Opinions contributed to draft Law on Beliefs & Religions

(ĐN)- Deputy Head of Dong Nai province's National Assembly's Deputies' Delegation Bui Xuan Thong on September 27 presided over a meeting to collect opinions for the draft of the Law on Beliefs and Religions.

(ĐN)- Deputy Head of Dong Nai province’s National Assembly’s Deputies’ Delegation Bui Xuan Thong on September 27 presided over a meeting to collect opinions for the draft of the Law on Beliefs and Religions.

At the meeting, the participants contributed their opinions on regulations on the operations of religious organizations, State management on beliefs, religion, regulations on establishing belief organizations, etc.

The draft law covers regulations on the right to belief and religion freedom; rights and obligations of religious followers, of foreigners who reside legally and conduct religious beliefs and practices in Viet Nam. It also stipulates the responsibilities of State agencies, organizations and individuals in ensuring the right to religious freedom. All citizens shall have the right to choose to follow their own beliefs or religions and the State shall respect and protect the right to religious freedom.

All religions shall be equal before law. No one shall be forced to renounce his/her belief or religion. All acts of religious discrimination shall be banned.The State shall also prohibit the making corrupt use of the right to belief and religion freedom to incite violence and wars in order to damage peace, independence, and territorial integrity.

Vietnam is a multi – religion and multi-belief country. 95% of Vietnam’s population practice a religion. Vietnam now has 14 religions with 40 religious organizations and nearly 20 million followers. There are nearly 83,000 religious dignitaries, monks, and nuns, and 250,000 people overseeing religious activities at about 28,000 places of worship.

Reported by P.H