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AMENDMENTS TO THE LAW "ON FREEDOM OF RELIGION AND RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS" TO BE DISCUSSED AT THE SPRING SESSION OF ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT
Mediamax
Aug 19 2011
Armenia
Yerevan/Mediamax/. Changes and amendments to the law "On freedom of
religion and religious organizations" will be presented and discussed
at the 2012 spring session of the Armenian National Assembly.
Armenia's First Deputy Minister of Justice Grigor Muradyan said this,
presenting the changes and amendments to the law, Mediamax reports.
According to him, before its introduction to the parliament the draft
law will be submitted to Venice Commission of the Council of Europe
for discussion. The commission will make its decision 2 months later.
Talking to journalists, Chairman of Vanadzor Office of Helsinki Civil
Assembly Artur Sakunts stated that he is against the amendments. "This
draft law is meant for combating religious organizations", he said.
According to the human rights advocate, the provision of the law on
abolishing religious organizations cannot touch the Armenian Apostolic
Church in any way. "The Armenian Apostolic Church cannot be abolished
as it operates in accord with the law. This provision creates unequal
conditions", he said. Besides, Artur Sakunts added that the new law
violates the freedom of conscience and religion.
In his turn, head of Shirak Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church,
Bishop Michael Ajapahyan, said that the law provides more free
conditions for the activities of religious organizations. "Religious
organizations try to weaken the bases and foundations of the church",
he said.
Mediamax
Aug 19 2011
Armenia
Yerevan/Mediamax/. Changes and amendments to the law "On freedom of
religion and religious organizations" will be presented and discussed
at the 2012 spring session of the Armenian National Assembly.
Armenia's First Deputy Minister of Justice Grigor Muradyan said this,
presenting the changes and amendments to the law, Mediamax reports.
According to him, before its introduction to the parliament the draft
law will be submitted to Venice Commission of the Council of Europe
for discussion. The commission will make its decision 2 months later.
Talking to journalists, Chairman of Vanadzor Office of Helsinki Civil
Assembly Artur Sakunts stated that he is against the amendments. "This
draft law is meant for combating religious organizations", he said.
According to the human rights advocate, the provision of the law on
abolishing religious organizations cannot touch the Armenian Apostolic
Church in any way. "The Armenian Apostolic Church cannot be abolished
as it operates in accord with the law. This provision creates unequal
conditions", he said. Besides, Artur Sakunts added that the new law
violates the freedom of conscience and religion.
In his turn, head of Shirak Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church,
Bishop Michael Ajapahyan, said that the law provides more free
conditions for the activities of religious organizations. "Religious
organizations try to weaken the bases and foundations of the church",
he said.