https___fot.humanists.international_countries_africa-northern-africa_tunisia_.xml
https___pradeshtimesonline.com_2022_06_5843__1.xml
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Tunisia has a population of 11.8 Million, of which approximately 99% are Sunni Muslims. The remaining 1% comprises of small Christian, Jewish, Shiite and Baha’i communities. In 2011, Tunisia set in motion the transnational pro-democracy uprising known as the ‘Arab Spring’ when a young vegetable vendor, Mohamed Bouazizi, set himself on fire after suffering repeated humiliations by local police officers. After 28 days of mass protests against authoritarianism, corruption, poverty, and political oppression, the Tunisian President Ben Ali officially resigned, putting an end to his 23-year-long rule. Tunisia’s transition to democracy began soon after that, with some notable improvements: a progressive new Constitution was adopted in 2014, legislative and presidential elections were held, and laws were adopted to enshrine greater gender equality. Tunisia is a member of the League of Arab states (LAS), as well as the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). Constitution and government Education and children’s rights Family, community, society, religious courts and tribunals Freedom of expression advocacy of humanist values The state is secular, with separation of religious and political authorities, not discriminating against any religion or belief Countries: Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Central African Republic, Chile, Congo, Republic of the, Ecuador, Estonia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Japan, Kenya, Kosovo, Mongolia, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, São Tomé and Príncipe, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, South Africa, South Sudan, Suriname, Taiwan, Ukraine Insufficient information or detail not included in this report Religious or ideological instruction is mandatory in all or most state-funded schools with no secular or humanist alternative Countries: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Croatia, Egypt, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Kenya, Lebanon, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritania, Morocco, Nigeria, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Zimbabwe No formal discrimination in education Countries: Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Congo, Republic of the, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Iceland, India, Japan, Korea, Republic of, Kyrgyzstan, Madagascar, Mali, Mongolia, Montenegro, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, São Tomé and Príncipe, South Africa, Sweden, Taiwan, Timor-Leste (East Timor), United States of America, Uruguay Insufficient information or detail not included in this report Religious courts or tribunals rule directly on some family or ‘moral’ matters; it is legally an opt-in system, but the possibility of social coercion is very clear Countries: Comoros, Ethiopia, Gambia, Jamaica, Kenya, Lebanon, Niger, Philippines, Senegal, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom No religious tribunals of concern, secular groups operate freely, individuals are not persecuted by the state Countries: Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Canada, Chile, Congo, Republic of the, Dominica, Ecuador, Estonia, France, Ghana, Guatemala, Iceland, Japan, Korea, Republic of, Kosovo, Latvia, Luxembourg, Micronesia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, São Tomé and Príncipe, Sweden, Taiwan, Uruguay, Venezuela Insufficient information or detail not included in this report Countries: Austria, Congo, Democratic Republic of, Côte d'Ivoire, Czech Republic, Honduras, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Seychelles, South Africa, South Sudan No fundamental restrictions on freedom of expression or advocacy of humanist values Countries: Bahamas, Belgium, Costa Rica, Iceland, Jamaica, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Romania, Slovenia, Sweden, Taiwan, United States of America Insufficient information or detail not included in this report Countries: no countries relate to this boundary condition No condition holds in this strand No condition holds in this strand No condition holds in this strand No condition holds in this strand Countries: no countries relate to this boundary condition Localised or infrequent but recurring and widespread social marginalisation or prejudice against the non-religious This condition is unusual in that it is applied in cases where there is some social discrimination, but it is not pervasive or nationwide. This condition is applied when there is sufficient background evidence to warrant the assertion that discrimination is not anomalous but widespread, and this condition may be applied for example even where if there is no legislative discrimination or where the non-religious may have legal recourse against such discrimination. However, societal discrimination (i.e. discrimination by peers, as opposed to state or legal discrimination) is not easily measured, and for this reason the Report does not currently have similar more severe boundary conditions to capture higher levels of social discrimination per se. In principle these may be introduced in future. However, we consider that countries with actual higher levels of social discrimination against the non-religious will generally already meet other higher level (more severe) boundary conditions under this thematic strand. The dominant influence of religion in public life undermines the right to equality and/or non-discrimination Applied when the influence of religion on public life undermines others’ rights, such as SRHR, women’s rights, LGBTI+ rights. May be applied when the influence is overt (i.e. when religious laws are