19 September 2008

Religious Discrimination in Russia Remains Important Issue

Muslims, Jews, non-Orthodox Christian groups targeted

A Russian Orthodox priest sprinkles Easter cakes and eggs with holy water in the town of Krasnogorsk, Russia.

By Leah Dow
Staff Writer

Washington — Local and regional officials in Russia are discriminating against religious minorities despite efforts by the central government to ensure freedom of religion, according to a new report by the U.S. Department of State.

Those groups most targeted include Muslims, Jews, Scientologists, and a broad range of non-Orthodox Christian groups, the 800-page 2008 Annual Report on International Religious Freedom, issued September 19, said.

Only a small minority of Russia’s citizens actively participates in religion, but 100 million of the country’s 142 million citizens are Russian Orthodox Christians. The report estimates that Muslims account for between 14 million and 23 million, 2 million are Protestants, 2 million are Buddhists, 600,000 are Roman Catholics, and an estimated 250,000 are Jews.

The report reviews religious rights in 198 countries and areas.  Its release coincides with the anniversaries of the United Nations’1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the United States’ 1998 International Religious Freedom Act. Both affirm an individual’s right to believe and worship as he or she chooses without fear of government intervention or harm.

The types of discrimination in Russia range from hate crimes, including the bombing of synagogues and closing of mosques, to more subtle forms such as the denial of permits to hold religious services and build new religious facilities.

In cases of clear religious discrimination, authorities often failed to prosecute or sentence those held responsible for such attacks.  Hate-crime legislation is poorly enforced as many prosecutors elect to press the less serious charge of vandalism rather than trying to establish the hate-crime motive.

Muslims attend a Friday prayer in a mosque in Moscow.

Harassment of Muslims seems prevalent, with reports surfacing that detail instances of government officials confiscating religious texts and preventing individuals from attending Friday prayers. In certain regions of the country, land can be allocated for a mosque only after a public opinion survey shows the planned site would not be a source of conflict.

The report also cited numerous cases of Muslims being prosecuted for extremism or terrorism “even when they had no clear connection to such activities.”

In Russia, anti-Semitism remains a problem. In February, a joint study by the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Russian Jewish Congress revealed that many school history books completely ignore the Holocaust. Of 70 incidents of vandalism against religious targets in Russia reported by groups that monitor hate crimes, 36 were aimed at Jews.

Regional government officials and legislative branches have declared the need to preserve the “spiritual security” of Russia, and to discourage the growth of “sects” and “cults,” the report said. Such terms generally are understood to encompass some Protestant religions and new religious movements.

Frustrations run high among the religious community because many feel that the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) has special privilege and influence.

The report states that “religious news sources claim that authorities acting under the influence of the Church sometimes prevented Orthodox churches not belonging to the ROC from obtaining or maintaining buildings for worship.”

The Russian Orthodox Church also has entered into both formal and informal agreements with the government and as a result, enjoys special treatment. This relationship has afforded the church greater access to public institutions such as hospitals, the military and schools. In some regions of the country, schools offer courses on religion, but non-Orthodox religious groups maintain the textbooks used in these classes espouse only ROC views.

Despite these problems, Russia is making strides in becoming religiously tolerant. The federal government enacted a law in February that allowed religious educational institutions to receive state accreditation and issue official diplomas, the report said.  This will make religious education more competitive with state education.

See also "Annual Report Turns Spotlight on Abuses of Religious Freedom."