Article 27
Freedom of Religion, Belief and Opinion
1. Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This
right shall include the freedom to hold or to adopt a religion or belief of his
choice, and the freedom, either individually or in community with others, and
in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in worship, observance,
practice and teaching.
2. Without prejudice to the provisions of sub-Article 2 of Article 90, believers
may establish institutions of religious education and administration in order to
propagate and organize their religion.
3. No one shall be subject to coercion or other means which would restrict or
prevent his freedom to hold a belief of his choice.
4. Parents and legal guardians have the right to bring up their children ensuring
their religious and moral education in conformity with their own convictions.
5. Freedom to express or manifest one’s religion or belief may be subject only to
such limitations as are prescribed by law and are necessary to protect public
safety, peace, health, education, public morality or the fundamental rights and
freedoms of others, and to ensure the independence of the state from religion.
Article 28
Crimes Against Humanity
1. Criminal liability of persons who commit crimes against humanity, so defined
by international agreements ratified by Ethiopia and by other laws of Ethiopia,
such as genocide, summary executions, forcible disappearances or torture shall
not be barred by statute of limitation. Such offences may not be commuted by
amnesty or pardon of the legislature or any other state organ.
2. In the case of persons convicted of any crime stated in sub-Article 1 of this
Article and sentenced with the death penalty, the Head of State may, without
prejudice to the provisions here in above, commute the punishment to life
imprisonment.
PART TWO
DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS
Article 29
Right of Thought, Opinion and Expression
1. Everyone has the right to hold opinions without interference.
2. Everyone has the right to freedom of expression without any interference. This
right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas
of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the
form of art, or through any media of his choice.
3. Freedom of the press and other mass media and freedom of artistic creativity
is guaranteed. Freedom of the press shall specifically include the following
elements: