Belarusian laws, policies restrict religious freedom, US report says
The Belarusian constitution guarantees religious freedom, but
other laws and policies restrict it, according to the International
Religious Freedom Report for 2012 released by the US Department of
State.
The report was introduced by Secretary of State John Kerry on May 20.
The
report says that the trend in the government’s respect for religious
freedom did not change significantly in 2012. "The government
selectively and arbitrarily targeted religious groups, which led to
self-censorship among many members. The government used provisions of
the religion law to hinder or prevent activities of groups other than
the Belarusian Orthodox Church (BOC). The law restricts the ability of
religious groups to provide religious education and to import freely and
distribute religious literature," says the report.
The
Department of State accuses the government of harassing members of
certain religious groups, "especially those the government regarded as
bearers of foreign cultural influence or as having a political agenda."
"Foreign missionaries, clergy, and humanitarian workers affiliated with
Protestant churches and the Roman Catholic Church faced numerous
obstacles, including deportation and visa refusal or cancellation," the
report says.
According to the Department of State, there were
reports of societal abuses or discrimination based on religious
affiliation, belief, or practice, with most involving religious sites,
buildings, and memorials.
The report says that many religious
groups continued to experience problems renting, purchasing, or
registering properties to establish places of worship.
The US
embassy continued to promote religious freedom, the report notes. US
embassy staff are said to have maintained regular contact with
representatives of religious groups, attended events hosted by religious
groups, visited repressed churches, acted against incidents of
anti-Semitism, and monitored and followed up on cases of religious.