applied to undermine others’ rights) or covert (i.e. where religious pressure groups exert influence to affect policy) Countries: Andorra, Armenia, Bahamas, Belize, Bolivia, Croatia, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Eswatini, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Hungary, Italy, Jamaica, Liberia, Lithuania, Mexico, Moldova, Montenegro, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Timor-Leste (East Timor), Trinidad and Tobago, Ukraine Use of Conscientious Objection clauses resulting in the denial of lawful services to women and LGBTI+ people Complete tyranny precludes all freedoms of expression and thought, religion or belief Applied when overriding acts of oppression by the State are extreme, to the extent that the question of freedom of thought and expression is almost redundant, because all human rights and freedoms are quashed by authorities. The non-religious are barred from some government offices (including posts reserved for particular religions or sects) Countries: Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Comoros, Eritrea, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Myanmar (Burma), Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Syria, Thailand, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen There is systematic religious privilege Countries: Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Bahrain, Belize, Botswana, Brazil, Cambodia, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Latvia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Madagascar, Malta, Moldova, Nepal, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste (East Timor), Togo, Tunisia, United Kingdom, Zambia, Zimbabwe There is a nominal state church with few privileges or progress is being made toward disestablishment Religious or ideological indoctrination is utterly pervasive in schools There is state funding of at least some religious schools Countries: Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Comoros, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Fiji, Finland, Germany, Ghana, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Kosovo, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Morocco, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Switzerland, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, United Kingdom, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Yemen, Zimbabwe State-funded schools offer religious or ideological instruction with no secular or humanist alternative, but it is optional Countries: Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, Gambia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Italy, Kiribati, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Macedonia, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, New Zealand, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom, Vanuatu, Venezuela Expression of non-religious views is severely persecuted, or is rendered almost impossible by severe social stigma, or is highly likely to be met with hatred or violence The non-religious are persecuted socially or there are prohibitive social taboos against atheism, humanism or secularism There is significant social marginalisation of the non-religious or stigma associated with expressing atheism, humanism or secularism Countries: Bangladesh, Barbados, Colombia, Egypt, Georgia, Ghana, Guyana, Iraq, Macedonia, Malaysia, Poland, Samoa, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Uganda Expression of core Humanist principles on democracy, freedom and human rights is brutally repressed Countries: Afghanistan, Bahrain, Brunei Darussalam, Chad, China, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Mauritania, North Korea, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, United Arab Emirates, Yemen Expression of core humanist principles on democracy, freedom or human rights is severely restricted Countries: Algeria, Angola, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Brazil, Burundi, Central African Republic, Congo, Democratic Republic of, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Laos, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Morocco, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Philippines, Russia, Rwanda, Samoa, Somalia, Sudan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Zambia, Zimbabwe Expression of core humanist principles on democracy, freedom or human rights is somewhat restricted Countries: Andorra, Armenia, Benin, Bhutan, Cambodia, Cameroon, Congo, Republic of the, Côte d'Ivoire, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Israel, Italy, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mexico, Myanmar (Burma), Niger, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Senegal, Singapore, South Africa, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uganda Some concerns about political or media freedoms, not specific to the non-religious Countries: Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bangladesh, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Denmark, Dominica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, France, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Greece, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, India, Ireland, Japan, Kenya, Kiribati, Korea, Republic of, Kosovo, Kuwait, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, São Tomé and Príncipe, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste (East Timor), Tonga, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Vanuatu Religious authorities have supreme authority over the state State legislation is partly derived from religious law or by religious authorities Countries: Algeria, Bangladesh, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Comoros, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, Malaysia, Morocco, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates Preferential treatment is given to a religion or religion in general This condition is applied where there are miscellaneous indicators that organs of the state offer various forms of support for a religion, or to religion in general over non-religious worldviews, suggesting a preference for those beliefs, or that the organs of that religion are privileged. Countries: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Burundi, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Finland, Germany, Ghana, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Montenegro, Mozambique, Nepal, New Zealand, Nigeria, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Rwanda, San Marino, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Timor-Leste (East Timor), Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, United Kingdom, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Zimbabwe Official symbolic deference to religion Countries: Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Djibouti, Dominica, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Finland, Germany, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Kiribati, Korea, Republic of, Laos, Latvia, Liberia, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia, Singapore, Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States of America, Vanuatu, Zimbabwe Religious or ideological instruction in a significant number of schools is of a coercive fundamentalist or extremist variety This condition highlights countries where schools subject children to fundamentalist religious instruction with no real opportunity to question fundamentalist tenets, or where lessons routinely encourage hatred (for example religious or ethnic hatred). The wording “significant number of schools” is not given a rigid quantification (sometimes the worst-offending schools are unregistered, illegal, or otherwise uncounted); however the condition is not applied in cases where only a small number of schools meet the description and may be anomalous, as opposed to being indicative of a widespread problem. Religious schools have powers to discriminate in admissions or employment Countries: Argentina, Armenia, Bangladesh, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Eritrea, Finland, Germany, Haiti, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Lebanon, Macedonia, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Morocco, Myanmar (Burma), Sri Lanka, Uganda, United Kingdom, Zimbabwe State-funded schools provide religious education which may be nominally comprehensive but is substantively biased or borderline confessional There is a pattern of impunity or collusion in violence by non-state actors against the nonreligious Systemic religious privilege results in significant social discrimination Countries: Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ghana, Guinea, Guyana, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Palestine, Paraguay, Qatar, Russia, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Thailand, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Zimbabwe Some religious courts rule in civil or family matters on a coercive or discriminatory basis Countries: Bangladesh, Comoros, Egypt, Haiti, Jamaica, Malaysia, Nigeria, Palestine, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Turkey ‘Apostasy’ or conversion from a specific religion is outlawed and punishable by death Countries: Afghanistan, Iran, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritania, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen ‘Apostasy’ is outlawed and punishable with a prison sentence Blasphemy or criticism of religion is restricted in law and is punishable by a fine Countries: Australia, Austria, Barbados, Brazil, Cambodia, Finland, Italy, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Moldova, Montenegro, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Saint Lucia, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Kingdom Concerns that secular or religious authorities interfere in specifically religious freedoms Countries: Angola, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Congo, Republic of the, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ethiopia, Germany, Ghana, Haiti, Hungary, Italy, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritania, Mexico, Nepal, North Korea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Serbia, Singapore, Tajikistan, Tonga, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Zambia State legislation is largely or entirely derived from religious law or by religious authorities Countries: Afghanistan, Bahrain, Brunei Darussalam, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Maldives, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, United Arab Emirates, Yemen There is an established church or state religion Countries: Algeria, Argentina, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Costa Rica, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Finland, Georgia, Haiti, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Liechtenstein, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritania, Monaco, Morocco, Myanmar (Burma), Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Tunisia, Tuvalu, United Kingdom, Yemen, Zambia Anomalous discrimination by local or provincial authorities, or overseas territories Countries: Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Dominica, Ethiopia, France, Ghana, Guinea, India, Jamaica, Malawi, Malaysia, Mexico, Micronesia, Mongolia, Niger, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Switzerland, Thailand, Tonga, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States of America Religious or ideological instruction is mandatory in at least some public schools (without secular or humanist alternatives) Countries: Argentina, Armenia, Belize, Burundi, Cambodia, Chad, China, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Georgia, Germany, Guinea, Haiti, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Jamaica, Jordan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Lesotho, Libya, Malawi, Malaysia, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Oman, Palestine, Peru, Philippines, Samoa, Switzerland, Thailand, Uganda, United Kingdom, Zambia Government figures or state agencies openly marginalize, harass, or incite hatred or violence against the non-religious Countries: Afghanistan, Brunei Darussalam, Egypt, Hungary, Iran, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritania, Morocco, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan Government authorities push a socially conservative, religiously or ideologically inspired agenda, without regard to the rights of those with progressive views Countries: Afghanistan, Algeria, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burundi, China, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Estonia, Grenada, Hungary, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Kyrgyzstan, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Russia, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Vanuatu, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zimbabwe Discriminatory prominence is given to religious bodies, traditions or leaders Countries: Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Bahamas, Bahrain, Benin, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Finland, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Haiti, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kiribati, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Moldova, Morocco, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Samoa, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste (East Timor), Tonga, Tunisia, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States of America, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe ‘Blasphemy’ or criticism of religion is outlawed and punishable by death ‘Blasphemy’ is outlawed or criticism of religion (including de facto ‘blasphemy’ laws) is restricted and punishable with a prison sentence Countries: Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Cameroon, Comoros, Cyprus, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Finland, Gambia, Germany, Grenada, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Morocco, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, Oman, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Vanuatu, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Quasi-divine veneration of a ruling elite is enforced, or a single-party regime holds uncontested power, subject to severe punishment Legal or constitutional provisions exclude non-religious views from freedom of belief Countries: Argentina, Canada, Eritrea, Haiti, Madagascar, Malaysia, Morocco, Oman, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Sri Lanka, Tonga It is illegal to register an explicitly Humanist, atheist, secularist or other non-religious NGO or other human rights organization, or such groups are persecuted by authorities Countries: Afghanistan, China, Egypt, Eritrea, Indonesia, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Maldives, Morocco, North Korea, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, United Arab Emirates, Yemen Prohibitive interreligious social control (including interreligious marriage bans) Countries: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Burundi, Djibouti, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Israel, Libya, Maldives, Mauritania, Morocco, Myanmar (Burma), Pakistan, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen Religious groups control some public or social services Countries: Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, Denmark, Eritrea, Germany, Haiti, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Romania, Rwanda, Solomon Islands, Switzerland, Tunisia, United Kingdom, Vanuatu It is illegal to advocate secularism or church-state separation, or such advocacy is suppressed Countries: Afghanistan, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Indonesia, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Maldives, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, United Arab Emirates, Yemen The non-religious are barred from holding government office There is a religious tax or tithing which is compulsory, or which is state-administered and discriminates by precluding non-religious groups Countries: Argentina, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ghana, Haiti, Hungary, Italy, Pakistan, Peru, Portugal, Rwanda, Samoa, Sweden, Switzerland Religious control over family law or legislation on moral matters Countries: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Fiji, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Macedonia, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritania, Morocco, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen It is illegal or unrecognised to identify as an atheist or as non-religious Countries: Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Egypt, Eritrea, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Malaysia, Maldives, Morocco, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, United Arab Emirates Some concerns about children's right to specifically religious freedom This condition may apply if specifically religious education, religious materials, or specific religious denominations are so tightly controlled that children are in fact over-protected from exposure to religion and are likely unable to explore or construct their own worldview in accordance with their evolving capacities. This condition helps us to classify states (perhaps with secular constitutions) which