U.S. Dep't of State, 2023 Report on International Religious Freedom: Antigua and Barbuda

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The constitution provides for freedom of thought and religion as well as the right to practice and change one’s religion or belief. In March, the government approved granting licenses to Rastafarians to grow marijuana for sacramental purposes. In granting the licenses, Prime Minister Gaston Brown acknowledged respect was due to Rastafarianism as a religion. Members of the Muslim community said the government offered them space in public cemeteries for burials as well as tax- and duty-free concessions along with privileges accorded to other faith groups.

Public school officials invited members of the Muslim community to speak to students regarding Islam. Members of the Muslim community said they believed other religious groups continued to respect their right to practice Islam freely. U.S. embassy officials met with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Health, Wellness, Social Transformation, and the Environment to discuss the importance of freedom of religion and religious diversity in contributing to healthy societies. Embassy officials continued to meet with leaders of the interdenominational Christian Council, the Syrian and Lebanese diasporas (who are primarily Christian), and the Rastafarian community to discuss religious tolerance and diversity.

Section I. Religious Demography The U.S. government estimates the total population at 101,500 (midyear 2023). According to the 2011 census, the most recent, 17.6 percent of the population is Anglican, 12.4 percent Seventh-day Adventist, 12.2 percent Pentecostal, 8.3 percent Moravian, 8.2 percent Roman Catholic, and 5.6 percent Methodist. Those with unspecified or no religious beliefs account for 5.5 percent and 5.9 percent of the population, respectively. Members of the Baptist Church, the Church of God, and the Wesleyan Holiness Consortium each account for less than 5 percent of the population.

The census categorizes an additional 12.2 percent of the population as belonging to other religious groups, including Rastafarians, Muslims, Hindus, and Baha’is, without providing percentages for each group. Based on anecdotal information, these four minority religious groups are listed from largest to smallest. According to representatives of the Muslim community, there are approximately 100 Muslim families in the country – mostly foreign born – including Palestinians as well as individuals from Nigeria, Egypt, Ghana, Syria, Senegal, Guyana, the United States of America, England, and Canada. Section II.

Status of Government Respect for Religious Freedom Legal Framework The constitution provides for freedom of thought and religion, as well as the right to change and practice one’s religion or belief. It protects individuals, from taking oaths, receiving religious instruction, and participating in religious events contradictory to their beliefs without their consent. These rights may be limited in the interests of defense or public safety, order, morality, or health, or to protect the rights of others, unless actions under such limitations can be shown “not to be reasonably justifiable in a democratic society.” The constitution prohibits members of the clergy from running for elected office. No law may be adopted that contradicts these constitutional provisions.

The government does not enforce a law outlawing blasphemous language in a public place or any other place that would “cause annoyance to the public.” Religious groups must register with the government to receive tax- and duty-free concessions and to own, build, or renovate property. To register, religious groups must fill out an online tax form that describes the group’s activities. The government uses this form to determine the group’s tax status. The Inland Revenue Department reviews and approves the completed form, usually granting registration and tax concessions.

The law prohibits religious instruction in public schools, although private schools may provide religious instruction. While public schools require parents to immunize their children to attend school, some private schools do not require immunizations for their students. The law permits homeschooling. The law decriminalizing marijuana for any use also recognizes the government’s responsibility to uphold the religious rights of persons of the Hindu and Rastafari faiths.

The law allows these persons to apply for a special religious license to cultivate the plant within their private dwelling, use the plant for religious purposes within their private dwelling or within their approved place of worship, and transport the plant between their private dwelling and approved places of worship. The special religious license, however, does not permit any commercial or financial transaction involving any part of the cannabis plant. The country is not a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Government Practices In March, the government granted the Rastafarian community’s longstanding request to obtain licenses to grow marijuana for sacramental purposes.

According to the 2018 Cannabis Act, persons older than 18 may possess a maximum of 15 grams (0.5 ounces) of marijuana and grow no more than four marijuana plants per household. In authorizing the licenses, Prime Minister Brown stated, “I believe, as a faith-based institution, that your organization should be respected by all.” Ras Tashi, a member of the Ras Freeman Foundation for the Unification of Rastafari said, “We’re more free now.” He added, “The government gives us our religious rights … we can come and plant any amount of marijuana … and no police can come and take up any plant. We fight for that right – and we get that right.” The government also offered cremation as an option for burial to all religious groups. In October, members of the Muslim community reported the government offered them specially reserved burial space in public cemeteries.

They continued to receive tax concessions and duty-free exemptions offered to other religious groups, including land to build a mosque. Muslim children attended public schools, and Muslim girls could wear the hijab in school. Muslim leaders said public school officials invited members of the Muslim community to speak to students about Islam. Section III.

Status of Societal Respect for Religious Freedom Members of the minority Muslim community reported other religious groups respected their right to practice their religion freely. Section IV. U.S. Government Policy and Engagement There is no permanent U.S. diplomatic presence in the country. The Ambassador and representatives from the U.S. Embassy in Bridgetown, Barbados, visited the country frequently and engaged with government officials on issues of religious freedom.

Embassy officials met with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Health, Wellness, Social Transformation, and the Environment to discuss the importance of religious diversity and inclusion in healthy societies. Embassy officials met with leaders of the interdenominational Christian Council, the Syrian and Lebanese diasporas (who are primarily Christian), and the Rastafarian community to discuss religious diversity and tolerance. The embassy maintained social media engagement on religious freedom issues. It also recognized the celebration of diverse religious holidays throughout the year, commemorating Easter, Good Friday, and International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

On This Page search > < EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Section I. Religious Demography Section II. Status of Government Respect for Religious Freedom Legal Framework Government Practices Section III. Status of Societal Respect for Religious Freedom Section IV. U.S. Government Policy and Engagement Tags Antigua and Barbuda Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs Office of International Religious Freedom Religious Freedom Reports