E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSMembers of the band Pussy Riot, arrested in February after storming a Moscow cathedral, were sentenced to two years in jail Friday. Critics say the arrest was Putin's personal revenge, raising questions about justice in Russia. NBC's Duncan Golestani reports.
Church officials at a German cathedral have filed charges against three masked activists who disrupted a Sunday mass in support of the Russian rock group Pussy Riot, the officials confirmed to NBC News.
Two days after the Pussy Riot verdict in Moscow, the copycats stormed into the mass at Cologne cathedral and shouted “Free Pussy Riot,” while throwing leaflets into the crowd.
After less than a minute, the activists were escorted out by church wardens.
Prosecutors told NBC News that under German law, the two men and one woman could be prosecuted for the disruption of free practice of religion.
Russian court sentences Pussy Riot rockers to 2 years in prison
If convicted, they could face up to three years in prison – compared to the two-year sentence given to their heroines in Russia.
Russian clerics forgive Pussy Riot, ask for mercy
In an interview with Cathedral Radio, the dean of the Cologne Cathedral, Monsignore Robert Kleine, said: "It is legitimate and certainly appropriate to protest the verdict ... in public [in Germany], for example in squares. But there are borders, especially when the rights of others are impaired."
"The right to demonstration cannot be set above the right to religious freedom and above the religious feelings of the congregation," Kleine added.
More world stories from NBC News:
- Much at stake for US as tensions rise in China Seas
- Tropical Storm Isaac threatens Haiti, Dominican Republic
- Israeli protesters warn against war as government appears to prep Iran strikes
- Still hobbled by quake, Haiti awaits Isaac
- German state raids buildings in crackdown on neo-Nazi groups
- US, Pakistan should 'divorce,' ex-ambassador to Washington says
- Video: Terror triggers Mali exodus
- Lebanon militia stands by Syria's Assad despite bloody crackdown
- Step aside hippos! Wildebeests are on the move
Follow World News from NBCNews.com on Twitter and Facebook
Leave a Comment:
The self-righteous stake their crucifix with rusty pride The time and place is appropriate when the punishers think you are wrong to believe differently. Persist in defining yourself as you decide. Remember... they once fought to have what you now seek. Freedom to decide your own beliefs has always waged battle on the steps of city halls and cathedrals.
I have no respect for religion or the "brilliant" people that buy into it. If it wasn't for science we'd still be in the dark ages launching holy crusades or burning witches during the renaissance.
No, we would'nt.
Religion is as much responsible for technological advances as the military and science communities. The Catholic Church determined that the calendar was off by more than 10 days and used its influence to correct the issue in a manner which even holds a self-correcting mechanism to prevent it from happening again (Pope Gregory, hence the name "Gregorian Calendar", unless you still celebrate the New Year on April 1st). Islam is responsible for our decible based mathematics system (unless you are one who still counts I II III). Havefanatics abused it? Yup. Has it been used to do some terrible things? Yup. But just like any other tool, blame the wielder, not the tool. Hammers can be used to build and kill too- its all a matter of who is using it and what their purpose is.
And if it weren't for science, we wouldn't have industrial pollution, nuclear weapons, and biological warfare.
shawn1999 FTW!
For those who think it's okay to just barge into any organized event, church session or otherwise ... give me a break. They weren't just throwing leaflets; they were disrectful and didn't care about anything other than their own beliefs. I'm sure they want to be respected if you'd ask them. This is not about their issues but the manner in which they acted and if they need to go to jail so other may gain a clue so be it. They do have a right to protest without fear off being arrested so long as you don't cross the line. Like another wrote, if you bust into my backyard in protest without being respected ... you get what's coming to you. They copied some others that used bad judgement and see what it got them. I hope our society is beginning to tighten up on accountability ... let's all start with ourselves and our kids. If not, you might be visiting them in jail also.
What I find absolutely amazing is the fact that, if you look at the comments under the article of the originators, you'll find hundreds chastising Russia and proclaiming the freedom of speech, and recounting the harsh conditions, and how bad the harsh 2 year sentence was and even the article itself was focused more on the political statement than on the fact that they barged in on a religious ceremony. In THIS article, however, the focus is ON the infraction against freedom of religion, and nearly everyone who has commented has chastised the offenders in this case. So what is different (asside from the lack of originality and change of country)?
