Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin | RLPB 129 | Wed 12 Oct 2011
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RUSSIA: PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE RELIGIOUS LAW SIGNIFICANTLY RESTRICT RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
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By Anneta Vyssotskaia
-- a religious liberty advocate with a particular concern for and involvement in Russia and the
former USSR.
On Thursday 6 October the Russian Ministry of Justice made known to the public the proposed new amendments to the Law on the Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organisations (1997) and allowed its Russian citizens to discuss them only until Monday 10 October. If accepted, the proposed amendments will restrict religious freedom in the country significantly.
The most restrictive effect of the amendments will be on unregistered religious groups which currently have the freedom to meet for worship and provide religious instruction to their followers. At present such groups comprise 20-30 percent of religious congregations in Russia. The amended version of the law, after removing their present right to exist and be involved in religious activities, will require them to apply for registration. At the same time the amendments also introduce a new article in the law setting up State religious expertise and providing more grounds for it to refuse registration.
Another restriction affects the rights of the registered local religious organisations that do not provide documentary proof of being a member of a large centralised religious organisation. Lev Levinson, an expert with the Institute of Human Rights, says they will not be permitted to have their own educational institutions or Sunday schools, or to create foreign entities. They will not be allowed to perform religious ceremonies in hospitals, prisons or orphanages, nor to print and distribute religious literature and mass-media for ten years. They will not be able to invite overseas visitors for professional ministry. All these activities would be restricted to organisations like Russian Orthodox Church parishes that are part of a centralised body. In Levinson's opinion it would prevent any alternative religious movement while spiritual and religious development is prohibited. However, it would benefit large church structures by protecting them from groups splitting off.
The proposed amendments force independent congregations to become part of centralised church unions.
Active State Advisor of the Russian Federation, Class I, and religious rights expert Dr Andrey Sebentsov says: 'The purpose of the proposed law is to create new hindrances for the activities of associations of the "non-traditional" religions. The exclusion of religious groups from the [religious] law will in fact create a situation that prohibits religious activities without registration, and all the other proposals contradict the spirit of the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights to such an extent that it is just amazing how we [i.e. Ministry of Justice] can manage to create precedents that aggravate the problems under the pretense of solving them.'
The Russian Minister of Justice, Alexander Konovalov, studied theology in Svyato-Tikonovskii Orthodox University and is a committed supporter of the Russian Orthodox Church. Since he became Minister of Justice, his Ministry has made several attempts to introduce amendments to the Law on Religion intended to regulate strictly the activities of the religious organisations and groups. In 2009 the Ministry of Justice proposed a separate law to regulate missionary activities but it was rejected by all religious organisations.
Dr Roman Lunkin and Dr Inna Zagrebina from the Guild of Experts on Religion and Law posted an appeal to all Christians in Russia on the Guild's website. In it they call the proposed amendments the first serious attempt of the judicial authorities to change radically the existing Religion Law in Russia. They provide a detailed analysis of the proposed amendments. Home meetings of unregistered religious groups and especially missionary activities, as well as religious education of believers without registration, will be considered illegal. They will be punishable by fines and prosecution. All religious organisations will have to apply for registration through a filter of religious expertise conducted by Expert Council for Conducting State Religious Expertise under the Russian Ministry of Justice. This is led by a Russian Orthodox Church expert, Alexander Dvorkin, who is an active opponent of minority religious groups and specially targets Protestant churches. Believers, religious organisations and literature will be checked with double vigour for extremism. A discriminatory ten-year period will be applied to groups not belonging to large centralised organisations.
Lunkin and Zagrebina say: 'The prosecution of any unregistered religious activity, an increase of the opportunity for abused discretion through expertise and checking for extremism place Russia among the countries violating religious freedom and their own Constitutions and opposing the international norms and standards in the area of freedom of religion and beliefs.'
