Proposed new law on religious freedom in the Russian Federation

Written Declaration No. 261

Doc. 7920

23 September 1997

1. The undersigned, members of the Assembly, are concerned that the bill on religious freedom which has recently been passed by the Russian State Duma contravenes Article 9: freedom of thought, conscience and religion, of the European Convention on Human Rights;

2. If passed into law it will undoubtedly encourage a world wide campaign by human rights organisations and demands for the suspension of Russian membership of the Council of Europe.

3. It urges the Federal Council of the Russian Federation and President Yeltsin not to approve the bill.

4. It requests that the Joint Committee discusses the matter at its forthcoming meeting on Thursday, 25 September.

Signed:

Atkinson, United Kingdom, EDG

Acba, Turkey, EDG

Akcali, Turkey, EDG

Albrink, Denmark, EDG

Baumel, France, EDG

Billing, Sweden, EDG

Bj�rck, Sweden, EDG

Chapman, United Kingdom, EDG

Chornovil, Ukraine, EDG

Colvin, United Kingdom, EDG

Dromberg, Finland, EDG

Dundee, United Kingdom, EDG

Eltz, Croatia, EDG

Fleetwood, Sweden, EDG

Hagard, Sweden, EDG

K�lahli, Turkey, EDG

Kuzmickas, Lithuania, EDG

Lambergs, Latvia, EDG

Martelli, Italy, EDG

Olrich, Iceland, EDG

Paleckova, Czech Republic, EDG

Pasko, Ukraine, EDG

Pickles, United Kingdom, EDG

Plechat�, Czech Republic, EDG

Prusi, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, EDG

Ragnarsd�ttir, Iceland, EDG

Schreiner, France, EDG

Sinka, Latvia, EDG

Staciokas, Lithuania, EDG

Steolea, Romania, EDG

Sungur, Turkey, EDG

Szak�l, Hungary, EDG

Tahiri, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, EDG

J.M. Taylor, United Kingdom, EDG

Telgmaa, Estonia, EDG

Tiuri, Finland, EDG

Townend, United Kingdom, EDG

Turini, Italy, EDG

Valleix, France, EDG

Wilshire, United Kingdom, EDG

Zingeris, Lithuania, EDG

_____________

Total: 41