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Forum 18, the Norway-based human rights group, warned that the legislation may also be used to discriminate against other religious groups, including the Bektashi Muslim community. The law names without defining three types of religious entities – a church, a religious community and a religious group. Forum 18 said in a statement that the Religion Law "does not specify clear requirements for communities seeking legal status, or whether unregistered entities can have religious freedom." RELIGIOUS RITUALS Among other information demanded for registration is the "Manner of expression of the religious affiliation and performance of the religious rites and rituals." The Human Rights Ombudsperson reportedly was not involved in drafting the Law, "even though a draft law should be sent to the Ombudsperson's office before it goes for voting," Forum 18 said. A main problem expected by Christians is that the law may not improve the situation of unregistered religious communities, who are unable to obtain property, run bank accounts, and pay pensions and health insurance. In addition, foreign Christian missionaries and other church leaders may face problems in the country, the law suggests. Paragraph 2 of Article 12 states: "Proof of citizenship of the founders and of the person authorized to present and represent a church, religious community and a religious group." NON-MACEDONIANS This effectively forbids non-Macedonian citizens from being involved in the registration or representation of a religious entity, Forum 18 said. "Some religious communities known to Forum 18 have formally designated a Macedonian as their official representative, but in practice responsibility rests with a non-Macedonian." It comes at a time when Macedonia seeks to become a member of NATO and the European Union. Last month’s attempt to become a member of NATO was blocked by neighboring Greece because it wants Macedonia to change its name as it resembles a Greek province. Macedonia's official name is currently the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Western diplomats have been involved in pressuring the government to improve rights for religious and ethnic minorities, including its 25 percent ethnic Albanian community. It was not clear what, if any steps, the EU would take following the introduction of the new Religion Law. (With BosNewsLife Research).
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Comments
| Tony |
Thursday, 01 May 2008 (12:27) |
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| THIS IS FYR MACEDONIA FOR YOU!!!!
Do I need to say more. I DO NOT THINK SO.
Discriminating at home,agreessive towards its neighbour and trying to be a monolithic society.This is NOT what a Democratic Country......NOT YET!!!
NOT READY TO ENTER OUR EUROPEAN COMMUNITY!!
Tony |
| George Plop-alot-a-this |
Thursday, 01 May 2008 (13:30) |
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| Tony above ^^^^^^^^^^^ you are gay! Greece stands for taking it up the rear! |
| Steve |
Thursday, 01 May 2008 (16:23) |
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| This is why FYROM will never be a part of NATO and the EU. This little nation was Yugoslavia and is mostly made up of Alabanians and Slavs. Quit brainwashing your nation with obsurd ideas that they're decendants of Alexander the Great and King Phillip. Stop claiming Greek history and choose a name that doesn't belong to another nation. This nation is being set up for absolute failure by it's government.
- Annoyed American |
| There's more to the story than this... |
Friday, 02 May 2008 (03:40) |
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| The law has full support of all political parties in government. Yes... they have representation of all ethnic minorirites such as Vlachs, Turks, Roma, Albanians and Serbs. The problem is the Serbian and Greek government is mixing politics with religion and are interfering in Macedonia. Greece and Serbia church is a quasi-division of the government and have refused to recognise the Macedonian Orthodox church. Macedonia is only trying to block the Serbian Orthodox church influence in its country. Name one country that has similar laws in EU? Certainly not any of its neighbours! |
| George Plop-alot-a-this |
Friday, 02 May 2008 (12:21) |
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| Steve: stop hiding you are GAG...........Gay American Greek. |
| Peter |
Sunday, 04 May 2008 (12:12) |
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| Steve, you have no idea about Republic of Macedonias Human Rights for its citizens. Greece is the one that denies basic Human Rights for the minorities like Macedonians, Albanians, Vlahs Roma and Turkish.Furthermore, the Serbian church refuses to recognise the Macedonian church , same with Greece, and you have the guts to critisize Macedonia?The Macedonian church is much much older than Serbias and the Greek.Remember one think,Macedonian church exist since 324 AD. Constantine the Great of Macedonia who put the Christian monogram on his Shields and Banners. This is a little history for you,The first Christian books on Christianaty were written in Macedonian, not Greek. Greece highjuct our Macedonian history and this is why Greece is adamant in not.recognizing the Republic of Macedonia. Greece fears of exposing its self with foreigne history and that is obvious the Macedonian history that does not belong to Greece. |
| Peter |
Sunday, 04 May 2008 (12:34) |
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| To any Greek who wants to learn the history of Macedonia leave your E-mail on this site I will mail you some of Alexanders the Great truth ,who he was and what citizenship he was.Greece is the only country that uses foreingh history. What Greece should do is what Gorbachov of then Soviet Union did. The history was destorted and He forbade the exzams on history. Greece has no guts to do the same for political reasons, they are borowing time to stay in power, that is the only reason. plus to hide their Human Rights abuses againts the Minorities in Greece. Greece will damage Macedonias economy but it will not kneel to the Greek propaganda as the whole world knows who the Greeks are.When you go to Macedonia you hear many different lanquages spoken on the streets of any city, town or home, even in social gatherings churches etc.This is the freedom of Macedonias, not like in Greece. You can not mach Macedonias Human Rights with that of Greece. |
| Miles |
Monday, 05 May 2008 (13:34) |
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| This is incredible (I refer to the Greeks here), do not understand me wrongly. But before you criticise another country, be it Macedonia or else, try to check your legal framework and see what are the rights of your fellow non-greek citizens in your country, and that of other religious communities. I think you will just shut your mouth.
Yes, the word "democracy" comes from the ancient civilisation living in the areas of actual Greece, but, unfortunately, only the word, not the content.
I am astonished on your behaviour, pressure and blackmail. Who are you to tell someone else how to call itself? Who gives you the right? That you are a member of the NATO and EU (you were admitted for only geo-strategic/political reasons), not because you fulfil the criteria or abide by the rules of the modern civillisations (even now you are far from the EU average in almost all instances, check the reports). And, please, also check the international and proven independent records of the history and its development, not just the Greek ones or from your neighbours.
I feel pity for you. You are disgrace of the NATO and the Union, who just continue to poor money for you finally to stand up to your feet. What a menace child and it is being continued to be tolerated for the sake of the "solidarity" of the clubs. Incredible! |
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