Montenegro’s President signs Religious Freedom Law

MPs from the Democratic Front had earlier on Saturday asked Djukanovic to refrain from signing the law and to return it to Parliament so it is amended.

The law says that ownership of buildings and properties used by religious communities built before December 1, 1918, will revert to the state if there is no proof that the religious communities own them. It also says that religious communities will have to pay taxes.

The Serbian Orthodox Church and its followers disputed the law, claiming that it would enable the state to seize all of its monasteries, shrines and church property.

The Thursday session was interrupted a little after midnight when Democratic Front MPs tried to bring it to an end after their amendments to the law were rejected by the ruling majority.