Oberoende akademiska och övriga utlåtanden, brev etc
om Krishnarörelsen
(ISKCON - Det Internationella Sällskapet för Krishnamedvetande)

BRIAN BOCKING - professor

BATH COLLEGE OF HIGHER EDUCATION, HIGHER EDUCATION CORPORATION
Prof. Brian Bocking - Study of Religions Bath College of H.E. Newton Park, Bath BA2 9BN UK

Dear Sir/Madam

Suppression of Religious Freedom

03/02/95

I understand that the Russian State Parliament is currently discussing a proposed law to restrict freedom of religion for groups including ISKCON.

I should like to offer the following points for your consideration.

ISKCON is a form of traditional Hindu Vaishnavism. It is well-established in the United Kingdom and many other countries. Members of ISKCON regularly visit this college to talk about Hinduism, and every year we send a few students to stay in religious communities, including an ISKCON community, as part of their academic studies. ISKCON is a religion with high ideals of personal moral conduct.

I appreciate the concerns that some people have when they first encounter religious freedom in a democratic society. There is a tendency to want to suppress ideas and beliefs other than one's own. However, it is quite inappropriate to pass laws aimed at restricting the freedom of some religions while promoting the interests of others. Ordinary laws should be adequate to deal with any crimes committed by citizens, regardless of whether those citizens belong to the Orthodox Church, a new religion, or no religion at all.

Yours sincerely

Prof. Brian Bocking