The constitution states the freedom of belief and religion is guaranteed, as is the right to change one’s religion. It states everyone shall have the freedom to worship and practice religion individually or with others, in private or in public, but no one shall be obliged to declare one’s religion. The constitution states the freedom to express one’s religion or beliefs may be restricted by law only as necessary to protect the lives and health of the people, the morals of democratic society, the freedoms and rights guaranteed by the constitution, public safety and order, or to prevent incitement of religious, national, and racial hatred. The constitution forbids the establishment of a state religion, guarantees equality for religious groups, and calls for separation of religion and state. It states churches and religious communities shall be free to organize their internal structure, perform religious rites in public, establish and manage religious schools and social and charity institutions in accordance with the law. The constitution prohibits incitement of religious hatred, calls upon the government to promote religious diversity and tolerance, and states religious refugees have a right to asylum, the procedures for which shall be established in law.
The law bans incitement of discrimination, hatred, or violence against an individual or group on religious grounds and carries penalties ranging from one to 10 years in prison, depending on the type of offense.
The law grants special treatment to seven religious groups defined as “traditional” by the government. These are the SOC, the Roman Catholic Church, the Slovak Evangelical Church, the Reformed Christian Church, the Evangelical Christian Church, the Islamic Community, and the Jewish Community. “Church” is a term reserved for Christian religious groups, while the term “religious community” refers to non-Christian groups and to some Christian entities. The Islamic Community is divided between the Islamic Community of Serbia, with its seat in Belgrade, and the Islamic Community in Serbia (emphasis added), with its seat in Novi Pazar.
The seven traditional religious groups recognized by law are automatically registered in the Register of Churches and Religious Communities. In addition to these groups, the government grants traditional status, solely in Vojvodina Province, to the Diocese of Dacia Felix of the Romanian Orthodox Church, with its seat in Romania and administrative seat in Vrsac in Vojvodina.
There are 17 “nontraditional” religious groups registered: the Seventh-day Adventist Church; the Evangelical Methodist Church; The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons); the Evangelical Church in Serbia; the Church of Christ’s Love; the Spiritual Church of Christ; the Union of Christian Baptist Churches in Serbia; the Nazarene Christian Religious Community; the Church of God in Serbia; the Protestant Christian Community in Serbia; the Church of Christ Brethren in Serbia; the Free Belgrade Church; the Jehovah’s Witnesses; the Zion Sacrament Church; the Union of Seventh-day Adventist Reform Movement; the Protestant Evangelical Church Spiritual Center; and the Evangelical Church of Christ.
The law does not require religious groups to register, but the law treats unregistered religious groups as informal groups, which do not receive any of the legal benefits registered religious groups receive. For example, government laws on property ownership and social welfare distinguish between registered and unregistered religious groups. Only registered religious groups may build new places of worship. The law authorizes the government to provide social and health insurance and fund retirement plans only for clerics from registered religious groups and only registered groups may receive state funding for their activities. The law also grants value-added tax refunds and property tax exemptions only to registered groups. Registered religious groups are also exempt from paying administrative taxes and filing annual financial reports.
To obtain registration a group is required to submit the following: the names, identity numbers, and signatures of at least 100 members of the group; the group’s statutes and a summary of its religious teachings, ceremonies, religious goals, and basic activities; and information on sources of funding. The law prohibits registration if an applicant group’s name includes part of the name of an existing registered group. The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) maintains the Register of Churches and Religious Communities and responds to registration applications.
According to the constitution, the Constitutional Court may ban a religious community for activities infringing on personal and family rights granted in the constitution, public safety, and order, or if it incites religious, national, or racial intolerance. It also states the Constitutional Court may ban an association that incites religious hatred.
The MOJ’s Directorate for Cooperation with Churches and Religious Communities manages all expert and administrative issues pertaining to the cooperation of the state with churches and religious communities, including assistance to national minorities in protecting the religious traditions integral to their cultural and ethnic identity; cooperation between the state and Serbian Orthodox dioceses abroad; support for religious education; and support for and protection of the legal standing of churches and religious communities. The government office for Human and Minority Rights, which addresses policy and monitors the status of minorities, also covers religious issues.
The law recognizes restitution claims for religious property confiscated in 1945 or later for registered religious groups only. The private property restitution law permits individual claims for properties lost by Holocaust victims during World War II, but religious groups may not claim property confiscated prior to 1945. Legally registered endowments may apply for restitution. Religious communities that were beneficiaries of seized endowments may apply for the restitution of their benefits.
In February parliament adopted a law on the restitution of heirless and unclaimed Jewish property seized during the Holocaust, allowing the Jewish Community to file restitution claims based on these seizures, while still allowing for a future claimant to come forward. The law defines “heirless property” as any property that was not the subject of a legitimate claim for restitution under the General Restitution Law. The community must prove the former owner of the property was a member of the Jewish Community and the property was confiscated during the Holocaust. The law also stipulates financial support from the state budget for the Jewish Community worth 950,000 euros ($992,170) per year for a 25-year period.
The constitution states parents and legal guardians shall have the right to ensure the religious education of their children in conformity with their own convictions. By law, religious education is only offered in public schools for the seven traditional groups. Students in primary and secondary schools are required to attend classes in one of the seven traditional religions or an alternative civic education class. Parents choose which option is appropriate for their child. The curriculum taught in the religion classes varies regionally, reflecting the number of adherents of a given religion in a specific community. The Commission for Religious Education appoints religious education teachers. The commission is comprised of representatives of traditional religious groups, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, and the Directorate for Cooperation with Churches and Religious Communities. Representatives of the Islamic Community of Serbia and the Islamic Community in Serbia participate in the work of the commission.
The constitution recognizes the right of conscientious objection based on religious beliefs. It states no person shall be obliged to perform military or any other service involving the use of weapons if this is inconsistent with his religion or beliefs, but it states a conscientious objector may be called upon to fulfill military duty not involving carrying weapons, in accordance with the law.
The constitution allows a “relevant court” (any court with legal jurisdiction) to prevent the dissemination of information advocating religious hatred, discrimination, hostility, or violence.
The country is party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.