Women often were seen in public wearing trousers or with their heads uncovered. Public Order Police generally only gave warnings for improper dress. In rebel-controlled areas, Christians, Muslims, and followers of traditional indigenous beliefs generally worship freely, although it appears that many of the region's Muslim residents have departed voluntarily over the years. There is no evidence that this close relationship has resulted in a failure to respect the rights of practitioners of other religions. There continued to be reports that security forces regularly harassed and at times used threats and violence against persons on the basis of their religious beliefs and activities.
Catholic priests report that they routinely are stopped and interrogated by police.
Security forces also detained persons apparently in relation to their religious beliefs and activities. However, in the past the Government often resorted to accusing, at times falsely, those arrested for religious reasons of other crimes, including common crimes and national security crimes, which resulted in prolonged detentions. When a member of the center's staff went to the local police, the police refused to take action, instead briefly detaining the staff member. He subsequently was released. There were reports that police in Hilla Kuku harassed members of the Catholic Church.