Being Religious Might Become A Crime In This South American Country

Religion banned in a South American country? Unthinkable, right? Well, it almost was and still could be the case in the landlocked nation of Bolivia, where a recent new penal code made some rather worrying restrictions on religious freedoms.

The text in question, from article 88 of the penal code authorized on December 15, states: “whoever recruits, transports, deprives of freedom, or hosts people with the aim of recruiting them to take part in armed conflicts or religious or worship organizations will be penalized with 5 to 12 years of imprisonment.”

And while it does appear as though this may be aimed at preventing cult-like organizations from kidnapping or brainwashing new members, the ambiguity of the text means it would be entirely possible for everyday citizens to be incarcerated for simply carrying out their normal religious activities.

For example, as the text is written, “recruiting” people for religious worship could be as benign as preaching on the street or organizing a Christian summer camp. Likewise, “transporting” could be interpreted as offering someone a lift to a church.

In a society as deeply religious as Bolivia, where some 77% of the population identifies as Catholic and 16% as Protestant, surely no government in their right mind would want to start jailing people for worship? And perhaps not. But as critics point out, the current regime is becoming increasingly more authoritarian and could use laws like these to lock up opponents on a whim.

These concerns are not entirely unfounded. On the 21st of February, 2016, President Evo Morales lost a referendum to decide whether he should be able to run for another term. In spite of the result, in December last year he pushed an order through the constitutional court to allow him to run indefinitely, a move many consider the hallmark of a dictator.

The new penal code included other articles which caused an uproar throughout the country, the most significant relating to controversial malpractice penalties on medical practitioners. Heavy jail terms for “dishonest” journalists were also vehemently opposed, with detractors claiming such regulations were an affront to democracy.

Outrage at the proposed penal code led to a constant state of nationwide protests for the best part of a month, the most notable of which was a shutdown of virtually the entire national medical system.

Buckling under the pressure, Morales eventually revoked the new penal code on January 21, stating on Twitter: “We have decided to repeal the Criminal System Code to avoid confusion and conspiracies from the right so that there can be no arguments to destabilize the country with misinformation and lies.”

Until now, there has been no indication as to whether a new or amended penal code will be reintroduced at a later date.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.