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Herald Malaysia
5 days ago
- Politics
- Herald Malaysia
Religious freedom in Russia continues to decline: experts
Even theological disagreement within the Russian Orthodox Church is silenced, says a Russian-born scholar Jun 05, 2025 President Vladimir Putin with Kremlin-controlled religious leaders during the official celebrations of the National Unity Day on Nov. 4, 2023. (Photo: Wikipedia) By Gina Christian, OSV News As Pope Leo XIV highlights the need for interreligious dialogue and diplomacy, religious liberty in Russia continues to decline, with the US International Religious Freedom Commission citing that nation's intensified use of blasphemy laws to silence freedom of expression. At the same time, a Russian-born scholar told OSV News that even theological disagreement within the Russian Orthodox Church is silenced. In May, Pope Leo stressed to Vatican-accredited diplomats that interreligious dialogue can foster peace, with such exchange first requiring "full respect for religious freedom in every country, since religious experience is an essential dimension of the human person." But a month earlier, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom issued an update on Russia's "intensified" enforcement of its laws against what the commission called "perceived offensive expression toward religion, religious texts, and religious leaders." The commission -- which defines blasphemy as "the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God or sacred things" -- noted that under international human rights law, "freedom of religion or belief includes the right to express a full range of thoughts and beliefs, including those that others might find blasphemous." The law protects the rights of individuals, not "religious feelings, figures or symbols from behavior or speech considered blasphemous," said USCIRF. As a result, said the commission, "while certain offensive statements and actions may warrant public rebuke, prosecuting perceived offensive expression toward religion violates the right to freedom of religion or belief and the right to freedom of opinion and expression under international human rights law." In Russia, the two laws commonly invoked to prosecute blasphemy -- one criminal, one civil -- have been used to enforce compliance with the government of Russian President Vladimir Putin, which has leveraged the nation's predominantly Russian Orthodox religious identity and what it calls "traditional values" to rally the nation against the West. "For years, President Putin has championed his interpretation of 'traditional values' to oppose the West on human rights and justify his authoritarian practices, which include systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom," said USCIRF. USCIRF said that the use of the blasphemy laws has accelerated with Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which began in 2022 and continues attacks initiated in 2014. Dmitry Dubrovskiy, a researcher from the Institute for International Studies at Charles University in Prague, told OSV News that Russia's blasphemy laws also work in an indirect, but no less effective, way. "It's not so important how many people are being fined or prosecuted -- what is much more important is how many people are prevented from doing something because they're afraid of being prosecuted," explained Dubrovskiy, a former associate professor at Moscow's Higher School of Economics until March 2022, when he was declared a "foreign agent" in Russia and left the country. Dubrovskiy said the prosecution of those deemed to violate Russia's blasphemy laws sends "a message" that certain groups are "second-rate humans." At the same time, he said, "the message about the peculiar character of the Russian Orthodox Church in general" is that "it's totally untouchable" as "the highest level of authority, and not for discussion," although the church has only traditionally, rather than formally, been declared Russia's state church. In its 2025 World Watch List, the nonprofit Open Doors International -- which aids persecuted Christians in more than 70 countries -- said that amid a climate of "dictatorial paranoia" that fuels Russia's persecution of some religious groups, "the Russian Orthodox churches experience the least problems from the government" among Christian organizations. "The government continues to favor the Russian Orthodox Church at the expense of other Christian groups," while "Jehovah Witnesses have been banned since 2017," said the report. "After the start of the war in Ukraine in February 2022 state surveillance has increased, including the monitoring of non-ROC (Russian Orthodox Church) Christians." Open Doors also said in its report that "state agents at various levels carry out surveillance and impose restrictions," with Russia's legislation "being adapted and bringing in new restrictions constantly. All over Russia, local communities oppose openly evangelistic activities carried out by