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Suit In Botswana Challenges Authority of Territorial Chief Over Churches

By Howard M. Friedman

According to Botswana's Sunday Standard, a hearing is scheduled today before a High Court judge in Botswana in a suit filed by the country' Evangelical Fellowship and the Family of God Church against the royal family of the territory of Bakgatla. Last week, a dispute broke out between the Family of God Church and the royal family over a crusade held by the church in the city of Mochudi. The church was accused of disrespecting Kgatla law, and Paramount Chief Kgafela Kgafela II's regiments whipped two of the church's pastors. An order was issued banning the church from worshiping in Mochudi. The lawsuit seeks a court order declaring that the Bakgatla paramount chief has no legal authority to expel the churches or any of its members from Kgatleng, and that the order banning the church was a violation of its free exercise rights and its members' rights to practice their religion. (Botswana Constitution, Sec. 11.)

Full post as published by Religion Clause on April 26, 2010 (boomark / email).