Belarus. Conditions of religious freedom continued to be poor during the reporting period. Following a 2002 law strongly restricting religious freedom and a 2003 agreement between the Belarusian Orthodox Church (BOC) and the Government elevating the BOC's status, authorities continued to harass other religions and denominations. The new religion law requires all previously registered groups to reregister by November 2004 and banned immediately all religious activity by previously unregistered religious groups. The Government has repeatedly rejected the registration applications of some of these groups, including a number of Protestant denominations, the Belarusian Orthodox Autocephalous and some Eastern religions. Without registration, many of these groups find it difficult, if not impossible, to rent or purchase property to hold services. The government-run media continued to attack non-orthodox religions. All religious groups are required to receive prior governmental approval to import and distribute literature. Government subsidies are limited to the BOC, which is reportedly able to enjoy beneficial tax rates on land and property. The sale and distribution of anti-Semitic literature through state press distributors, government agencies, and at stores and events affiliated with the BOC continued. The National Academy of Science continued to sell anti-Semitic literature.

Brunei. Practitioners of non-Muslim faiths are not allowed to proselytize, and Christian-based schools are not allowed to teach Christianity. All schools must give instruction in the Islamic faith to all students. The Government uses a range of municipal and planning laws and other legislation to restrict the expansion of all religions other than official Islam. The Government restricts the practice of non-Muslim religions by occasionally denying entry to foreign clergy or particular priests, bishops, or ministers; banning the importation of religious teaching materials or scriptures such as the Bible; and refusing permission to expand, repair, or build churches, temples, or shrines. Muslims who wish to change or renounce their religion face considerable difficulties.

Israel and the Occupied Territories. The Israeli Declaration of Independence describes the country as a "Jewish state," but also provides for full social and political equality regardless of political affiliation. However, some non-Jews continued to experience discrimination in the areas of education, housing, and employment. Schools in Arab areas, including Arab parochial schools, receive significantly fewer resources than comparable Jewish schools. Building codes for places of worship were selectively enforced based on religion. Non-Jews were underrepresented in the student bodies and faculties of most universities. The law does not allow for civil marriages for its citizens and does not recognize Jewish marriages unless performed by Orthodox officials. Governmental and societal discrimination against Israeli-Arabs continued during the reporting period, due primarily to Palestinian terrorism and the Government's military actions in the Occupied Territories. The Government refused to grant residence visas to some 130 Catholic clergy assigned by the Vatican to fulfill religious obligations in Israel and the occupied territories; however, there was considerable improvement on this issue toward the end of the reporting period. According to church officials, this number represents a 60 percent increase over the previous year. The Israeli Government seized land belonging to several religious institutions to build its separation-barrier between East Jerusalem and the West Bank. The separation-barrier and its checkpoints also impede the movement of clergy between Jerusalem and West Bank churches and monasteries, and the movement of congregations between their homes and places of worship. The Palestinian Authority (PA) failed to halt several cases of seizures of Christian-owned land by criminal gangs, and there were credible reports that PA security forces and judicial officials colluded with members of these gangs to illegally extort property from Christian landowners.