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ЧАС-LocalThe Parliament of Kopsje, the country’s legislative and executive authority, has enacted a divisive law recently. Known simply as the Religious Restrictions Law, this newly passed legislation will legally restrict citizens of the country aged twelve and younger from participating in Religious Activities outside of their respective homes. The law now also prohibits the displaying of any religious symbol in or around public areas that are not legally recognized as “Places of Worship”. The bill was brought forth by the, New Kopsje Integration Movement, or NKIM a political faction within the Parliament and one to hold the majority of seats since the 2016 general election. According to Parliamentary spokespersons the bill was able to be passed by instance of an anonymous abstention granting the NKIM, and other supporters of the bill, the needed majority of votes to officially pass the bill into law. This action has been met with staunch criticism and vocal opposition by rival political factions and demonstrating citizens alike. The law is the second of its kind in regards to directly affecting religious institutions within the Country. In 2017 a law was passed officially requiring all places of worship to be privately funded as well as requiring said places of worship to pay land taxes revoking a previous exemption for religious buildings.
OppositionFollowing the official announcement by Parliamentary Press Offices, demonstrations in opposition to the new law, have seemingly erupted throughout the country in the past week. In the Streets of Dzhunho, the capital city of Kopsje, large gatherings of individuals have taken to the streets forming large congregations across public areas and organizing marches to the Parliamentary building demanding a revoking of the new law. Reports from the northern regions indicate a more escalated situation as KSG forces have been deployed to carry out the law which includes the removal of spiritual symbols in public places. In the town of Biraktji the situation became escalated as a group of gathered demonstrators placed themselves in front of Effigies (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ee/Roadside_gods_of_the_Hill_Kharia_Tribe.jpg/270px-Roadside_gods_of_the_Hill_Kharia_Tribe.jpg) causing KSG agents to forcibly remove them, some being detained for interfering in law enforcement operations. According to local spiritual beliefs these effigies are meant to commemorate the Eternal Spirt, a deity, whom in turn would protect the inhabitants with their energies warding off ill omens and demons. As these effigies are placed near roads outside of said town, they are placed in public areas and thus are seen as a breach of this new law.
Rival parties within the parliament have also voiced their opposition to the passage of the new Law. Notably Orzubek Akirov of the Group for Independence and Liberty has been vocal about his parties opposition to the new law.
“ ‘God who gave us life, gave us liberty…’, a fine Centralian gentleman by the name of James Taylor said this. His words still ring true to this day, Liberty is the single most sacred concept we as a species have achieved. This, disgrace, of a law is an affront to the dream of Liberty everywhere. It strictly denies our citizens, our children, not only the ability to practice spirituality, but to decide for themselves whether to believe at all. It is not the place of our government, our parliament as it were, to dictate to our citizens what they can or cannot do. Such acts are a clear attack on the individual freedom of the Kopsjense people. What’s worse, this new law infringes on the personal property of various organizations and individuals, once again showing the true nature of the ‘Integration Movement’. That being, like the bunch of Neo-Soviets that they truly are, their desire in “Integrating” their oppressive & Authoritarian Kangzi polices in our Kopsje” - Orzubek Akirov, Leader of the Group for Independence & Liberty
The Group for Independence & Liberty (GIL) has become the dominant opposition political faction to the NKIM, and has maintained a platform of Libertarian ideals seeking to abolish various government agencies, drastically liberalise the economy of Kopsje, and seek to establish a more federalized state. The Group has also been a fierce opponent of the 2017 Religious Taxation law, as a part of their overall opposition to taxation. Mr. Akirov, quoted
James Talyor a Centralian (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=1464.msg12818#msg12818) statesmen who served as the vice President of the Federal Republic from 1859 -1862. Mr. Taylor would later serve as the President of the country for five months from 1862-1863 and become a renowned member of Centralia’s congress.
The Law was also criticized by members of the National Rejuvenation Party (NRP) whom condemned the law as “A direct attack on the culture and ethnic identity of Kopsje and its people”.
