U.S. Department of State: Freedom of conscience is still limited in Belarus
Secretary of State John Kerry presented the 2012 International Religious Freedom Report on May 20.
The Belarusian Constitution guarantees the freedom of conscience but the other laws and the government’s policy restrict it, he said.
According to the report, the Belarusian authorities exercise selective pressure on religious groups which has resulted in their members’ self-censorship. The government used the Law on religion to prevent or create obstacles to the existence of any religious group but for the Belarusian Orthodox Church, the authors of the report noted. The law limits the ability of religious groups to provide religious education and to freely distribute religious literature.
The authorities persecuted and fined members of some religious groups, the report says.
Photo: libertyoffaith.org