Saudi Arabia. Freedom of religion does not exist. Freedom of religion is not recognized or protected under the country's laws, and basic religious freedoms are denied to all but those who adhere to the state-sanctioned version of Sunni Islam. Citizens are denied the freedom to choose or change their beliefs. Islam is the official religion, and all citizens must be Muslims. Muslims who do not adhere to the officially sanctioned Salafi (commonly called "Wahhabi") tradition can face severe repercussions at the hands of Mutawwa'in (religious police). Members of the Shi'a minority continue to face political and economic discrimination, including limited employment opportunities, little representation in official institutions, and restrictions on the practice of their faith and on the building of mosques and community centers. Religious discrimination and sectarian tension in society continued during the period covered by this report, including ongoing denunciations of non-Muslim religions from government-sanctioned pulpits. There were frequent instances in which mosque preachers, whose salaries were paid by the government, used violent anti-Jewish and anti-Christian language in their sermons. The Government prohibits public non-Muslim religious activities. Non-Muslim worshippers risk arrest, imprisonment, lashing, deportation, and sometimes torture for engaging in religious activity that attracts official attention. Proselytizing by non-Muslims, including the distribution of non-Muslim religious materials such as Bibles, is illegal.

Sudan. The Government continues to engage in particularly severe violations of religious freedom. There are many restrictions on non-Muslims, non-Arab Muslims, and Muslims from tribes or sects not associated with the ruling party. The Government came into power by a coup in 1989 with a goal of Islamization and treats Islam as a state religion that must inspire the country's laws, institutions, and policies. Applications to build mosques generally are granted; however, the process for applications to build churches is more difficult. The Guidance and Endowment Minister has denied building permits to most non-Muslim religious groups, alleging that local restrictions prohibit building places of worship in residential neighbourhoods. The last permit was issued around 1975. Many non-Muslims state they are treated as second-class citizens and discriminated against in government jobs and contracts. Some Muslims received preferential treatment regarding limited government services, such as access to medical care, and preferential treatment in court cases involving Muslims and non-Muslims. There were also reports that some conversions took place in order to secure jobs and access to social support services, which were largely available only through Islamic charities. In the west in the three Darfur states, a war between government-supported Arab Muslim militias and African Muslims continued throughout the reporting period, resulting in ethnic cleansing and redistribution of African Muslim populations in the region. There were reports that mosques belonging to African Muslims were destroyed in the conflict. That said, the conflict in Darfur is primarily an ethnic and racial conflict.

Turkmenistan. The Government continued to maintain tight control over the practice of religion, despite the presidential decrees signed in March and May that weakened a more restrictive Law on Religion passed in November 2003. The Government controls the leadership appointments of Russian Orthodox and Sunni Muslim groups. The Committee on Religious Affairs must approve all religious instruction. Local imams are forbidden from teaching Islamic theology; it may only be taught at the Theological College at Turkmen State University. The Government treats participation in or sponsorship of nontraditional religions as a potential threat to national security, making all groups coordinate their contact with all foreigners through the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Non-registered congregations are prohibited from gathering publicly, proselytizing, and disseminating religious materials. The law restricts the freedom to meet and to worship in private. The Government imposed a number of financial penalties on religious groups attempting to meet for worship, though there have been no reports of fines imposed since April. By the end of the period covered by this report, Government respect for religious freedom had improved. The restrictive law had been changed to permit the registration of four minority religious groups. Changes in Government policy toward minority religions have engendered a noticeable reduction in harassment of minority congregations.