Religious segregation is the separation of people according to their religion. The term has been applied to cases of religious-based segregation occurring as a social phenomenon,^[1] as well as to segregation arising from laws, whether explicit or implicit.^[2] The similar term religious apartheid has also been used for situations where people are separated based on religion,^[3] including sociological phenomena.^[4]

[edit] Bosnia and Herzegovina

Jonathan Steele of The Guardian has argued that Bosnia and Herzegovina is "a dependent, stifled, apartheid regime". In his view, the U.N. control of Bosnia under the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, which he described as "UN-sanctioned liberal imperialism", creates "dependency, stifles civil society, and produces a highly visible financial apartheid in which an international salariat lords it over a war-wounded and jobless local population."^[5]

[edit] India

Indian society is divided into several thousands of caste and sub-caste. In the Indian caste system, a Dalit, often called an untouchable, or an outcaste, is a person who according to traditional Hindu belief does not have any "varnas". In the context of traditional Hindu society, Dalit status has often been historically associated with occupations regarded as ritually impure, such as any occupation involving killing, handling of animal cadavers or night soil (human feces). As a result, Dalits were commonly banned and segregated from full participation in Hindu social life (they could not enter the premises of a temple), while elaborate precautions were observed to prevent incidental contact between Dalits and other Hindus.^[6] The Indian Constitution has outlawed caste-based discrimination, in keeping with the socialist, secular, democratic principles that founded the nation.^[7] Caste barriers have mostly broken down in large cities,^[8] though persist in rural areas of the country. The caste system, in various forms, does continue to play a major role in the Indian society and politics.^[9][10] With the prominence of Hindu reform movements in the 19th century, as well as the rising political power of Dalits in Independent India, Constitutional Laws have been passed banning the practice of segregation of Dalits, and affirmative action has been implemented in an attempt to equalize the historical imbalance and underrepresentation of Dalits in society.

[edit] Iran

Islam is the official religion of Iran, which is a theocracy led by an Ayatollah, a clerical position. Iran consigns non-Muslim monotheists to the status of dhimmis, both officially and by custom.^[11] The U.S. State Department has identified "reports of imprisonment, harassment, intimidation, and discrimination based on religious beliefs" in Iran.^[12] The Muslim Network for Bahá'í Rights has reported cases of Bahá'í students being expelled from university due to their religion.^[13][14][15] According to the Times Higher Education, Bahá'í educators are required to renounce their faith in order to teach in Iranian universities.^[16] Bahá'í is not among the recognized "recognized religious minorities" in the Constitution of Iran.^[17] The Bahá'í faith is considered apostate in Iran^[18][19] because it believes in a prophet (Bahá'u'lláh) more recent than Muhammad.^[20]

[edit] Saudi Arabia

Road sign on a highway into Mecca, stating that one direction is "muslims only" while another direction is "obligatory for non-muslims". Religious police are stationed beyond the turnoff on the main road to prevent non-Muslims from proceeding into Mecca.^[21]

Prior to March 1, 2004, the official Saudi government website stated that Jews were forbidden from entering the country.^[22][23][24]

In the Holy Cities of Mecca and Medina, both of which are located in Saudi Arabia, only Muslims are allowed. Non-Muslims may not enter or travel through Mecca; attempting to enter Mecca as a non-Muslim can result in penalties such as a fine;^[21] being in Mecca as a non-Muslim can result in deportation.^[25]

This restriction has caused problems for Western companies providing services in these cities, as they must hire only Muslims to perform work within the city, or else find ways for its employees to do their work from outside city limits. Bell Canada, which provided telephone service to Mecca and Medina in the 1980s,^[26] had offices outside city limits to house its non-Muslim employees.^[27] The company was brought before the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal in the late 1970s for discriminating in employment on the basis of religion (as well as gender).^[28]

[edit] United Kingdom

London is far more segregated on religious grounds than by race. 25% of London's seven million residents live in religiously segregated neighbourhoods.^[29][30]

[edit] See also

• Caste
• Devşirme system
• Dhimmi laws
• Ghetto
• Jim Crow laws
• Judenhut
• Mellah
• Ottoman Millet system
• Minority religion
• Nuremberg laws
• Racial segregation
• Religious stratification
• Second-class citizen
• Yellow badge

[edit] References