burma, 

China, Indonesia*, 

Mongolia*, Nauru

Burma, Malaysia*, 

Philippines, 

Singapore, Tonga

Brunei Burma, Malaysia, 

Philippines

18

Europe and Eurasia Armenia, Azerbaijan, 

Georgia, Greece, 

Romania, Russia

Turkey 7

Middle East and 

North Africa

Algeria, Iran, Israel, 

Morocco, Oman, Qatar, 

United Arab Emirates

Algeria, Bahrain, Iran, 

Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, 

Libya, Morocco, Oman, 

Palestinian Territories, 

Qatar, Saudi Arabia, 

Syria, United Arab 

Emirates, Yemen

Iraq, Jordan, Qatar, 

Saudi Arabia, Yemen

Iraq, Israel, Syria 30

South and 

Central Asia

Bhutan*, Kazakhstan, 

Kyrgyzstan, Maldives, 

Nepal*, Pakistan, 

Tajikistan, Uzbekistan

Bangladesh, Maldives 12

Sub-Saharan Africa Comoros, Somalia Mauritania, 

Somalia, Sudan

Mauritania 6

Western Hemisphere 0

Total 33 26 7 7 73

Table listing anti-conversion laws found by region and type

2023 Anti-conversion Laws Compendium 5
METHODOLOGY

This research project sought to identify all national-level 

anti-conversion laws. The U.S. Department of State’s list of 

196 countries served as the basis for the research. The study 

did not look at sub-national laws restricting conversion. 

Researchers identified four types of laws that restrict 

conversions: apostasy laws, interfaith marriage laws, antiproselytization laws, and laws pertaining to religion or belief 

affiliation on identification documentation. Apostasy laws 

prohibit the public renunciation of one’s religion or belief. 

Interfaith marriage laws restrict conversion by making it 

illegal for members of a favored religion or belief to marry 

outside that religion or belief and by dissolving existing 

marriages if one party converts to an unfavored religion. 

Anti-proselytization laws restrict individuals’ freedom to 

propagate their religion. Identification documentation laws 

require the disclosure of one’s religion or belief in a manner 

that restricts an individual’s freedom to convert.

A wide variety of sources were drawn upon for the research, 

including secondary source materials such as the U.S. 

Department of State’s International Religious Freedom report. 

If secondary source material indicated that a country had an 

anti-conversion law, then a search for the text of the law was 

conducted. Where possible, the relevant government’s official 

legal database was referenced. However, finding the text of an 

anti-conversion law through official government sources was 

sometimes challenging. Many governments do not publish the 

text of their laws in an official legal database. When the text 

of an anti-conversion law could not be located in the relevant 

government’s official legal database, legal databases curated 

by civil society organizations were relied upon. The texts of 

the laws are contained in the Appendix.

6 2023 Anti-conversion Laws Compendium
THE FOUR TYPES OF STATUTES

This report examines four types of anti-conversion laws: 

identity documentation laws, interfaith marriage laws, 

anti-proselytization laws, and apostasy laws. The following 

section briefly explains the elements of each type of anticonversion law. 

IDENTITY DOCUMENTATION 

Identity documentation has legitimate purposes. However, 

some governments use identity documentation to restrict 

an individual’s freedom to choose or change their religion 

or belief affiliation. In that case, the government’s use of 

identity documentation is a violation of the right to freedom 

of religion or belief under international human rights law. An 

identity documentation law that violates international human 

rights law consists of four core elements; that is, the law— 

1)is an enforceable law; 

2) concerning government-issued identity 

documentation; that

3)requires such identity documentation to include 

information about a person’s real or alleged official 

religious affiliation; and 

4) either, 

a)restricts individuals from changing their official religion 

or belief affiliation, or

b)allows for the denial of an identity document based on 

the applicant’s religion or belief affiliation, or

c) compels individuals to reveal their religion or belief 

affiliation, or

d)assigns a religion or belief affiliation to an individual 

without the individual’s consent.

Element 1 shows that any enforceable law, whether civil or 

criminal, concerning identity documentation may violate 

international human rights law. Many identity documentation 

laws that violate international human rights law in the context 

of conversion are civil, not criminal.

Element 2 notes that identity documentation is broadly 

defined; it covers more than personal identification cards 

such as drivers’ licenses. Indeed, government identity 

documentation is any form of state-issued, personalized paper 

or record. 

Element 3 states that for an identity documentation law 

to violate individuals’ freedom to change their religion or 

belief, the identity documentation must reveal information 

concerning the individual’s real or alleged religion or belief 

affiliation.

Element 4 shows how identity documentation laws violate 

individuals’ freedom to choose or change their religion 

or belief. For example, some identity documentation 

laws prohibit individuals from changing their religion or 

belief affiliation on state-issued, personalized papers or 

records. Others compel individuals to reveal their religion 

or belief affiliation, or assign them a religion or belief 

affiliation without the individuals’ consent. Still others 

allow governments to deny individuals identification 

documentation based on their religion or belief affiliation. 

Seven countries have seven different identification 

documentation laws on the books that restrict an individual’s 

freedom to convert.

INTERFAITH MARRIAGE LAWS

Interfaith marriage laws restrict an individual’s freedom to 

convert by triggering discriminatory government treatment 

based on the religion or belief affiliation of one or both parties 

to a marriage. Although these restrictions vary, the five 

core elements of an interfaith marriage law that violates the 

freedom of individuals to convert are— 

1) an enforceable law; 

2) concerning either 

a)the entering into, or

b)the continuing nature of;

3) an official marriage within the country; 

4)in which one or both parties are not members of the 

favored religion or belief; and 

5)that the difference in religious status triggers 

discriminatory official measures.

Element 1 uses the phrase “enforceable law” broadly. An 

enforceable law is any kind of government restriction on 

interfaith marriage. It can range from a statute passed by a 

legislature to an administrative regulation promulgated by an 

executive agency.

2023 Anti-conversion Laws Compendium 7
Element 2 provides that an interfaith marriage law may cover 

any period leading up to or during an interfaith marriage. 

Some interfaith marriage laws are applicable before the 

parties enter into a marriage, some are applicable after, and 

some are applicable both before and after the parties enter 

into a marriage. 

Element 3 defines “official marriage” as an official religious 

marriage or a civil union. As such, in this report, legal 

restrictions on cohabitating partners, common-law marriages, 

or marriages occurring outside of an individual’s country of 

citizenship do not qualify as interfaith marriage laws. 

