State Duma Backs Law Protecting Religious Texts From Extremism Claims

The lower house of the Russian parliament approved a law that prohibits portrayal of canonical religious texts, including the Bible and the Quran, as extremist materials.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The law, which was prompted by recent attacks on religious texts as tools of inciting religious hatred, was introduced in the State Duma by President Putin on October 14.

"The Bible, the Quran, the Tanakh and the Kangyur, their texts and quotes, cannot be recognized as extremist materials," the law on amendments to anti-extremism legislation says.

Article 28 of the Russian Constitution guarantees right to freedom of conscience and religion, including the freedom to profess, possess, disseminate and act according to religious and other views.

Russia’s Law on Freedom of Conscience and Religious Associations establishes Christianity, Islam, Judaism and Buddhism as inalienable components to the heritage of the Russian people.

Sergei Popov, the deputy chair of the ruling United Russia party, said consensus among all parliamentary factions had been reached on the law, and praised Russia as the only country that openly talks about the need to protect fundamental spiritual values.