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Slovakia Passes Law Banning Islam from Being a Recognized Religion

  • Veronica Neffinger

    Veronica Neffinger wrote her first poem at age seven and went on to study English in college, focusing on 18th century literature. When she is not listening to baseball games, enjoying the…

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  • Updated Dec 12, 2016

Slovakia has passed a law that prohibits Islam from being a recognized religion by the state.

The decision came in the wake of the refugee crisis and the influx of Muslims to many countries in Europe.

According to ChristianNews.net, Slovakia is maintaining a hard line toward the refugee crisis and is not allowing any Muslims into the country.

Muslims comprise less than one percent of Slovakia’s population, with an estimated 2,000 to 5,000 Muslims living in the country.

The recent measure passed by lawmakers mandated that, in order to be officially recognized by the government and to receive government subsidies and be able to operate its own schools, a religion must have at least 50,000 adherents.

Since Slovakia has also banned more Muslim refugees from entering the country, Islam is unlikely to reach the necessary 50,000 any time soon.

“Since Slovakia is a Christian country, we cannot tolerate an influx of 300,000-400,000 Muslim immigrants who would like to start building mosques all over our land and trying to change the nature, culture and values ​​of the state,” Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico said last year.

The new law also prevents made-up religions such as the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster from being recognized.

 

Photo courtesy: Thinkstockphotos.com

Publication date: December 12, 2016