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Slovakia adopts law to effectively block Islam from becoming official state religion

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K

Kolx

Member
arliament in Bratislava has approved a bill that effectively prevents Islam from being registered as a state religion in the near future.

Sponsored by the Slovak National Party (SNS), which is a member in Prime Minister Robert Fico's coalition, the legislation was passed Wednesday, Reuters reported. The law was approved by a two-thirds majority in parliament, comprising both ruling and opposition parties.

The new law more than doubles the required number of a religion's followers for it to qualify for state subsidies and run its own schools. At least 50,000 members, against the previous 20,000, has now been set as a threshold for gaining official status as a religion.

Currently, 62 percent of Slovakia's 5.4 million population are declared Roman Catholics.

Slovakia's far-right People's Party-Our Slovakia wanted to raise the bar to 250,000, but their proposal was turned down by a majority of lawmakers.

"Islamization starts with a kebab and it's already under way in Bratislava, let's realize what we can face in five to 10 years," chairman of the Slovak National Party (SNS) Andrej Danko said, as cited by Reuters. "We must do everything we can so that no mosque is built in the future," the politician was quoted as adding.

According to the last census, Islam has some 2,000 followers in Slovakia, Reuters reported, adding that there are no recognized mosques in the central European country. The Islamic Foundation in Slovakia, which has not commented on the new legislation so far, puts the number at around 5,000.
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http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/738462/Slovakia-law-Islam-ban-registered-religion-Eu-migrant-quota-Muslim-sentiment
 
T

The Albatross

Member
I had kebabs for dinner on Monday. I am probably about 1.2% Islamization.

thefro said:
Government shouldn't be subsidizing religions or religious schools, period.
Click to expand...

I can't speak for Slovakia, but for many places in the United States, Churches have historically and continue to provide critical social and community services that government hasn't been able to reach. It would be nice if government could provide all of these things (or for-profit corporations could) for the relatively meager amount of revenue that taxes on that property would bring in, but it's not realistic at this point.

The government subsidizes auto manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, big agricultural companies, and financial institutions that turn multi-billion dollar profits a year. Giving tax breaks to a church that runs a non-profit hospital in a poor city is not the downfall of society or the breakdown of separation of church and state.
 
D

DrunkShogun

Member
One thing about countries being openly anti Islam is it makes holiday planning a lot easier. Japan here I come until they announce a ban as well.
Don't have issue with the religion not making state status but more the comment about the kebab leading to a take over.
 
R

Rexatality

Member
I never understood the association of Kebab with Islam and I probably never will (I'm guessing it has something to do with my fellow Muslims being fond of Kebab?).

Oh well, might as well remove Slovakia on my list of countries to travel.
 
B

Boney

Banned
50.000 for subsidies is weird. Ideologically blocking mosques from being built is disgusting.

Kolx said:
Didn't know RT was banned from gaf. My mistake. Just posted another source.
Click to expand...
Which is weird since it's no worse than CNN or Fox.
 
K

Kill Your Masters

Member
The Albatross said:
I had kebabs for dinner on Monday. I am probably about 1.2% Islamization.



I can't speak for Slovakia, but for many places in the United States, Churches have historically and continue to provide critical social and community services that government hasn't been able to reach. It would be nice if government could provide all of these things (or for-profit corporations could) for the relatively meager amount of revenue that taxes on that property would bring in, but it's not realistic at this point.

The government subsidizes auto manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, big agricultural companies, and financial institutions that turn multi-billion dollar profits a year. Giving tax breaks to a church that runs a non-profit hospital in a poor city is not the downfall of society or the breakdown of separation of church and state.
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You are already halal.
 
M

Madness

Member
Just the start I think. Europe on the verge of electing far right and anti-Islamist governments. With increased atheism and agnostic views, the right of free religion is going away altogether in a lot of places.

Slovakia had basically declared last year that they would only accept Christian migrants, so now they're just following that line of thought up with an outright ban.
 
