A/HRC/7/10/Add.4 page 8 communities from customs duties, entitles the community to open bank accounts, secures their standing as officially registered denominations and means that such communities can be fully fledged partners with the Government. The Special Rapporteur notes the existence of some confusion amongst elements of the authorities and media as to the legal consequences of not being registered. For example at a meeting held on 23 November 2007, the Police Commander of Cabinda asserted that unregistered religious associations were in effect illegal. 5 19. According to the Ministry of Culture the rationale behind the registration requirements of the above law and in particular the minimum membership requirement was to tackle the proliferation of religions in Angola. 6 In recent years throughout Angola hundreds of religious organizations have emerged. Information provided by the Government indicates that whilst 85 religious groups have been recognized in Angola, at least a further 757 religious organizations are seeking registration. Fragmentation of religious organizations frequently occurs. The Government attributes the proliferation of religions in Angola to a number of factors including the legal protection of freedom of religion or belief in the Constitution following a period of Marxist-Leninist rule, the lack of a system in place to deal with registration pursuant to decree 46/91, poverty caused by a civil war and earlier war of independence, the erosion of traditional structures and individualism that was promoted by displacement to the cities as well as to recent immigration. 20. A Governmental provincial commission for analyzing the religious phenomenon in the country’s capital was established on 17 July 2007 in Luanda. According to the commission’s spokesperson, the law stipulates the right of speech, conscience or worship as long as the congregations obey the regulation, but the Government’s concerns focus on the emergence of about 800 “illegal churches”, with doubtful practices and conduct. According to the spokesperson, many churches are engaging in business and other activities instead of preaching the gospel. The official considered the situation as intolerable since some congregations worship in inadequate places and he indicated that a multi-sector work team will be created in order to enforce the laws. 7 The Special 5 See also Angolan Press Agency report of 17 July 2007 referring to unregistered religious associations in Angola as being “illegal”. 6 The law was passed by Parliament with 134 votes in favour, two abstentions and no votes against following a great debate. The Parliament’s Commission on Constitutional and Juridical stated that the law was capable of moderating the appearance and proliferation of churches and associations with religious nature stating that some churches practice rites contrary to public order and the national interest and do no more than explore the conscience and religious feelings of the Angolan people with profitable aims in mind, see “Angola passes law on freedom of conscience”, Angola press agency, 2 March 2004. The Vice-Minister of Justice explained that a national process of consultation took place in drawing up the law. 7 Angola Press agency 17 July 2007 reports that the provincial commission was established following a meeting between Luanda’s Governor and the Minister of Justice, the Minister of Home Affairs and the Minister of Culture.