Independent newspapers and other publications are generally allowed to circulate freely, but pressure on the independent media increased in 1998. Islam is the official state religion, but freedom of worship is respected. In May, the newspapers Le Populaire and Le Renouveau were suspended for six months and their editors sentenced to three months imprisonment after they published allegations of governmental corruption. Two other journalists were detained for a week in February after criticizing the country s finance minister. Despite equality under civil law, women suffer serious discrimination under customary practices in inheritance and other property matters, divorce, and the right to travel.
Women have few opportunities for education or in the formal economic sector.
There are no women in the cabinet or parliament. Female genital mutilation is almost universal among Djibouti s women, and legislation forbidding mutilation of young girls is not enforced. The formal sector in the largely rural agricultural and nomadic subsistence economy is small. Workers may join unions and strike, but the government routinely obstructs the free operation of unions. Wages are extremely low.