Аўтар: Forum 18
Forum 18. BELARUS: Administrative, criminal charges for evicted Church’s outdoor worship?
At a meeting in Parliament and two letters, officials warned New Life Pentecostal Church that continuing to meet for worship in the car park of their seized church in Minsk could lead to administrative or criminal prosecution (maximum punishment four years’ imprisonment). The Church vows to continue its worship. “The authorities may initiate criminal charges […]
Forum 18: BELARUS: “To put the church in its place”
As more human rights defenders are jailed, others protesting against election falsification and regime violence are also targeted. The Belarusian Orthodox Church has fired many priests including Archbishop Artemy of Grodno, who spoke of a “general purge” as “not all church figures support the existing regime”. Among others targeted, Catholic priest Fr Vyacheslav Barok fled […]
BELARUS: Political prisoners’ freedom of religion or belief restricted
The regime’s many political prisoners are frequently denied clergy visits and access to religious literature, against both Belarusian law and the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (Mandela Rules). Arrested in March, Olga Zolotar repeatedly requested a visit from a Catholic priest, but the Investigative Committee refused. Finally, in June officials allowed […]
БЕЛАРУСЬ: свобода религии или убеждений политзаключенных ограничена
Феликс Корли, Forum 18 Многим политическим заключенным режима часто отказывают в встречах со священнослужителями и в доступе к религиозной литературе, что противоречит как белорусскому законодательству, так и Минимальным стандартным правилам обращения с заключенными ООН (Правила Манделы). Арестованная в марте Ольга Золотарь неоднократно просила о встрече с католическим священником, но Следственный комитет ей отказывал. Наконец, в […]