K

KHlover

Banned
Their loss, Döner Kebab is the food of the gods. Come to Germany instead, we have Kebab shops almost literally on every corner.
 
L

LegendofJoe

Member
The thing that makes me angry with regards to Islamaphobia in Eastern Europe especially is they really aren't all that different from Muslims when it comes to social views. Sure there's the history of the Ottoman Turk invasion, but that was 500 years ago. The people that fear Muslim immigration because of that have some issues they need to deal with.
 
G

Ganzlinger

Member
We have a lot of kebabs, or at least a South American version of it, in Brazil. I didn't know it was a Muslim thing. lol
 
O

oti

Banned
KHlover said:
Their loss, Döner Kebab is the food of the gods. Come to Germany instead, we have Kebab shops almost literally on every corner.
Click to expand...

Can't wait for some of the Syrian refugees to open up shops and restaurants.

Islamization tatses delicious.
 
L

LegendofJoe

Member
Ganzlinger said:
We have a lot of kebabs, or at least a South American version of it, in Brazil. I didn't know it was a Muslim thing. lol
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The proliferation of cultural cuisine is one of the best things about globalization. But no let's all clutch our pearls and reject anyone different from us because of fear.
 
C

ClosingADoor

Member
qualify for state subsidies and run its own schools
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Religion has no place here and they should ban all subsidies for those things. If you want a religious school, make it a private one, no government money for you.

Over here - Netherlands - they have the same system, where any religion can start their own school. It's not a good thing anymore in 2016 and should be stopped. Too bad the Christian parties will not agree to that of course.

Madness said:
Just the start I think. Europe on the verge of electing far right and anti-Islamist governments. With increased atheism and agnostic views, the right of free religion is going away altogether in a lot of places.

Slovakia had basically declared last year that they would only accept Christian migrants, so now they're just following that line of thought up with an outright ban.
Click to expand...
How do you figure more atheists is a threat to freedom of religion? If anything, it makes it safer, because most atheist won't care about you having the "wrong" religion. As long as you don't push forward a religious agenda yourself and try to impose it on others, or use it to excuse your own terrible behavior. Which happens all too often.
 
R

Ragnar Blackmane

Member
"Islamization starts with a kebab".
If that was the case then literally 90% of the German population would have already converted to Islam.

We eat Döner Kebab as much as Americans eat burgers or hot dogs. Best street food on earth. And if you eat one you'll be so stuffed that you won't even need to buy dinner, hehehe.
 
E

excelsiorlef

Member
Boney said:
50.000 for subsidies is weird. Ideologically blocking mosques from being built is disgusting.


Which is weird since it's no worse than CNN or Fox.
Click to expand...

It's literally a wing of the Putin Government...

Fox at least pretends not to be one for the GOP even if it's bluntly obvious...
 
C

Carpe Carnim

Member
ClosingADoor said:
How do you figure more atheists is a threat to freedom of religion? If anything, it makes it safer, because most atheist won't care about you having the "wrong" religion. As long as you don't push forward a religious agenda yourself and try to impose it on others, or use it to excuse your own terrible behavior. Which happens all too often.
Click to expand...

Atheism doesn't mean you stop playing politics, and that you won't provide compromise to radical or bigoted religious groups, so long as their bigoted policies don't impinge upon your own interests.

"You want to introduce finely-targeted, bigoted policies which disproportionately affect small, misunderstood, religious sects that may not have any political power to make waves? In exchange you will support my protectionist economic policies?"

Atheists can/will horse-trade, if it advances their interests'. We are talking about humans here.
 
N

norinrad

Member
Ahahahahahaha they are coming and we must do all we can to stop them. The next law is make it impossible to marry our daughters and cousins.

Humanity at a new low.
 
T

theaface

Member
Kolx said:
Didn't know RT was banned from gaf. My mistake. Just posted another source.
Click to expand...

