A/HRC/9/7 page 15 in different ways among the responding States. In Egypt, marriage, divorce and other matters related to personal status are governed by the religious regulations of the parties, and the penal codes of Egypt and Mauritius have provisions that are designed to protect freedom of religion. B. Religion and the State 51. In some cases, the State plays a direct role in promoting and protecting freedom of religion, while the role of the State is more indirect in others. For Bahrain, the Ministry of Justice and Islamic Affairs is involved in promoting religious values and religious education and in the construction and maintenance of mosques; in Costa Rica, Catholicism is the State religion, although the Constitution also guarantees freedom of religion for all other religions. In Egypt, the Constitution empowers the State to ensure freedom of belief and religious practice. C. Non-discrimination on the basis of religion 52. All the countries that responded highlighted the importance of equal protection and non-discrimination on the basis of religion. Two dimensions of non-discrimination were reflected in the responses: the prohibition of discrimination against individuals or communities on the basis of religious belief or practice; and non-discrimination and equal protection for all religions. In the case of Bahrain, for example, the vision of the Ministry of Justice and Islamic Affairs is to construct a “forward-looking and closely-knit Islamic society” centred on Islam and the teachings of the Koran; at the same time, the Government stressed the importance of moderation and dialogue among religions and civilizations, and non-discrimination among beliefs. 53. In Chile, the equality of all religions is guaranteed in several national laws; in Costa Rica, although the Constitution recognizes Catholicism as the national religion, the Law on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in Educational Programmes and the Media extends equal opportunities to all, regardless of ethnic or cultural background. Tolerance is also taught in schools in Costa Rica, and dialogue is promoted to develop the “fundamental value of solidarity, respect and equality of opportunities”. The Constitution of Egypt stipulates the equal rights and duties of citizens before the law, without distinction of race, sex, origin, language or religion or belief. The Islamic Republic of Iran submits that intolerance and discrimination on the basis of religion are inconsistent with the spirit of the Charter of the United Nations. D. Incitement to religious hatred and violence 54. Concern with incitement to hatred and violence on the basis of religion and belief is underlined in all the responses. Bahrain reported special efforts to counter extremism and promote dialogue in cementing relations among different religions. The Council of Europe reported on recommendation 5 of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance which deterministic views of Islam and its negative, stereotypical portrayal are rejected, and the Commission appeals to Member States to take necessary measures to guarantee the freedom to practise religion.