In correspondence sent to the Research Directorate, the executive president of the Ethnocultural Diversity Resource Center (EDRC) in Romania stated that there are 15 recognised religions in Romania (19 Feb. 2003). The religions are: the Pentecostal Church, the Romanian Orthodox Church, the Roman Catholic Church, the Greek Catholic Church, the Old Rite Christian Church, the Reformed (Protestant) Church, the Christian Evangelical Church, the Evangelical Augustinian Church, the Lutheran Evangelical Church-Synod Presbyterian, the Unitarian Church, the Baptist Church, the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, the Armenian Church, the Jewish denomination, and the Muslim denomination (EDRC 19 Feb. 2003; International Religious Freedom Report 2002 7 Oct. 2002). In addition to naming these 15 religious groups, the Website of the Romanian Ministry of Culture and Religious Denominations also identifies the Romanian Evangelical Church (Romania n.d.).

Closely mirroring the International Religious Freedom Report 2002, the executive president further stated that, according to Romanian law, recognized religions have the right to "establish schools, teach religion in public schools, receive funds to build churches, pay clergy salaries and subsidise their housing expenses, access religious programming on radio and television, apply for broadcasting licenses for denominational frequencies, and enjoy tax-exempt status" (EDRC 19 Feb. 2003). The number of adherents each religion had in the last census determines the proportion of the budget each recognized religion receives (ibid.). According to the preliminary results of the March 2002 census released by the National Statistics Institute, Pentecostals form 1.5 per cent of the Romanian population (Tribuna Economica 24 July 2002).

According to a November 2002 paper prepared by the EDRC and commissioned by the Refugee Documentation Centre in Ireland, while there were some instances of discrimination and violence against the Pentecostal community, "one cannot speak about organised discrimination against the Pentecostals" (EDRC Nov. 2002, 31). The paper further stated that such instances are "isolated" and cannot be generalized (ibid.). Reportedly, the most frequent cases of discrimination or violence occur in rural areas and in such parts of the country as Oltenia, Bucharest, Dobrogea and the south where Pentecostals are few in number (ibid.).

For further information on Pentecostals in Romania, including instances of discrimination and a list of Pentecostal churches and organizations, please consult the November 2002 EDRC paper entitled "Pentecostals in Romania." As well, the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) Response to Information Request ROM01001.ZSF of 7 February 2001 may also be of interest.

No further reference to the treatment of Pentecostals in Romania could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Ethnocultural Diversity Resource Center (EDRC), Romania. 19 February 2003. Correspondence from the Executive President

According to its Website, the EDRC's misssion is "to contribute to the construction of democracy in Romania, by improving the country's interethnic climate and promoting the principles of ethnocultural peace and justice" http://www.edrc.ro/about.jsp.

_____. November 2002. "Pentecostals in Romania." http://www.edrc.ro/docs/docs/Pentecostals_in_Romania.doc [Accessed 18 Feb. 2003]

International Religious Freedom Report 2002. 7 October 2002. " Romania." United States Department of State. Washington, DC. http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2002/13957.htm [Accessed 20 Feb. 2003]

Romania. n.d. Ministry of Culture and Religious Denominations. "Religiile Recunoscute de Statul Roman." http://www.ministerulculturii.ro/culte/index.html [Accessed 18 Feb. 2003]

Tribuna Economica [Bucharest, in Romanian]. 24 July 2002. "Romania Releases Preliminary Census Results on People, Ethnicity, Religion." (FBIS-EEU-2002-0731 24 July 2002/WNC)

United States. 7 February 2001. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). "Response to Information Request ROM01001.ZSF." http://www.ins.usdoj.gov/graphics/services/asylum/ric/documentation/rom01001.htm [Accessed 17 Feb. 2003]

IRB databases

NEXIS

Internet sites, including:

Amnesty International

Apostolic Churches Network

Assemblies of God

Center for Religious Freedom

Charismatic and Pentecostal Directory

Eye on Europe

Human Rights Watch

International Coaltion for Religious Freedom

International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights

International Pentecostal Holiness Church

Pentecostal World Fellowship

Radio Free Europe

ReliefWeb

UNHCR

World News Connection

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