Law of the Republic of Belarus

N 2054-XII of December 17, 1992

Chapter 1. General Provisions

Article 1. Tasks of the Law

This Law guarantees the rights of citizens to determine and express their attitude to the religion, to have respective convictions, to confess the religion and soleninise religious rites, as well as the social justice and equality, protection of the rights and interests of citizens regardless their attitude to the religion and regulate the relations bound with the activities of religious organisations.

The tasks of this Law consist in the regulation of the social relations arisen in this field for the purposes of uniform implementation of the principles of the freedom of conscience and religion fixed in the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus on the whole territory of the Republic of Belarus as well as exercise of the citizens right of use of this freedom.

 

Article 2. Legislation of the Republic of Belarus on the Freedom of Religion and Religious Organisations

The legislation of the Republic of Belarus on the freedom of religion and religious organisations consists of the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus, the present Law and other acts of the legislation of the Republic of Belarus issued in accordance with these.

 

Article 3. Right of Freedom of Religion

In accordance with the right of freedom of religion every citizen shall determine independently his/her attitude to the religion, be entitled to confess any or none religion alone or jointly with other persons, express and disseminate the convictions bound with the relation to the religion.

Parents or surrogate parents have the right to bring up with the mutual consent their children in accordance with their own relation to the religion.

No compulsion is allowed concerning the determination by a citizen of his relation to the religion, confession or refusal of confession of the religion, participation or non-participation in divine services, religious rites and ceremonies. in religious education.

The exercise of the freedom of confession of religion or expression of convictions is subject only to those restrictions which are necessary for ensuring of public safety and order, protection of the human life, health, moral as well as rights and freedoms of other citizens, established by the law and complying with the international obligations of the Republic of Belarus.

 

Article 4. Equality of Citizens Regardless Their Attitude to the Religion

The citizens of the Republic of Belarus are equal to the law in all spheres of civil, political, economic, social and cultural life regardless their attitude to the religion. Indication of the attitude of a citizen to the religion in official documents is not allowed unless the citizen wants so.

Any direct or indirect restriction of rights or establishment of any privileges of the citizens dependent on their attitude to the religion as well as excitation of enmity or hatred in this connection or insulting of the citizens in connection with their religious convictions entail liability as provided by the Law.

Insulting of religious feelings of the citizens as well as insulting of the sacred articles, cult structures, places of pilgrimage and burial places revered in the respective religion shall be prosecuted according to the Law.

 

Article 5. Civil Duties and Religious Convictions

Nobody is entitled to evade the fulfillment of the duties established by the Law for the reasons of one’s religious convictions.

In the cases provided by the legislative acts of the Republic of Belarus the replacement of some civil duty for another one is allowed.

 

Article 6. Equality of Religions to the Law

All Religions and confessions are equal to the Law. No religion or confession shall exercise any privileges or be subject to any restrictions in comparison with another ones.

 

Article 7. Relationship of Religious Organisations and State

The state neither charges religious organisations with any state functions nor interferes in the activities of religious organisations unless such activities contradict the legislation. The state does not finance the activities of religious organisations.

Religious organisations do not perform state functions.

Religious organisations are entitled to participate in the social life as well as use the mass media.

Religious organisations neither participate in the activities of political parties and other social action organisations pursuing political ends nor render financial or other support to them.

At the places of divine services the use of the state symbolism, holding of meetings and other events of political nature as well as appearances in public and calls insulting representatives of the state and public authorities, officials and individual citizens are not allowed.

The state shall promote the establishment of the tolerant and respectful relations between the citizens confessing and not confessing the religion, religious organisations of different confessions as well as between their followers.

Religious organisations are obliged to observe the requirements of the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus and legislation in force.

The activities of religious organisations, their bodies and representatives directed against the sovereignty of the Republic of Belarus, its constitution system and civil harmony or associated with the infringement of the rights and freedoms of the citizens is prohibited.

 

Article 8. Relations Between the school and Religious Organisations

The state system of education in the Republic of Belarus is of secular nature and not aimed at the formation of particular attitude to the religion. The access to various kinds and levels of education shall be provided for the citizens regardless their attitude to the religion.

The religious organisations having statutes (regulations) registered in the established order are entitled to create groups and Sunday schools for the religious education of children and adults as well as carry out teaching in other forms using the premises belonging or given to them for the above purpose.