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Religious Law
Religious law stirs opposition
Oana-Cristina Butta
A newly-approved ‘Law of Religions,’ which implies profound limitations over young peoples’ cultural and moral rights, was confirmed by President Traian Băsescu on December 27, 2006, despite strong opposition from free speech advocates, non-governmental organizations and many ordinary citizens.
Article 13 of the new law raises most controversy. It states: “In Romania, any forms, means, acts or actions of religious incitement, as well as public offensive actions aimed at religious symbols, are forbidden.’ Without a clearer definition of the concept of “public offensive actions,” this article could lead to the censorship of many books, plays or music albums and herald a “new inquisition,” critics say.
The article was proposed and drafted by a leading Muslim organization, the ‘Cultul Musulman.’ It came against a background of international tensions following the publication by a Danish newspaper two years ago of cartoons depicting the prophet Mohammed that many Muslims saw as offensive. It caused violent demonstrations in many Islamic countries.
Two months before the law was passed by the Chamber of Deputies, the group ‘Solidarity for Freedom of Conscience’ joined forces with several other prominent organizations, such as Pro- Democracy, The Press-Monitoring Agency and Spiritual Militia, as well as hundreds of volunteers, for a series of artistic protests against the law. However, their efforts failed when Basescu went ahead and signed it.
During the protests, Remus Cernea, executive director of Solidarity for Freedom of Conscience and one of the leaders of the campaign, said, “The (Muslim) proposal is legitimate, is to be listened to, but is not to be accepted”. Cernea added: “It’s time for young people to unite” and to reject “this new kind of religious censorship” after Communist censorship was abolished in the early 1990s. He said young people should be particularly concerned because they deserved “the right to listen to the music they love.”
Students are upset too, although many may be unaware of the law and its implications.
"We live in a new age, where people have different views and different beliefs and instead of encouraging these views and beliefs, we stomp on them. I think we're moving backwards rather than moving ahead. That is so typical for our society,” said Andrei Ciortan, a second-year student of literature.
The text of the article was left unchanged even though it contradicts paragraph 30 of the Romanian Constitution, which states: “Freedom of expression, thought, opinion or belief, as well as freedom of creation … is an inviolable right” and that “any kind of censorship is forbidden.” For that reason, the new law could face legal challenges.
Băsescu's decision has spawned numerous protests in newspapers, magazines and on the Internet. In an open letter to the President, Solidarity for Freedom of Conscience accused him of stripping citizens of their right to express themselves critically or ironically towards religion.
“Mr. President, by this article you have inaugurated a new age of censorship. Your name will be irredeemably linked to this deed,” the letter said.
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