E/CN.4/1992/52 page 107 Panama "According to article 35 of the political constitution, the same protection is given to believers of any religious denomination and to non-believers (free thinkers, agnostics, atheists)." Portugal (b) and (d) "The inviolability of freedom of conscience, religion and worship is guaranteed by the Portuguese Constitution (article 41, No. 1 ) . This guarantee cannot be suspended even in a state of siege. Reaffirming the provisions of earlier constitutions, and also of Act 4/71 mentioned above, article 41, No. 2, of the Constitution states that no one can be prosecuted, deprived of rights or exempted from obligations or civic duties because of his religious beliefs or practices. The rights set forth in that article derive from the constitutional principle of the equality of citizens before the law (art. 13). Although non-denominational, the Portuguese State nevertheless accords special status to the Catholic religion. This special status is primarily due to the historical importance of that religion. Until the establishment of the Republic in 1910, Portugal was a State which accepted the Catholic religion as its official religion. The separation law of 1911, which recognized the principle of the freedom of conscience and religion, forbade religious education in schools, even private ones, and placed religious associations under the protection of the State. The difficult situation in which the Catholic Church was placed in relation to the State by this legislation, was not resolved until the agreement was concluded with the Holy See. The special status enjoyed by the Catholic Church does not, however, interfere with the principle of religious freedom recognized by the State with regard to all other religions. An example of the application of the principle of equality is the social security system, which covers the clergy of the Catholic Church and ministers of other churches, and religious associations and denominations (regulatory decree 5/83 of 31 January). It may also be mentioned that recent changes have been introduced as regards tax exemptions, which cover all denominations and not just the Catholic Church."