One of my current research projects involves analysis of the religion provisions of various constitutions enacted since the year 2000. From time to time on this blog, I'll post extracts of those provisions arranged according to categories such as "Religious Freedom" (guarantee of individual rights), "Established Religion" (joining religion and government), "Establishment Clause" (separating religion and government), "Ceremonial Deism" (symbolic references to religion that have little or no legal effect), "Equal Protection of Religion" (non-discrimination guarantees), "Preamble", "Religious Education", and "Religious Limitations."
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The 2010 Constitution of Kyrgyzstan has the three mainstays of liberal constitutionalism in the area of religion: a strong establishment clause, equal protection of religion, and religious freedom.
Establishment Clause
Article 1
1. The Kyrgyz Republic (Kyrgyzstan) is a sovereign, democratic, secular,
unitary and social
state governed by the rule of law.
Article 7(2) . Religion and all
cults shall be separated from the state.
Article 7(3). The involvement of religious associations and ministers of
religion in the activity of
state authorities shall be
prohibited.
Equal
Protection of Religion
Article 16(2) No one may be
subject to discrimination on the basis of sex, race, language, disability,
ethnicity, belief, age, political and other convictions, education, background, proprietary
and other status as well as other circumstances
Religious Freedom
Article 32
1. Everyone shall be guaranteed freedom of conscience and belief.
2. Everyone shall have the right to confess individually or jointly with
other persons any religion
or not to confess religion.
3. Everyone shall have the right to freely choose and have religions and
other convictions.
4. No one may be forced to express his/her religious and other
convictions or deny them
