Estonia’s parliament passed a law on Wednesday banning foreigners seen as a threat to the country’s security from acting as leaders of religious organizations.
The amendment of the Churches and Congregations Act is widely seen as a way of forcing the Estonian Christian Orthodox Church to cut ties to the Moscow Patriarchate.
Estonia’s Interior Minister Igor Taro said the law will force religious institutions to “detach themselves from Kremlin narratives and influence activities.”
“This is a sensitive issue, and the state has shown considerable patience,” he said. “We have given these institutions time to demonstrate through actions that they do not wish to act as representatives of the aggressor state in Estonia.
“However, neither the church nor the convent under the Moscow Patriarchate has shown any real willingness to make changes," he added.
According to a government press release, the aim of the new law is to ensure that religious organizations working in Estonia are not used to incite hatred or violence.
The new regulation states that religious leaders who supported or continue to support military aggression or “otherwise unlawful use of armed force or violence” pose a threat to the nation’s security and are as such banned from being in charge of churches, congregations or monasteries operating in Estonia.
Additionally, under the new act, any person that cannot legally stay in Estonia is not able to serve as “minister of religion or a member of the management board of a religious association.”
Estonia is home to a large number of Russian nationals, who make up more than 20% of the total population. Many of them belong to the Russian Orthodox tradition.
According to the 2021 census, Orthodox Christianity is the most popular religion in the overwhelmingly secular country, with every sixth person in Estonia saying they are Orthodox.
“We will continue to guarantee freedom of religion and also ensure that in the future, religion cannot be used against our state and people,” Taro added.
Once the law comes into force, religious organizations will have two months to adjust to the new regulations.
Estonia’s Interior Minister Igor Taro said the law will force religious institutions to “detach themselves from Kremlin narratives and influence activities.”
“This is a sensitive issue, and the state has shown considerable patience,” he said. “We have given these institutions time to demonstrate through actions that they do not wish to act as representatives of the aggressor state in Estonia.
“However, neither the church nor the convent under the Moscow Patriarchate has shown any real willingness to make changes," he added.
According to a government press release, the aim of the new law is to ensure that religious organizations working in Estonia are not used to incite hatred or violence.
The new regulation states that religious leaders who supported or continue to support military aggression or “otherwise unlawful use of armed force or violence” pose a threat to the nation’s security and are as such banned from being in charge of churches, congregations or monasteries operating in Estonia.
Additionally, under the new act, any person that cannot legally stay in Estonia is not able to serve as “minister of religion or a member of the management board of a religious association.”
Estonia is home to a large number of Russian nationals, who make up more than 20% of the total population. Many of them belong to the Russian Orthodox tradition.
According to the 2021 census, Orthodox Christianity is the most popular religion in the overwhelmingly secular country, with every sixth person in Estonia saying they are Orthodox.
“We will continue to guarantee freedom of religion and also ensure that in the future, religion cannot be used against our state and people,” Taro added.
Once the law comes into force, religious organizations will have two months to adjust to the new regulations.
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