The Response “The reactions in which opposition to this law, justly passed in the Parliament, is being carried out is the precise reason as to why this law is now in place. The Personal beliefs of individuals should not interfere in the greater livelihood of the community. We now see in the streets how powerful these superstitious beliefs can be, warping the mind and inciting not only disruptions to the peace but, in the case of other examples, leading to violence in its name. We have seen this with the case of the warring period in Midarayane, known as the Crusades, when a clash of supposed peaceful ideas was used to carry out large scale destruction and death to a whole region. We see this reciprocated to this very day, with the so called Gungnir, who carry out violent and extreme acts of terror in the name of their so-called divine beings. It is precisely this for why the parliament has gathered and made the concise decision to put an end to such folly before it reaches our borders. The youth of our country and their wellbeing should be a paramount issue, and this law will ensure not only their safety from dogmatic and dangerous cultish beliefs, but preserving their development from falling down the path of Zelotry….” - Gjulberka Yusupov, Chairwoman of the New Kopsje Intergration Movement.
The New Kopsje Integration Movement (NKIM), currently led by Chairwomen Gjulberka Yusupov , has been the dominant political force within Kopsje since the general elections of 2015 in which the party narrowly won the majority of seats within the parliament over their main opponent the GIL. The NKIM has sought, in their words, to make Kopsje a “stronger, modern country”. In their proposed Policies the NKIM has seemingly sought to establish a more centralized government turning their attention to the various Captaincies in the north hoping to ‘re-establish government authority, and protection, in the northern regions”. The Party has also set out to establish various government funded programs to assist the general needs of Kopsje citizens, with some seeing the NKIM as a welfare-state party above all else.
Members of the Workers-Unions Coalition Party (WUCP) praised the passing of the law as a “just means of limiting divisive elements within our society”. Member of the WUCP were also staunch supporters of the Religious Taxation Law of 2017.
A posting on the official government website of the Parliament clarifies to the extent of the law’s definitions and areas of effect:
Religious Restriction Law 2020 I. Praying, adorning religious symbols in a blatant manner*, engaging in gatherings with intent to discuss and promote religious ideals such as handing our spiritual works, symbols, holding public spiritual sessions, are now illegal to be carried out within public areas. This includes privately owned business who engage in services that cater to the general populace. Violations will result in fines, continued violations will result in legal punishment. * Religious adornments are legally protected as private property, however any article of clothing or accessory that cannot be easily concealed while in public areas are in violation of law, and will be required to be removed and stored away while in public areas. Such items as the Niqāb, Hijab, Burka, and other variants are exempt from this law so long as such articles are do not display blatant religious messaging on them. This Exemption is extended for all articles of clothing that are mandated by religious belief with understanding that said articles do not show blatant religious messaging. II. Places of worship, defined as buildings and areas privately funded and publicly declared as designated regions in which citizens may engaging in spiritual practices, must now acquire an official government sponsored license to display symbols of their faith outside of their respective buildings or the confines of their property. All current places of worship will have until the end of the year two-thousand and twenty (2020), and until the first of January two-thousand and twenty-one (2021) to comply. Violations will result in fines, continued violations may result in the shutting down of violating properties.
II. All citizens of Kopsje, twelve years of age and younger, are restricted from engaging in any religious practice outside of the confines of their own homes. Those who are seen to be in violation of this law will have the breach discussed with their legal guardians, continued violations of this law will result in legal fines. Should the issue not be resolved legal punishment will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
III. Foreign nationals as visitors to our country are also required to obey this law. Foreign nationals must declare any religious properties upon entry into Kopsje where they will be granted authorized documents. Should Foreign Nationals be found with undeclared properties, said properties may be confiscated until proper documents are acquired. Said, undeclared properties will be transferred to the national’s respective embassy where individuals may require them before leaving the country. Should Foreign Nationals refuse to acquire the appropriate documents they may be refused entry into the country. Nationals currently within the country who refuse to comply with this law, will be fined for violations. Continued violations may result in temporary detainment, upon where violators will be handed to their respective country of origins Embassy.
