1 5 . ▁The ▁Constitution ▁provides ▁for ▁freedom ▁to ▁practice ▁one ' s ▁religion . ▁The ▁Constitution ▁also ▁specifically ▁den ies ▁the ▁right ▁to ▁convert ▁another ▁person . ▁The ▁now - def unct ▁constitution ▁of ▁ 1 9 9 0 , ▁which ▁was ▁in ▁effect ▁until ▁January ▁ 1 5 , ▁ 2 0 0 7 , ▁described ▁the ▁country ▁as ▁a ▁" H indu ▁Kingdom ," ▁although ▁it ▁did ▁not ▁establish ▁H indu ism ▁as ▁the ▁state ▁religion . ▁The ▁Government ▁generally ▁did ▁not ▁inter f ere ▁with ▁the ▁practice ▁of ▁other ▁religious ▁groups , ▁and ▁religious ▁toler ance ▁was ▁broad ly ▁observed ; ▁however , ▁there ▁were ▁some ▁restrictions . ▁ ▁The ▁Government ▁took ▁positive ▁pre lim inary ▁steps ▁with ▁respect ▁to ▁religious ▁freedom ▁during ▁the ▁period ▁covered ▁by ▁this ▁report , ▁and ▁government ▁policy ▁contributed ▁to ▁the ▁generally ▁free ▁practice ▁of ▁religion . ▁The ▁Inter im ▁Parliament , ▁through ▁the ▁Inter im ▁Constitution , ▁officially ▁declared ▁the ▁country ▁a ▁sec ular ▁state ▁in ▁January ▁ 2 0 0 7 ; ▁however , ▁no ▁laws ▁specifically ▁affect ing ▁freedom ▁of ▁religion ▁were ▁changed . ▁Non eth eless , ▁many ▁believed ▁that ▁the ▁declaration ▁made ▁it ▁easier ▁to ▁practice ▁their ▁religion ▁freely . ▁ ▁Ad her ents ▁of ▁the ▁country ' s ▁many ▁religious ▁groups ▁generally ▁co ex isted ▁peace fully ▁and ▁respect ed ▁places ▁of ▁worship , ▁although ▁there ▁were ▁reports ▁of ▁soci etal ▁ab uses ▁and ▁disc rim ination ▁based ▁on ▁religious ▁belief ▁or ▁practice . ▁Those ▁who ▁converted ▁to