Now the question is: How do McCartney and Madonna feel about promoting this behavior? Shouldn't they too be sentenced (or at least fined) for promoting this behavior? Shouldn't they at least have to apologize to Russia for demanding it release the criminals it caught?
In USA you would get locked up without no process, for undisclosed amount of time and in undisclosed location. HAHA country that promotes Freedom. HAHA I am sure Freedom doesn't actually means freedom, it means government free of people influence.
Man I hate this country, little more time and will be leaving this dump for good.
What the hell does that have to do with anything?
Sebston, Don't let the door hit you in your boyfriend getter.
We'll mis you, Sebston - like a toothache.
Yeah, go somewhere better, like Iran. Go someplace where nobody but the government and it's selected oracles in the church can have a say.
Stupid.
If you don't like it here, you should have already left.
@Sebston
Do it!!!!! I did, and you WONT believe the change!! you wont be sorry!
England is THE place to be! I left in 07 and it's phenom - far better medical coverage (busted an arm and kneecap, not a pound), attitude (you disagree w/ someone, it's all good, everybody's cool), and the women (WOW - and the tooth thing is just a media punchline, I've got killer dental, something I COULDNT find in Ohio) and for all we talk (no pun intended) the feedom of speech really is free-er (sp?)
Yes, there should be some boundaries when it comes to "free speech," but where do you draw the line? Evil, violence and indecency speak for themselves - Three years for this kind of free-speech? An obvious over-kill reaction by the state - Perhaps there is no place for dissent in the so-called "free world?"
No, up to three years for interfering in the freedom to exercise one's religion. You have heard about that whole thing where 6 MILLION were murdered for their religion in that country, right?
What were they thinking? You can only get away with this sort of thing in America. Well if the church is Christian that is.
I wouldn't recommend trying it in an American Mosque.
*Waiting patiently for Madonna to "condemn" this action*
Which part would she condemn? The protest or the arrest and sentence? I'm just messing with you; I know what you mean. She, like all of the other celebrity instigators, like to light fires and then walk away. No doubt, she will argue that she was "misquoted" or "misunderstood". She's a coward who thumbs her nose at the Church from a distance but would never have the guts to actually engage in a real debate. Nor would she get involved in something where she could lose money (like getting fined by German authorities).
Prison might not be so bad. If that had happend here, they might have been shot, caught in a crossfire of bullets between the cops and the congretation.
The LQBT is really on this one.
What? common sense taking a backseat to stupidity? Some people check their brains with their luggage. Stand your ground if your belief is strong enough However just a little common sense can save you some serious repercussions.
For whatever problems we have in the U.S., and we have some, this should remind us of how we take our freedoms for granted.
Yes, at anytime, some person with a grudge against the government may come into YOUR place of worship and prevent YOU from excersizing your freedom of religion!!
The long hair phaggot looks cute. He gonna be real POPular in the clink.
Don't do the crime if you can't do the time
THAT'S RIGHT, you bunch of Fascist, Marxist, Pigs!! "Throw'em in jail and throw away the key!!"
And when you have No Rights to Defend... You will have No Rights at ALL!!
REMEMBER THAT, when you have to hide in your attic or basement because you or a loved on spoke out against Ternary.
Sounds like Russia's churches have more protection that here in the states.
You can't spell moron without... ... ... You guessed it... Ron.
I would like to stage a 'Pussy Riot' at my house!
I guess when people are really chapped about injustice, they should just send out nice full color mailers that have prior approval by 'authorities'.
Yeah, that will probably work, uh huh.
They used bad judgement by invading the church (That's no different than a home invasion), they should have held their protest on the street...they were seeking shock value, controversy, and media attention...just like the liberal "On Wall Street" protesters who only got arrested when they destroyed property, attacked citizens, committed sex crimes, committed robbery and assaults or otherwise created unneccesary mahem. Russia was correct to arrest them and to put them in jail. Freedom of speech can be abused and Pussy Riot did it..
Who gave Pussy Riot the right to throw live cats at poorly paid fast food workers, they were so proud of that the band took their name from the action?
nice, can not wait when some fans or patriots of this ladies make out a pank moleben somewhere in USA as well ... let say in a Catholic Church to protest and support the ART these ladies creating! oh no, better somewhere in a Masjid there, in US ))) should be great I guess! and yes, Madonna and etc ART supporters must be invited along with reporters :-)
... From Russia with Love <3