The State Commission on Religious Affairs has developed a new version of the Law on Freedom of Religion and Religious Associations in the Kyrgyz Republic. The document has been submitted for public discussion.
As the background statement says, the purpose of the document is to improve the legislative framework, fulfill the international obligations of the Kyrgyz Republic and ensure continuity and consistency of state policy in the religious sphere.
New in the bill is the legal regulation of re-registration of the prayer rooms, religious facilities used for religious activities, the procedure for reorganization and termination of work of the subjects of religious activities, religious facilities and prayer rooms voluntarily.
«New in the bill is also the creation of the State Register of subjects of religious activity, objects of religious purpose and prayer rooms, which will contain information on the creation, reorganization and termination of subjects of religious activity, objects of religious purpose and prayer rooms, and other related information,» the background statement says.
In addition, the requirements for social, charity and cultural-educational activities of subjects of religious activity are separately defined.
The State Commission noted that during the development of the draft Law on Freedom of Religion and Religious Associations an analysis of legislative acts in the religious sphere was conducted, which resulted in the need to amend the laws on political parties, on the status of deputies of local councils, on the status of deputies of the Parliament, on the election of deputies of local councils and the Code of Offenses.
In particular, the Law on Political Parties introduces norms that do not allow the establishment of political parties and the requirement to comply with the principle of secularism in the campaign activities of political parties and their financing. The Law on the Status of Deputies of Local Councils and on the Status of Deputy of the Parliament are amended to prohibit the combination of civil service and religious activities.
