Montenegrin Lawmakers Adopt Changes to Law on Religious Freedom

Montenegrin Parliament

Late in the evening on Dec. 28, the Montenegrin Parliament adopted amendments to the Law on Freedom of Religion, scrapping all articles relating to changes of the status of church property and the obligation of religious communities to register.

The ruling majority backed the amendments, while the opposition parties, led by the Democratic Party of Socialists, were not present.  

Mass rallies, organized by the Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro, had been held to protest these contentious articles of the Law.  

Under the amendments, the property registered under the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral and the Eparchy of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro, would remain in their hands. If the state wants to register that property under its name, it can initiate proceedings before court.

Before the parliament session, supporters of the organizations which call themselves as patriotic, rallied to protest the amendments. The protest was hailed by the lawmakers of the Democratic Party of Socialists and other opposition parties.