THE Bulgarian law on religions contains restrictions that are incompatible with the European Convention on Human rights.
A report drafted by specialists for the Council of Europe concluded that the law, which was adopted at the end of 2002, still allows for state control of religious belief and could endanger the pluralism of religions in Bulgaria, Mediapool reported.
Before the law was adopted, the ruling National Movement Simeon II assured Parliament that it had considered the CE's views. This year's analysis, compiled by the same team that drafted last year's report, showed that some recommendations were not followed, although the accepted law was an improvement on the draft.
The European experts who wrote a report on the law - two professors, one from the University of Leyden in The Netherlands and the other from Bristol University in the UK, agreed that article seven of the law was dubious and could create problems, because it allows for depriving a religious institution from registration based on the arguments of national security or preventing the institution's use for political means.
The CE experts pointed out that these arguments could be used to justify state interference in the freedom of religion.
Lawson wrote that the revocation of this article is "highly recommended".
Another point in the law that troubled experts was that a Government body - the Religions Directorate, is responsible for determining law infringements.
Experts criticised the right of the Religions Director to impose fines on religious leaders, which the law allows, because such supervision creates privileges and is therefore not compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights.
The establishment of a state religion was also viewed as not compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights.
The European experts opposed the ex lege (by law) recognition of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church as a legal entity, while other religions have to go through a registration procedure. The Council of Europe recommended that Bulgaria establish religious pluralism and not allow the state to evaluate religions and beliefs.
A report drafted by specialists for the Council of Europe concluded that the law, which was adopted at the end of 2002, still allows for state control of religious belief and could endanger the pluralism of religions in Bulgaria, Mediapool reported.
Before the law was adopted, the ruling National Movement Simeon II assured Parliament that it had considered the CE's views. This year's analysis, compiled by the same team that drafted last year's report, showed that some recommendations were not followed, although the accepted law was an improvement on the draft.
The European experts who wrote a report on the law - two professors, one from the University of Leyden in The Netherlands and the other from Bristol University in the UK, agreed that article seven of the law was dubious and could create problems, because it allows for depriving a religious institution from registration based on the arguments of national security or preventing the institution's use for political means.
The CE experts pointed out that these arguments could be used to justify state interference in the freedom of religion.
Lawson wrote that the revocation of this article is "highly recommended".
Another point in the law that troubled experts was that a Government body - the Religions Directorate, is responsible for determining law infringements.
Experts criticised the right of the Religions Director to impose fines on religious leaders, which the law allows, because such supervision creates privileges and is therefore not compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights.
The establishment of a state religion was also viewed as not compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights.
The European experts opposed the ex lege (by law) recognition of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church as a legal entity, while other religions have to go through a registration procedure. The Council of Europe recommended that Bulgaria establish religious pluralism and not allow the state to evaluate religions and beliefs.
