RUSSIA RELIGION NEWS


Harassment of African students under anti-evangelism law continues

BISHOP SERGEI RIAKHOVSKY: "DISCREDITING OF RUSSIA CONTINUES IN NIZHNY NOVGOROD"

Christian students from Africa are persecuted by law enforcement agencies

Moskovskii Komsomolets, 9 August 2018

 

Law enforcement agencies are continuing to persecute Christian students from Africa. A female student who already had suffered was summoned to court just before taking her last examination and she was fined again. This time the "covert missionary activity" was found in an interview in which Kudzai (the student) simply described the web of claims against her on the part of law enforcement during the previous trial.

 

Regrettably it must be concluded that the enforcement practice of the so-called Yarovaya Law, in the part pertaining to religious organizations, more and more reminds one of the theatre of the absurd. What is more, not a single terrorist has thus far suffered from this law and all the fallout has descended upon law-abiding religious organizations--strangely predominantly protestant--but now a new twist has gathered force. Zealous law enforcement personnel have engaged in the destruction of Russia's image on an international level.

 

I have already often said that religious literacy among many representatives of justice and bureaucrats leaves much to be desired. At one time, in the Public Chamber of the RF we even produced a special memo for law enforcement personnel; apparently it was necessary to separately work out one for the judiciary. But the problem is systemic and widespread, and alas we are reminded that it is not resolved. . . . However now this disgrace is beginning to discredit the entire country.

 

News media have already reported that a protestant girl from Zimbabwe, a sixth-year student of the medical academy, was brought to justice for alleged missionary activity. At the time, the reason was posting on her page in the social network VKontakte an invitation to an evening of African music, "Welcome Party." The only thing that connected this event with the church was the site of the performance. The local protestant society simply provided a place. Here it should be explained that students from Africa, who are removed from the accustomed social setting and are in a strange country, without supervision, take advantage of their freedom in various ways. There are those who study diligently, but there also are those who without supervision get off track. And here the church plays a large role as a spiritual support. Since many who come from the Dark Continent are protestants, then it is protestant churches that they attend.

 

The need for help for fellow believers was noticed in one of the largest protestant congregations of Nizhny Novgorod—the "Embassy of Jesus" Church of Christians of Evangelical Faith (Pentecostals). The young African students are spiritually supported there and even one of the Sunday services is conducted with a translation into English, French, and Spanish languages, and when possible they are helped in resolving living and social issues. The young people are involved in social and charitable actions so that after their return they would not only work in their acquired profession but would be able and pleased to held the needy. In addition, the congregation also helps in the arrangement of cultural entertainment for the guests from Africa, including providing places for student meetings and fellowship. In this way the relatively small protestant congregation created an image for the country without charge.

 

But lo the amazing personnel of the law enforcement agencies, apparently worried that Kudzai's story would get into news media, decided to take revenge on the girl and summon her to court on the eve of her decisive examination. And she was again found guilty of missionary activity and even fined for it. And they dreamed up a yet better reason. It seems that in an interview, in which she explained the essence of the charges against her by Nizhny Novgorod law enforcers, there was "covert missionary activity."

 

Quite recently, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, in his message to the Federal Assembly, stated directly that it is necessary to create the most pleasant and attractive conditions so that talented youth from other countries would come to study in our universities. And then in a May order by the president there is the goal that by 2024 there will be increased "at least by twice the number of foreign citizens studying in the educational organizations of higher education and scientific institutions."

 

It is important to note that the possibility of freedom of religious confession is an important matter for the choice by Africans of the country for study. On the internet there is an interview of an Adventist student who states directly that he came to study in Russia when he learned that here he could freely profess his faith. And indeed any parent always worries about the circumstances in which his child will study. In contrast with the aggressive attack of contemporary neoliberals, who literally force upon everybody their own ungodly ideals in the form of so-called same-sex marriage, Russia gets substantial advantage in the international market of education. After all, all of this sinful madness flourishes especially in the academic campuses of overseas universities.

 

Incidentally, one may recall that in soviet times the question of guaranteeing a comfortable stay in the country for foreign students received special attention. Special case workers intervened with excessively zealous fighters for communism and also stopped the excessive actions of law enforcement. There was an understanding that students who had studied in our country and preserved good memories about it not only promoted the reputation of the country but above all affected its future in the international arena.

 

But now Nizhny Novgorod law enforcers quite specifically approached the task to "create the most pleasant and attractive conditions for talented youth from other countries." They up and threw themselves at a couple of female students. They say that there is no need to go to church; they came to study. While the right to freely profess religion or not to profess any is inscribed in our constitution.

 

So what will parents think, as well as responsible officials, instead of viewing Russia as a country where it is pleasant to study and where their children will find support from fellow believers and receive spiritual nourishment? They will decide that Russia is a place where one can be persecuted for Christian faith on the most absurd reasons. And how else can one call a situation where a woman student is summoned to court on the eve of a decisive examination, and the judge immediately asks whether she has medical contraindication for staying in prison. The poor girl nearly fainted. You cannot attract new and better students with such an approach and it is easier to drive away those who are here. And at the same time will be lost prospects for influence and cooperation with the future elite of countries of Africa and Asia.  And if these "enthusiasts" are not stopped, then it will be much more difficult to fix the situation. (tr. by PDS, posted 11 August 2018)


Background article:
Officials continue to hound African Pentecostals studying in Russia
June 13, 2018

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