Element 4 identifies the individuals subject to an interfaith 

marriage law; namely, any party to a marriage who is alleged 

not to adhere to a government favored religion or belief. 

Element 5 clarifies that an individual’s alleged nonadherence to a government favored religion or belief triggers 

discriminatory government treatment.

This research identified 25 countries with 26 different laws on 

the books that restrict or prohibit interfaith marriage. 

ANTI-PROSELYTIZATION LAWS

Anti-proselytization laws prohibit individuals from 

propagating their religion or belief, and often target 

individuals who adhere to disfavored or minority religions or 

beliefs. Anti-proselytization laws— 

1) are criminal laws;

2)punishing 

a)the act of encouraging members of a religion or belief to 

leave that religion voluntarily, or

b)the promotion of a religion or belief.

Element 1 provides that anti-proselytization laws are criminal 

laws. Although some countries retain civil laws regulating 

proselytization, this report defines anti-proselytization laws 

as those criminalizing the propagation of a religion or belief. 

Element 2 identifies the acts that trigger criminal liability 

under an anti-proselytization law. Most commonly, antiproselytization laws punish encouraging members of a 

religion or belief to leave that religion or belief. However, they 

also may punish promoting a particular religion or belief. 

This research identified 29 countries with 33 different laws 

that restrict or prohibit an individual’s freedom to proselytize.

APOSTASY

Apostasy laws prohibit the renunciation of one’s alleged 

current religion or belief. The three core elements of 

apostasy laws are:

1) a legal provision imposing either

a) criminal liability, or

b)hostile jurisdiction;

2)on a person who is considered by the state to be a member 

of a specific religion or belief; 

3)who seeks to leave his or her current religion in favor 

of either 

a) a different belief system, or

b)no belief system at all.

Element 1 defines “legal provision” broadly to include laws 

that provide for specific criminal sanctions for apostasy and 

laws that transfer apostasy cases to hostile jurisdictions. A 

hostile jurisdiction is a legal venue or body of law antagonistic 

to alleged apostates. Some governments transfer apostasy 

cases to courts that traditionally punish apostasy but may 

not reference written legal texts in issuing judgments. For 

example, Jordan transfers apostasy defendants to Shari’a 

courts, which traditionally criminalize apostasy. 

Element 2 states that the government must believe that 

the alleged apostate belongs to a specific religion or belief, 

regardless of whether the individual genuinely belongs to 

that religion or belief. Some governments assign individuals 

religion or belief affiliations based on parentage or other 

factors. An assigned religion or belief affiliation sometimes 

remains with a person regardless of his or her convictions.

Element 3 defines the act of apostasy as an individual leaving 

his or her alleged religion or belief affiliation in favor of a 

different religion or belief, or none. 

Researchers identified seven countries with seven different 

laws criminalizing apostasy.

The Four Types of Statutes

8 2023 Anti-conversion Laws Compendium
GLOBAL AND REGIONAL ANALYSIS

The researchers on this project found 73 national-level anticonversion laws in 46 countries. This amounts to almost 25% 

of countries globally. 

There are four types of anti-conversion laws, in descending 

order of prevalence: anti-proselytism laws, interfaith marriage 

laws, apostasy laws, and identity documentation laws. 

Forty-six countries around the world maintain at least one 

type of anti-conversion law. Globally, 73 anti-conversion 

laws are on the books in these countries. Researchers found 

33 laws restricting proselytization, 26 laws restricting 

interfaith marriage, 7 laws criminalizing apostasy, and 7 laws 

mandating that the government record individuals’ religious 

affiliation on official identification documents in a manner 

that may hinder their freedom to convert. The texts of the 

laws that were found are compiled in the appendix.

Researchers found national-level anti-conversion laws in 

the following 46 countries. When a country maintains two 

laws within a particular category, that is indicated with an 

asterisk (*). 

Proselytization: Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bhutan*, 

Brunei, Burma, China, Comoros, Georgia, Greece, 

Indonesia*, Iran, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, 

Maldives, Mongolia*, Morocco, Nauru, Nepal*, Oman, 

Pakistan, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Somalia, Tajikistan, 

United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan

Interfaith Marriage: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Burma, 

Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Malaysia*, Maldives, 

Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestinian Territories, 

Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Somalia, 

Sudan, Syria, Tonga, United Arab Emirates, Yemen

Apostasy: Brunei, Iraq, Jordan, Mauritania, Qatar, Saudi 

Arabia, Yemen

Identification Documents: Burma, Iraq, Israel, Malaysia, 

Philippines, Syria, Turkey

The total count of countries with anti-conversion laws is 

based exclusively on primary source materials. If researchers 

found secondary source materials suggesting that a country 

had an anti-conversion law but could not validate the finding 

with primary source materials, the country was not included 

in the total count. Countries for which only secondary source 

materials were found indicating the existence of an anticonversion law are the following: apostasy (Afghanistan, 

Syria); anti-proselytization (Afghanistan, Cambodia, 

Palestinian Territories, Sri Lanka, Turkmenistan, Equatorial 

Guinea, Eritrea, Niger, Guyana); interfaith marriage 

(Afghanistan); identity documentation (Iceland, Norway, 

Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Oman, Pakistan, Tanzania).

PENALTIES

Most anti-conversion laws did not specify a penalty in 

the text. When anti-conversion laws did specify a penalty, 

they ranged from fines to imprisonment to the death 

penalty. The death penalty is most often a punishment for 

apostasy. Anti-proselytization, interfaith marriage, and 

identity documentation laws more often specified fines or 

imprisonment as penalties.

GLOBAL ANALYSIS BY CLASS OF STATUTE

Anti-proselytization laws are the most common type of anticonversion law. They are also varied. Some anti-proselytization 

laws criminalize an individual propagating religion in 

specific locations. For example, Russia’s Federal Law on 

Counterterrorism provides for a blanket ban on missionary 

activity in residential premises, with narrow exceptions. Other 

anti-proselytization laws criminalize propagating a religion or 

belief based on an individual’s alleged religious affiliation. In 

Morocco, the Penal Code prohibits acts that could persuade 

a Muslim to convert to another religion or to question his 

or her Muslim faith. Still other countries use registration 

requirements to restrict proselytization. In Kazakhstan, 

individuals may conduct missionary activities only after 

registering with the government.

Apostasy laws often have the harshest penalties or transfer 

apostasy cases to hostile jurisdictions. In Brunei and Yemen, 

the punishment for apostasy is the death penalty. In other 

countries, such as Iraq, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, alleged 

apostates are subject to Shari’a law.

Interfaith marriage laws restrict an individual’s freedom to 

convert in two ways. First, interfaith marriage laws may prevent 

adherents of disfavored or minority religions from marrying 

legally. In Kuwait, the Personal Status Law prohibits a Muslim 

woman from marrying a non-Muslim man and prohibits a 

Muslim man from marrying a woman who is not Christian, 

Jewish, or Muslim. Second, interfaith marriage laws can annul 

existing marriages if one or both parties convert to a disfavored 

or minority religion. In Qatar, if a wife converts to Islam and 

her husband does not, then a judge may annul their marriage. 

2023 Anti-conversion Laws Compendium 9
Identification documentation laws are particularly 

burdensome when they require individuals to navigate 

government bureaucracy to change one’s religious affiliation 

on personalized papers or records. In Burma, the Religious 

Conversion Law requires anyone who would like to change 

his or her religion or belief affiliation to submit an application 

and undergo questioning about the genuineness of his or 

her conversion. 

HOSTILE JURISDICTIONS

The text of many anti-conversion laws protects government 

favored religions or beliefs over others. In the Middle East 

and North Africa, many countries handle anti-conversion 

cases under Shari’a law. In Qatar, for example, the Penal Code 

provides that courts shall apply Islamic Shari’a law to apostasy 

cases. Similarly, in Iraq, apostasy cases are adjudicated under 

Shari’a law.

EAST ASIA AND THE PACIFIC

In East Asia and the Pacific, 10 of 31 countries have 

18 different national-level anti-conversion laws: Brunei, 

Burma, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nauru, 

the Philippines, Singapore, and Tonga. In some countries 

in the region, such as Brunei and Malaysia, the text of the 

anti-conversion laws is crafted to protect the government’s 

interpretation of Islam. In China, on the other hand, the 

text of the anti-conversion law on the books does not protect 

a government favored religion or belief. Instead, the law is 

designed to restrict all conversions. 

EUROPE AND EURASIA

In Europe and Eurasia, 7 of 50 countries have seven different 

national-level anti-conversion laws: Armenia, Azerbaijan, 

Georgia, Greece, Romania, Russia, and Turkey. Six of the laws 

in Europe and Eurasia restrict an individual’s freedom to 

proselytize; the one other law uses identity documentation to 

restrict an individuals’ freedom to convert. Researchers found 

no apostasy or interfaith marriage laws in the Europe and 

Eurasia region. 

MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA

In the Middle East and North Africa region, 16 of 19 countries 

have 30 national-level anti-conversion laws. These countries 

are Algeria, Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, 

Libya, Morocco, Oman, the Palestinian Territories, Qatar, 

Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. 

This region has the highest percentage of countries with an 

anti-conversion law on the books and those laws provide for 

particularly severe punishments including the death penalty.

SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA

In South and Central Asia, 9 of 13 countries have 12 different 

national-level anti-conversion laws: Bangladesh, Bhutan, 

Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, 

Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Absent from the list is India, 

which does not have a national-level anti-conversion law. 

However, 12 of 28 Indian states have state-level anticonversion laws that restrict the individuals’ freedom to 

change their religion or belief. These states are Arunachal 

Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, 

Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan, 

Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.

SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

In Sub-Saharan Africa, 4 of 49 countries have six different 

national-level anti-conversion laws: Comoros, Mauritania, 

Somalia, and Sudan. The anti-conversion laws in each of these 

countries seeks to protect the government’s interpretation 

of Islam. Three are interfaith marriage laws, two are antiproselytization laws, and one is an apostasy law.

Global and Regional Analysis

10 2023 Anti-conversion Laws Compendium
ANTI-CONVERSION LAWS VS. 

INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS STANDARDS

Anti-conversion laws violate international human rights law 

in two ways. 

First, an anti-conversion law impermissibly limits an 

individual’s freedom to convert to a different religion or 

belief or to none. Article 18 of the Universal Declaration 

of Human Rights (UDHR) provides that everyone has the 

right to freedom of religion or belief, including “freedom 

to change” their religion or belief. Article 18(1) of the 

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) 

provides that everyone has the “freedom to have or to adopt 

a religion or belief” of their choice. General Comment 22, 

the United Nation Human Rights Committee’s (UNHRCtee) 

interpretative guidance to Article 18 of the ICCPR, states that 

Article 18(1) “does not permit any limitations whatsoever on 

the freedom of thought and conscience or on the freedom to 

have or adopt a religion or belief of one’s choice.” Critically, 

Article 18(2) further provides that no one “shall be subject 

to coercion which would impair his freedom to have or to 

adopt a religion or belief of his choice.” General Comment 

22 defines coercion that impermissibly limits an individual’s 

freedom to convert as “the threat of physical force or penal 

sanctions...[and]...policies or practices having the same 

intention or effect, such as, for example, those restricting 

access to education, medical care, employment or the rights 

guaranteed” by other Articles of the ICCPR. As such, laws on 

apostasy, interfaith marriage, proselytization, and identity 

documentation, all of which do limit an individual’s freedom 

to change his or her religion or belief, are inconsistent with 

international human rights law.

Second, an anti-conversion law may impermissibly limit 

one individual’s freedom to persuade or support another 

individual to change his or her religion or belief voluntarily. 

The United Nations Special Rapporteur on freedom of 

religion or belief notes that ICCPR Article 18 protects “noncoercive attempts to persuade others” to convert. In addition, 

Article 19 of the UDHR protects an individual’s right to 

freedom of expression including the freedom to “seek, receive, 

and impart information and ideas through any media and 

regardless of frontiers.” Similarly, Article 19(2) of the ICCPR, 

which also protects freedom of expression, guarantees 

individuals the “freedom to seek, receive, and impart 

information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, 

either orally, in writing, or in print, in the form of art, or 

through any other media choice.” The Special Rapporteur 

notes that Article 19(2) protects “communicative outreach 

activities aimed at persuading others, including religious 

discourse.” Anti-conversion laws that prohibit attempts to 

persuade or support others to convert voluntarily, including 

in the context of proselytization, violate both the right to 

freedom of religion or belief and the right to freedom of 

opinion and expression under international human rights law. 

