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CIVIC ENGAGEMENT Moving from Exclusion to Belonging 239 from interference. Governments must respect freedom of religion or belief.1153 People from minority cultures or religions should be protected from discrimination.1154 Other human rights facilitate civic involvement, such as freedom of opinion, assembly, and association.1155 These rights guarantee that people are able to express themselves publicly and connect with like-minded individuals – necessary prerequisites to taking collective action in a community.1156 RELIGIOUS FREEDOM Immigrants reported serious human rights violations involving limitations on the practice of their religion, especially restrictions on the construction of mosques and other Islamic religious institutions such as schools. Though Muslims were reportedly the main target of religious discrimination, members of the Jewish community also reported incidents where they were penalized for taking off religious holidays from school.1157 Although the Constitution and other federal and state laws prohibit discrimination against religious groups, such opposition sometimes succeeds under the guise of seemingly neutral rules, such as zoning or school calendars. In several communities around Minnesota, proposed mosques or Islamic centers have triggered community opposition and contentious hearings. According to one school official, “approximately two years ago, Somalis established an East African mosque. They attempted to buy a building from the school district and I was ready to sell, but reluctance in [the community] to live next to a mosque *prevented it+. There was no problem when I sold to a Latino church.”1158 City governments sometimes respond to community pressure by blocking the creation of Islamic centers and mosques,1159 a violation of religious freedom. In other cases, local governments have allowed 1153 ICCPR Art. 18. 1154 UN Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, General Comment No. 21, Rights of Everyone to Take Part in Cultural Life, ¶¶ 22, 32-33, UN Doc. E/C.12/GC/21 (21 Dec. 2009). 1155 ICCPR Arts. 19, 21-22 1156 UN Committee on Civil and Political Rights, General Comment No. 25, Participation in Public Affairs and the Right to Vote, ¶ 8, UN Doc. CCPR/C/21/Rev.1/Add.7 (12 Jul. 1996). 1157 Interview 142. 1158 Interview 73; Laura Yuen, Willmar showing the way to a more diverse Minnesota, Mar 12, 2012, Minnesota Public Radio, http://www.mprnews.org/story/2012/03/12/outsiders-part3-willmar-is-the-future-of-a-more- diverse-minnesota. 1159 Interview 122. I was ready to sell the building to the East African mosque, but reluctance in the community to live next to a mosque prevented it. There was no problem when I sold to a Latino church.”