Source: Balkan Investigative Reporting Network
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/main/news/18555/
The two largest religious communities in Macedonia are so powerful they could breach the state’s constitutional secularism, a UN official visiting Skopje said on Wednesday.
The Macedonian Orthodox Church, MPC, and the Islamic community have a substantial influence over Macedonian politics, the special reporter on freedom of religion and belief for the United Nations Human Rights Council, Asma Jahangir, told local press.
She mentioned the latest wave of protests against the Constitutional Court’s ruling to ban religious teaching from high schools as an example.
"It is of vital importance to respect the independence of the judiciary and the ability of the courts to make rulings on religious issues without fear or putting somebody in favorable position," Jahangir said.
Her findings will be added to a report on the situation in Macedonia to be put before the UN council.