Riigikogu adopted amendments to the updated law on churches and parishes
Today, at a plenary meeting, Riigikogu adopted in a changed form a law on amendments to the law on churches and parishes.
During the repeated discussion, Riigikogu amended the law initiated by the Government to amend the Law on Churches and Parks (570 UA), not proclaimed by the president in April. The parliament excluded from the law a ban on the leadership of the person who was in a foreign state and a significant influence of the person, since this formulation, according to the president, could have too broad interpretation. In addition, the transition period for making the necessary changes was extended from two to six months, the press service of the Riigikogu reports.
At the proposal of the leading commission, the parliament changed the formulation of the law as follows: the church, parish, parishes and the monastery cannot through their charter or other document on which their activities are based, or to be economically related to the religious center in a foreign state, the leading body, religious association or spiritual leader, which pose a threat to security, constitutional or public order Estonian state.
Riigikogu also clarified the significance of a possible threat. According to the augmented formulation, the threat of security, the constitutional or social order of the Estonian state may arise, among other things, when the religious center, the governing body, religious association or spiritual leader incite or finance activities aimed at violent change in independence, territorial integrity or constitutional system of Estonia; They support or maintain military aggression or called for war, acts of terrorism or other anti -line use of weapons or violence. The phrase “incite the law” was added to the law or support or finance activities aimed at forcibly changes in independence, territorial integrity or constitutional order of Estonia. ”
Riigikogu adopted the law on April 9. The law, among other things, is designed to stop the possibilities of using religious organizations acting in Estonia in order to hostile, the spread of radical ideologies or incitement to violence under the guise of the freedom of religion and freedom of associations guaranteed by the Constitution. According to the explanatory note, Estonia protects the freedom of religion and everyone has the right to choose whether he wants to follow any religious beliefs and if so, what; But, in addition to the manifestation of respect for the freedom of religion, beliefs and associations, the state should also be considered aspects that threaten the security of the state or society.
The law also clarifies who can serve in Estonia as a spiritual person or become part of the reign of a religious association. A spiritual person or member of the reign of a religious association cannot be a person who does not have the right to live or stay in Estonia. In addition, the requirements for the charter of the religious association are clarified and the possibility is created for separation from the church, the activity, charter or composition of the reign of which does not meet the established requirements. For this, the religious association must accept a new charter, after which the changes that are relevant to the requirements can be made to the register without approval by the leading body of the church, if the receipt of such approval is not realistic.
The president did not proclaim the law on April 24, considering that the restriction of the freedom of religion and freedom of associations created by him is not proportional. He considered it necessary to again consider the law in the Riigikoga and bring it into line with the constitution. On May 14, the plenary session of the Riigikogu decided that the law would not accept again in unchanged form, but would begin to change it.
In case of repeated discussion of the law, Riigikogu made amendments to it and adopted the law at today’s plenary meeting. The result of voting: 68 votes “For” and 17 “Against”.
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