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Religious Organizations Law

Original Language Title: Reliģisko organizāciju likums

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The Saeima has adopted and the President promulgated the following laws: the law of religious organizations article 1. The terms used in the law, the law is applied in the following terms: 1) religious activities: worship, religious ceremonies, rituals, meditation and misionārism (evangelization);
2) religious confession (confession): a kind of world religions, have their own learning (Scripture, dogmatik), religious ceremony and the organizational construction of tradition;
3) religious organization officials — this organization elected bodies (Council, Board and auditing Commission) members, as well as the mental personnel;
4) religious spiritual staff (hereinafter referred to as the spiritual staff), Archbishop, Bishop, pastor, priest, Deacon, Rabbi and others;
5) ritual objects — objects and things that require religious organizations to perform religious activities and its.
2. article. The purpose of the law (1) religious organizations law, under the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia, the constitutional law "the human and citizen's rights and obligations", as well as international treaties on human rights in the area of religion, the regulation of public relations that developed in the exercise of the freedom of consciousness and religious organizations.
(2) the law aims to guarantee the people of Latvia the right to freedom of religion, which includes the right freely to determine his attitude to religion, individually or together with others turn to any religion or not to focus on any of them, free to change their religious or other beliefs, conduct religious activities, as well as expressing their religious beliefs, subject to applicable legislation.
3. article. Religious organizations (1) the concept of religious organisations is this lawfully registered in the parish, the religious Union (Church) and the Union created a monastery.
(2) the congregation on a voluntary basis, merging the one religion or confession of believers to establish residential area perform religious activities, as well as other activities, under the existing legislation.
(3) the Religious Union (Church) combines this lawfully registered in one confession congregation.
4. article. Equality of citizens regardless of their attitudes to religion (1) direct or indirect restriction of citizens ' rights or the creation of benefits to citizens, as well as feelings of harassment or hate lifting due to their attitude to religion are prohibited. Violation of this rule, the perpetrators held to account under the procedures laid down by law.
(2) No person in the religious belief is not entitled to ignore the laws.
(3) the indication of the treatment of the religion or nationality of the confessional State issued identity documents are not fixed.
(4) State and local government bodies, public organizations, as well as companies and firms banned from their employees and other persons to request the details of their attitude to religion or nationality of the confessional.
5. article. The State and religious organizations relation (1) in the Republic of Latvia, the country is separated from the Church. National institutions are secular in nature, and religious organizations the functions carried out only in the cases provided for by law.
(2) statutory rights protecting religious organizations in the country. State and local governments and their institutions, as well as the public and other organizations have no right to interfere in the religious activities of religious organizations.
(3) the State recognizes parents (adoptive) and guardians the right to bring up their children in accordance with their religious beliefs.
(4) military national service "not ordained to clergy.
(5) National and religious relations manages the Ministry of Justice, which, at the request of religious organizations provide them with necessary assistance for institutional, legal and other issues.
(6) State institutions shall monitor and control religious organizations operating in compliance with the law.
6. article. Religious organizations and education (1) everyone has the right to learn a faith of learning both individually and together with other religious organizations training institutions.
(2) the issue of belief education serving the State and municipal educational institutions governed by the Education Act of the Republic of Latvia.
7. article. Religious organizations for the creation (1) founder of the parish in the Middle must be not less than 25 citizens of Latvia who have reached the age of 18. One person has the right to be the only one of the founders of the Congregation. Join the community and at work is the right of everyone to the population. Young people up to 18 years of age can join the Congregation only with parental (adoptive) or guardian written consent. Congregations elected institutions, except spiritual staff may elect only Latvian citizens.
(2) to ten (or more) one of the creeds in the parish, which is registered in the Republic of Latvia, you can create a religious Union (Church). This provision shall not apply to article 8 of this law, the fourth paragraph of the religious organizations.
(3) the confession of One Church can create a country only one religious Union (Church).
(4) the Abbey create a religious Union (Church), the adoption of appropriate decisions.
8. article. Religious and spiritual education of the personnel registration (1) Church, the religious Union (Church) and the Abbey are registered in the Ministry of Justice. The Ministry of Justice is also a registered spiritual training institutions.
(2) the Ministry of Justice to examine the documents submitted during the month. Examining the creeds and religion in the congregations, which documents the first time launched its activities in the Republic of Latvia and who do not belong to a country already registered religious Union (Church), the Ministry of Justice has the right to extend the one-month time limit for the examination of documents, informing the applicant.
(3) the decision on registration of religious organizations or on refusal of registration shall be taken by the Minister of Justice.
(4) Their creeds and religious parishes which first launched its activities in the Republic of Latvia and who do not belong to a country already registered religious Union (Church), the first ten years must re-register every year the Ministry of Justice to ensure that this institution relevant congregations loyalty to Latvian State and compliance with the law.
