A/HRC/9/7 page 7 Costa Rica [Original: Spanish] 16. According to the Government of Costa Rica, the population of the country is composed of 47 per cent practising Catholics, 27 per cent non-practising Catholics, 13 per cent Evangelicals, 9 per cent who do not claim any religious affiliation and 3 per cent belonging to other religions. The faiths represented in the country include Methodists, Lutherans, Baptist, Episcopalians, Jews, Muslims, Mormons, Harikrishna, Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Church of Scientology. Religious groups are not required to register under the law, but those composed of at least 12 members who wish to acquire legal recognition must register under the law on associations. Currently, there are 3,000 registered religious associations representing 300 religious groups. 17. The Government of Costa Rica reported that, under article 75 of the Constitution, the religion of the State is Catholicism. However, the same provision of the Constitution guarantees freedom of religion so long as it is exercised in a manner respectful of universal morals and norms. Under the Constitution, no one can be prosecuted because of their faith or belief. Article 28 of the Constitution provides that members of the clergy and secular individuals are prohibited from engaging in political propaganda that makes use of their religious beliefs. The Government stated that no cases had been reported of a religious practice being found to be against the law and that the various religious denominations and sects had been evolving peacefully in the country. 18. The Law on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in Education Programmes and the Public Media serves as the vehicle through which opportunities are made accessible to all, regardless of ethnic or cultural background. According to the Government, respect for human rights and understanding and tolerance for differences in culture, religion and ethnicity are essential to peace and democracy; the importance of tolerance is thus taught in schools. Action is taken to promote dialogue and tolerance among teachers, students and parents by helping to develop the fundamental value of solidarity, respect and equality of opportunities. Under the supervision of the Ministry of Education, Catholic religious teaching is offered in public schools but is not compulsory, while private schools are free to offer the teaching of a religion of choice. Cuba [Original: Spanish] 19. Cuba noted that Muslims were increasingly the subject of discrimination individually and collectively since the events of 11 September 2001. In addition to the negative image of Islam projected by the mass media, discriminatory laws directed exclusively at Muslims have been adopted in some countries. 20. According to Cuba, the most visible facets of Islamophobia can be observed in security policies and counter-terrorism measures. Cuba is respectful of all religious beliefs and protects religious practices, and freedom of religion and conscience is guaranteed to every citizen. Article 294 of the penal code sanctions public servants with up to two years of imprisonment for violations of the right to freedom of religion. In 1992, Cuba eliminated from its Constitution references to scientific atheism and established an absolute separation between Church and State.