At least on paper.
In reality, the situation in this Southeast Asian country is quite different.
According to Fides news agency, a week ago, police arrested Christian leader Bountheung of Nongpong village, in the district of Khamkerd, in the province of Borikhamxai (central Laos).
The accusations against him are terrible.
He has been charged with converting “300 Laotians to the Christian faith,” last May.
The 300 faithful, all from the village of Nongpong, after having seen and met the man, who has been practising the Christian faith for over 10 years, freely decided to join.
This alarmed local authorities.
The warrant provides for the expulsion of Bountheung from the village and orders the 300 Christian residents in Nongpong to renounce their Christian faith in exchange for the right to continue to live in the village.
According to the NGO “Human Rights Watch for Lao Religious Freedom”, the order violates a right of citizenship, since Bountheung lived and worked in the village, and is properly registered, along with the other 300, as "permanent resident".
The NGO also added that the measure violates the right to join any religion of their choice, guaranteed by the Constitution of Laos.
Apparently though, not all religions are guaranteed this right.