Remember how the networks obsessed over Russia’s 2014 anti-gay legislation? Turns out, the country’s newest draconian law is not worth mentioning even once. Why? This time, it’s Christians who are affected.
Intended to curtail terror and extremism, the ‘Yarovaya law’ was approved by President Putin last week. However, according to Moscow Times Senior Correspondent Ivan Nechepurenko, the legislation effectively bans all forms of “proselytizing, preaching and praying outside officially recognized religious institutions.” Even emailing a church invite to friends could be forbidden, as the law requires telecom companies to record all communications for six months.
Bearing eerie resemblance to Stalin’s anti-religion ordinances, the law will take effect on July 20, by which point missionaries must obtain permits for public evangelism. Individual violators could be fined up to $780 and organizations over $15,000.
Despite the far reaching nature of this law, neither ABC, NBC nor CBS had any comments to make.
Compare that stentorian silence to 2014, when NBC alone made 26 mentions of Russia’s anti-gay legislation. In the run-up to the Sochi Winter Olympics, Today featured parades of gay athletes while the MSNBC website had a photo essay, “Faces of Russia’s LGBT Community.”
Although the gay law was antithetical to free speech, it only forbade pride demonstrations and distribution of information to minors. But when it comes to the networks, the LGBT agenda always takes the cake. Don’t hold your breath for MSNBC’s “Faces of Russia’s Orthodox Christian Community.”
