Religious freedom violations: Belarus 01/01/2008
Executive summary
In recent years, respect for human rights and civil liberties, including freedom of speech, assembly, association, religion, worship and expression, have continued to deteriorate inBelarus. International standards of human rights are not upheld by the government. Instead, the government itself repeatedly violates the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) to which it is a party.
Religious freedom is restricted both directly and indirectly by the authorities. Nongovernmental organisations (NGOs), religious institutions and religious leaders are subjected to frequent harassment, prosecution, fines, repression and even imprisonment under the terms of the 2002 Law on Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organisations. Over thepast eighteen months, two pastors and one human rights defender were arrested for socalled unregistered activities, a practice not heard of since the fall of the Soviet Union.
A number of foreign religious workers have been accused of organising illegal religious activity, deported or failed to have their visas renewed. Under the country’s National Security Concept, the work of foreigners was considered a potential threat to national security. Foreign religious leaders were also not allowed to take part in any religious activity outside of the inviting organisation.
The government made it almost impossible for religious groups to register buildings for religious use, forcing them to carry out their activities outside of the law. As a result many religious leaders were fined for their use of residential premises for religious purposes. In response, members of different churches and denominations went on hunger strikes. One of them, a twenty day round-the-clock protest vigil, was the largest in the history of Belarus.
Belarusian Christians vigorously opposed the continued violations of religious freedom. Not only did they appeal against the illegal activities of local authorities by organising press conferences, campaigns, and protests but in mid-2007 they launched a nation-wide petition calling for changes to the 2002 religious law. By the end of the year, 35,000 people had signed up to the campaign. Under Belarusian law, once 50,000 signatures are gathered, the petition can be submitted to the Constitutional Court for further examination.
The Belarusian government has been repeatedly condemned by democratic governments in Europe and North America for its continued repression of fundamental human rights. Religious freedom continues to be severely curtailed and religious leaders and communities are often subjected to harassment and prosecution by the authorities. Over the past year and a half reports of violations of religious freedom have increased significantly and this report seeks to document some of the most significant cases.
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