"I don't write the laws, I just implement them. Here in the Republic of Belarus we have our own laws, whether good or bad. We think they're good, other people might think they're bad."Yes, we do think they are bad -- very bad.
Those first comments come from one of the apparatchiks in charge of enacting Belarus' repressive laws against religious freedom and were spoken in response to complaints about a harsh fine recently levied at a Baptist pastor for "unregistered religious activity." Belarus is the only country in Europe which requires registration with the government before "religious activity"can take place. That includes simply meeting together, prayer, hospitality, etc.
The pastor involved in this particular case (there are several others who are being harassed by the Communist government as well) is Yuri Kravchuk. His church in Grodno belongs to the Baptist Council of Churches, which long ago broke away from the government recognized Baptist Union. Though the registered churches are increasingly controlled by the government too, officials seem to take special delight in hassling the independent congregations, those who historically stood against Soviet regulations against evangelism and religious instruction to children.
"Forum 18 notes that fines and harassment for unregistered religious activity appear to go in waves, with what appears to be a new upturn in the number of such fines currently taking place."
For more, see this Forum 18 report.