2023 Anti-conversion Laws Compendium 11
CONCLUSION

This report identifies 73 national-level anti-conversion laws 

in 46 countries and highlights how they are inconsistent 

with international human rights law. The laws violate an 

individual’s freedom to convert to a different faith, or to none, 

and an individual’s freedom to persuade or support other 

individuals to convert. Anti-conversion laws also often protect 

a government favored religion or belief and target disfavored 

and minority religious communities for discriminatory 

treatment. Punishments for violating anti-conversion laws 

range from fines to the death penalty.

12 2023 Anti-conversion Laws Compendium
ABOUT THE AUTHORS 

This report was prepared by International Christian 

Concern (ICC) pursuant to a contract with USCIRF. ICC 

is a nongovernmental organization that has been aiding 

persecuted Christians worldwide since 1995 by providing 

assistance, conducting advocacy, and raising awareness. 

The report was researched and drafted by Jay Church, 

McKenna Hammack, and Colton Grellier. 

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14 2023 Anti-conversion Laws Compendium
APPENDIX

TEXT OF 

NATIONAL ANTICONVERSION LAWS
SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

COMOROS

Proselytization

Penal Code

Article 229(8) – Anyone who discloses, spreading [sic], 

taught [sic] to Muslims a religion other than the Muslim 

religion, shall be punished by a prison term of three months 

and a fine of 50,000 to 500,000 francs. Will be punishable 

by the same penalties, the sale, offering for sale, distribution 

even free to Muslims, books, brochures, magazines, discs 

and cassettes disclosing a religion other than Islam.

MAURITANIA

Apostasy

2018 Amendment to the Penal Code

Article 306 – Any Muslim who explicitly apostatizes from 

Islam, or who says or does something that would require 

or include that, or who renounces what he knows to be 

required by the religion, shall be imprisoned for three days, 

during which time he will be asked to repent. If he does not 

repent, he will be sentenced to death for blasphemy, and his 

property will be transferred to the treasury of the Muslims.

Interfaith Marriage

Personal Status Code

Article 46 – The marriage of a Muslim with a non-Muslim 

is prohibited. The marriage of a Muslim with a non-Muslim 

who does not belong to the People of the Book is also 

prohibited.

SOMALIA

Interfaith Marriage

Somalia Region Family Law Proclamation 2000

Article 33 – Religious marriage must take place in 

accordance with the procedures and requirements of the 

religion being married.

Proselytization

Somalia 2012 Constitution

Article 17(2) – No religion other than Islam can be 

propagated in the Federal Republic of Somalia.

SUDAN 

Interfaith Marriage

Muslim Personal Status Law of 1991

Article 19(e) – Temporarily forbidden: Marriage to a 

woman who does not follow a heavenly religion.

16 2023 Anti-conversion Laws Compendium
EAST ASIA AND THE PACIFIC

BRUNEI

Apostasy

Syariah Penal Code Order, 2013

Article 112(1) – Any Muslim who declares himself as a 

non-Muslim and it is proved either by ikrar [confession] 

of the accused, or by syahadah [profession of faith] of at 

least two syahid [witnesses] according to Hukum Syara’ 

[rulings of Shari’a] after the Court is satisfied having regard 

to the requirements of tazkiyah al syuhud, [certification of 

witness] is guilty of the offence of irtidad [apostasy] and 

shall be liable on conviction to death as hadd [corporal 

punishment].

Article 112(2) – Any Muslim who declares himself as a 

non-Muslim and it is proved by evidence other than those 

provided under subsection (1) is guilty of the offence of 

irtidad and shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment 

for a term not exceeding 30 years and whipping not 

exceeding 40 strokes.

Article 113 – Any Muslim who attempts to commit or 

attempts to cause the commission of irtidad is guilty of the 

offence of irtidad and shall be liable on conviction to the 

same punishment as provided for such offence.

Proselytization

Syariah Penal Code Order, 2013

Article 113 – Any Muslim who attempts to commit or 

attempts to cause the commission of irtidad is guilty of the 

offence of irtidad and shall be liable on conviction to the 

same punishment as provided for such offence.

Article 114 – Any person who abets the commission of any 

offence of irtidad is guilty of an offence and shall be liable 

on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 

30 years and whipping not exceeding 40 strokes.

BURMA

Interfaith Marriage

The Myanmar Buddhist Women’s Special Marriage Law

Article 11 – Whenever a non-Buddhist man and a Buddhist 

woman intend to contract a marriage, one of them shall 

apply in writing in the prescribed form to the Registrar 

within the jurisdiction where one of them is residing.

Proselytization

The Religious Conversion Law (Translated)

Article 15 – No one shall compel a person to change his/her 

religion through bonded debt, inducement, intimidation, 

undue influence or pressure.

Identification Documentation

The Religious Conversion Law (Translated)

Article 5 – Everyone who wants to convert his or her 

religion must:

a) be over 18 years old

b) be converting of their own free will

c) submit the following personal details to the 

Registration Board

(1) Name

(2) Age and date of birth

(3) National Registration Card no.

(4) Father’s name and religion

(5) Mother’s name and religion

(6) Spouse’s name and religion

(7) Current religion

(8) Religion he/she wants to convert to

(9) Reason to convert to new religion

d) Undergo questioning by the Registration Board to 

ascertain whether the person truly believes in the 

said religion.

2023 Anti-conversion Laws Compendium 17
CHINA

Proselytization

Religious Affairs Regulations 2017

Article 44 – It is prohibited to proselytize, hold religious 

activities, establish religious organizations, or set up 

religious activity sites in schools or educational bodies other 

than religious schools.

Article 56 – Religious groups, religious schools, religious 

activity sites, and religious professionals may lawfully 

initiate public interest charitable endeavors. Public interest 

charitable activities must not be used to proselytize by any 

organization or individual.

INDONESIA

Proselytization

Joint Decree of the Minister of Religious Affairs, the 

Attorney General and the Minister of the Interior of The 

Republic of Indonesia

Second – The followers, members, and/or leading members 

of the Indonesian Ahmadiyya Jama’at (JAI) are warned 

and ordered, as long as they consider themselves to hold to 

Islam, to discontinue the promulgation of interpretations 

and activities that are deviant from the principal teachings 

of Islam, that is to say the promulgation of beliefs that 

recognise a prophet with all his teachings who comes after 

the Prophet Muhammad SAW [peace be upon him].

