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Belarus: Religious Freedom

Answer

The Government continue to have serious concerns about the lack of respect for human rights in Belarus, including religious freedom, and monitor the situation closely. Our embassy in Minsk monitors details of arrests and detentions. We work closely with our EU and US partners to raise our concerns and maintain effective pressure for improvement, including through regular meetings of EU heads of mission in Minsk where human rights, religious freedoms and options for further action are discussed. We are very concerned by the Belarusian Government's actions against protesters involved in the demonstrations on 25 March (and on 26 April). On 29 April the EU issued a statement highly critical of recent regime actions and the French ambassador, as EU presidency in Minsk, made a formal demarche on Foreign Minister Martynov. We were similarly concerned to learn of the re-arrest of five individuals recognised by the EU as political prisoners, especially coming so soon after their release. We are aware of a fine, equivalent to US$650, imposed upon a Protestant leader and pastor of the New Life Church for organising a signature campaign to petition amendments to the 2002 religious law. The organisers of the campaign were judged not to have registered the group collecting signatures. The harsh treatment of the New Life Church pastor reflects a wider issue about the registration of non-governmental organisations and civil society groups and human rights violations in general, about which the EU regularly raises concerns. Meanwhile, the continued curtailment of religious freedom for Christians is of concern.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

3168; 701 c206-7WA

Session

2007-08

Subjects

Arrests Human rights Protest Political prisoners Religious freedom Belarus

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk