04 April 2014, 07:55
"SOVA" Centre: Russia sees more attacks on motives of religious hatred
In 2013, in Russia, the number of attacks motivated by religious hatred increased in comparison with 2012. Most of the victims were the Jehovah's Witnesses. This was reported by Olga Sibirova, a staff member of the "SOVA" Centre. Olga Sibirova has prepared the report "Problems of Implementation of Freedom of Conscience in Russia", which was presented on April 3 at the Independent Press Centre in Moscow.
Olga Sibirova has noted that in 2013, the trends mentioned by staff members of the "SOVA" Centre in their reports for previous years "maintained and developed." However, the year of 2013 has its feature: Protestants and so-called "heretics" ceased to be the "main categories experiencing difficulties with using of liturgical buildings." "At present, the first place is occupied by Muslims," Olga Sibirova has stated.
According to her, one of the acute problems is the lack of understanding of citizens in the construction of mosques.
While speaking of the problematic regions, Olga Sibirova has mentioned the Stavropol Territory, where in 2013, courts pronounced two decisions to demolish unfinished mosques.
Author: Oleg Krasnov Source: CK correspondent