[Sources include http://www.portal-credo.ru , http://religionip.ru , http://www. interfax.ru/ , http://www.sclj.ru/ , http://www.ng.ru ]
PLEASE PRAY SPECIFICALLY FOR --
* the Russian Government, the Ministry of Justice and its minister, Alexander Konovalov, to respect and protect people's constitutional rights regardless of their religion.
* God's protection for all his people in large and small, registered and unregistered churches, and for God's wisdom, guidance and unity for church leaders.
* wisdom and protection of the religious and human rights experts in Russia, for unity between them and practical assistance to the churches at this difficult time.
The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. (James 15:16b, NIV)
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SUMMARY FOR BULLETINS UNABLE TO RUN THE WHOLE ARTICLE
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RUSSIA PROPOSING CHANGES TO RESTRICT RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
The Russian Ministry of Justice allowed its citizens to discuss proposed amendments to the religious law only from Thursday 6 October to Monday 10 October. If adopted, they will restrict religious freedom in the country significantly. The amended religious law would make it illegal for unregistered religious groups to meet for worship or instruction, or be involved in any other religious activities, including hospital and prison chaplaincies. Their literature and other material would be banned. To be registered, small groups of churches and independent congregations would have to be part of large centralised organisations, effectively impossible. The amendments are obviously designed to serve the interests of large, traditional churches. Please pray for religious freedom and God's protection and blessing on all believers in churches large and small, registered and unregistered.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
128. Will Iran risk this execution?
Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin | RLPB 128 | Wed 05 Oct 2011
WILL IRAN RISK THIS EXECUTION?
By Elizabeth Kendal
As was reported in RLPB 127 (28 Sep 2011) the trial court has ruled that whilst Youcef Nadarkhani was not a practising Muslim before his conversion to Christianity, he is an apostate because of his Muslim ancestry. As mandated by the Supreme Court, Pastor Nadarkhani was brought before the trial court on 25, 26, 27 & 28 September and provided with a daily opportunity to renounce Christ and return to Islam. Those who maintain that this blatant disregard for religious liberty is contrary to Islam are wrong. Some schools of Islamic jurisprudence maintain that three opportunities should be provided on the grounds of Sura 4:137. Other schools of Islamic jurisprudence maintain that no opportunity should be given on the grounds of Sura 2:217 that deems fitna (anything that shakes the faith of a Muslim) worse than killing. Also the Hadith (sayings of Muhammad) is very clear: 'He who changes his [Islamic] religion, kill him.' (Sahih Al-Bukhari (9:57)) This is about Islam and politics: sanity has really nothing to do with it. Meanwhile, standing firm in his faith, Youcef Nadarkhani has refused each opportunity to renounce Christ and return to Islam.
The case has caused an outcry in the West -- not 'internationally', as is widely reported -- with Western leaders decrying the situation as appalling and demanding Pastor Nadarkhani's immediate release. But, it must be noted, no such outcry is emerging from the Muslim world or from the regimes behind emerging powers such as China or Russia, or from the UN. Furthermore, as noted in RLPB 126 (21 Sep), Iran is working hard to exploit the Arab uprisings with the aim of drawing Sunni Arab Islamists into the Iranian (political) axis. As Islam rises and Western leverage and influence declines, the Iranian regime may decide that a stand for Islam in defiance of the West can only profit them.
Now that the court has confirmed Nadarkhani is an apostate and sentenced him to death, the regime has three options. It may: (1) defiantly execute Pastor Nadarkhani for apostasy, making a stand for Islam in defiance of the 'colonialist' and 'Christian' West; (2) condemn Nadarkhani's apostasy, confirm his death sentence and then release him in a very public 'humanitarian' gesture before making sure he is quietly eliminated by the secret services. This is exactly what Iran did in 1994 in the case of Pastor Mehdi Dibaj. The Church will get the message, even if the Western political and journalistic elite do not. Or it may (3) change the charge to one that otherwise discredits the accused and evokes revulsion (such as rape), and for good measure throw in a charge that, according to the constitution, is punishable by death or life imprisonment (such as treason).
