Russia Religion News reports that, after months of preparatory work and a long history of repression, the Chief Directorate of the Ministry of Justice of Russia for the republic of Crimea and Sevastopol has immediately granted all 22 applications for registration submitted by local groups of Jehovah’s Witnesses. From the point of view of international…
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…
A Bill introducing changes into the federal law ‘On freedom of conscience and religious associations’ has been adopted by the Russian Parliament. The Bill now awaits the signature of the Russian president. One of the provisions prescribes the effective reregistration of all religious organisations of the country by 1 January 2016. Further provisions in the Bill…
A total of 65 individuals and religious communities are known to have been prosecuted in 2014 across Russia for possession of allegedly “extremist” banned religious literature which does not appear to incite violence or hatred, Forum 18 News Service notes. Of these, 56 ended up with punishments. The cases were brought under Administrative Code Article…
The UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief has called for changes in Kazakhstan laws to bring them into line with article 18 of the Covenant and other relevant international human rights standards. The Human Rights Council started an interactive dialogue with Heiner Bielefeldt, Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, on March 10 in…
Amnesty International and the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) are calling for proposed new ‘race and religion’ laws in Myanmar to be scrapped, amid fears they could fuel discrimination and violence Amnesty fear the proposed laws could entrench already widespread discrimination and risk fuelling further violence against religious minorities. Under the four laws currently being debated in…
A new analysis by Brian J. Grim of the Religious Freedom and Business Foundation finds that violent incidents between religious groups are more prevalent in areas where governments restrict religious proselytization. According to Grim’s article in The Weekly Number, hostilities over proselytization are five times more likely in countries with laws restricting such activity. Grim says that conversely, restrictive…
The Austrian parliament has passed a Bill requiring a standardised German translation of the Qur’an, and banning both foreign imams and foreign funding for Islam in the country. The far-right party in Austria wanted the bill, which amends a 1912 Act recognising Islam in the country, to also require sermons to be spoken in German and to…
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…
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke on Tuesday about recent religious attacks and conversion attempts in the country, affirming his and his Government’s commitment to freedom of religion. Modi was speaking at a national celebration of the Elevation to Sainthood of Kuriakose Elias Chavara and Mother Euphrasia. Here is the text of his speech: I…
