Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed the so-called “Yarovaya package” of laws which substantially toughen criminal accountability for a number of crimes and introduce new forms of violations of law, including “failure to report a crime”. The package also forbids unregistered organizations [chiefly religious groups] to engage in missionary activity, while any missionary activity by…
A court in Brussels has thrown out charges that could have seen Church of Scientology banned as a “criminal enterprise” in Belgium, after a judge said the defendants were targeted because of their religion. Eleven members of the celebrity-backed, US-based church and two affiliated bodies had been charged with fraud, extortion, the illegal practice of…
A book by investigative journalist Lars Bové of De Tijd newspaper claims that extensive surveillance by the Belgian State Security services on the Church of Scientology, which failed to find evidence of any wrongdoing, suggest a paranoid reaction to the Church and other sects operating in the country. The Security services instigated cancellation of Government contracts with…
For the 30th year the Westminster Interfaith Multi-Faith Pilgrimage for Peace with the Hounslow Friends of Faith in the Hounslow area took place. Two members of the All Faiths Network also participated. Launching the Pilgrimage were MPs Ruth Cadbury (Brentford & Isleworth) and Seema Malhotra MP (Feltham & Heston) along with Councillor Nisar Malik, Mayor…
The Russian Ministry of Justice is planning to obtain approval on a proposal that will allow them greater control over the finances of some religious institutions. The new powers will amend the law “On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Associations”, if a bill that the ministry is submitting to the State Duma is approved. Religious organizations that…
The European Court for Human Rights (ECHR) has refused to review an appeal filed by the Russian Federation over a decision in favour of the Church of Scientology. The case concerned the refusal of St. Petersburg authorities to officially recognise the Church of Scientology in St. Petersburg as a legal entity. The group had applied for registration six…
