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ADF International
World News

US missionary challenges illegal bible study conviction

Donald Ossewaarde argues that his religious freedom was violated after he was found guilty by a local court of conducting illegal missionary activities.

The Baptist minister said he had been conducting weekly Bible meetings at his home in the city Oryol unchallenged.

He is the first US-missionary to be charged under counter-terrorism laws which Russia introduced in July 2016.

The law prohibits religious meetings outside of state-registered venues.

In August 2016, three policemen interrupted a Sunday morning Bible class at Ossewaarde's home.

ADF International

Ossewaarde conducted bible studies at his home

He was later found guilty and sentenced to pay a fine of 40,000 rubles (£571).

Laruence Wilkinson, an ADF International lawyer working on the case said: "Freedom of religion is one of the most fundamental rights. Nobody should be persecuted because of their faith.

"Despite the Russian Constitution guaranteeing freedom of conscience and religion for all, Donald Ossewaarde has been charged with a criminal offence for holding a peaceful Church service in his own home. His conviction is a hugely concerning development for religious freedom across Russia in general, and for Christian missionaries in particular,"

Ossewaarde first appealed to the Russian Supreme Court but was unsuccessful.

"An appeal to the European Court of Human Rights represents a last resort in challenging a law that appears to violate the fundamental right of religious freedom in Russia," said Wilkinson.

"As a signatory to the European Convention on Human Rights, the Russian government should reconsider the scope of its counter-terrorism laws to guarantee the right to freedom of religion for all of its inhabitants. While the new legislation aims to prevent terrorist activity, it has had a devastating effect on religious activities that cannot be considered dangerous in any sense, as Donald Ossewaarde's case and many others prove."

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