Religious Freedom of New Minorities in Central and Eastern Europe: A comparative Study of Moldova and Slovenia

This thesis presents a comparative analysis of religious freedom in Moldova and Slovenia, with emphasis on challenges and opportunities faced by religious minorities in these two European nations. Both nations are signatories to the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), particularly Article 9, which recognizes freedom of thought, conscience, and religion as basic rights. An historical investigation reveals how dominant religious traditions - Eastern Orthodoxy in Moldova and Roman Catholicism in Slovenia - have had significant influences over their respective religious landscapes and policy formulation. Legal instruments like Moldova's Law on Freedom of Conscience, Thought, and Religion (2007) and Slovenia's Religious Freedom Act (2007) further shape these legal dynamics by outlining criteria for recognition and rights of religious communities. Through an analysis of key European Court of Human Rights cases, such as "Metropolitan Church of Bessarabia and Others v. Moldova", this research explores the complex challenges surrounding religious registration and recognition. While Moldova struggles with biases against newer religious groups influenced by close ties to Orthodoxy Church, Slovenia maintains separation of church from state by managing interplay between majority Catholic teachings and rights of newer religious communities. Investigation also sheds light on how education and religious instruction have become contentious fields of religious rights debates. Moldova's emphasis on Orthodox Christian teachings in education has generated debate, especially among religious minority parents, while Slovenia has made efforts towards accommodating diverse religious instructions despite being predominantly Catholic. An important subject for discussion in both Slovenia and Moldova are their respective societies' challenges to religious freedom and attitudes toward it. While Slovenia's struggles tend to center around Catholic Church participation in public life, Moldova faces more complex religious landscapes exacerbated by breakaway regions governed by distinct governance structures. Moldova and Slovenia both strive for EU membership; Moldova's aspirations is illustrated by its desire for EU integration, while Slovenia joined in 2004. European norms, standards, and directives can influence religious freedom policies of both nations; ultimately this study provides a holistic analysis of factors influencing religious freedom for minorities in both countries, providing policymakers, scholars, and human rights activists invaluable insight.