Presently it appears Iran is considering using strategy (3): the false charge -- used against Christianity from its earliest days. Today, all over the non-free world, the false charge remains the most common means of removing 'problematic' Christians. Christians currently languish in prisons in China, Vietnam, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and elsewhere after being falsely charged and slandered as drug traffickers, swindlers, rapists, blasphemers and threats to national security.
The West needs to talk to Russia, Iran's Orthodox ally, to ensure that if any harm comes to Nadarkhani severe sanctions will make it costly for Iran. The Iranian regime will only execute Nadarkhani if they believe that in doing so they stand to gain more than they would lose. If Pastor Nadarkhani were executed or assassinated, it would indicate that the Iranian Church is facing a whole new level of defiant, politically motivated, unrestrained persecution by the regime.
Further to all this, Christian Solidarity Worldwide reports that on 14 September eleven Iranian Christians who had previously fled Iran received emailed threats from a group calling itself 'The Unknown Soldiers of the Hidden Imam [the Mahdi: the Shi'ite Messiah]'. The letter -- presumed to be from the Iranian secret police -- demanded that the Christians repent and return to Islam, warning that if they refuse they will be killed. The threats are being taken very seriously.
PLEASE PRAY SPECIFICALLY --
* that God will redeem the suffering of Iran's Church, so that this persecution will actually have the opposite effect to what is intended. 'For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.' (Habakkuk 2:14 ESV)
Lord, have mercy on Iran.
Awaken its people to the truth: for the sake of the Church;
for the sake of multitudes who are lost;
and that God might be glorified throughout the world.
* that God will fill Youcef Nadarkhani, his family and church with a powerful outpouring of his Holy Spirit, that they will boldly exercise faith, know his peace, display his grace and reveal his majesty.
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SUMMARY TO USE IN BULLETINS UNABLE TO RUN THE WHOLE ARTICLE
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WILL IRAN RISK THIS EXECUTION?
From 25-28 September Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani resisted four opportunities to renounce Christ before an Iranian court and return to Islam. He therefore stands condemned as an unrepentant apostate sentenced to death. Due to the outcry emanating from the West, Iran is now considering altering the charge to rape and treason so they can maintain that nobody is being executed for religious belief. The Iranian regime will execute Pastor Nadarkhani only if they believe that would gain them more than they will lose: influence in the Islamic world versus sanctions. Furthermore eleven Iranian Christian refugees living abroad have received letters, presumably from the Iranian secret police, threatening them with death if they do not repent and return to Islam. Please pray for the Nadarkhani family and for the Church in Iran.
WILL IRAN RISK THIS EXECUTION?
By Elizabeth Kendal
As was reported in RLPB 127 (28 Sep 2011) the trial court has ruled that whilst Youcef Nadarkhani was not a practising Muslim before his conversion to Christianity, he is an apostate because of his Muslim ancestry. As mandated by the Supreme Court, Pastor Nadarkhani was brought before the trial court on 25, 26, 27 & 28 September and provided with a daily opportunity to renounce Christ and return to Islam. Those who maintain that this blatant disregard for religious liberty is contrary to Islam are wrong. Some schools of Islamic jurisprudence maintain that three opportunities should be provided on the grounds of Sura 4:137. Other schools of Islamic jurisprudence maintain that no opportunity should be given on the grounds of Sura 2:217 that deems fitna (anything that shakes the faith of a Muslim) worse than killing. Also the Hadith (sayings of Muhammad) is very clear: 'He who changes his [Islamic] religion, kill him.' (Sahih Al-Bukhari (9:57)) This is about Islam and politics: sanity has really nothing to do with it. Meanwhile, standing firm in his faith, Youcef Nadarkhani has refused each opportunity to renounce Christ and return to Islam.