3 Ministers Joint Decree

First – Giving orders and warning to the former boards, 

former members, followers and/or sympathizers of the 

social organization Gerakan Fajar Nusantara (GAFATAR) 

or in any other forms, prohibit them from deliberately 

publicly speaking, advocating or seek [sic] public supports 

in interpreting a religious affiliations [sic] in Indonesia 

or conducting any religious activities that resemble the 

activities that digress from the principal teachings of 

that religion.

Second – Giving orders and warnings to the former 

boards, former members, followers and/or sympathizers 

of the community organization Gerakan Fajar Nusantara 

(GAFATAR) or in any other forms to discontinue the 

spread, interpret and conduct any activity that deviates 

from the principal teachings of Islam.

Third – The former boards, former members, followers 

and/or sympathizers of the social organization Gerakan 

Fajar Nusantara (GAFATAR) or in any other forms, which 

does not heed orders and warnings referred to in the first 

and second dictums can be sanctioned in accordance with 

the provisions of the legislation, including the organization 

and its legal entities.

MALAYSIA

Interfaith Marriage

Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976

Article 3(3) – This Act shall not apply to a Muslim or to any 

person who is married under Islamic law and no marriage 

of one of the parties which professes the religion of Islam 

shall be solemnized or registered under this Act.

Islamic Family Law (Federal Territories) Act 1984

Section 10 (1)-(2) – (1) No man shall marry a nonMuslim except a Kitabiyah. (2) No woman shall marry a 

non-Muslim.

Identification Documentation

Peraturan-Peraturaln Pendaftaran Negara 1990

(cc) Provide the following details to the registration officer: 

...(v) his religion

MONGOLIA

Proselytization

On the Relationship of the State and the Church

Article 7(7) – It is prohibited for any religious organization 

or priest to impose their views by force, pressure, attract 

money, deceive, harm their health and morals, or disturb 

their feelings.

On the Legal Status of Foreign Nationals

Article 8.1.4 – Foreign national [sic] shall not act any 

activity to endanger national unity of Mongolia and to 

advertise or promote inhumane religion.

18 2023 Anti-conversion Laws Compendium
NAURU

Proselytization

Nauru Constitution of 1968 

Article 11(4)(b) – Nothing contained in or done under the 

authority of law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in 

contravention of the provisions of this Article to the extent 

that that law makes provision which is reasonably required 

for protecting the rights and freedoms of other persons, 

including the right to observe and practice any religion 

without the unsolicited intervention of members of some 

other religion.

PHILIPPINES

Interfaith Marriage

Presidential Decrees No. 1083

Article 3(3) – The provisions of this Code shall be 

applicable only to Muslims and nothing herein shall be 

construed to operate to the prejudice of non-Muslims.

Article 32 – Fasid marriages. The following marriages shall 

be irregular (fasid) from their performance:... (f) Mixed 

marriages not allowed under Islamic law.

Article 33 - Validation of irregular marriages. (1) Irregular 

marriages may be made regular by a new marriage contract 

in the following cases:... (f) Those referred to in Article 

32(f), after conversion to a faith that could have made the 

marriage valid.

Identification Documentation

Presidential Decrees No. 1083

Article 83 – Duties of Circuit Registrar. Every Circuit 

Registrar shall: (a) File every certificate of marriage (which 

shall specify the nature and amount of the dower agreed 

upon), divorce or revocation of divorce and conversion and 

such other documents presented to him for registration;... 

(c) Register conversions involving Islam;

Article 86 – Legal effects of registration. The books making 

up the registry of marriage, divorce, revocation of divorce, 

conversion, and all other documents relating thereto 

shall be considered public documents and shall be prima 

facie evidence of the facts therein contained. However, 

nothing herein provided shall affect the intrinsic validity or 

invalidity of the acts registered.

Article 177 – Regulation on conversion. No conversion of a 

minor below the age of eighteen years shall be registered by 

the District or Circuit Registrar without the written consent 

or permission of the parents or guardian, except when such 

minor has been emancipated from paternal authority in 

accordance with law.

SINGAPORE

Interfaith Marriage

Administration of Muslim Law Act of 1966

Article 89 – The provisions of this Part apply only to 

marriages, both of the parties to which profess the Muslim 

religion and which are solemnised in accordance with the 

Muslim law.

TONGA

Interfaith Marriage

Births, Deaths, and Marriages Registration Act

Article 16 – Every marriage which shall be solemnized by 

any minister of religion after the receipt by such minister 

of religion of a license issued to the parties to be married 

shall subject to the provisions of section 17 hereof be a legal 

marriage and no other marriage shall be valid.

2023 Anti-conversion Laws Compendium 19
EUROPE AND EURASIA

ARMENIA

Proselytization

The Law of the Republic of Armenia on the Freedom of 

Conscience and on Religious Organizations

Section 8 – Proselytism within the Republic of Armenia is 

forbidden. Any activity mentioned under section 7 within 

the framework of rights shall not be considered proselytism.

AZERBAIJAN

Proselytization

Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan “On Freedom of 

Religious Belief”

Article 1 – It is prohibited to propagandize religions with 

the appliance [sic] of religious violence or sowing discord 

among the people with the aim of changing their religious 

way of life or forcing to confessing religion.... Foreigners and 

persons without citizenship shall be prohibited to conduct 

religious propaganda.

GEORGIA

Proselytization

Law of Georgia on General Education

Article 13(2) – The use of the study process in general 

education institutions for the purpose of religious 

indoctrination, proselytism or forced assimilation shall be 

inadmissible.

GREECE

Proselytization

Greece 1975 (rev. 2008)

Article 13(2) – Proselytism is prohibited.

ROMANIA

Proselytization

National Education Law no. 1/2011

Article 7(1) – In units, in educational institutions and 

in all spaces intended for education and professional 

training, activities that violate the norms of morality and 

any activities that may endanger the health and physical or 

mental integrity of children and young people, respectively 

of the teaching and auxiliary teaching staff are prohibited 

and non-didactic, as well as activities of a political nature 

and religious proselytism.

RUSSIA

Proselytization

Russian Federal Law on Counterterrorism

Article 24.1.3 – It is not allowed to carry out missionary 

activity in residential premises, except for the cases 

provided for by Part 2 of Article 16 of this Federal Law.

Article 24.1.4 – It is prohibited for a religious association 

to disseminate information about its doctrine in premises, 

buildings and structures belonging to another religious 

association, as well as on land plots where such buildings 

and structures are located, without the written consent of 

the governing body of the relevant religious association.