have criminalized specifically religious beliefs or practices. This condition is not applied if the restricted beliefs or practices are found to be outlawed due to their being of an extremist variety. While this condition does not directly reflect discrimination against non-religious persons or non-religious ideas, it does represent an overall threat to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief; such restrictions could spill over to affect non-religious beliefs later; and they pose a risk of backlash against over-zealous secular authorities or even against non-religious individuals by association. Countries: China, Cuba, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Guinea, Guyana, Italy, Kazakhstan, Laos, Madagascar, Mexico, Serbia, Tajikistan, Togo, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Zimbabwe State-funding of religious institutions or salaries, or discriminatory tax exemptions Countries: Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Bhutan, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Eswatini, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guinea, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Jordan, Korea, Republic of, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Montenegro, Myanmar (Burma), Namibia, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Suriname, Switzerland, Thailand, Timor-Leste (East Timor), Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Yemen, Zimbabwe It is made difficult to register or operate an explicitly Humanist, atheist, secularist or other non-religious NGO or other human rights organization Countries: Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Comoros, Egypt, Eritrea, Malaysia, Mauritania, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine, Senegal, Somalia, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan Constitution and government After the Tunisian uprising in 2011, Tunisia undertook to create a new constitution. Continuing disagreement between Islamists and secularists caused delays, but it was finally agreed in January 2014. Key demands of the Islamist lobby were met, while other proposals were dropped. In general the influence of religion on society became more prominent in the first years after the Tunisian uprising than it was under the regime of former president Ben Ali, including episodes of violence and harassment by organised Islamist groups. The 2014 constitution begins with “In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate” and ends with “And God is the guarantor of success.” The constitution is considered an expression of “commitment to the teachings of Islam”, recognizing an “Arabo-Islamic identity”, “desirous of consolidating our cultural and civilizational affiliation to the Arab and Muslim nation”. Clearly this language is exclusory of other ethnic and faith groups and flatters pan-Arabic and Islamist ambitions. Article 5 considers Tunisia as “part of the Arab Maghreb”. Article 1 of the Constitution declares that “Tunisia is a free, independent, sovereign state; its religion is Islam”, and that “This article cannot be amended”, precluding any future secular reforms. Article 6 “guarantees freedom of conscience and belief, [and] the free exercise of religious practices” but stipulates that “The state is the guardian of religion”, which would appear to be a justification for blasphemy laws and the current criminalisation of any criticism of Islam. The state undertakes to disseminate “the protection of the sacred, and the prohibition of all violations thereof. It prohibits calls for Takfir [Muslim accusations of apostasy against other Muslims] and the incitement of violence and hatred.” As per Article 49, the exercise of all rights and freedoms, including religious freedom, can be restricted in the name of protecting the rights of third parties, national defense, public security, morality, and health. Atheists and religious minorities are banned from the presidency, which is constitutionally restricted to those who hold “Tunisian nationality since birth” and “whose religion is Islam” (Article 74). In these terms there is little improvement over the 1959 constitution, which made similar stipulations. The government subsidizes mosques and pays the salaries of imams. Local religious committees and imams must be approved by the regional representative of the Ministry of Religious Affairs. The president appoints the grand mufti of the state. The government allows the Jewish community to worship freely and pays the salary of the grand rabbi. It also provides some security for all synagogues and partially subsidizes some restoration and maintenance costs. The government recognizes all Christian and Jewish religious organizations established after independence in 1956. Christian and Jewish organisations established before 1956 are permitted to function, but lack official recognition. The government permits Christian churches to operate freely, and formally recognizes the Roman Catholic Church through a 1964 concordat with the Holy See. Education and children’s rights Islamic religious education is mandatory in public schools. The courses on Islam take up roughly one hour per week and non-Muslims are able to request an exemption. The religious curriculum for secondary school students also includes the history of Judaism and Christianity. The state allows other religious groups to educate in private schools. In public primary schools, textbooks for the Islamic education course emphasize the ethical and moral aspects of Islam. Religious tolerance toward Christians, Jews and nonbelievers is highlighted as a key Islamic value and the importance of pan-human solidarity is stressed. Family, community and society Gender equality On paper, Tunisia has a reputation for being one of the most progressive countries for women’s rights