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Comments on: Restrictive religious laws http://www.beta.frontlineclub.com/restrictive_religious_laws/ Championing Independent Journalism Wed, 14 Nov 2012 12:24:39 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: Onnik Krikorian http://www.beta.frontlineclub.com/restrictive_religious_laws/#comment-875 Wed, 25 Feb 2009 14:02:25 +0000 http://www.beta.frontlineclub.com/dev/?p=3728#comment-875 s freedom of conscience," said Stepan Danielian, chairman of Yerevan’s Cooperation for Democracy Center. "This means Armenia is moving toward theocracy," Danielian added. [...] [...] One religious leader told EurasiaNet that he has already met with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan to share his concerns. Sargsyan, who heads the Republican Party, was "amazed" by the proposed amendments, claimed Dr. Rene Levonian, head of the Armenian Evangelical Church, which has some 100,000 members. "[H]e expected ’only minor changes’ in the draft, so I suggested that the adoption of the amendments be postponed." [...] Opposition Heritage Party member Khachatrian, however, believes Armenia may face further problems at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe if the amendments are passed. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive]. "The country’s reputation in the world is so low today," commented Khachatrian. "We will deepen the crisis if we pass the amendments."</blockquote> <a href="http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insightb/articles/eav022409.shtml" rel="nofollow">http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insightb/articles/eav022409.shtml</a> ]]>

ARMENIA: RELIGIOUS FREEDOM DEBATE FLARES, CRITICS SAY THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS OF LEGISLATIVE AMENDMENTS
Proposed amendments to a law on religion in Armenia are stoking an intense debate over religious freedom and church-state relations. Some critics contend that the wording of the draft law provides a basis for persecution of political dissenters and religious minorities. […]
[…]
Human rights activists see the proposed amendments as a means for strengthening the Armenian Apostolic Church to the detriment of other faiths. “Several months ago, the law limited freedom of assembly, then it was freedom of expression . . . Now, it’s freedom of conscience,” said Stepan Danielian, chairman of Yerevan’s Cooperation for Democracy Center. “This means Armenia is moving toward theocracy,” Danielian added. […]
[…]
One religious leader told EurasiaNet that he has already met with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan to share his concerns.
Sargsyan, who heads the Republican Party, was “amazed” by the proposed amendments, claimed Dr. Rene Levonian, head of the Armenian Evangelical Church, which has some 100,000 members. “[H]e expected ’only minor changes’ in the draft, so I suggested that the adoption of the amendments be postponed.”
[…]
Opposition Heritage Party member Khachatrian, however, believes Armenia may face further problems at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe if the amendments are passed. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive]. “The country’s reputation in the world is so low today,” commented Khachatrian. “We will deepen the crisis if we pass the amendments.”

http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insightb/articles/eav022409.shtml

]]> By: Murad Meneshian http://www.beta.frontlineclub.com/restrictive_religious_laws/#comment-874 Thu, 19 Feb 2009 01:22:27 +0000 http://www.beta.frontlineclub.com/dev/?p=3728#comment-874 This despicable act by the Armenian government is utterly barbaric. For a people who lived under Zoroastrianism and then Islam for over two thousand years, and thousands of Armenians still living in many Muslim countries without restrictions, to allow the Armenian government to implement such a law is the ultimate in hypocrisy. Do we have the right now to complain that for over two millennia we were subjected to forced conversions and massacares because of our Christian religion? Has Vartanants not taught us anything? And where will it stop next, FORCE everyone in Armenia to accept the Armenian Church? We consider ourselved a civilized people, is this the way we demonstrate it?

]]> By: Onnik Krikorian http://www.beta.frontlineclub.com/restrictive_religious_laws/#comment-873 Tue, 17 Feb 2009 17:11:29 +0000 http://www.beta.frontlineclub.com/dev/?p=3728#comment-873 s parliament looks set to pass legal amendments that will make it a crime for non-traditional religious groups to proselytize on adherents of the Armenian Apostolic Church. [...] The head of the Armenian branch of the U.S.-based Church of Jesus Christ and the Latter-Day Saints, also known as the Mormons, expressed concern at these amendments as he discussed them with Ashotian in the presence of journalists. Varuzhan Poghosian said he believes they would unfairly restrict freedom of religion guaranteed by the Armenian constitution. Poghosian’s concerns were echoed by Stepan Danielian, a civil rights campaigner. Speaking to RFE/RL, Danielian said proselytism is a purely religious term that can not have a legal status in a secular state. “In essence, the church is trying to become a state within the state and assume state functions, something which contradicts the principles of secularism,” he said, adding that the amendments would put Armenia at odds with the Council of Europe. [...]</blockquote> <a href="http://www.armenialiberty.org/armeniareport/report/en/2009/02/5EC44A9C-0EEF-4792-962A-A9B4A445E651.ASP" rel="nofollow">http://www.armenialiberty.org/armeniareport/report/en/2009/02/5EC44A9C-0EEF-4792-962A-A9B4A445E651.ASP</a> ]]> RFE/RL today reported on the Armenian legislation and also quotes concerns from one civil society activist:

Armenia’s parliament looks set to pass legal amendments that will make it a crime for non-traditional religious groups to proselytize on adherents of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
[…]
The head of the Armenian branch of the U.S.-based Church of Jesus Christ and the Latter-Day Saints, also known as the Mormons, expressed concern at these amendments as he discussed them with Ashotian in the presence of journalists. Varuzhan Poghosian said he believes they would unfairly restrict freedom of religion guaranteed by the Armenian constitution.
Poghosian’s concerns were echoed by Stepan Danielian, a civil rights campaigner. Speaking to RFE/RL, Danielian said proselytism is a purely religious term that can not have a legal status in a secular state. “In essence, the church is trying to become a state within the state and assume state functions, something which contradicts the principles of secularism,” he said, adding that the amendments would put Armenia at odds with the Council of Europe.
[…]

http://www.armenialiberty.org/armeniareport/report/en/2009/02/5EC44A9C-0EEF-4792-962A-A9B4A445E651.ASP

]]> By: Ani http://www.beta.frontlineclub.com/restrictive_religious_laws/#comment-872 Tue, 17 Feb 2009 16:50:26 +0000 http://www.beta.frontlineclub.com/dev/?p=3728#comment-872 t offer a clear definition of the phenomenon,” Armen Ashotyan told a news conference. Proselytism is the term employed by the International Council of Churches. It is the practice of attempting to convert people to another opinion and, particularly, another religion. It is also used to refer to other religions’ attempts to convert people to their beliefs or even any attempt to convert people to another point of view, religious or not. “In such cases, citizens can turn to relevant state bodies to protect their rights,” Ashotyan said. “Besides, amendments to the Law on Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations will include sanctions for proselytism, to be punished with a penalty of 500 minimal salaries or 2-year imprisonment,” he added. [...] ---------------------------------------------------- So if someone is having a spirited discussion (political, philosophical, cultural, sexual, etc.) and is trying to convince another of their point of view, is this going to be grounds for imprisonment? Scary, scary, scary. ]]> The proposed Armenian law is actually threatening beyond religion, if I’m reading this article correctly: http://www.panarmenian.net/news/eng/?nid=28714
Proselytism will be criminally persecuted in Armenia
[…]
“The Law on Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations was adopted in 1991. It prohibits proselytism, yet doesn’t offer a clear definition of the phenomenon,” Armen Ashotyan told a news conference.
Proselytism is the term employed by the International Council of Churches. It is the practice of attempting to convert people to another opinion and, particularly, another religion. It is also used to refer to other religions’ attempts to convert people to their beliefs or even any attempt to convert people to another point of view, religious or not.
“In such cases, citizens can turn to relevant state bodies to protect their rights,” Ashotyan said.
“Besides, amendments to the Law on Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations will include sanctions for proselytism, to be punished with a penalty of 500 minimal salaries or 2-year imprisonment,” he added.
[…]
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So if someone is having a spirited discussion (political, philosophical, cultural, sexual, etc.) and is trying to convince another of their point of view, is this going to be grounds for imprisonment? Scary, scary, scary.

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