Although the Lao constitution protects freedom of religion
or belief, conflicting government decrees and policies
routinely result in religious freedoms limitations.
More than two-thirds of the population are Buddhists,
while Christians are believed to comprise less than two
percent. Animism, ancestor worship, and other traditional
beliefs are common among ethnic minorities,
and there are several other religious minority groups in
the country.
A complicated web of government approvals is
required for most religious practices and for the construction
of houses of worship. The space to practice
religion in the country has improved in some ways in
recent years, but inconsistently so. Observers have noted
reduced numbers of prisoners of conscience. However,
some minority religious groups continue to face abuses
for not following the majority Buddhist faith. Overall,
the varying and unpredictable application of the law in
practice provides little meaningful protection to most
religious groups.
Moreover, limitations on freedom of religion or
belief take place in a climate where political space is
largely limited. Civil society operates in a highly limited
environment, and civil society and independent
media face continued harassment and arbitrary arrest
for exercising their rights to freedom of expression,
association, or assembly. The suspicious disappearance
of civil society leader Sombath Somphone is emblematic.
Sombath, a well-known human rights defender,
has not been seen since he disappeared in December
2012 after being stopped and detained by police, and
the government has produced no meaningful information
about his whereabouts. The government also
tightly controls the print and broadcast media and
recently increased restrictions on expression on the
Internet, with new legislation that criminalizes criticizing
the government or ruling party or circulating
false information online.