Restrictions on Religions due to the covid-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Abstract This article explores the restrictions that have been recently placed on religions in Bosnia and Herzegovina on congregating and conducting religious rituals during the covid-19 pandemic, as well as the perceptions and responses of the main religious communities to these restrictions. Our data sources included the state covid-19 regulations, the guidelines of religious communities regarding worship services, congregational prayers, and other activities during the pandemic, and media articles covering religion and the covid-19 issues on a domestic and regional scale. Our research has shown that not all religious communities have been equally supportive of state regulations that restricted the religious freedom of individuals and religious communities. Their responses have ranged from strict harmonization of internal religious guidelines with the state covid-19 regulations to declarative support of public health recommendations while ignoring them in practice.