Serbian law on religions causes international concern
-02/05/06
The hasty adoption by S
Serbian law on religions causes international concern
-02/05/06
The hasty adoption by Serbia’s legislature of a new law on religions has been criticised by both the Council of Europe and the US-based Helsinki Commission, writes Clive Leviev-Sawyer for Ecumenical News International.
The law calls for freedom of religion and belief, autonomy of churches and cooperation among church organizations. It provides for financial support from the government despite a stated stipulation about the separation of church and state.
Supporters of the new legislation in Serbia hope that it will help the country’s path towards acceptance by the European Union.
On 26 April 2006, however, the leadership of the US Helsinki Commission expressed concern over the Serbian parliament’s abrupt passage of the Law on Churches and Religious Communities and called upon Serbian President Boris Tadic to veto the legislation.
“Until recently, Serbia welcomed international expertise during the drafting process, as Serbian officials considered many suggestions and revised early drafts,” said commission chairperson US Senator Sam Brownback.
The commission monitors the human rights commitments of the 55 member states of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) made under the Helsinki agreement.
“Unfortunately, elements in the government and the Serbian National Assembly then forced through a draft that retreats from Serbia’s OSCE religious freedom commitments,” said Brownback. “The secrecy of the process and the sudden loss of transparency are troubling.”
The Serbia national legislature passed the law on 20 April. It has 250 members, but only 129 were in the chamber for the vote, with 120 in favour, four against, and five abstentions.
“Considering Serbian officials prepared multiple drafts, each time steadily improving the text, it is unclear why a deficient version was suddenly rushed through the parliament on the eve of Orthodox Easter,” said Helsinki Commission co-chairperson Christopher H. Smith.
He went on: “President Tadic should also consult with minority religious communities, as they will acutely feel the effects of such a law. I therefore urge President Tadic to return this legislation to the parliament and ask that the text be withdrawn entirely.”
The commission said a “blatantly discriminatory amendment aimed against most minority religious communities” was particularly problematic. “Regardless of whether they already enjoy registration, all but seven communities would need to reregister,” it noted.
The Council of Europe, an inter-governmental body for 46 European nations, had called for further discussions before the law was put to the vote. The council proposed trimming back the powers given to the Minister of Religion which stipulate that unregistered religious groups should have greater freedom and there should be greater clarity on the legal status of church laws.
But Serbia’s B92 radio station quoted Religion Minister Milan Radulovic saying there were reasons for not accepting the Council of Europe proposals.
“The draft of the law does not include their suggestions to end religious pluralism, to practically negate the existence of a large number of churches and religious communities, to take away the rights of every church and religious community for having a first and last name and any kind of identity,” Radulovic declared.
[With acknowledgements to ENI. Ecumenical News International is jointly sponsored by the World Council of Churches, the Lutheran World Federation, the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, and the Conference of European Churches.]
Serbian law on religions causes international concern
-02/05/06
The hasty adoption by Serbia’s legislature of a new law on religions has been criticised by both the Council of Europe and the US-based Helsinki Commission, writes Clive Leviev-Sawyer for Ecumenical News International.
The law calls for freedom of religion and belief, autonomy of churches and cooperation among church organizations. It provides for financial support from the government despite a stated stipulation about the separation of church and state.
Supporters of the new legislation in Serbia hope that it will help the country’s path towards acceptance by the European Union.
On 26 April 2006, however, the leadership of the US Helsinki Commission expressed concern over the Serbian parliament’s abrupt passage of the Law on Churches and Religious Communities and called upon Serbian President Boris Tadic to veto the legislation.
“Until recently, Serbia welcomed international expertise during the drafting process, as Serbian officials considered many suggestions and revised early drafts,” said commission chairperson US Senator Sam Brownback.
The commission monitors the human rights commitments of the 55 member states of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) made under the Helsinki agreement.
“Unfortunately, elements in the government and the Serbian National Assembly then forced through a draft that retreats from Serbia’s OSCE religious freedom commitments,” said Brownback. “The secrecy of the process and the sudden loss of transparency are troubling.”
The Serbia national legislature passed the law on 20 April. It has 250 members, but only 129 were in the chamber for the vote, with 120 in favour, four against, and five abstentions.
“Considering Serbian officials prepared multiple drafts, each time steadily improving the text, it is unclear why a deficient version was suddenly rushed through the parliament on the eve of Orthodox Easter,” said Helsinki Commission co-chairperson Christopher H. Smith.
He went on: “President Tadic should also consult with minority religious communities, as they will acutely feel the effects of such a law. I therefore urge President Tadic to return this legislation to the parliament and ask that the text be withdrawn entirely.”
The commission said a “blatantly discriminatory amendment aimed against most minority religious communities” was particularly problematic. “Regardless of whether they already enjoy registration, all but seven communities would need to reregister,” it noted.
The Council of Europe, an inter-governmental body for 46 European nations, had called for further discussions before the law was put to the vote. The council proposed trimming back the powers given to the Minister of Religion which stipulate that unregistered religious groups should have greater freedom and there should be greater clarity on the legal status of church laws.
But Serbia’s B92 radio station quoted Religion Minister Milan Radulovic saying there were reasons for not accepting the Council of Europe proposals.
“The draft of the law does not include their suggestions to end religious pluralism, to practically negate the existence of a large number of churches and religious communities, to take away the rights of every church and religious community for having a first and last name and any kind of identity,” Radulovic declared.
[With acknowledgements to ENI. Ecumenical News International is jointly sponsored by the World Council of Churches, the Lutheran World Federation, the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, and the Conference of European Churches.]