Monday, March 26, 2012

Religion Provisions of the Armenian Constitution

One of my current research projects involves analysis of the religion provisions of various constitutions enacted since the year 2000. From time to time on this blog, I'll post extracts of those provisions arranged according to categories such as "Religious Freedom" (guarantee of individual right), "Established Religion" (joining religion and government), "Establishment Clause" (separating religion and government), "Ceremonial Deism" (symbolic references to religion that have little or no legal effect), "Equal Protection of Religion" (non-discrimination guarantees), "Preamble", "Religious Education", and "Religious Limitations".

Here is the Armenian Constitution of 2005: Website of the President of Armenia
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Constitution of Armenia (2005)

Source:

Establishment Clause
Article 8.1 The Church is separate from the State in the Republic of Armenia.

Ceremonial Deisms
Article 8. 1 The Republic of Armenia recognises the exclusive mission of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church, as a national church, in the spiritual life of the Armenian people, in the development of their national culture and preservation of their national identity.

Religious Freedom
Article 8.1 Freedom of activity of all religious organisations functioning as prescribed by law shall be guaranteed in the Republic of Armenia.

Article 26 This right shall include freedom to change religion or belief, and freedom — either individually or in community with others — to manifest them in preaching, church ceremonies and other rites of worship.

Article 41 Persons belonging to national minorities shall have the right to preserve and develop their traditions, religion, language and culture.

Equal Protection of Religion
Article 14.1 Discrimination based on sex, race, skin colour, ethnic or social origin, genetic features, language, religion, ideology, political or other views, membership to a national minority, property status, birth, disability, age, or other personal or social circumstances shall be prohibited.

Unclear
Article 8.1 The relations of the Republic of Armenia and the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church may be regulated by law.

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