The 1986 constitution recognizes freedom of religion as a fundamental right, but reserves the right to deny religious practice "as may be required by law to protect public safety, order, health, or morals or the fundamental rights and freedoms of others and Liberia has no established state religion." Leaders of religious denominations are prohibited from holding political office.
While the government generally respects the right of religious freedom, Muslims complain of discrimination by the government in allotment of jobs and as a result of a law requiring that businesses be closed on Sunday. Furthermore, there is tension between Christians and Muslims especially in the northern part of the country where most Muslims live. In 1999 and 2000, these tensions erupted in violent confrontation and the burning of five mosques in Lofa County.
The situation is aggravated by Liberia's experience of a bloody seven-year civil war that ended in 1996. In that year, Charles Taylor was elected president. Since 2000, however, the government has been waging a brutal campaign against insurgents in Lofa County. Many, if not most, of the insurgents are Mandingo Muslims who opposed Charles Taylor in the civil war. In their campaign against the insurgents the government security forces have been accused of egregious human rights abuses.
In the southeast part of the country there have been numerous reports of ritual murders and the consumption of body parts by members of some indigenous religious groups.
2003 U.S. State Department International Religious Freedom Report on Liberia
The Oslo Coalition on Freedom of Religion or Belief Report on Liberia
2002 Amnesty International Report on Liberia
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