in the region. It banned polygamy in the 1950s, it has adopted several electoral gender quotas to ensure the equal representation of women in politics, and in 2014 the government withdrew its reservations to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) (leaving, however, a general declaration that it would not take any organizational or legislative decision pursuant to CEDAW where such a decision would conflict with “the provisions of Chapter I of the Tunisian Constitution”, which contains references to Islam). In 2017, it passed a landmark piece of legislation to combat violence against women, including the removal of a loophole that allowed rapists to escape punishment if they married their victims. The picture on the ground, however, is slightly more complicated. Significant investment is still needed for the 2017 domestic violence law to be translated into improved safety for women, and many women in rural parts of the country remain unaware of their new rights. In 2017, an administrative obstacle preventing Muslim women from marrying non-Muslim men (something forbidden under shari’a law) was removed, and now there are no more restrictions in place for this kind of unions. However, resistance by administrators at the local level to comply with the new regulations still exists. In addition, a draft law that would grant women equal inheritance rights to men – initially proposed in 2018 by President Essebsi and a first in the world for a country that still derives norms from shari’a law for certain matters of personal status – met fierce opposition from conservative parties in parliament, and since the death of Essebsi it looks unlikely to pass into law. Discriminatory inheritance laws have meant that women in Tunisia are largely excluded in practice from acquiring land rights, and government figures show that less than five percent of women in Tunisia are registered land owners. The wearing of the niqab and hijab in public remains a controversial issue. First, President Bourguiba banned women from wearing the niqab and hijab in schools, referring to the veil as a “miserable rag”. Later under Ben Ali, the ban (Article 102 of 1986) became a cause for harassment by security forces on the streets, as well as other visible signs of faith, such as the man’s beard. As a result, university students who did not want to show their hair in public used a hat to hide it instead of the hijab. Since 2011, however, the number of women wearing the niqab and hijab on the streets has increased. Following three suicide bombings in the space of a week in Tunis, the government issued an order banning the Niqab in government buildings, citing security reasons. Adherence to Ramadan While there is no law in Tunisia explicitly forbidding eating, drinking, or smoking in public during Ramadan, there are still strong societal pressures to observe the fasting period. Though technically legal, numerous cafe owners are harassed and intimidated by security forces for keeping their cafes open during fasting time, and citizens may be arrested for eating or drinking in public. Such arrests are usually made under “public indecency” laws, and on the basis of an old administrative act whose current validity is unclear. Although many Tunisians are deeply religious, the secularist policies of former presidents Bourguiba and Ben Ali have left traces in Tunisian society, including possibly a higher number of non-religious individuals than previously. The clash between conservative religious and more liberal opinion has led in recent years to public debate about enforcement of religious fasting. In 2018, a protest movement calling itself Mouch Bessif (which translates to “not by force”), started by the Tunisian Freethinkers Movement, publicly campaigned against the closure of restaurants and cafes during Ramadan by drinking water and eating sandwiches in central Tunis in the middle of the day. Freedom of expression, advocacy of humanist values Legal Restrictions The right to freedom of expression, including media freedom, was declared a foundational principle for the country at the dawn of the Arab Spring. In practice, this freedom remains restricted, both in law and through l social conventions. The Constitution provides for freedom of opinion, thought, expression, information and publication (Article 31). As said above, these rights may be restricted for reasons related to public order and public morals, among others (Art. There are a number of laws governing the defamation of “public morality”. Article 121ter of the Penal Code makes it an offence to “distribute, offer for sale, display, or possess, with the intent to distribute…propaganda, tracts, bulletins, and fliers… that are liable to cause harm to the public order or public morals”, and stipulates a sentence of 6 months to 5 years in prison. Articles 226 of the Penal Code criminalizes any action tantamount to public indecency, and 226bis criminalizes speech and actions that “cause harm to the public morals”. A prison term of 6 months is provided for both offences. Although religious conversion is legal, some converts express concerns about threats of violence and a significant societal pressure against converting or deconverting from Islam. Blasphemy Articles 52 and 53 of the new Tunisian Press Code (Law Decree 115/2011) prohibit defamation against religions or members of a religion. Article 53 provides a fine for libeling a religion “whose practice is permitted,” while Article 52 provides for a maximum prison term of three years, and a fine, for “directly” inciting hatred between races, religions and peoples. Article 86 of the Telecommunications Code criminalizes “harming others or disrupting their lives through public communication networks.” In 2012, the ruling party, the Islamist party Ennahdha, filed bills both in the constitutional