The constitution and laws of Belize
PROTECTION OF FREEDOM OF CONSCIENCE.
11. (1) Except with his own consent, a person shall not be hindered in
the enjoyment of his freedom of conscience, including freedom of thought and of
religion, freedom to change his religion or belief and freedom, either alone or
in community with others, and both in public and in private, to manifest and
propagate his religion or belief in worship teaching, practice and
observance.
(2) Except with his own consent (or, if he is a person under the age of
eighteen years, the consent of his parent or guardian) a person attending any
place of education, detained in any prison or corrective institution or serving
in a naval, military or air force shall not be required to receive religious
instruction or to take part in or attend any religious ceremony or observance
if that instruction, ceremony or observance relates to a religion which is not
his own.
(3) Every recognized religious community shall be entitled, at its own expense
to establish and maintain places of education and to manage any place of
education which or maintains; and no such community shall be prevented from
providing religious instruction for persons of that community in the course of
any education provided by that community whether or not it is in receipt of a
government subsidy or other form financial assistance designed to meet in whole
or in part the cost of such course of education.
(4) A person shall not be compelled to take any oath which is contrary to his
religion or belief or to take any oath in a manner which is contrary his
religion or belief.
(5) Nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law shall be held
to be inconsistent with or in contravention or this section to the extent that
the law in question makes provision which is reasonably required-
a. in the interests of defence, public safety, public order, public morality or
public health;
b. for the purpose of protecting 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; or
c. for the purpose or regulating educational institutions in the interest of
the persons who receive or may receive instruction in them.
(6) References in this section to a religion shall be construed as including
references to a religious denomination, and cognate expressions shall be
construed accordingly.
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