In an apparent effort to eliminate all alternative power bases, the regime has banned the once powerful Sanusiyya Islamic order. The ICS is also responsible for relations with other religions, including the Christian churches in the country. The ICS's main aim is to promote a moderate form of Islam, and there are reports that Islamic groups whose beliefs and practices are at variance with the state-approved teaching of Islam are banned. According to recent reports, individuals rarely are harassed because of their religious practices. Members of some minority religions are allowed to conduct services.
Christian churches operate openly and are tolerated by the authorities.
There are small Christian communities, composed almost exclusively of foreigners. The authorities reportedly have failed to honor a promise made in 1970 to provide the Anglican Church with alternative facilities when they took the property used by the Church. Since 1988 the Anglicans have shared a villa with other Protestant denominations. There are Union churches in Tripoli and Benghazi. Catholic priests and nuns serve in all the main coastal cities, and there is one priest in the southern city of Sebha.