HEADS OF PROTESTANT CHURCHES ASK PRESIDENT TO PREVENT ADOPTION OF ANTIMISSIONARY AMENDMENTS
SOVA Center for News and Analysis, 23 June 2016
On 23 June 2016 the Consultative Council of Heads of Protestant Churches of Russia sent to Vladimir Putin a request to prevent adoption of the draft law by deputies Irina Yarova and Viktor Ozerov. The clergy's distress is evoked by the amendments that propose restriction of missionary activity.
In the opinion of the ruling bishop of the Russian Union of Christians of Evangelical Faith, Sergei Riakhovsky, these amendments in and of themselves are extremist.
The authors of the request note that the developers of the draft law "rejected the possibility of discussion of the draft law with the standing Committee on Affairs of Public Associations and Religious Organizations of the State Duma of the Russian federation, the Public Chamber of the Russian federation, and experts and representatives of the religious organizations themselves.
The heads of protestant churches suggest that the requirement to have documents of permission in order to be able to discuss one's faith "is not only absurd and offensive but it also creates a basis for large scale prosecution of believing people for violation of such provisions of the law."
In the opinion of the authors of the request, the draft law contradicts article 30 of the Russian constitution, which guarantees the right to freedom of association.
The pastors reminded the president about the soviet past, when many people "were persecuted for their faith, for spreading their convictions, and for the Word of God." "Those events are fresh in our memory, when our fathers not only paid fines but also were sentenced to prisons for 'illegal meetings,' for 'religious agitation,' for preaching activity, and for prayers. And today we see clearly that the proposed draft law returns us to that shameful past and prepares the ground for persecution of people for whom faith in God is an integral substantive part of their daily life," the request says. (tr. by PDS, posted 23 June 2016)
DOCUMENT: APPEAL AGAINST RESTRICTIONS ON EVANGELISM
To President of the Russian federation V.V. Putin
Deeply respected Vladimir Vladimirovich
We are appealing to you in connection with the consideration of the second and third readings of draft law No. 1039149-6, "On introducing changes into federal law 'On combating terrorism' and several legislative acts of the Russian federation in the part establishing additional measures for combating terrorism and guaranteeing public security," being planned by the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on 24 June 2016. Said draft law in the version for the second reading in the part introducing changes and additions to the federal law "On freedom of conscience and religious association" violates fundamental human rights and liberty in the sphere of religious freedom. Article 28 of the constitution of the Russian federation affirms that every person is guaranteed freedom of religious confession, including the right to freely disseminate religious and other convictions. International norms of law also affirm the inherent right to disseminate one's religious convictions as a substantive part of the right to freedom of conscience and religious confession.
The draft law imposes a wide range of restrictions on dissemination of any religious convictions, calling them by the general concept of "missionary activity." Effectively the proposed amendments restrict the confessional private life of a believing person.
It is important to note that the authors of the draft law, proposing amendments in the sphere of freedom of religious confession, rejected the possibility of discussion of the draft law with the standing Committee on Affairs of Public Associations and Religious Organizations of the State Duma of the Russian federation, the Public Chamber of the Russian federation, and experts and representatives of religious organizations themselves.
It is impossible to prohibit believing people from praying, sharing with others their religious experience, quoting in discussion with people lines from Sacred Scripture, or performing some religious rituals outside houses of worship and to forbid doing all of this in living spaces. And the requirement for each believer "to have in one's possession" special documents of permission granting the right to disseminate faith and religious convictions and also to distribute religious literature, printed, audio, and video materials, and other objects of worship and religious purposes outside houses of worship and buildings is not only absurd and offensive but it also creates a basis for widespread prosecution of believing people for violation of such provisions of the law.
In addition, the draft law is in contradiction with article 30 of the constitution of the Russian federation by effectively imposing the obligation to join religious associations for getting a document confirming the right to disseminate religious convictions, which is guaranteed by the constitution of the Russian federation.
It is natural for believing people to talk about their faith, and no laws will be able to prevent their doing this. The soviet past reminds us of how many people of various confessions were persecuted for their faith, for spreading their conviction, and for the Word of God. Those events are fresh in our memory, when our fathers not only paid fines but also were sentenced to prisons for 'illegal meetings,' for 'religious agitation,' for preaching activity, and for prayers. And today we see clearly that the proposed draft law returns us to that shameful past and prepares the ground for persecution of people for whom faith in God is an integral substantive part of their daily life.
Esteemed Vladimir Vladimirovich, in the name of thousands of protestant evangelical churches of our country we ask you to prevent the adoption of this repressive and anticonstitutional law.
With prayer for you,
Co-chairman of the Consultative Council of Heads of Protestant Churches of Russia,
member of the Council for Cooperation with Religious Associations under the president of the RF,
ruling bishop of the Russian Associated Union of Christians of Evangelical Faith (Pentecostals),
Sergei Riakhovsky
(tr. by PDS, posted 23 June 2016)
Russian original posted on website of ROSKhVE, 23 June 2016
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