Religious Expert Council is against recognizing sacred texts as extremist materials

September 25, 2013 a meeting of the Independent Religious Expert Council was held in Moscow, during which discussed issues of freedom of conscience in Russia, the Institute of Religious Studies expertise and Russian legislation on religion.

results The discussions formed the basis of the "Final Document of the Round Table of the Independent Expert Council on Religious Studies."

« Precedents of judicial and administrative prosecution religious associations <…> are organized under far-fetched pretexts based on conclusions formulated by incompetent in the sphere of scientific knowledge about religion by experts ,” the text says.

Experts noted the unlawful prohibition of the Koran in the translation of E. Kuliyev, the prohibitions of religious literature of Jehovah's Witnesses and the Church of Scientology, recalled attempts to ban "Bhagavad Gita".

They confirmed that “ the sacred ones for religions texts and publications of religious organizations registered in Russia are obviously not subject to expert research in order to search for appeals in them to extremist and other illegal actions , and religious literature as a whole can be examined for conformity with its sacred texts exclusively with the involvement of qualified experts scientific and religious community ".

Experts call on the Prosecutor General's Office, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the FSB, The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation and the presidential administration " prevent to the existing practice of checking for extremism sacred books recognized in Russia religious associations, because such actions offend the feelings believers and create an atmosphere of distrust towards state bodies that have adopted decision on the registration of the relevant religious associations ”.

Sources

• Stop defamation of justice // ReligioPolis. 2013. September 26.
• The final document of the round table of the independent expert religious council // ReligioPolis. 2013. September 26.