Estonia has obliged its churches to break off relations with Moscow
Kyiv • UNN
Estonia has passed a law obliging religious organizations to terminate ties with foreign individuals who pose a threat to the country's security. Two months are given to comply with the requirements.
The Estonian Parliament has adopted the Law on Amendments to the Law on Churches and Congregations initiated by the government. The innovation obliges religious organizations operating in Estonia to terminate ties that have an impact with foreign individuals or organizations. This is reported by UNN with reference to the decision of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia).
Details
According to the adopted normative document, churches, congregations or monasteries operating in Estonia may not be governed in their activities by a person or association located in a foreign country and having a significant influence, as well as be associated by statute, treaty or other documents or economically with a religious association, spiritual center, governing body or spiritual leader located in a foreign country, if they pose a threat to the security, constitutional or public order of Estonia.
Let's add
Such a threat may arise, among other things, when a spiritual center, governing body, spiritual leader, person or association supports or has supported military aggression or called for war, terrorist crime or other illegal use of armed force or violence.
The explanatory note to the law states that Estonia stands for freedom of religion, and that everyone is free to choose whether to follow him and which religion to follow. However, in addition to respecting freedom of religion, belief and association, the state must also take into account the challenges that threaten national security and public safety.
According to the Law, churches and congregations, which must bring their statutes, membership in the governing council or their activities into compliance with the Law, will have two months from the date of entry into force of the Law to do so.
Let us remind
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine stated about the oppression of religious freedoms in the occupied territories. Russia is systematically suppressing religious communities in the occupied territories of Ukraine, turning temples into weapons depots. In three years, the occupiers destroyed 630 temples and killed about 50 clergymen.