Your alternate credible source is the Daily Express? Third time lucky, I guess.

pictures11.jpg
 
C

ClosingADoor

Member
Carpe Carnim said:
Atheism doesn't mean you stop playing politics, and that you won't provide compromise to radical or bigoted religious groups, so long as their bigoted policies don't impinge upon your own interests.

"You want to introduce finely-targeted, bigoted policies which disproportionately affect small, misunderstood, religious sects that may not have any political power to make waves? In exchange you will support my protectionist economic policies?"

Atheists can/will horse-trade, if it advances their interests'. We are talking about humans here.
Click to expand...
Sure, but that happens anyway. But I don't think you can automatically link increased atheism to a decrease in religious freedom. If anything, most of the time it is the other way.
 
N

netBuff

Member
Carpe Carnim said:
Atheism doesn't mean you stop playing politics, and that you won't provide compromise to radical or bigoted religious groups, so long as their bigoted policies don't impinge upon your own interests.

"You want to introduce finely-targeted, bigoted policies which disproportionately affect small, misunderstood, religious sects that may not have any political power to make waves? In exchange you will support my protectionist economic policies?"

Atheists can/will horse-trade, if it advances their interests'. We are talking about humans here.
Click to expand...


And religious people don't? Being religious doesn't equal being "moral".

Religious people will horse-trade. They are willing to believe in things lacking any evidence, after all.
 
K

Kettch

Member
Maybe it's a mistake on my end, but I don't see "official state religion" being equivalent to "officially recognized religion".

Thought this was going to be about preventing a religious takeover, but instead it's just your standard minority discrimination.
 
C

Carpe Carnim

Member
ClosingADoor said:
Sure, but that happens anyway. But I don't think you can automatically link increased atheism to a decrease in religious freedom. If anything, most of the time it is the other way.
Click to expand...

Mid 20th Century Communism is the big example. Rise of the Alt-Right ethno-nationalism and their views on religious minorities is another.

All I am saying is that increasing Atheism doesn't preclude its proponents from enacting the same/similar policies, or at least political outcomes, as those that can be proposed from explicitly bigoted religious groups.
 
M

Mr. Giggles

Member
Ragnar Blackmane said:
"Islamization starts with a kebab".
If that was the case then literally 90% of the German population would have already converted to Islam.

We eat Döner Kebab as much as Americans eat burgers or hot dogs. Best street food on earth. And if you eat one you'll be so stuffed that you won't even need to buy dinner, hehehe.
Click to expand...

I got news for you. Those kebabs you ate are actually sharia mind control drugs.

You're one of us now.
 
C

ClosingADoor

Member
Carpe Carnim said:
Mid 20th Century Communism is the big example. Rise of the Alt-Right ethno-nationalism and their views on religious minorities is another.

All I am saying is that increasing Atheism doesn't preclude its proponents from enacting the same/similar policies, or at least political outcomes, as those that can be proposed from explicitly bigoted religious groups.
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The rise of atheism in Europe and some other places has nothing to do with authoritarian regimes though. It is in no way a threat to freedom of religion.

Your argument that it doesn't preclude those policies, is a different one from that other poster, that made a direct link between the two, which is not there.
 
A

Ashes

Banned
Sorry Slovakian Muslims. I guess sometimes it is best to move out of a country. But I don't even know where in the EU you can go.
 
F

Funky Papa

FUNK-Y-PPA-4
The joke is on them: an absurd amount of kebabs are made with "meat" that is absolutely haram.

Tragically, this is part with the course for Eastern Europe.
 
andythinkpad

andythinkpad

Member
DrunkShogun said:
One thing about countries being openly anti Islam is it makes holiday planning a lot easier. Japan here I come until they announce a ban as well.
Don't have issue with the religion not making state status but more the comment about the kebab leading to a take over.
Click to expand...

Was Slovakia really on your travel list? I couldn't find it on a map if you pay me 200 bux.
 
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