Religion in Swaziland
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The population of Swaziland is approximately 35 percent Protestant, 30 percent African Zionist, 25 percent Catholic, and 1 percent Muslim.[1] The remaining 9 percent of the population is divided among the Baha'i Faith, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), Judaism, and other religious groups.[1] Zionism, a blend of Christianity and indigenous ancestral worship, is the predominant religion in rural areas.[1] A large Roman Catholic presence, including churches, schools, and other infrastructure, continues to flourish.[1] The country forms a single diocese - the Diocese of Manzini. Followers of Islam and the Baha'i Faith generally are located in urban areas.[1] Islam in Swaziland probably dates to the colonial period, when many Muslims settled in the country from other countries under the dominion of the British Empire.[citation needed] Most immigrants from South Asia practice Islam.[1] There are few atheists.[1] Missionaries continue to play a role in rural development.[1]
The new Constitution, which went into effect on February 8, 2006, provides for freedom of religion. The Government generally respects freedom of religion in practice.[1] The US government received no reports of societal abuse or discrimination based on religious belief or practice during 2008.[1]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j International Religious Freedom Report 2008: Swaziland. United States Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (September 19, 2008). This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
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