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In December 2009, we saw encouraging results of our lobbying! The European Parliament Resolution on Belarus specifically mentioned New Life Church, and urged the government of Belarus to allow the Christians attending that church to worship freely. But the church is still under pressure. The local authorities have made many attempts over the years to block the church from using their building. CSW supporters have written many times to their MPs and MEPs about this issue, and CSW has been a key voice in raising this case with the EU and other international bodies. The new European Parliament Resolution on Belarus urged the Belarusian Government to safeguard “freedom of religion for religious denominations other than the Orthodox Church, in particular to let New Life Church operate freely”. Our lobbying has had an impact! While this is encouraging, New Life Church still faces problems. Last year the local authorities in Minsk sent representatives to take soil samples on the church’s property. The samples came back clean. In December 2009 the representatives returned, this time taking samples from the gutter in the car park. Not surprisingly, the analysis of these samples showed high levels of pollution. The authorities have now charged the church with “environmental contamination”, and have handed down a fine of USD93,000. New Life Church still very much needs our support. Please email your MP today, to encourage them to raise this issue with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), and to urge the Foreign Secretary to echo the call of the European Parliament resolution and take up these issues with the government of Belarus and the Minsk City authorities. |
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