Moldova: Information on the treatment of Seventh Day Adventists by authorities and society; whether state protection is available
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 7 July 2004 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | MDA42794.E |
| Reference | 2 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Moldova: Information on the treatment of Seventh Day Adventists by authorities and society; whether state protection is available, 7 July 2004, MDA42794.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/41501c3223.html [accessed 25 May 2023] |
| 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. |
According to the International Religious Freedom Report 2003, "[t]he Constitution [of Moldova] provides for freedom of religion, and the Government generally respects this right in practice" (18 Dec. 2003, Sec. 2).
However, religious groups must be registered with the government and there are reports that minority religions have faced difficulties in obtaining government approval, especially in the separatist region of Transnistria (International Religious Freedom Report 2003 18 Dec. 2003, Sec. 2). Seventh Day Adventists are listed as one of a number of minority non-Orthodox religious groups operating in Moldova (ibid., Sec. 1).
Information on societal attitudes towards Seventh Day Adventists was not found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. However, the International Religious Freedom Report 2003 reported that relations among different religious groups tended to be "generally amicable" (18 Dec. 2003, Sec. 3).
There were several news reports about an incident in which four Seventh Day Adventists were fired from their positions at a railway station after they refused to work on a Saturday, the day of rest for members of their religion (ANN 18 Mar. 2003; ANN 4 Feb. 2003; HRWF 31 Jan. 2003). Two lower courts ordered the railway station to re-hire the workers, but an appeals court overturned the decision (ibid.).
Information on police actions either against Seventh Day Adventists or in protection of them was not found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
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 for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Adventist News Network (ANN). 18 March 2003. "Update on Moldova Court Case." _____. 4 February 2003. Becky Scoggins. "Moldova: Adventist Church to Appeal Court Decision." Human Rights Without Frontiers (HRWF). 31 January 2003. "Appeals Court Rules Adventists Must Work on Saturdays." International Religious Freedom Report 2003. 18 December 2003. "Moldova." United States Department of State. Washington, DC. TAGnet. 8 February 2003. "Moldova: Adventist Church to Appeal Court Decision." Additional Sources Consulted
Internet Sources: Amnesty International, Basa Press News Agency, Freedom House, United Kingdom Home Office, Human Rights Watch, International Christian Concern, Moldova Azi, OneWorld.net, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, REPORTER MD News Agency, seeurope.net.
