131. Law No. 61-86/AN-RM of 21 July 1961 on the organization of religious freedom and practice of religion provides in Article 1 that the secular Republic of Mali "shall provide freedom of conscience and freedom of religious opinion to all citizens. It shall guarantee everyone the freedom of worship, subject only to limitations imposed by the maintenance of public order." 132. This law prohibits the exercise of any worship with practices either contrary to morality or the respect and integrity of the human person, or stemming from an ideology that is based on racism or hatred. Article 3 of the Law emphasises the secular nature of the Republic of Mali. 133. Besides, the Criminal Code, in Article 58, punishes acts that constitute a violation of the freedom of thought, conscience and religion: "Any activity that runs counter to freedom of conscience and freedom of worship likely to pit citizens against other citizens shall be punishable by imprisonment of one (1) to five (5) years and, optionally, five (5) to ten (10) years of banishment.” 134. The Republic of Mali is a secular State and grants every citizen the freedom to choose between unbelief and adherence to the religion of his choice. It also recognizes the freedom to change religion. 135. It should however be noted that Mali is one of the few countries on the continent that has not experienced sectarianism or tribalism; the various communities that make up the Nation live in perfect harmony and freely practice the religions in which they believe through various prayers, rituals and behaviours. The right to information and freedom of expression (Article 9) 136. The Constitution in Article 4 provides for the principle of freedom of opinion and freedom of expression which is the foundation of any democracy. The national legislative framework poses no particular obstacle to the exercise of these freedoms, evidenced by the multiplicity and dynamism of the stakeholders in the cultural and artistic expression sector. 137. Furthermore, freedom of expression is reflected in Mali through the practice of multiparty politics (113 political parties are officially registered) and in the strengthening of the status of the opposition. 138. The exercise of freedom of expression in Mali is evidenced on the field by the institution in 1996, of a democratic expression and a human rights forum called "Democratic Expression Forum "(EID). This forum is the best expression of the effective exercise of this freedom. On 10 December each year, the date set aside for the commemoration of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Government organizes a national forum on human rights wherein citizens can question ministers before a panel composed of national and foreign dignitaries, on cases of human rights violations they suffered during the year. 139. The event is broadcast live on radio and television. The ministers concerned provide on-the-spot answers to the various queries at the end of which the panel of citizens makes recommendations to the Government. 34