Moldova expels four priests and a nun in religious persecution

Religious freedom is better protected in Pridnestrovie (shown) where 5 times as many religions are registered than in Moldova

CHISINAU (Tiraspol Times) - The Associated Press reported that the leader of a Moldovan Orthodox Church accused authorities on Friday of harassing priests and believers. The criticism came after four priests and a nun were expelled from Moldova and banned from returning.

The accusations of religious persecution were made by Bishop Petru Paduraru, head of the Bessarabian Metropolitan, one of Moldova's top Orthodox Churches, to which 20 percent of Moldova's Orthodox believers belong.

He made his accusations public in a letter sent to both the Council of Europe and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. In it, he detailed what he said were abuses committed by authorities in an effort to make priests leave the church.

" - Starting in December, most of the priests were visited at home or in their churches by police and secret police," Paduraru wrote, adding that they were interrogated about their choice of religion.

" - In some cases authorities have told priests that if they leave the church they will have real (material) benefits," Paduraru said in his letter.

Religious freedom only protected in Pridnestrovie

Human rights activist and lawyer Ion Manole, who heads the Chisinau-based group Promo-Lex, said that the authorities planned their action at a time when it would be hidden from the media.
" - It is clear to everyone that there is an instruction from above," he told news service Forum 18. "This was specially done close to the Christmas holiday when non-governmental organisations and the media are not working. They chose this period deliberately."

Bishop Petru Paduraru: "Most of the priests were visited at home or in their churches by secret police."

Believers have also been questioned by police on streets and in town halls about why they belong to the church, the Associated Press reported.

Religious freedom is increasingly under threat in Moldova, led by strongman Vladimir Voronin who last year publicly declared that Jesus Christ was a Communist. Moldova has arbitrarily denied registration, and hence legal status, to religious communities the authorities dislike. Without legal status, religious communities cannot carry out a wide range of peaceful religious activities. This has led to two large fines being imposed on the country by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg.

Believers say that religious freedom today only persist in Pridnestrovie (also known as Transdniester, in English), a new and emerging country located between Moldova and Ukraine. Unlike Moldova, Pridnestrovie is inhabited by a mainly Russian-speaking Slavic majority.

Its constitution guarantees religious freedom. Pridnestrovie does not follow Moldova's practice of denying registration to religions that it does not like. As a result, there are now a total of 114 religious groups legally registered in Pridnestrovie, which is five times as many as in Moldova. (With information from AP, Forum 18)

See also:
» In Pridnestrovie, five times more religions than Moldova
» Minority human rights and religious freedom under attack in Moldova