TURKEY

Identification Documentation

Republic of Turkey Identity Card Regulation

Article 17(1)-(2) – (1) The Ministry is authorized to 

determine the system to be used in personalizing the 

identity card. (2) If the applicant’s identity information, 

biometric data, photograph, wet signature, card serial 

number and electronic certificates are requested, the card 

is personalized by writing the religion and blood type in 

accordance with the determined data structure.

20 2023 Anti-conversion Laws Compendium
MIDDLE EAST (MENA)

1 Islamic law in Iran does not recognize marriage between non-Muslim men and Muslim women; so, any sexual relations between a non-Muslim man and a Muslim woman would 

violate Article 224(c) of the Iran Penal Code. The punishment in this case is the death penalty. However, an unmarried Muslim man who engages in sexual relations with a Muslim 

woman would receive a punishment of 100 lashes rather than the death penalty.

2 The text of this provision prohibits conversion by placing the act under the hostile jurisdiction of Shari’a law. 

ALGERIA

Proselytization

Ordinance 06-03 on the Regulation of Non-Muslim 

Organizations

Article 11 – Without prejudice of more serious penalties, 

the punishment is imprisonment from two (2) years to 

five (5) years and a fine from 500.000 DA to 1.000.000 DA 

for whomever: 1. incites, constrains or utilizes means of 

seduction tending to convert a Muslim to another religion, 

or by using to this end establishments for teaching, for 

education, for health, of a social or cultural nature, or 

training institutions, or any other establishment, or any 

financial means; 2. Makes, stores, or distributes printed 

documents or audiovisual productions or by any other 

aid or means, which has as its goal to shake the faith 

of a Muslim.

Interfaith Marriage

Law No. 84-11 of June 9, 1984

Article 30 – It is not permissible for a Muslim woman to 

marry a non-Muslim man.

BAHRAIN

Interfaith Marriage

Bahrain Family Law

Article 14 (a)(4) – A man shall temporarily be prohibited 

from marrying the following... a non-Muslim woman, 

unless she is an adherent of a revealed religion (Kitabiyya).

Article 14 (b)(4) – A man shall also be temporarily 

prohibited from marrying the following... marriage of a 

Muslim woman to a non-Muslim man.

IRAN

Interfaith Marriage

Iran Penal Code

Article 224(c) – In the following cases the hadd [corporal] 

punishment for zina [adultery] is the death penalty: Zina of 

a non-Muslim man with a Muslim woman; in which case, 

the man who committed zina shall be sentenced to the 

death penalty.1

Proselytization

Penal Code 2021 Revisions

Article 500(2) – Any deviant educational or proselytizing 

activity that contradicts or interferes with the holy law of 

Islam in ways such as making false claims in religious fields 

such as claiming divinity, prophethood or imamate or 

communication with the prophets or pure imams (peace be 

upon them).

IRAQ

Apostasy

Personal Status Law

Article 1(2) – If there is no applicable legislative text, the 

judgment shall be adjudicated in accordance with the 

Islamic Shari’a principles that are most relevant to this law.2

Interfaith Marriage

Personal Status Law

Article 17 – For a Muslim man, marriage is permissible 

with an individual who practices one of the religions of the 

Book, while a Muslim woman may not marry a non-Muslim 

man. The conversion of one of the spouses to Islam without 

the other follows the laws of the Shari’a in whether marriage 

should be maintained or the spouses should be separated.

2023 Anti-conversion Laws Compendium 21
Identification Documentation

National Card Law

Article 26(1), (3) – (1) A non-Muslim may change his 

religion in accordance with the law. (3) The Court of 

Personal Status shall consider the change of religion 

provided for in item (1) of this Article as well as the change 

of the abstract (first) name in case it is associated with the 

change of religion. Such a situation is not subject to the 

requirement of publication in a local newspaper.

ISRAEL

Proselytization

Penal Law 5737-1977

Article 174A – If a person gives or promises another person 

money, valuable consideration or another material benefit 

in order to entice him to change his religion or to cause him 

to entice another to change his religion, then he is liable to 

five years imprisonment or a fine of NS150,000 ($40,290).

Article 174B – If a person accepts or agrees to accept 

money, valuable consideration or another material benefit 

for the promise to change his religion or to cause another 

person to change his religion, then he is liable to three years 

imprisonment or a fine of NS49,800 ($13,375).

Article 368 – If a person performs a religious conversion 

ceremony of a minor or performs some other act that 

leads to the change of a minor’s religion, in violation 

of the provisions of section 13A of the Capacity and 

Guardianship Law 5722-1962, then he is liable to six months 

imprisonment. If a person induces a minor, by addressing 

him directly, to change his religion, then he is liable to six 

months imprisonment.

Identification Documentation

Population Registry Law 5725-1965

Article 2(a) – The following particulars relating to a 

resident, and any change therein, shall be entered into the 

Population Registry:...(6) religion

Article 15 – In the event of any of the following acts, 

the authority concerned shall deliver to a registration 

officer, within fourteen days from the date of the act, a 

copy of the document attesting it, accompanied by such 

particulars specified in regulations as are necessary for 

the identification of the person concerned:...(3) a change 

of religion registered under the Religious Community 

(Change) Ordinance.

JORDAN

Apostasy

Jordan’s Constitution of 1952 with Amendment 

through 2011

Article 103 – Matters of personal status are the matters 

specified by law and in accordance therewith fall within 

the sole jurisdiction of the Shari’a Courts when the parties 

are Muslims.

Interfaith Marriage

Jordan Personal Status Law

Article 28 – The following is temporarily prohibited: 

a. Marriage of a Muslim with a non-Biblical woman. b. 

Marriage of a Muslim woman to a non-Muslim. c. Marriage 

of an apostate from Islam or an apostate, even if the other 

party is not a Muslim.

KUWAIT

Interfaith Marriage

Kuwait Personal Status Law

Article 18 – The following will not be officiated: 1. Marriage 

of a Muslim woman to a non-Muslim man. 2 Marriage of 

a Muslim man to a woman who is not from the People of 

the Book. 3 Marriage of the apostate from Islam, even if the 

other party is non-Muslim.

LIBYA

Interfaith Marriage

Law No. (10) of 1984 Regarding Provisions Related 

to Marriage

Article 12(a) – It is stipulated for the marriage to take place 

that the woman should not be permanently or temporarily 

forbidden to marry the man. b) The woman should not be a 

polytheist. c) The husband must not be a non-Muslim for a 

Muslim woman.

