MINSK, Belarus — A Protestant lawyer in Belarus’ capital of Minsk is seeking legal clarification over whether individuals have rights to freedom of religion or belief, as the country’s Constitution affirms, or only registered religious organizations, as a senior Minsk city administration official indicated to him in November.
Lawyer Sergei Lukanin has asked parliament for clarification but at press time he had received no response. His move follows the city official’s decision to refuse his application to be allowed to read the Bible out loud in a public park.
The official refused him permission as, under the religion law, the exercise of freedom of religion or belief can only happen if it is within state-approved premises and carried out by a state-registered religious community.
In defiance of its international human rights obligations, Belarus has imposed strict restrictions on exercising the right to freedom of religion or belief. Lukanin is the lawyer for Minsk’s New Life Church, which has long been harassed by the authorities.
(F18)
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