India is learnt to have taken up with Moscow the issue of a possible court ban on Bhagwad Gita.
Alleging that the text was spreading “social discord” and was “extremist”, prosecutors have sought a ban on the Russian translation of the book by founder of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. The case was filed in the Tomsk district court in Russia in June this year.
The Russian authorities, it is learnt, have assured that the country believes in the freedom of religion and the government will appeal against any judgment that impinges on citizens’ rights.
Gita, media reports say is not the only religious text to be targeted. Works of Turkish Muslim theologian Said Nursi and many Jehovah’s Witness books have also been termed as extremist and banned in Russia. Tomsk ombudsman Nelly Krechetova, however, has said a ban on Gita would amount to violation of the right to freedom of religion and speech.
Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Will-appeal-against-ban--Russian-govt/889906/
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