MOROCCO

Interfaith Marriage

Moroccan Family Code

Article 39(4) – The temporary impediments to marriage 

are: (4) The marriage of a Muslim woman to a non-Muslim 

man, and the marriage of a Muslim man to a non-Muslim 

woman unless she is of the Christian or Jewish faith.

22 2023 Anti-conversion Laws Compendium
Proselytization

Morocco Penal Code 1963

Article 220 – Anyone who, through violence or threats, 

has coerced or prevented one or several people to practice 

worship, or to assist in the exercise of this worship, is 

punished by imprisonment of six months to three years and 

a fine of 200 to 500 dirhams. The same penalty applies to 

anyone who uses means of seduction with the aim to shake 

the faith of a Muslim or to convert him to another religion, 

either by exploiting his weakness or his needs, either by 

using educational establishments for these purposes, 

healthcare, asylums or orphanages. In the event of a 

conviction, the closure of the establishment which was used 

to commit the offense may be ordered, either definitively or 

for a period not exceeding three years.

OMAN

Interfaith Marriage

Personal Status Law

Article 35 (7)-(8) – Temporarily prohibited [marriage]: 

(7) A non-Muslim woman, unless she is of the People of 

the Book. (8) The marriage of a Muslim woman to a nonMuslim man.

Proselytization

Royal Decree 7/2018 Promulgating the Penal Law

Article 270 – Whoever establishes, founds, organises, or 

manages a group, association, authority, organisation, or a 

branch thereof, aimed at opposing or disparaging the pillars 

upon which the religion of Islam is based, or promoting or 

calling for another shall be punished by imprisonment for 

a period no less than (3) three years and not exceeding (7) 

seven years.

Article 272 – Whoever obtains or possesses, with the 

intention of publishing or promoting, documents, 

publications, or recordings, or any other effects, containing 

an opposition or disparagement of the pillars upon which 

the religion of Islam is based, or containing a call to 

another, shall be punished by imprisonment for a period no 

less than (6) six months and not exceeding (3) three years, 

and a fine no less than one hundred Rial Omani ($260) and 

not exceeding five hundred Rial Omani ($1,300), or one of 

those two punishments.

PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES

Interfaith Marriage

Personal Status Law of 1976

Article 33 – The marriage is invalid in the following 

cases: (a) A Muslim woman marries a non-Muslim man; 

(b) A Muslim man marries a woman not of the People 

of the Book.

QATAR

Apostasy

Law No. 11 of 2004 Issuing the Penal Code 11/2004

Article 1(1) – The provisions of the Islamic Sharia apply 

to the following crimes if the accused or the victim is a 

Muslim: 1- Hudud crimes related to theft, usurpation, 

adultery, slander, drinking alcohol and apostasy.

Interfaith Marriage

Law No. 22 of 2006 Promulgating “The Family Law”

Article 25 – It shall be temporarily prohibited to: Have as a 

wife a non-Muslim woman, save for a Kitabiya (Christian 

or Jewish) woman. Marry a non-Muslim man to a 

Muslim woman.

Article 155 – If a wife, whose husband is not a Muslim, 

converts to Islam before or after consummation of 

marriage, the Judge shall give the husband time to convert 

to Islam within a period the same as the waiting period 

of Iddat [the waiting period required of a woman who 

is widowed or divorced before remarriage]; if no such 

conversion occurs, he shall decree their separation.

Proselytization

Law No. 11 of 2004 Issuing the Penal Code 11/2004

Article 259 – Whoever opposes or doubts any of the basics 

or tenets of Islam, or calls upon, or favors or promotes 

another religion, cult or concept shall be punished with 

imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years.

Article 261 – Whoever possesses documents, printed 

publications or recorded tapes or any other materials 

favoring or promoting the stipulations of Articles 256 and 

259 with the intention of distributing them or revealing 

them to others, shall be punished with imprisonment for a 

term not exceeding two years and/or a fine not exceeding 

ten thousand Qatari Riyals ($2,750).

2023 Anti-conversion Laws Compendium 23
SAUDI ARABIA

Apostasy 

Saudi Basic Law of Governance

Article 48 – The Courts shall apply rules of the Islamic 

Shari’a in cases that are brought before them, according 

to the Holy Qur’an and the Sunna, and according to laws 

which are decreed by the ruler in agreement with the Holy 

Qur’an and the Sunna.

Interfaith Marriage

Royal Decree No. (M/73), dated 6/8/1443 AH

Article 26 – Marriage is prohibited temporarily, in the 

following cases: Muslim man marrying a non-biblical 

woman. Marriage of a Muslim woman to a nonMuslim man.

SYRIA

Interfaith Marriage

Law 59 of 1953 Personal Status Law

Article 48(2) – The marriage of a Muslim woman to a nonMuslim is void.

Identification Documentation

Civil Status Law 13/2021

Article 11 – The civil registration of a citizen consists of 

the following data: the national number, its name and 

parentage, the name of his father, the name and percentage 

[sic] of his mother, the place and date of his birth, his family 

status and religion, the date of his registration, and his 

digital address. The civil registration in its electronic form 

is added the personal image and decimal fingerprints of the 

citizen when obtaining the personal card.

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Interfaith Marriage

Federal Law No. 28: On Personal Status

Article 47(7)-(8) – Shall be temporarily prohibited: (7) A 

non-Muslim woman unless she is a believer in one of the 

Revealed religions. (8) The marriage of a Muslim woman 

from a non-Muslim.

Proselytization

Penal Code

Article 319 – Whoever opposes or vilifies the foundations 

or teachings on which is based the Muslim religion, or 

whatever he essentially knows of, offends this religion, 

preaches another religion, advocates for a doctrine or 

ideology that embraces any of the matters mentioned above, 

or commend [sic] or propagate [sic] any of these, shall 

be sentenced to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 

five years.

Article 325 – The court shall also order the deportation 

of the alien accused of [sic] the country after serving the 

penalty to which he has been condemned.

YEMEN

Apostasy

Yemen: Republican Decree, By Law No. 12 for 1994, 

Concerning Crimes and Penalties

Article 259 – Anyone who turns back from or denounces 

the religion of Islam is punished by the death penalty 

after being questioned for repentance three times and 

after giving him a respite of thirty days. The Apostasy 

in public by speech or acts is considered contradictory 

to the principles of Islam and its pillars in intention and 

determination. If the intention or determination is not 

established and the guilty shows repentance, there will be 

no punishment.

Interfaith Marriage

Republican Decree Law No. (20) of 1992 Regarding 

Personal Status

Article 26(2) – It is forbidden for a man to marry apostates 

from the religion of Islam.

Article 29 – It is forbidden for a Muslim woman to marry a 

non-Muslim.

Article 49 – If the husband embraces Islam and the wife 

refuses to convert to Islam or any of the religions of the 

Book, an annulment is pronounced. If a wife converts 

to Islam and the husband refuses to convert as well, the 

marriage is annulled. If either apostates from Islam, the 

marriage is annulled.

24 2023 Anti-conversion Laws Compendium
SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA

BANGLADESH

Interfaith Marriage

The Muslim Marriages and Divorces (Registration) 

Act, 1974

Article 1(2) – It applies to all Muslim citizens of Bangladesh 

wherever they may be.

Article 3 – Notwithstanding anything contained in any law, 

custom or usage, every marriage solemnized under Muslim 

law shall be registered in accordance with the provisions 

of this Act.

BHUTAN

Proselytization

Bhutan Constitution of 2008

Article 7(4) – No person shall be compelled to belong to 

another faith by means of coercion or inducement.

Religious Organizations Act

Article 5 – No RO [Religious Organization] shall...

(g) Compel any person to belong to another faith, by 

providing reward or inducement for a person to belong to 

another faith

KAZAKHSTAN

Proselytization

Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Religious Activities 

and Religious Associations

Article 1(5) – Basic definitions, used in this Law... 

Missionary activity – activity of citizens of the Republic 

of Kazakhstan, foreigners, stateless persons, aimed at 

advancing doctrine in the territory of the Republic of 

Kazakhstan with intent of conversion to religion.

Article 8 – (1) Citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan, 

foreigners and stateless persons shall carry out missionary 

activity after registration. (2) Registration of persons, 

carrying out missionary activity, shall be made by the local 

executive bodies of the regions, cities of the republican 

significance and the capital.

KYRGYZSTAN

Proselytization

Law of The Kyrgyz Republic On Freedom of Religion and 

Religious Organizations in The Kyrgyz Republic

Article 5(4) – Persistent actions aimed at converting 

believers of one confession to another (proselytism), as 

well as any illegal missionary activity, are prohibited. 

Persons guilty of violating this rule shall bear responsibility 

established by the legislation of the Kyrgyz Republic.

MALDIVES

Interfaith Marriage

Family Act

Article 5 – A person shall contract a marriage with a 

person who by rules of Shariah is not prohibited from 

marrying him.

Article 8 – (a) No Maldivian woman shall contract a 

marriage with a non-Muslim man. (b) Where a Maldivian 

man wishes to contract marriage with a non-Muslim 

female, that marriage may only be solemnized if that nonMuslim female is permitted by Islamic Shariah to contract a 

marriage with a Muslim male.

Proselytization

New Religious Unity Regulations

Chapter 6(30) – Propagating any religion other than Islam 

in Maldives and trying to convert people to any other 

religion are prohibited actions for both Maldivians and 

foreigners.

Chapter 6(34)(a)-(b) – (a) It is illegal to propagate in 

Maldives any religion other than Islam and inviting people 

to such religions; (b) It is illegal for any foreign non-Muslim 

teacher teaching in Maldives, and other such people, to talk 

about any religion other than Islam, in schools and outside 

of schools.

2023 Anti-conversion Laws Compendium 25
NEPAL

Proselytization

The National Penal (Code) Act, 2017

Section 158 – Prohibition of proselytizing: (1) No person 

shall convert any one from one religion to another or make 

attempt to or abet such conversion. (2) No person shall do 

any act or conduct which undermines the religion, opinion 

or faith of any caste, race, community or convert any one 

into another religion, whether by inducement or not, in 

a manner to so undermine or propagate such religion or 

opinion with the intention of making such conversion. (3) 

A person who commits, or causes to be committed, the 

offence referred to in sub-section (1) or (2) shall be liable 

to a sentence of imprisonment for a term not exceeding 

five years and a fine not exceeding fifty thousand rupees. 

(4) If a foreigner commits, or causes to be committed, the 

offence referred to in sub-section (1) or (2), he or she shall 

be deported from Nepal within seven days after the date of 

completion of the service of imprisonment imposed under 

this Section.

Constitution

Article 26(3) – No person shall, in the exercise of the right 

conferred by this Article, do, or cause to be done, any 

act which may be contrary to public health, decency and 

morality or breach public peace, or convert another person 

from one religion to another or any act or conduct that may 

jeopardize other’s religion.

PAKISTAN

Proselytization

Pakistan Penal Code

Article 298(c) – Any person of the Quadiani group or the 

Lahori group (who call themselves ‘Ahmadis’ or by any 

other name), who directly or indirectly, poses himself 

as a Muslim, or calls, or refers to, his faith as Islam, or 

preaches or propagates his faith, or invites others to accept 

his faith, by words, either spoken or written, or by visible 

representations, or in any manner whatsoever outrages 

the religious feelings of Muslims shall be punished with 

imprisonment of either description for a term which may 

extend to three years and shall also be liable to fine.

TAJIKISTAN

Proselytization

On Conscience and Religious Associations

Article 23(3) – Religious associations are not allowed 

to preach and conduct outreach activities in the public 

preschools and schools, as well as in houses and places of 

residence of citizens.

UZBEKISTAN

Proselytization

On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations

Article 7 – The state acts as a guarantor of the peaceful 

coexistence of confessions. The implementation of 

missionary work and proselytism is not allowed.

26 2023 Anti-conversion Laws Compendium

UNITED STATES COMMISSION ON INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

PROFESSIONAL STAFF

policy analyst Michael Ardovino

chief of public affairs Danielle Ashbahian

supervisory policy analyst Keely Bakken

policy analyst Susan Bishai

researcher Mollie Blum

director of research & policy Elizabeth K. Cassidy

senior policy analyst Mingzhi Chen

policy analyst Patrick Greenwalt

policy analyst Sema Hasan

chief administrative officer Thomas Kraemer

public affairs associate Veronica McCarthy

researcher Hilary Miller

operations specialist Nora Morton

researcher Dylan Schexnaydre

supervisory policy advisor Jamie Staley

supervisory policy analyst Scott Weiner

researcher Luke Wilson