assembly and in secondary legislation which would criminalise blasphemy. During the works for the constitutional drafting, it proposed the insertion of an article which would “criminalize all attacks on that which is sacred”. In the same year, the party submitted a bill intended to prohibit “curses, insults mockery, and desecration” of numerous religious concepts, including Allah, the Prophets, the three Abrahamic books, the Sunnah (the practices of the Prophet Muhammad), churches, synagogues and the Kaaba (the most sacred building in Islam). The idea and debate spread after the opening of an art exhibit in the capital of Tunis that was deemed offensive to Islam. The bill also banned pictorial representation of God and Prophet Muhammad. The stated reason for the proposal was to protect Tunisia’s Islamic identity. However, the blasphemy bill did not have enough support and was dropped. State of Emergency Violence and Islamist attacks have plagued Tunisia’s transition since 2011. In 2013 two secular politicians were shot dead. Islamists have burned several religious (Sufi) shrines since 2011. Islamist attacks in 2015 on the Bardo museum in Tunis and the shooting of western tourists in a beach hotel in Sousse killed dozens. Several deadly attacks on Tunisian security forces in the Western part of the country took place leading to the restriction of freedoms of expression and association on counterterrorism grounds. The ‘state of emergency’ imposed after the terrorist attack in 2015 is still in force today. It grants the government exceptional powers to ban strikes or demonstrations deemed to threaten public order, and to prohibit gatherings “likely to provoke or sustain disorder.” It also grants the government powers to conduct searches of electronic devices and of properties without a warrant. In 2017, Amnesty International documented numerous cases of arbitrary arrests and other due process violations carried out pursuant to the emergency decree. Highlighted cases Jabeur Mejri and Ghazi Beji (social media users) On 28 March, 2012, two atheist friends, Jabeur Mejri and Ghazi Beji were sentenced to seven and a half years in prison, and to a large fine, for posting images on Facebook deemed blasphemous. Mejri and Beji were put on trial following a complaint lodged by a group of residents in Mahdia. While Jabeur Mejri was imprisoned, his friend Ghazi Beji sought refuge in Europe. Mejri and Beji were convicted under Article 121 (3) of the Tunisian Penal Code (see above). After two years of international uproar and media attention, Jabeur Mejri received a presidential pardon in 2014, but was imprisoned again in 2020 for “’insulting a public official’ and ‘violating sacred values’ after an argument with a court official”. Mounir Baatour (lawyer and human rights activist) In 2019, Mounir Baatour, president of the first openly pro-LGBT organisation (Shams), and president of the Tunisian Liberal Party, was indicted with “incitement to hatred, discrimination and violence” by the counterterrorist prosecutor. This accusation was in reality a blasphemy charge, based on the fact that Baatour had reposted on his Facebook profile a post “accusing the Prophet Mohamed of being a rapist and a killer, and crudely deriding his sexual life”. Baatour, who had even tried to run for the 2019 Presidential elections, fled the country and obtained the status of refugee in France in September 2020 Emma Chargui (blogger) In July 2020, Emna Chargui was sentenced by a First Instance Court to 6 months in prison for “inciting hatred” between religions and “offending authorised religions”, (under articles 52 and 53 of the Press Code), for sharing a Facebook post that imitated the rhyme and format of some verses of the Quran to urge people to follow COVID-19 hygiene rules. She received multiple rape and death threats on social media as a result of her post. She is currently appealing the sentence. Testimonies “I will not shout from the rooftops that I am irreligious, but I don’t hide it. I am not obliged to tell it to everybody, because I think it is a personal thing. What would it help to tell it to my university colleagues for instance? It would just cause more problems for me. Anyway, if there are discussion on science, politics, or religion, you can figure out very fast that I am agnostic. Honestly, I don’t have a real problem due to my religious convictions. I have friends that are practising Muslims and female friends that wear the Hijab and they accept me as I am. At high school it was not always easy, but I think this was more linked to the fact that as a teenager we all tend to be a little bit mean.” — Sarah “I don’t talk a lot about my atheism. If I tell it to certain people, it is people with a certain intellectual level or very tolerant people, otherwise I would be marginalized and rejected by the most part of society. You shouldn’t tell that you are an atheist if it concerns your work or professional life, because you would risk rejection. My family is very understanding and my mother is an atheist as well, however that is not the case for all atheists and the most of their parents don’t know that their children are atheists. It is like in other developing countries, there is no tolerance and especially none for minorities.” — Ahmed
