In the course of the riots a Protestant minister, his wife and child and a church worker were burned to death. Non-Muslims may not proselytize Muslims. Muslims who convert to another faith are considered apostates and may be subject to the death penalty. Four Baha 'is remain in prison under death sentences, convicted on charges of apostasy in 1996. These appear to be the only active Christian churches in the country.
Many visitors say that church activity appears staged.
Discrimination based on religion is built into the system of government. The President is by tradition a Maronite Christian, the Prime Minister a Sunni Muslim and the speaker of the Chamber of Deputies a Shi'a Muslim. . . . The amended Constitution of 1990 embraces the principle of abolishing religious affiliation as a criterion for filling all Government positions, but few practical steps have been taken to accomplish this. Islamic law and tradition call for strict punishment of any Muslim who converts to another faith, and any attempt to induce a Muslim to convert is illegal. Ordinarily, foreign missionaries either limit their proselytizing to non-Muslims or conduct their work quietly.