Romania: Treatment by the authorities, the Orthodox church and society in general, of Pentecostals who proselytize, congregate or hold religious services (1995-2000)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 29 March 2000 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | ROM33998.E |
| Reference | 4 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Romania: Treatment by the authorities, the Orthodox church and society in general, of Pentecostals who proselytize, congregate or hold religious services (1995-2000), 29 March 2000, ROM33998.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ad76ac.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
According to the 1992 Census, there were 220,000 Pentecostals in Romania (Rompres 10 Sept. 1999).
No information on their treatment between 1995 and 2000 could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
However, a 10 February 2000 report from Human Rights Without Frontiers (HRWF) states that the draft law on religion was going to be withdrawn from Parliament and resubmitted for discussion to representatives of all religious denominations in Romania to clarify issues regarding human rights, the equality of denominations, religious liberty and religious property.
The bill on the General Status of Religious Groups was introduced to parliament in September 1999, with the backing of the Romanian Orthodox Church. Under the draft legislation, 14 religious groups would be fully recognized while the remainder would be considered as associations with far fewer legal privileges (HRWB 17 Dec. 2999). According to a 10 November 1999 Religion Today report, the new law would "severely" restrict freedom:
The bill calls for all religious groups to be approved by the secretary of state for religion to gain legal recognition, but the requirements are so strenuous that the few churches would be approved Churches must have at least 0.5% of the national population, 115,000 people, and at least 5% of the local population, requirements that would exclude most evangelicfal Protestant groups. The bill bans "aggressive proselytism" and requires congregations to give to the government the names and addresses of all members
According to the 1992 Census, there were 220,000 Pentecostals in Romania (Rompres 10 Sept. 1999).
A 1 March 1999 HRWF report states that protestant denominations were at odds with the Romanian Orthodox Church over the preparation of the draft legislation. According to the report, the Orthodox Church wants to recover its national church status, regain the "maximum of state privileges" and curtail the activities and material benefits of minority religions.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
Human Rights Without Frontiers (HRWF). 10 February 2000. Willy Fautré. "Withdrawal of a Controversial Draft Religious Legislation." (NEXIS)
_____. 17 December 1999. Felix Corley. "Controversy Continues Over Restrictive Romanian Religion Bill." (NEXIS)
_____. 1 March 1999. Romania: Romania's religion Law Wrestling with the Orthodox Church." (NEXIS)
Religion Today. 10 November 1999. "Romania: Government vs. Minority Religions." Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance. Worldwide News of religious Intolerance and Conflict for 1999-Nov.
Rompres [Bucharest, in English]. 10 September 1999. "Romanian Government Decides All Churches to be Treated Equally." (NEXIS)
Additional Sources Consulted
IRB databases
Internet sources, including:
Amnesty International Search Engine
Country Reports 1999. February 2000. U.S. Department of State
Human Rights Watch (HRW). World Report 2000
Human Rights without Frontiers (HRWF)
International Human Rights Federation for Human Rights (IHF). Annual Report 1999.
Keston Institute. Persecution List
Open Doors International: Persecution List
The Persecuted Church
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL)
United States Department of State. 9 September 1999. Annual Report on International
Religious Freedom for 1999
World News Connection (WNC).