Protestant Christians." In October, the Russian government also put forth a draft law banning religious services in residential buildings. Dubrovskiy pointed to his research on the "expert opinions" used in classifying religious groups in Russia as "extremist" -- a practice that dates from Soviet times. He has found that such experts are increasingly selected not for their knowledge of religion, but of extremism, with little understanding of faith communities' practices and an inclination to label groups harshly. Priests of the Russian Orthodox Church -- which has openly supported that nation's war on Ukraine, with Patriarch Kirill declaring soldiers killed in action as absolved from sin -- have been expelled and imprisoned for expressing their dissent over the invasion, even on religious grounds. Among those who have been incarcerated is Hieromonk Ioann Kurmoyarov, whose YouTube videos criticizing the Russian government's aggression in Ukraine resulted in a three-year prison sentence, imposed in 2023, for sharing "fake news" about the Russian military. Speaking out against the Russian Orthodox Church itself is a danger, said Dubrovskiy. "All the Russian (Orthodox) priests who have ever criticized the church are being excommunicated or expelled," he said, adding that while theological debate by nature entails a level of disagreement, "there is no such thing as discussion" within the Russian Orthodox Church, which strives to "discipline the people to believe and to follow the instructions of the patriarch." Religious persecution is also experienced among Russia's Muslims, who make up close to 11% of the population, according to Open Doors. Clashes between Islamic militant groups and the government in certain areas have caused many ethnic Russians, largely Christian, to flee. In the same Muslim-majority regions, Christians with Muslim backgrounds face persecution from family, friends and the local community. OSV News is awaiting a response to its request for comment from the apostolic nuncio to Russia, Archbishop Giovanni d'Aniello, on the status of religious freedom in Russia In Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine, officials have cracked down harshly on religious groups, destroying houses of worship and seizing church buildings while imprisoning, torturing and killing clergy. In the partially-occupied region of Zaporizhzhia, Russian officials banned the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus and Caritas -- the international humanitarian aid network of the universal Catholic Church. Two UGCC priests, Father Ivan Levitsky and Father Bohdan Geleta, were abducted from their former Zaporizhzhia region parishes and released through Vatican mediation in June 2024, after 18 months of captivity and torture. Despite the Russian government's zealous crackdown on non-Russian Orthodox faith communities, and the nation's majority-Orthodox populace, Russian society as a whole is not especially religious, said Dubrovskiy. Instead, "a substantial amount of Russians definitely consider their Orthodoxy as a cultural identity," he said, noting that just "approximately 3-7% of the Russian population regularly visit a church."--
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Business Standard
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
Yunus vows to uphold minority rights in B'desh during constitutional reform
Bangladesh Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus on Monday said any constitutional amendments would uphold religious freedom and minority rights, asserting that minorities will continue to enjoy the same rights as the majority Muslim population. The head of the interim government made the comments during a meeting with US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) Chair Stephen Schneck here, according to a post on his official social media handle. "We are striving hard to build religious harmony in the country," Yunus said. On being asked about the activities of the reform commissions and the proposed constitutional changes after last year's uprising that ousted former premier Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League regime, Yunus said that "any constitutional amendments would uphold religious freedom and minority rights in Bangladesh". "The consensus-building commission is holding dialogue with political parties over the proposed amendments. Minorities will continue to enjoy the same rights as the majority Muslim population," he said. Yunus noted the role of religion in the country and reiterated the government's commitment to maintaining religious harmony. "We are committed to safeguarding the religious freedom of every citizen of the country," he said. Responding to allegations of minority violence, Yunus said the interim government remains committed to transparency, inviting global journalists to visit and see the situation firsthand. Bangladesh saw a spate of attacks on minorities including on the Hindu community following Hasina's ouster in August last year.