IV. Embassies of Foreign countries and their personal are exempt from this law while on the recognized property of said Embassy and its confines. |
Internnational ResponseThe passing of the law has managed to garner the attention of the international world.
” No government has the right to dictate either the beliefs of its citizens or the peaceful practicing thereof, and we denounce this act by the Parliament of Kopsje… it is my expectation that sanctions will be put in place…“ - Madeline Thatcher, Press Office of the Prime Minister of Tytor (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=1391.msg18672#msg18672)
In a press statement made by the Prime Minister of Tytor, Madaline Thatcher, the Prime Minister denounced the actions taken by the Parliament stating it as a violation of liberty and “..a- direct and purposeful violation of the human rights of the Kopsjenese citizenry…”. The Prime Minister also stated the Tytorian governments current action to “…review an effective response to this abuse of power…” stating that she expected sanctions to be enacted on Kopsje in response to the passing of the Law.
” The Republic wishes to congratulate the great move made by the Parliament of Kopsje against the threat that religions… brings onto the people of Mundus…” - Public Declaration from the Directorate (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=1654.msg18646#msg18646) of Diplomatic and Commercial Affairs. (Déclaration Public, Directeur des Affaires Diplomatiques et Commerciales)
Praise for the passage of the Law came from the Republic of Fleur who commended the Parliament for “…Pioneering the fact that illusionary beliefs are of private matters, …”. The Republic of Fleur (https://www.nationstates.net/nation=fleur/detail=factbook/id=main) a country located in the southern Continent of Albion has become renowned for its implementation of state sponsored atheism and fierce support for Democratic Republican movements and countries. The current Fleuroix ambassador, Madame, Rachelle Yvonnes Martha Tourin, has stated Fleur’s hopes to present the Parliament with the Ordre du Mérite Juste for “… great determination and bravery in this fight against obscurantism…”. The intention has been a highly divisive action within the Parliament, however the Parliament collectively agreed to accept the honor sending Chairwomen, Gjulberka Yusupov, of the NKIM to receive the honor on the Parliaments behalf. It is widely believed that during the Transition of Kopsje from the Soviet Republic to the current Parliamentary System, many sought inspiration from Fleur Statesmen and Political Figures in designing the current political process.
“It’s alright to do religion in the privacy of your own home, but it’s not right to practice it right in front of someone’s children.” - Sekkura Mona, member of the Anarchist Party Platform (Izhitsa), Abakha Independent (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=1716.msg18657#msg18657)
The passing of the new law has also become an issue of controversy within the Federation of Izhitsa (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=1717.msg15177#msg15177), according to Izhitsa news sources. Sekkura Mona member of the Anarchist Party Platform, and member of the Izhitsan Parliament, praised the passage of the law in Kopsje likening the concept of secularization to an Izhistan bill in 2018 regarding marriage. However other members of the Izhistans political community have denounced the passage of the law. Areksim Brabets, of the same party denounced the passage of the law as:
“fascistic, and the complete opposite of what we should try to achieve in Izhitsa.”DefiancneHafsah, is a Clysperi national and student who entered the country through school exchange programs. She has become a celebrated symbol of defiance for those who oppose the new laws. Hafsah along with other demonstrators took to the streets of Dzunho protesting the new laws, part of this demonstration was carrying of various religious symbols. When KSG agents were sent to break up the protests, following complaints of blocking road traffic, Hafsah and others stood their ground causing them to be forcibly detained. During a the struggle between KSG agents and demonstrators Hafsah was able to break free grasping with her a symbol of her faith, the Ankh, it is reported that she then managed to climb atop a nearby building, hoisting the religious symbol so that it could be seen clearly by all around, and openly refusing to “give up her faith”. Ms. Hafsah was latter detained and is currently being held in custody on accounts of interfering in law enforcement operations and disrupting the peace. Since her detainment many have called for her to be released, while others are mirroring her actions in a show of defiance. If punishiment is deemed necessary Hafsah could face up to a year imprisonment or 3 months.
The new Law is something that has become widely divisive in Kopsje with demonstrations being held every day this week following the laws first introduction on Monday.