(Washington) - United States Helsinki Commission Co-Chairman
Rep. Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ) today said Belarus' upper chamber of
parliament struck another blow against religious freedom with a burdensome and
restrictive religion law. Passage of the law comes two months after Belarus
authorities plowed through a newly built church with a bulldozer.
"This repressive legislation, targeting minority religions, clearly
violates internationally accepted human rights standards," Smith said.
"Lukashenka and his regime of hand-picked legislators are obviously intent
on stamping out minority religious communities, leaving only the
state-recognized Orthodox Church to decide how individuals practice their
faith."
The religion law passed the upper chamber on Wednesday after the lower chamber
approved it earlier this year. President Alexander Lukashenko has ten days to
sign it into law.
"Lukashenka's regime has inflicted Belarus with the worst human rights
record in Europe," Smith said. "It has flagrantly violated basic
freedoms of speech, expression, assembly, association and religion."
The new law bans religious activity by groups not registered with the
government and forbids most religious meetings on private property. Religious
literature is subject to government censorship and religious organizations
existing fewer than 20 years are prohibited. Under the legislation, the
Orthodox Church has a "determining role" in Belarus. Catholicism,
Protestantism, Judaism and Islam, however, are noted as "traditional"
faiths.
In August, Belarus officials bulldozed a newly built
Autocephalous Orthodox Church in the village of Pahranichny. Authorities
ordered the building destroyed, citing "illegal" construction since
plans did not include a basement. A journalist was jailed 15 days for
attempting to write about the bulldozing.
Lukashenka has reportedly launched a media smear campaign targeting Protestant
communities.
Lukashenka's political opposition, independent media and non-governmental
organizations endure constant harassment. Three journalists were jailed for
allegedly defaming him. Lukashenka refused last month to renew the entry visa
of the OSCE Advisory and Monitoring Group's acting head, effectively shutting
down the operation.
Recent presidential and parliamentary elections, infested with democratic
standards violations, were neither free nor fair. Credible evidence links
Lukashenka's regime to the disappearances of his political opponents. Evidence
also indicates Belarus is a supplier of military equipment to rogue states.