India Today
26-05-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Yunus vows to protect minority rights in constitutional reforms in Bangladesh
Bangladesh Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus assured on Monday that any constitutional changes would protect religious freedom and minority rights, emphasising that minorities would continue to enjoy the same rights as the majority Muslim to a post on his official social media, he made the statement during a meeting with US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) Chair Stephen are striving hard to build religious harmony in the country," Yunus said. "We are committed to safeguarding the religious freedom of every citizen." Bangladesh witnessed a spate of attacks on minorities, including the Hindu community, following Sheikh Hasina's ouster in August last asked about the reform commissions and proposed constitutional changes following last year's uprising that led to the fall of the Hasina-led Awami League government, Prime Minister Yunus said, "Any constitutional amendments will uphold religious freedom and protect the rights of minorities in Bangladesh.""The consensus-building commission is in dialogue with political parties on the proposed amendments," he added, according to PTI."Minorities will continue to enjoy the same rights as the majority Muslim population."Yunus also acknowledged the role of religion in the country and reaffirmed the government's commitment to religious are dedicated to safeguarding the religious freedom of every citizen," he to allegations of minority violence, Yunus said the interim government remains committed to transparency and has invited global journalists to visit and witness the situation inputs from PTITune InMust Watch
The Print
26-05-2025
- Politics
- The Print
B'desh: Yunus vows to uphold minority rights in any constitutional amendments
'We are striving hard to build religious harmony in the country,' Yunus said. The head of the interim government made the comments during a meeting with US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) Chair Stephen Schneck here, according to a post on his official social media handle. New Delhi/Dhaka, May 26 (PTI) Bangladesh Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus on Monday said any constitutional amendments would uphold religious freedom and minority rights, asserting that minorities will continue to enjoy the same rights as the majority Muslim population. On being asked about the activities of the reform commissions and the proposed constitutional changes after last year's uprising that ousted former premier Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League regime, Yunus said that 'any constitutional amendments would uphold religious freedom and minority rights in Bangladesh'. 'The consensus-building commission is holding dialogue with political parties over the proposed amendments. Minorities will continue to enjoy the same rights as the majority Muslim population,' he said. Yunus noted the role of religion in the country and reiterated the government's commitment to maintaining religious harmony. 'We are committed to safeguarding the religious freedom of every citizen of the country,' he said. Responding to allegations of minority violence, Yunus said the interim government remains committed to transparency, inviting global journalists to visit and see the situation firsthand. Bangladesh saw a spate of attacks on minorities including on the Hindu community following Hasina's ouster in August last year. PTI GRS GRS GRS This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Herald Malaysia
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Herald Malaysia
USCIRF hails Pope Leo for global religious freedom work
Pope Leo XIV draws praised for boldly defending rights of persecuted faith communities early in his papacy May 20, 2025 Pope Leo XIV shakes hands with US Vice President Vance. (Photo: Vatican News) By Kate Scanlon, OSV News The US Commission on International Religious Freedom, an independent, bipartisan US government commission that monitors religious freedom around the globe, praised Pope Leo XIV on May 16 for demonstrating the Vatican would continue its advocacy for international religious freedom during his papacy. "USCIRF commends His Holiness Pope Leo XIV for highlighting the importance of freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for persecuted religious communities," Schneck said in a statement. "Throughout the world, we are seeing a significant rise of religious persecution against Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, and other religious minorities. It is heartening to see His Holiness speak forcefully on religious freedom so early on in his pontificate." USCIRF pointed to comments by Pope Leo, the first US-born pontiff, in his May 8 speech on the importance of building "bridges and dialogue." "We are hopeful that Pope Leo's expressed concern for international religious freedom, including the fight against antisemitism, will bring greater tolerance and respect for the rights of persecuted religious communities," Meir Soloveichik, USCIRF vice chair, said in a statement. "The ability to practice one's faith openly and freely is a universal right that must be defended and protected." USCIRF uses international standards to monitor religious freedom violations globally and makes policy recommendations to the president, the secretary of state and Congress. The commission was created by the 1998 International Religious Freedom Act. At the Vatican, religious freedom was among the topics covered in a May 19 meeting US Vice President JD Vance had with Archbishop Paul R. Gallagher, Vatican foreign minister, according to a Vatican statement. The meeting with the archbishop followed a closed-door meeting Vance had with the pope; U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio attended a portion of that meeting. The Vatican press office released a communique outlining only what general themes were discussed during the "cordial talks held at the Secretariat of State" with Archbishop Gallagher and Vance. The two parties expressed their satisfaction with the "good bilateral relations" between them, and "the collaboration between church and state was discussed, as well as some matters of special relevance to ecclesial life and religious freedom."--
