November 2, 2012 - 16:26 AMT
Armenian youth demands legislative change to counter sects

The co-chair of United Youth League condemned lack of control over the increasingly aggressive activities of religious organizations in Armenia.

As Daniel Petrosyan told a news conference in Armenia, a signature collection campaign has been initiated to demand legislative alterations to counter destructive activities of sects.

The head of the center for aid and rehabilitation to the victims of destructive cults Alexander Amaryan, however, believes the change to current legislation to be unreasonable, instead, suggesting that a new one be introduced.

As he noted, Armenia lists 350 000 non-followers of Armenian Apostolic Church, with 120 000 of them sectarians.

“Destructive sects are closed to outsiders. Acting as a state within a state, they’re being used as a tool by foreign sources they’re getting donations from,” the expert concluded.