(5) religious organisation statutes (Constitution, by-laws) amendments and additions, as well as data on the amendment of the religious organization management and audit in two weeks to be submitted to the Ministry of Justice.
(6) If a religious organization is registered, its driver or other authorised person shall be issued a certificate of registration.
9. article. Religious and spiritual training of the documents to be submitted to the registration authorities (1) religious organisations authorised person shall submit an application to the Ministry of Justice for registration and authorisation, which is sort of the registration of the case.
(2) the application for registration must be accompanied by the parish: 1) the statutes (Constitution, by-laws);
2) parish, founder (the person's name, surname, place of residence, social security number and signature);
3) an extract from the meeting for the establishment of the parish, the statutes (Constitution, by-laws) the approval, management and the Audit Commission.
(3) the application of the religious Union (Church) of registration must be accompanied by: 1) the statutes (Constitution, by-laws);
2) congregations — religious Union (Church) founder of the list approved by the heads of the Congregation;
3) extract from the Conference (Synod) of the Protocol on the religious Union (Church), the establishment of regulatory bodies, the management and the Audit Commission.
(4) the application of the Abbey or mental training institutions registration must be accompanied by: 1) the statutes (Constitution, by-laws);
2) religious Union (Church) decision on the Abbey or mental training institutions;
3) information on the composition of the management.
10. article. Religious organizations (Constitution, by-laws) (1) the statutes of religious organizations (Constitution, by-laws) must specify: 1) religious organization name and confessional affiliation, in addition, that name must be clearly different from the Republic of Latvia already registered religious organization name;
2) religious organizations operate in the context of the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia and the law;
3) study (Scripture, and dogmatik-confessional characteristics), religious ceremonies, religious activities form goals and objectives;
4) religious organisation, management and audit of the Election Commission, in their jurisdiction;
5) religious organisation and management;
6) members joining and withdrawal procedures, their rights and obligations;
7) religious rights, duties of the Organization, its property and financial resources;
8) Elimination of religious organizations and the Elimination of the remaining property in the future.
(2) with the statutes (Constitution, by-laws) religious organizations can control other internal life.

(3) If the Congregation recognize their affiliation to one of the national territory existing denominational, this must be mentioned in the application, subject to the approval of the Congregation of the religious Union (Church) leadership. If the Church does not want to participate in any of the already existing religious Union (Church), it must be specified in the statutes (Constitution, by-laws) with a congregation that operates autonomously. This provision does not apply to those whose denominational canonical rules do not allow the operation of autonomous congregations.
11. article. Refusal of registration (1) religious organisation is not registered, if: 1) is not filed all of article 9 of this law contains documents, as well as if they do not comply with this law, the provisions of article 10;
2) statutes (Constitution, by-laws) in the Organization of training, fixed objectives and tasks is contrary to the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia and the legislative acts;
3) it with your actions endanger State security, public peace and order, as well as other personal health and morals, preach religious intolerance and hate the idea or are otherwise in conflict with the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia and statutory.
(2) the decision on refusal of registration must indicate the reasons why religious organizations registration is refused.
(3) decision no later than ten days after its adoption, the head must be issued by religious or other authorised person.
(4) Religious organisation has the right to resubmit the documents for registration, if the decision on refusal of registration of the specified reasons.
12. article. Appeals against decisions of the Minister of Justice's decision on the registration of religious organizations or the refusal of registration can be appealed against in court within ten days of its receipt.
13. article. Religious organizations the right to (1) religious organizations with their registration to obtain legal personality.
(2) only the registered religious associations (churches) have the right to establish monasteries and spiritual training.
(3) only registered religious organizations and their institutions have the right to set their own forms and inserted using religious organization names and emblems.
14. article. Religious organizations (1) religious organizations your mental staff elected or appointed and relieved of his post in accordance with the statutes (Constitution, by-laws), but other employees recruited and released from work in accordance with the labour legislation.
(2) the religious Union (Church), the Abbey and the parish operates on the basis of the confession rules and their canonical statutes (Constitution, by-laws).
(3) religious activities in public places can only take religious organizations with the consent of the municipality. Carrying out religious activities must not violate public policy rules.
(4) foreign clergy or religious missionary activity in the Republic of Latvia may invite only religious organizations, presenting them with a residence permit in accordance with the procedure laid down by law.
(5) religious activities in hospitals, nursing homes, penal places and national armed forces duty can make religious organizations, if they so wish. The intended time and place of the event should be reconciled with the administration of the relevant authorities. Religious organizations operating in the national armed forces is subject to the duty of the Ministry of defence developed rules.
(6) the religious organizations and believers to action is limited only in cases where the violation of the Constitution of Latvia and the law.
(7) religious organizations each year, not later than 1 March in the Cabinet in the order submitted a report on its activities to the Ministry of Justice.
