Czech Republic: Senators at the Constitutional Court will challenge the ban on singing.

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A group of senators decided to challenge before the Constitutional Court a ban on singing and limiting the number of participants in services to 100 people. Measures have been put in place by the government since Monday to reduce the spread of coronavirus. STAN lawyer and MEP Stanislav Polčák, who represents the senators, said on Wednesday that the complaint would be sent later this week.

Polčák said, I consider these government restrictions to be disproportionate and unconstitutional, because the Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms clearly guarantees everyone the exercise of religious freedom.

According to the Charter, every citizen has the right to express his or her religion or belief freely, either alone or together with others. These rights may be limited only by law if this is necessary to protect the security, order, health and morals or the rights and freedoms of others.

According to Polčák, the government has not substantiated in any way that there was a significant spread of the virus in the Czech Republic during religious services.

Polčák said, if believers keep a distance and use veils, there is no reason to forbid them to return or participate. After all, it is obviously absurd that 500 people can come to the cinema, for example, but not at Mass anymore.

According to Senator Ivo Valenta (for Private Owners), the required number of signatures is already under complaint. The repeal of the law is entitled to demand at least 17 senators, ten senators are enough for a proposal to repeal a government regulation.

Valenta said, Prohibiting singing in the church, as well as limiting the number of people during services to five times less than in the theater, or making the entire service conditional on mandatory sitting, is a clear violation of constitutional rights.

According to him, in general, the ban on singing, which also applies to teaching, concerts, musical performances or opera, is meaningless, humanly absurd and scientifically unsubstantiated.