The Ministry of Justice has published a new draft amendments to the law “On Freedom of Conscience”

August 8, 2012 on the website of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation was has been published Another draft amendment to the Federal Law “On Freedom of Conscience” and religious associations.

The project concerns Art. 9 of the law (“Creation of religious organizations"). In accordance with the proposed amendments , the founder or a member of a religious organization cannot be a “foreign citizen or person stateless, in respect of which, in accordance with the legislation of the Russian Federation order, a decision was made on the undesirability of their stay (residence) in the Russian Federation .

In addition, the draft amendments provide for a ban on becoming founder or member of a religious organization to persons whose activities are recognized extremist court, or subject to the law on combating money laundering proceeds of crime and the financing of terrorism.

Since it is not uncommon for religious organizations are illegally recognized as extremist, we fear that victims of the misuse of anti-extremist legislation if adopted by these amendments may face further big disenfranchisement.

Sources

• Unwanted foreigners and domestic extremists will soon not be able to be members of religious organizations in the Russian Federation // Interfax-religion. 2012. August 8.
• Draft Federal Law "On Amendments to Article 9 of the Federal Law "On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Associations" // Website of the Ministry of Justice. 2012. August 8.