Freedom of religion |
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Religion portal |
Freedom of religion in Singapore is a guaranteed constitutionally protected right. Article 15 of the Constitution of Singapore states: "Every person has the right to profess and practise his religion and to propagate it." and allows believers the freedom to assemble and worship without limitation or interference.
The Sedition Act also prohibits seditious acts and speech which "promote feelings of ill-will and hostility between different races or classes of the population of Singapore," and the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act (MRHA) empowers the Minister for Home Affairs to take a pre-emptive approach by issuing restraining orders against a religious leader that has committed or is attempting to commit certain acts threatening religious harmony.
Some movements deemed controversial have been de-registered, but not banned, by the government, most notably the Jehovah's Witnesses (JW) in 1972 because of their opposition to military service which is obligatory for all male citizens. A decade later, it dissolved the Unification Church (UC) – colloquially known as "Moonies" – as it was deemed a cult that was breaking up families. Nevertheless, followers of such denominations are able to practice their own beliefs without much interference, with proselytising being restricted.