The freedom of conscience implies also the right to get a secular education or refuse
it. Either public or private schools take this into account: "A person attending any place
of education shall not be compelled to impart or receive religious instruction […]" (Article 21.3)
Moreover paragraph 4 estates: "[…] a person shall not be compelled to take any oath that is
contrary to the religion or belief of that person […]"
Religion plays an important role in Seychelles society. However Seychelles remains a
lay State where: "A person shall not be required to profess any religion as a qualification for
public office. (Same Article, paragraph 5) and, according to paragraph 6: "A law shall
not make provision for the establishment of any religion or the imposition of any religious
observance".
These Constitutional provisions are further entrenched into a wide range of National
legislation.
Laws of Seychelles 1996.
Following the practice in the prior edition of the "Laws of Seychelles" of 1991, the
present edition has included the Acts of recognisance of religions in the State Chapter 7. Anglican Church (Constitution of Anglican Diocese of Seychelles) Act
Chapter 103B. Islamic Society of Seychelles Incorporation Act
Chapter 144. National Society of the Baha'is of Seychelles (Incorporation) Act
Chapter 207. The Roman Catholic Mission of Seychelles (Incorporation) Act
Chapter 210. Seventh-Day Adventist Mission (Incorporation) Act.
There are in place mechanisms to enable any other religious organisations to apply
for legal recognition.
The Penal Code, 1/02/1955, updated in 1996.
Implements the Constitutional rules on the matter. Its Chapter XIV, entitled: Offences
Relating to Religion, includes:
Article 125: "Any person who destroys, damages or defiles any place of worship or any object which
is held sacred by any class of persons with intention of […] insulting the religion of any class […]
or with the knowledge that any class of persons is likely to consider such destruction, damage or
defilement as an insult to their religion, is guilty of a misdemeanour".