Rights activists decry repressive religion legislation

MOSCOW — Repressive new religion legislation in Belarus could mean the closing of dozens of churches and religious communities in the former Soviet republic, human rights activists say.

The new measure sets stringent rules for the government registration, of religious denominations, requiring them to have been registered in 1982 when Belarus was part of the atheistic Soviet Union. Registration is necessary to publish, organize religious schools or host foreigners. Religious communities with fewer than 20 members would not be registered under the legislation and would be banned from worshipping, even in private homes.