BELARUS: Repressive draft Religion Law awaits second reading

Belarus’ repressive new Religion Law awaits its second reading in the regime’s non-freely elected parliament after passing its first reading on 11 October. No date has been set. The text of the draft Law as presented to parliament was made public only on about 10 October. Local human rights defenders and religious communities have criticised the Law, and three UN Special Rapporteurs have written to the regime expressing concerns that the proposed new Law “would fail to meet Belarus’ obligations under international human rights law”.