Commission created to rework bill on Russian religious freedom

MOSCOW, Aug.10 (JTA) — Russian President Boris Yeltsin has established a commission to rework a controversial bill on freedom of religion. But with the commission predominantly comprised of those who supported an earlier version of the bill, doubts have emerged over whether the proposed legislation will undergo serious changes. The commission is made up of representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church, parliamentarians and members of the Yeltsin administration. The original bill was overwhelmingly approved by the Parliament earlier this summer and had received support from the Orthodox Church. The proposed legislation allotted to four established faiths — the Russian Orthodox Church, Islam, Buddhism and Judaism — the status of “traditional” Russian religions. All other religions would have been required to prove that they officially existed in Russia for at least 15 years, even though under the Communist regime religious freedom was harshly restricted and many religions had to operate clandestinely. Religions, or denominations of religions including the Lubavitch movement and Reform Judaism, that could not meet the 15-year requirement could face limitations on their ability to obtain a legal identity, own property or publish literature. Supporters of the original bill said it protected the country from the spread of dangerous sects, including the Japanese group Aum Shinri Kyo, which in March 1995 launched a deadly nerve gas attack on a crowded Tokyo subway, killing 11 people and injuring more than 5,000. Critics of the bill said it would have imposed serious restrictions on freedom of religion in Russia. Human rights groups, the pope and the U.S. Senate charged it would be discriminatory. Yeltsin refused to sign the bill last month, saying it contradicted a number of clauses in the Russian Constitution. The Orthodox Church was openly disappointed by Yeltsin’s veto. After attending a Russian Orthodox ceremony in Moscow last week, Yeltsin stressed that cooperation with the church will develop “despite obstacles that have arisen lately.” Yeltsin said recently that he would most likely sign the bill after it was amended. After meeting with Yeltsin, the patriarch of the Orthodox Church, Alexy II, reiterated his support for the legislation. “The authorities must understand that the religious spirit of the people must be protected from sects and pseudo-missionaries,” the patriarch said. Alexy II last week dismissed fears that he had formed an alliance with the Communist and ultranationalist parliamentarians who voted their overwhelming support for the bill.