Tunisia This State Department web site is a permanent electronic archive of information released prior to January 20, 2001. Please see the current site for material released since that date. Contact us with any questions about finding information. Islam is the state religion. There was no change in the status of respect for religious freedom during the period covered by this report.
Amicable relations exist among all religious communities.
The Government prohibits proselytizing as an act against the public order for which foreign missionaries may be expelled. The U.S. Government discusses religious freedom issues with the Government in the context of its overall dialog and policy of promoting human rights. The Government recognizes all Christian and Jewish religious organizations that were established before independence in 1956. Although the Government permits Christian churches to operate freely, only the Catholic Church has formal recognition from the postindependence Government. The other churches operate under land grants signed by the Bey of Tunis in the 18th and 19th centuries, which are respected by the postindependence Government.