The case has caused an outcry in the West -- not 'internationally', as is widely reported -- with Western leaders decrying the situation as appalling and demanding Pastor Nadarkhani's immediate release. But, it must be noted, no such outcry is emerging from the Muslim world or from the regimes behind emerging powers such as China or Russia, or from the UN. Furthermore, as noted in RLPB 126 (21 Sep), Iran is working hard to exploit the Arab uprisings with the aim of drawing Sunni Arab Islamists into the Iranian (political) axis. As Islam rises and Western leverage and influence declines, the Iranian regime may decide that a stand for Islam in defiance of the West can only profit them.
Now that the court has confirmed Nadarkhani is an apostate and sentenced him to death, the regime has three options. It may: (1) defiantly execute Pastor Nadarkhani for apostasy, making a stand for Islam in defiance of the 'colonialist' and 'Christian' West; (2) condemn Nadarkhani's apostasy, confirm his death sentence and then release him in a very public 'humanitarian' gesture before making sure he is quietly eliminated by the secret services. This is exactly what Iran did in 1994 in the case of Pastor Mehdi Dibaj. The Church will get the message, even if the Western political and journalistic elite do not. Or it may (3) change the charge to one that otherwise discredits the accused and evokes revulsion (such as rape), and for good measure throw in a charge that, according to the constitution, is punishable by death or life imprisonment (such as treason).
Presently it appears Iran is considering using strategy (3): the false charge -- used against Christianity from its earliest days. Today, all over the non-free world, the false charge remains the most common means of removing 'problematic' Christians. Christians currently languish in prisons in China, Vietnam, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and elsewhere after being falsely charged and slandered as drug traffickers, swindlers, rapists, blasphemers and threats to national security.
The West needs to talk to Russia, Iran's Orthodox ally, to ensure that if any harm comes to Nadarkhani severe sanctions will make it costly for Iran. The Iranian regime will only execute Nadarkhani if they believe that in doing so they stand to gain more than they would lose. If Pastor Nadarkhani were executed or assassinated, it would indicate that the Iranian Church is facing a whole new level of defiant, politically motivated, unrestrained persecution by the regime.
Further to all this, Christian Solidarity Worldwide reports that on 14 September eleven Iranian Christians who had previously fled Iran received emailed threats from a group calling itself 'The Unknown Soldiers of the Hidden Imam [the Mahdi: the Shi'ite Messiah]'. The letter -- presumed to be from the Iranian secret police -- demanded that the Christians repent and return to Islam, warning that if they refuse they will be killed. The threats are being taken very seriously.
PLEASE PRAY SPECIFICALLY --
* that God will redeem the suffering of Iran's Church, so that this persecution will actually have the opposite effect to what is intended. 'For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.' (Habakkuk 2:14 ESV)
Lord, have mercy on Iran.
Awaken its people to the truth: for the sake of the Church;
for the sake of multitudes who are lost;
and that God might be glorified throughout the world.
* that God will fill Youcef Nadarkhani, his family and church with a powerful outpouring of his Holy Spirit, that they will boldly exercise faith, know his peace, display his grace and reveal his majesty.
~~~~
SUMMARY TO USE IN BULLETINS UNABLE TO RUN THE WHOLE ARTICLE
----------------------------------------------------------------------
WILL IRAN RISK THIS EXECUTION?
From 25-28 September Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani resisted four opportunities to renounce Christ before an Iranian court and return to Islam. He therefore stands condemned as an unrepentant apostate sentenced to death. Due to the outcry emanating from the West, Iran is now considering altering the charge to rape and treason so they can maintain that nobody is being executed for religious belief. The Iranian regime will execute Pastor Nadarkhani only if they believe that would gain them more than they will lose: influence in the Islamic world versus sanctions. Furthermore eleven Iranian Christian refugees living abroad have received letters, presumably from the Iranian secret police, threatening them with death if they do not repent and return to Islam. Please pray for the Nadarkhani family and for the Church in Iran.
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