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सोमालिया, सुडान र भुटानसँग पनि नेपालको व्यापार घाटा काठमाडौं । नेपालले अहिले विश्वका १६५ भन्दा बढी देशसँग वैदेशिक व्यापार गर्छ । चालु आर्थिक वर्षको ११ महिनाको तथ्यांकलाई आधार मान्दा १३७ देशसँग नेपालले घाटाको व्यापार गर्छ । अर्थात् ती देशबाट नेपालले धेरै सामान खरिद र थोरै सामान मात्र पठाउने गर्छ । युद्धका कारण आर्थिक स्तरमा पछाडि रहेका थुप्रै अफ्रिकी मुलुकसँग नेपालले घाटाको व्यापार गर्दै आएको छ । गरिबीसँग जुधिरहेको सोमालियासँग नै घाटाको व्यापार गरिरहेको भन्सार विभागले सार्वजनिक गरेको चालु आर्थिक वर्ष २०७८/७९ को ११ महिना (साउन–जेठ)को तथ्यांकमा देखिन्छ । तथ्यांकअनुसार बितेको ११ महिनामा नेपालले सोमालियाबाट ३ लाख ४३ हजार रुपैयाँ मूल्यको वस्तु आयात गरेको छ । तर नेपालबाट एक रुपैयाँको पनि वस्तु तथा सेवा सोमालियाले लिएको छैन । नेपालको अफ्रिकी मुलुक सुडानसँग समेत व्यापार घाटा छ । ११ महिनाको अवधिमा नेपालले सुडानमा ९ लाख ३६ हजार रुपैयाँको वस्तु निर्यात गरेको छ । तर, सुडानबाट नेपालले १२ करोड ६ लाख रुपैयाँ मूल्यको वस्तु तथा सेवा आयात गरेको देखिन्छ । यस हिसाबमा सुडानसँग नेपालको व्यापार घाटा ११ करोड ९६ लाख रुपैयाँको छ । दक्षिण एसियाली मुलुक भुटानसँग पनि नेपालको ठूलो अन्तरको व्यापार घाटा छ । भुटानमा नेपालले ४१ करोड ९६ लाख ९५ हजार रुपैयाँको वस्तु निर्यात गरेको छ । तर, भुटानबाट आयात भने १ अर्ब २१ करोड ६१ लाख ९१ हजार रुपैयाँ बराबरको भएको छ । ११ महिनामा भुटानसँग ७९ करोड ६४ लाखको व्यापार घाटा छ । चालु आर्थिक वर्षको ११ महिनामा १७ खर्ब ६३ अर्ब ३२ करोडको आयात गर्दा नेपालले १ खर्ब ८५ अर्ब ८३ करोडको वस्तु निर्यात गरेको छ । ११ महिनामै व्यापार घाटा १५ खर्ब ७७ अर्ब ३८ करोड नाघेको छ । यो गतवर्षको यही अवधिको तुलनामा २५ प्रतिशतले बढी हो । ११ महिनामा भारतसँग नेपालको व्यापार घाटा ९ खर्ब ५५ अर्ब रुपैयाँको छ । चीनसँग २ खर्ब ४३ अर्ब, इन्डोनेसियासँग ४६ अर्ब २१ करोड, यूएईसँग ४३ अर्ब ५३ करोड, अर्जेन्टिनासँग ३७ अर्ब १९ करोड, अमेरिकासँग ३१ अर्ब ७६ करोडको व्यापार घाटा छ । त्यसैगरी अष्ट्रेलियासँग २२ अर्ब २३ करोड, युक्रेनसँग २० अर्ब ८१ करोड, मलेसियासँग १६ अर्ब र ब्राजिलसँग १२ अर्ब ३२ करोडको व्यापार घाटा छ । नेपालको एन्डोरा, एन्टिगुवा एन्ड बर्गुडा, अष्ट्रिया, बहमास, बहराइन, बंगलादेश, बारबोडस, बेलारुस, बेल्जियम र बेलिजीसँग पनि व्यापार घाटा छ । बोलिभिया, बोस्निया हर्जगोभिना, ब्रुनाइ, बुल्गेरिया, क्यामरुन, क्यानडा, चिनी, क्रिसमस आइल्यान्ड (अष्ट्रेलिया), कोकोज आइल्यान्ड, कोलम्बिया, कोमोरोज लगायतका देशसँग पनि नेपालको व्यापार घाटा रहेको भन्सार विभागको तथ्यांक छ । कोस्टारिका, साइप्रस, चेक रिपब्लिक, डोमिनिकन रिपब्लिक, इस्ट टिमोर, इक्वेडर, इजिप्ट, एल साल्भाडोर, इस्टोनिया, इथियोपिया, फिनल्यान्ड, फ्रान्स, गाबोन, जर्जिया, जर्मनी, ग्रिस, ग्वाटेमाला, गुडेलोप, गुएना, गिनी बिसाउ, होन्डुरस, हङकङ, हंगेरी, आइसल्यान्ड, इन्डोनेसिया, इरान, इराक, आयरल्यान्ड, इजरायल र इटालीबाट हुने आयातभन्दा निर्यातको मात्रा कम छ । जापान, जोर्डन, काजकस्तान, केन्या, कोरिया, कोसोभो, कुवेत, लाओ पिपुल्स अफ डेमोक्रेटिक रिपब्लिक, लाट्भिया, लेबनान, लाइबेरिया, लिक्तुन्स्टिन, लिथुनिया, लक्जम्बर्ग, माडागास्कर र मालावीसँग पनि नेपालको व्यापार घाटा छ । माली, मार्साल आइल्यान्ड, मोरिसस, मेक्सिको, मंगोलिया, मोजाम्बिक, म्यान्मार, नामिबिया, नेदरल्यान्ड, न्युजिल्यान्ड, निकारागुवा, नाइजेरिया, नर्दन मेरिना आइल्यान्ड, नर्वे, ओमान, पाकिस्तान, पानामा, पाराग्वे, पेरु, फिलिपिन्स, पोल्यान्ड, पोर्चुगल, प्युटोरिको, कतार, माल्दोभा, रोमानिया, रसिया र सेन्ट भिकेन्ट पनि यही सूचीमा छन् । सान मारिनो, साउदी अरेबिया, सर्बिया, सिंगापुर, स्लोभाकिया, स्लोभेनिया, साउथ अफ्रिका, स्पेन, श्रीलंका, स्वाजिल्यान्ड, स्वीडेन, स्वीट्जरल्यान्ड, ताइवान थाइल्यान्ड, टोगो, टोकेलउ, ट्युनिसिया, टर्की, टक्र्स आइल्यान्ड, युगान्डा, संयुक्त अधिराज्य, तान्जानिया, ब्रिटिश भर्जिन आइल्यान्ड, उरुग्वे, उज्वेकिस्तान, भेनेजुयला र भियतनामसँग पनि नेपालले घाटा सहेर वैदेशिक व्यापार गरिरहेको छ । व्यापार घाटा घटाउने कार्ययोजना अलपत्र नेपालले थुप्रै देशसँग ठूलो व्यापार घाटा मात्रै सहिरहेको छैन, आयातको बढ्दो दरले अर्थतन्त्रको बाह्य क्षेत्रका शोधनान्तर र चालु खाताको घाटा पनि इतिहास उच्च बिन्दुमा पुगेको छ । विदेशी मुद्राको सञ्चिति ६ महिनाको वस्तु तथा सेवाको आयात धान्न सक्ने अवस्थामा पुगेको छ । पूर्ववाणिज्य सचिव चन्द्रकुमार घिमिरे विगतमा व्यापार घाटाको जोखिमबारे कुरा गर्नु नै अपराधजस्तो मान्ने राजनीतिक नेतृत्वको प्रवृत्तिले अहिलेको अवस्था ल्याएको बताउँछन् । ‘व्यापार घाटा मुलुकको लागि जोखिम हो, यो घटाउन वाणिज्य मन्त्रालय एक्लैले सक्दैन । जसरी कुल ग्रार्हस्थ्य उत्पादनमा योगदान बढाउन अर्थ मन्त्रालय एक्लैले सक्दैन त्यस्तैगरी व्यापार घाटा रोक्न पनि सबैले बल लगाउनुपर्छ’ उनी भन्छन् । २०७५ सालमा तयार पारिएको व्यापार घाटा न्यूनीकरण कार्ययोजनामा नेपालभित्र कृषि, वनजन्य, औद्योगिक तथा घरेलु उत्पादन बढाउने गरी सरकारले गर्नुपर्ने प्रोत्साहनमूलक कामहरु समेटिएको थियो । उत्पादनको गुणस्तर बढाउन नीतिगत तथा संरचनागत व्यवस्था गर्ने, निर्यातमा सहजीकरण गर्नेदेखि आयात घटाउने गरी नेपालमै उत्पादन हुनसक्ने वस्तुको प्रवर्द्धन गर्ने नीति लिइएको थियो । व्यापार घाटा न्यूनीकरणका लागि १५ वटा निकायले व्यापार घाटा न्यूनीकरणका लागि गर्नुपर्ने १९२ वटा कामका योजना तोकिए पनि कार्यान्वयन गर्न सरकारका कुनै निकाय अग्रसर नभएको पूर्वसचिव घिमिरेको आरोप छ । अहिले नेपाल ‘एक्सपोर्ट लेड ग्रोथ’ तर्फ नभई, ‘इम्पोर्ट लेड ग्रोथ’तर्फ गइरहेको उनको टिप्पणी छ । ‘अर्थ मन्त्रालयको ध्यान राजस्व कसरी बढाउने भन्नेतर्फ मात्रै रह्यो । राजस्व कमाइरहेका छौं भनेर हामीले आयातलाई खुल्ला छोड्यौं, हामी राजस्वमै रत्तियौं’, घिमिरे भन्छन्, ‘हाम्रा आयातकर्ताहरुले छोटो समयमै विना जोखिम कमाइरहेका छन् भनेर त्यसैमा सरकार समेत लाग्यो ।’ अर्थ मन्त्रालयले राजस्व मात्रै नभएर मौद्रिक नीति, आर्थिक नीति, कर नीति लाई पनि महत्व दिएर हेर्नुपर्ने उनको मत छ । उनका अनुसार नेपाल विश्व व्यापार संगठन (डब्लूटीओ)मा जाँदा व्यापार घाटा ‘१ः४’ थियो तर त्यो बढेर १ः१५ सम्म पुगिसकेको छ । विश्व व्यापार संगठनले दिलाएको २७ प्रतिशत ‘लेबल प्लेइङ फिल्ड’बारे नेपाल अनभिज्ञ जस्तै देखिएको उनको भनाइ छ । ‘कृषि वस्तुमा भन्सार कर लगाउन पाउने सीमा अझै २७ प्रतिशत छ र गैर कृषितर्फ यो सीमा अझै १२ प्रतिशत छ,’ उनी भन्छन्,’ हामी किन गर्दैनौं ?’ नेपालले आफ्नो कृषि र गैरकृषि उत्पादनलाई बचाउन सोको ‘लेबल प्लेइङ फिल्ड’ लागू गर्नुपर्ने उनको मत छ । ‘आयातलाई मात्रै सस्तो बनाउने हो भने हाम्रो वस्तुले कसरी प्रतिस्पर्धा गर्ने ?’ उनी भन्छन्, ‘हामीसँग अँध्यारो मात्रै छैन, उज्यालो पाटो पनि छ । वार्षिक ३ खर्बको पेट्रोलियम पदार्थ आयात गरेका छौं, त्यसलाई विद्युतीयतर्फ मोड्नुपर्छ । करिब ४/५ वर्षमा धेरै सुधार हुन सक्छ ।’ पूर्ववाणिज्य सचिव पुरुषोत्तम ओझा पनि व्यापार घाटा घटाउने कार्ययोजना बन्ने तर, कार्यान्वयन नहुने नेपालको पुरानै रोग भएको बताउँछन् । यस्ता कार्ययोजनाको जनशक्ति, संगठन, बजेट तथा जिम्मेवार निकायको तत्परतासँग तालमेल नमिलेको उनको बुझाइ छ । ‘कार्ययोजना अनुसार सरकारी निकाय परिचालित भएनन्, काम गर्नेलाई पुरस्कार दण्डको प्रबन्ध नगर्दा पनि यस्तो हुने गरेको छ’, उनले भने, ‘कार्ययोजनाको कार्यान्वयनको लागि समन्वय, सहजीकरण र अनुगमन नहुँदा पनि समस्या भएको हो ।’