The Riigikogu approved the amendments to the revised Churches and Congregations Act

In the course of renewed deliberation, the Riigikogu made amendments to the Act on Amendments to the Churches and Congregations Act (570 UA), initiated by the Government, which the President refused to promulgate. The Riigikogu removed the prohibition on being guided by a person of significant influence located in a foreign country from the text of the Act, as that wording could be interpreted too widely in the President’s opinion. The transitional period was also extended from two months to six months to allow for the necessary changes to be made.

On the basis of a proposal of the lead committee, the Parliament amended the wording of the Act to the effect that a church, congregation, association of congregations or monastery may not be linked on the basis of its statute or any other document that is the basis for its activities, or economically, to a spiritual centre, governing body, religious association or spiritual leader located in a foreign country who poses a threat to the security or the constitutional or public order of the Estonian state.

The Riigikogu also specified what a potential threat meant. According to the amended wording, a threat to the security or the constitutional or public order of the Estonian state may occur, among other things, when a spiritual centre, governing body, religious association or spiritual leader incites, supports or finances activities aimed at violently changing the independence, territorial integrity or constitutional order of Estonia, supports or has supported military aggression or has called for war, a terrorist crime or otherwise unlawful use of armed force or violence. The phrase “incites, supports or finances activities aimed at violently changing the independence, territorial integrity or constitutional order of the Republic of Estonia” was added.

The Riigikogu adopted the Act on 9 April. The aim of the Act is to ensure, among other things, that under the guise of freedom of religion and freedom of association guaranteed by the Constitution, the religious organisations operating in Estonia cannot be used for spreading hostile influence, the dissemination of extremist ideologies or incitement to violence. According to the explanatory memorandum, Estonia stands for freedom of religion and everyone has the freedom to choose whether to follow a religion and which religion to follow. However, in addition to respecting freedom of religion, belief, and association, the state must also take into account the challenges that threaten national security and the security of society.

The Act also specifies who can serve as a minister of religion or be a member of the management board of a religious association in Estonia. A person who is not allowed to reside or stay in Estonia cannot be a minister of religion or a member of the management board of a religious association. In addition, the requirements for the statutes of a religious association are specified and the possibility is created to leave a church whose activities, statutes, or membership of the management board do not meet the requirements established. For this, the religious associations will have to adopt new statutes and after that it will be possible to enter the amendments complying with the requirements into the register without the approval of the governing body of the church, insofar as obtaining such an approval may not be realistic.

The President did not promulgate the Act on 24 April, considering that the restriction on religious freedom and freedom of association it created was not proportionate. In his opinion, it was necessary that the Riigikogu discussed the Act again and to brought it into conformity with the Constitution. On 14 May, the plenary of the Riigikogu decided that it would not pass the Act again without amendments but would begin to amend it.

In the course of renewed deliberation, the Riigikogu made amendments to the Act and passed the amended Act at today’s sitting. 68 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of passing the Act and 17 were against it.

Riigikogu Press Service
Merilin Kruuse
+372 631 6592; +372 510 6179
merilin.kruuse@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: The Riigikogu approved the amendments to the revised Churches and Congregations Act

Source: Parliament of Estonia