The

Constitution A constitution is the aggregate of fundamental principles or established precedents that constitute the legal basis of a polity, organization or other type of entity, and commonly determines how that entity is to be governed. When these pri ...

provides for

freedom of religion Freedom of religion or religious liberty, also known as freedom of religion or belief (FoRB), is a principle that supports the freedom of an individual or community, in public or private, to manifest religion or belief in teaching, practice ...

, with certain exceptions.US State Dept 2022 report ''This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain''
/ref>

Religious demography

According to the country’s 2011 census, 79% of the population are members of Christian groups, 15% do not follow a religion, 4% follow the Badimo indigenous religion and 2% follow other beliefs.

Status of religious freedom

Legal and policy framework

The Constitution provides for freedom of religion. There is no state religion. Although it is common for government meetings to begin with a Christian prayer, members of other religious groups are not excluded from leading non-Christian prayers at such occasions. The Constitution also provides for the protection of the rights and freedoms of other persons, including the right to observe and practice any religion without the unsolicited intervention of members of any other religion. All organizations, including religious groups, must register with the Government. There are no legal benefits for registered organizations, although an organization must be registered before it can conduct business, sign contracts, or open an account in a local bank. Any person who holds an official position in, manages, or assists in the management of an unregistered organization is liable to a fine of up to $79 (Pula 1,000) and/or up to 7 years in prison. Any member of an unregistered society is liable to penalties including fines up to $39 (Pula 500) and/or up to three years in prison.

Religious education In secular usage, religious education is the teaching of a particular religion (although in the United Kingdom the term ''religious instruction'' would refer to the teaching of a particular religion, with ''religious education'' referring to t ...

is an optional part of the curriculum in public schools; it emphasizes Christianity but addresses other religious groups in the country. In 2007, only Christian holy days were recognized as public holidays. These included

Good Friday Good Friday, also known as Holy Friday, Great Friday, Great and Holy Friday, or Friday of the Passion of the Lord, is a solemn Christian holy day commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus and his death at Calvary (Golgotha). It is observed during ...

Easter Monday Easter Monday is the second day of Eastertide and a public holiday in more than 50 predominantly Christian countries. In Western Christianity it marks the second day of the Octave of Easter; in Eastern Christianity it marks the second day of Br ...

Ascension Day The Feast of the Ascension of Jesus Christ (also called the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, Ascension Day, Ascension Thursday, or sometimes Holy Thursday) commemorates the Christian belief of the bodily Ascension of Jesus into Heaven. It ...

, and Christmas Day. However, members of other religious groups were allowed to commemorate their religious holidays without government interference.

Restrictions on religious freedom

In 2023, the country was scored 4 out of 4 for religious freedom;Freedom House website, retrieved 2023-08-08
/ref> all religious groups must register with the government. There were no reports of religious prisoners or detainees in the country in 2022.

References

* United States Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor. Botswana: International Religious Freedom Report 2007. ''This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the

public domain The public domain (PD) consists of all the creative work to which no Exclusive exclusive intellectual property rights apply. Those rights may have expired, been forfeited, expressly Waiver, waived, or may be inapplicable. Because no one holds ...

.'' {{Religion in Botswana

Botswana Botswana, officially the Republic of Botswana, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. Botswana is topographically flat, with approximately 70 percent of its territory part of the Kalahari Desert. It is bordered by South Africa to the sou ...

Human rights in Botswana Religion in Botswana