Russian rights activists, bloggers slam new law on protecting religious feelings
(Interfax – June 12, 2013) Russian rights activists and bloggers have criticized a bill protecting the feelings of religious believers, which the State Duma passed in the third and final reading on 11 June. The law, prompted by the controversial Pussy Riot “punk prayer” in 2012 in Moscow’s main cathedral, provides up to three years’ jail for offending religious feelings.
“One more rubber law has been adopted, which brings in absolutely illegal notions and can be used for political goals,” human rights veteran Lev Ponomarev told Interfax news agency, describing it as “a step towards Russia rejecting the secular nature of its state, as stipulated in the constitution”.
Human rights ombudsman Vladimir Lukin told Interfax that he would “not take serious issue with this law on one condition – by the spirit and letter of the constitution, the rights of all citizens pertaining to their freedom of conscience ought to be protected in the same way”, stressing that he sees no need to single out the feelings of religious believers.
The representative of the Russian government in supreme courts, Mikhail Barshchevskiy, said there were “loopholes” in the law, “which could be used so as to apply the law not per its intent”, Ekho Moskvy news agency reported. Barshchevskiy said that the Pussy Riot stunt highlighted the need for such a law but this law was not unambiguous in its definitions. “When someone offends believers’ feelings in a sacred institution, this makes sense. But this is stipulated in the second part, the first part does not talk about sacred sites. So the question arises about what exactly offending the feelings of believers is,” he pointed out.
However political analyst Dmitriy Abzalov held a generally favourable view of the law. “Russia has a rather complex religious palette, which can prompt serious conflicts in a whole number of regions. The aim of the law is not to punish but to prevent and contain different displays of offensive treatment of believers first and foremost,” he told Interfax.
According to Abzalov, along with religious bodies, “the law also protects the rights of atheists. Thus it is balanced. Otherwise, it could be seen as a violation of the constitution, which guarantees the freedom of religion”. He also said the law is in the spirit of similar EU and US legislation.
For their part, Russian Twitterati reacted in their typical sarcastic way. “I believe in good and in human understanding. Can I sue the law State Duma under this law? They are offending my belief in good,” User “RomanPomych” tweeted. (1)
In similar vein, satirical Twitter journal “KermlinRussia” tweeted that “we believe in a better future for Russia and Putin offends our feelings”. (2)
Meanwhile popular opposition blogger Oleg Kozyrev wrote in his LiveJournal that with this law, the Duma has “banned Christianity”. “The law hovers around the notion that the feelings of believers are not to be hurt. This is a deeply anti-Christian legislative initiative, which destroys the very essence of believing, preaching, confessing,” he wrote, adding that “faith cannot be very profound if in order to help it you run to the State Duma for a fine”. He went on to describe the law as “protecting one thing only – the right to persecute those who have beliefs, views, true faith”. (3)
Notes:
(1) https://twitter.com/RomanPomych/status/344446706907226112
(2) https://twitter.com/KermlinRussia/status/344459163201568771
(3) http://oleg-kozyrev.livejournal.com/4594475.html