The Law on Fundamental Human Rights protects freedom of thought, religion and conscience; public and private worship, teaching, practice and observance and the right of any person to change their religion. The 1996 and 1997 US State Department Reports on Human Rights both declare that the government respects these rights in practice.

The atmosphere concerning religion varies greatly from the days of enforced atheism and religious persecution following the communization of Albania. The 1978 constitution of Albania prohibited the creation of any form of religious organization or activities and stated that the State of Albania supports "atheist propaganda for the purpose of inculcating the scientific materialist world outlook."

The present Albanian government has a religious affairs section to oversee the activities of religious communities. The primary issue between traditional religions and the government is the return of properties to the parties who owned them prior to confiscation by the state. Some properties have been returned and the government has declared its willingness to return mosques and churches to their owner, but progress has been slow. The situation is complicated in that the government has declared 21 properties to be national cultural sites that require special protection. The state has an Institute for Cultural Monuments. Each site must be individually negotiated with the government to insure upkeep and protection of icons. The Institute retains ownership of some icons to insure their protection sometimes with the willing consent of the religious body. The Orthodox Church has complained that they have had a difficult time recovering some icons for restoration and safekeeping.

In its 1996 Report on Human Rights, the State Department said that, according to the Minister of Culture, there were 15 different Muslim societies and about 80 Christian societies active in Albania. In the 1997 report, State reported that The Religious Council of the State Secretariat, an office that functions under the Prime Minister's authority, estimates that there are 20 different Muslim societies and sects with around 95 representatives in country. The report also stated that foreign clergy, including Muslim clerics, Christian and Ba'hai missionaries, Jehovah's Witnesses, and others are free to engage in religious activities. There are more than 2,500 missionaries representing Christian or Ba'hai organizations. According to the 1997 State Department report, no religious missionaries had suffered any acts of violence or been arrested because they are missionaries.

The Albanian Evangelical Alliance, an association of Protestant churches, has complained that they have encountered administrative obstacles to building churches and access to the media. The growing Evangelical community has been seeking official recognition and participation in the religious affairs section of the Council of Ministers.

2003 US State Department International Religious Freedom Report on Albania

Oslo Coalition on Freedom of Religion or Belief Report on Albania

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