Russia: Widened ban on "extremists" exercising religious freedom

[Tbs77]

RUSSIA: Widened ban on "extremists" exercising religious freedom

 

These amendments that go into effect October 2021 will encroach upon the rights of individuals not just organization.

 

During the trial to ban the activity of Jehovah’s organization the organization warned other religious organizations you will be next…. This is going to be an interesting October.

 

From Article

“Religion Law amendments – which come into force in October – ban those the state considers – rightly or wrongly – to be extremists from participating in religious groups. They also ban commercial entities (such as bookshops) from including a religious affiliation in their name unless they were founded by a centralised religious organisation (or, for NGOs, get their approval). Olga Sibiryova of the Moscow-based SOVA Center warns that "the wording of the amendments is very imprecise and leaves room for interpretation" by police and prosecutors.”

 

Long Read

 

https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2659

 

As mentioned in the May Broadcast and 2021 Update #4 keep praying for our Russian brothers and sisters!

 

Agape

[Thesauron]

Come at us! We’re not afraid!

[Friends just call me Ross]

4 hours ago, Tbs77 said:

"the wording of the amendments is very imprecise and leaves room for interpretation" by police and prosecutors.”

That should read: "by police and PERSECUTORS"    

[On the huh]

While we maintain peace and will not retaliate, other religious organisations and groups will not.   This may work in our favour. 

[Sheep]

Quote

The amendments remain "replete with vague wording", lawyer Stanislav Kulov commented to Forum 18 on 24 March. They may be "safely viewed as unjustified interference in the activities of religious associations by the state and an encroachment on the constitutionally enshrined principle of separating religious associations from the state".

I think Russia would lose its ability to selectively persecute if it wasn't for the vague wording. They can't specifically mention Jehovah's Witnesses in their laws, so they make the wording so that it can be interpreted to only apply to the ones they want to harm while leaving out the Russian Orthodox Church.

Quote

"In my view, the amendments to the Religion Law are aimed at depriving Russian citizens of their last hope of using their constitutional right to [freedom of] religion," Jehovah's Witness lawyer Yegiazar Chernikov commented to Forum 18 on 1 May.

"Insofar as all Jehovah's Witnesses facing criminal prosecution today are accused of extremism precisely for exercising their constitutional rights and freedoms and this is considered by investigative agencies to be extremist activity," Chernikov added, "then anybody who participates in the expression of their faith with relatives and friends will fall under the ban imposed by these amendments. Consequently, if earlier the Constitution left a chance remaining to believers, now they are deprived of their last hope of using their constitutional rights. In my view, this repressive law forces you to give up your faith. It is a cunning and veiled replacement of rights with 'criminal activity'."

State-Instituted Persecution. That's what it should be called.