A/HRC/7/10/Add.4 page 5 all citizens shall be equal under the law and shall enjoy the same rights and be subject to the same duties, without distinction as to religion. All acts aimed at jeopardizing social harmony or creating discrimination or privileges based on those factors shall be severely punishable by law. 7. Article 21 states that fundamental rights in the Constitution shall not exclude others stemming from the laws and applicable rules of international law. Constitutional and legal norms related to fundamental rights shall be interpreted and incorporated in keeping with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the African Charter on the Human and Peoples’ Rights and other international instruments to which Angola has adhered. In the assessment of disputes by Angolan courts, those international instruments shall apply even where not invoked by the parties. 8. Article 45 states that freedom of conscience and belief shall be inviolable. The Angolan state shall recognize freedom of worship and guarantee its exercise, provided it does not conflict with public order and the national interest. Furthermore, article 52 provides that the exercise of the rights, freedoms and guarantees of citizens may be restricted or suspended only in accordance with the law if such constitute a threat to public order, community interests, individual rights, freedoms and guarantees, or in the event of the declaration, a state of siege or emergency. Such restrictions shall always be limited to necessary and adequate measures to maintain public order, in the interest of the community and the restoration of constitutional normality. On no account shall the declaration of a state of siege or state of emergency affect the freedom of conscience and religion. 9. The limitations clauses in article 18 of the Constitution (“provided [religions] abide by the laws of the state”) and article 45 of the Constitution (“provided [worship] does not conflict with public order and the national interest”) may be regarded as inconsistent with internationally established human rights norms. Article 18 (3) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights states that “freedom to manifest one’s religion or beliefs may be subject only to such limitations as are prescribed by law and are necessary to protect public safety, order, health, or morals, or the fundamental rights and freedoms of others.” 10. In general, vague expressions in domestic laws may lend themselves to very broad interpretation which, in turn, may lead to extensive intervention by the State and hence excessive restrictions on freedom of religion and belief. The Human Rights Committee, in its General Comment No. 22 (1993), declared that restrictions on the freedom to manifest religion or belief are permitted only if they are prescribed by law, are necessary to ensure public safety, order, health or morals, or the fundamental rights and freedoms of others, and are applied in a manner that does not vitiate the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. The Committee has also stated that restrictions must only be applied for the purposes for which they were prescribed and they must relate directly to the specific objective they are to serve, and be proportional to that objective. Restrictions may not be imposed for discriminatory purposes or in a discriminatory manner. 11. Law no. 2/04 on freedom of religion, conscience and worship revoked executive decree 46/91. The law defines religious worship (article 2) and clarifies the notion of