50 000 signatures collected in support of Christians in Belarus

According to information of the Coordination center of the Campaign «Protecting the rights of freedom of conscience», at the date of February, 13 believers of Belarus have collected 50 137 signatures, reports New Life church.

To remind, the Campaign started in Belarus on April, 22 of 2007. Christians of different denominations – Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant - as well as representatives of public community united their efforts and began an action of collecting signatures to address an appeal about changing the current law «On freedom of conscience and religious organizations» to the legislative authorities of the country.

This Law, adopted in new addition in 2002, circumscribed the rights of Christian denominations and particular communities (especially small and recently created ones) in fulfilling their by-law activities, first of all in preaching the Gospel.

Many statements of this Law contravene the 31st article of the Belarusian Constitution that guarantees every citizen the right of free practicing his religion beliefs. They also contravene a number of international laws, in particular the Universal Declaration of human rights, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and others.

The Campaign was running in more than 30 cities and towns of Belarus.

«Belarusian Christian Democracy» party has provided an active support to the Campaign. About 9000 signatures were collected by its efforts.

Alexander Milinkevich, the chairman of the movement «For freedom» has presented a subscription with 1000 signatures to the representatives of the Campaign’s organizational committee.

According the participants of the action, the majority of believers and unbelievers was willingly signing the Appeal calling to bring the main statements of the Law «On freedom of conscience and religious organizations» into accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus and with international legal rules.

Within the next few days it is planned to send the text of the appeal with the copy of the signatures to the President of the Republic of Belarus and to the Parliament of the country. They have a right of the lawgiving initiative which means they can propose to make changes in current laws.

The press-secretary of the Campaign Sergey Lukanin has emphasized: «We hope that the efforts of the Campaign participants will not be in vain, and that the President and the Parliament will respond to our Appeal and will initiate the changes of the religious legislation of the country. We hope that there will be created a working group that will include representatives of state authority and religious denominations».

New iPad POLL! VOTE NOW! Will you buy new iPad?

[02/16/2008]

Print Version