Lithuania: Treatment of Seventh-Day Adventists by the government and its agencies and any reports of anti-Seventh Day Adventists acts
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 2 October 2002 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | LTU39322.E |
| Reference | 2 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Lithuania: Treatment of Seventh-Day Adventists by the government and its agencies and any reports of anti-Seventh Day Adventists acts, 2 October 2002, LTU39322.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3f7d4dc61c.html [accessed 3 November 2019] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
The Lithuanian Constitution provides for freedom of religion and, according to numerous sources, the government respects this right in practice (Country Reports1995 Mar. 1996, sec. 2c, sec. 5; Country Reports 1996 30 Jan. 1997, sec. 2c; Country Reports 1998 26 Feb. 1999, sec. 2c, sec. 5; Country Reports 2001 4 Mar. 2002, sec. 2c; United Kingdom Nov. 1998, sec. 5.40; Annual Report on International Religious Freedom for 1999 9 Sept. 1999, sec. 1; Annual Report on International Religious Freedom for 2000 5 Sept. 2000, sec. 1; BNS News Agency 20 Nov. 2000).
In Lithuania a "four-tier system of traditional, state-recognized, registered, and unregistered religious groups" exists (Freedom House 2002, 262), and rights and privileges extended to a religious community is based on which tier it occupies (ibid.; Country Reports 2001 4 Mar. 2002, sec. 2c; United Kingdom Nov. 1998, sec. 5.44; The Baltic Times 19 July 2001; Annual Report on International Religious Freedom for 2001 26 Oct. 2001, sec. 2). Traditional religious communities receive state assistance and enjoy property rights, can teach religion in school and build churches (ibid.). Traditional and state-recognized religions have certain tax exemptions, their clergy and theological students are exempt from performing military service, they do not have to pay health and social benefits to their clergy, and enjoy other perks (International Religious Freedom Report 26 Oct. 2001, sec. 2;
Between 70 and 80 per cent of Lithuania's population of about 3.5 million people considers itself to be Roman Catholic (World Religions and Cultures n.d.; United Kingdom Nov. 1998, sec. 5.47; Annual Report on International Religious Freedom for 2001 26 Oct. 2001, sec. 1). The Seventh-Day Adventists fall into the 0.5 per cent of the population described by the government as members of non-traditional religious communities (ibid.). According to the Seventh-Day Adventist Church Website, there are 11 Seventh-Day Adventist churches in Lithuania and the current total membership numbers 897 (2000). The Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) of the United Kingdom's Home Office lists the Seventh-Day Adventists as an unregistered religious community (Nov. 1998, sec. 5.49).
In late November 2000, the president of the European Court of Human Rights, Luzius Wildhaber, stated that "basic human rights and the principles of freedom of speech, thought and religious beliefs are not violated in Lithuania" (BNS News Agency 20 Nov. 2000).
No reports of anti-Seventh-Day Adventist acts or violence could be found among the sources consulted.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Annual Report on International Religious Freedom for 2001. 26 October 2001. United States Department of State. Annual Report on International Religious Freedom for 2000. 5 September 2000. United States Department of State. Annual Report on International Religious Freedom for 1999. 9 September 1999. United States Department of State. The Baltic Times. 19 July 2001. Felix Corley. "Baptists Finally Win Religious Status." (NEXIS)
BNS News Agency [Tallinn, in English]. 20 November 2000. "Human Rights Not Violated in Lithuania‑Head of European Court of Human Rights." (BBC Summary 24 Nov. 2000/NEXIS)
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2001. 4 March 2002. United States Department of State. Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 1998. 26 February 1999. United States Department of State. Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 1996. 30 January 1997. United States Department of State. Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 1995. March 1996. United States Department of State. Freedom House. 2002. Nations in Transit 2002. Seventh-Day Adventist Church. 2000. Adventist Organizational Directory. United Kingdom. Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND). November 1998. Lithuania Country Assessment.
World Religions and Cultures. n.d. "Lithuania." Additional Sources Consulted
Amnesty International Report. 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001.
Critique: Review of the US Department of State's Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. Annual. July 1996, July 1997.
Freedom in the World. 2000, 2001, 2002.
Human Rights in Developing Countries Yearbook. Annual. 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000.
Human Rights in the OSCE Region: The Balkans, the Caucasus, Europe, Central Asia and North America Report 2002. 2001.
Human Rights Watch World Report 2001. December 2001.
Nations in Transit 1998.
Resource Centre. "Lithuania" country file. January 1995-present.
Seventh-Day Adventist Church. 2002. Adventist Yearbook 2002.
Internet sites, including:
International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
Seventh-Day Adventist Church
US Department of State