15. article. Religious organizations economic activity and entrepreneurship (1) religious organizations have the right to carry out economic activity. If religious organizations revenue from operating activities during the calendar year, 500 times the minimum monthly salary, which was established by the Governments of the period, this organisation to establish your company that should be recorded under the applicable law.
(2) religious organizations have the right to do business according to the law "on business".
(3) religious organizations and its corporate legal relations governed by the legislation in force, as well as the organisation's statutes (Constitution, by-laws) or a separate agreement.
(4) revenue from economic activities and business results revenues spent in religious organisations in the statutes (Constitution, by-laws) for the intended purpose in accordance with the existing legislation.
(5) religious organisations, draw up the card accounts and pay taxes in accordance with the existing legislation.
16. article. Property of religious organizations (1) religious organizations may be moveable and immovable property. The right to dispose of the real property is the only Congregation of the religious Union (Church) and the Abbey of elected bodies, if the statutes (Constitution, by-laws) are not specified by another.
(2) If in the Republic of Latvia registered religious organizations spiritual Center is in a foreign country, it may not belong to this organization real estate, as well as Manta, which was recognized as a cultural monument.
(3) the Church, arts and other values recognized as cultural monuments, religious organizations maintained according to the law "on the protection of cultural monuments".
(4) the Church and ritual objects forbidden to pledge, and they may not be directed at the request of the creditor recovery.
Article 17. The Elimination of religious organizations and the reorganization procedures (1) religious organizations except the Abbey, you can eliminate or reorganize their statutes (Constitution, by-laws).
(2) the Abbey and mental training institution shall terminate if the religious Union (Church), which is its founder, the statutes (Constitution, by-laws) in the order, shall decide on the termination of the operation.
(3) the decision on the religious organization disbanding, reorganisation or winding up to ten days to notify the Ministry of Justice.
(4) the Congregation, which withdraws from a religious Union (Church), is moved according to article 8 of this law in the quarter. This provision does not apply to those whose denominational canonical rules do not allow the operation of autonomous congregations.
(5) If a religious organization that has taken a decision on the dissolution or reorganization, decides to renew its activities or the original status, it is necessary to re-register according to the requirements of this law.
(6) If the religious Union (Church) at the time of the United congregations number falls below this law laid down in article 7, it is not the Foundation of the religious Union (Church) for liquidation. In this case, the religious Union (Church) during the year, the increase in the number of the United congregations to legal. If it is not done, the religious Union (Church) in liquidation.
18. article. Religious dissolution (1) where a religious organization violates the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia and the law, it may be terminated by the Court.
(2) If a religious organization violates the law, the Ministry of Justice warned in writing of the head of the organisation concerned and requesting an end to the illegal action.
(3) the right to propose to the Court a question on religious organizations winding up are: 1) the Attorney General;
2) the Minister of Justice.
(4) a court may terminate a religious organization if it: 1) preached religious intolerance or hate the idea;
2) do not follow the same or other calls not to comply with the law;
3) violate or do not respect the religious organisation statutes (Constitution, by-laws);
4) with your activities endangering the security of the State, public peace and order, as well as other personal health and morals.
(5) the Court ruling on the religious organizations can appeal to the cessation of a law and a time limit.
(6) the Ministry of Justice, on the basis of the Court ruling on the religious organizations winding up, seven days off this organization from the registry.
19. article. Religious institutions the consequences of termination of (1) the date of entry into force of a legal ruling on the religious organization or winding up of the organisation has been taken the decision on the dissolution or reorganization, a religious organisation of its statutes (Constitution, by-laws) in order to decide on the transfer of the property rights. If the property is not a successor to, the property takes over the country.
(2) If religious organizations in the event of termination, the Latvian Labour Code prescribed in terminating the employment relationship with any religious organization workers.
Transitional provisions 1. Those religious parishes, associations (churches) and monasteries, which the Ministry of Justice registered before the entry into force of this law, legal status is not changed.
2. All the already existing religious organizations regardless of their registration under their statutes (Constitution, by-laws) with this law until July 1, 1996, and, if necessary, according to the requirements of the law:

1) be redrafted and adopted the statutes (Constitution, by-laws);
2) to convert the structure and control and audit bodies;
3) to amend the name, abbreviation and emblem.
3. This statutory religious Union (Church) law is apply equally to sadraudz and Dievtur of the Riga Jewish religious congregation.
4. The Cabinet 1995 October 1 to restore the structure of the Ministry of Justice, Religious Affairs Department.
5. With the entry into force of this Act invalidates law "On religious organizations" (the Republic of Latvia Supreme Council and Government Informant, 1990, no. 40) and the law "on amendments and additions to the Latvian Republic law" on religious organizations "(the Republic of Latvia Supreme Council and Government Informant, 1991,/30.nr.).
The Parliament adopted the law of 1995 on September 7.
The President g. Ulmanis in Riga, 1995 September 26