In a release published yesterday on its official website, the Orthodox Church of Romania expressed its sympathy with the Muslim community of the country, following the publication in the Rumanian language of the "Satanic verses" by the British writer Salman Rushdie. "The Romanian Orthodox Church reads the release disapproves of any expression that constitutes an attack against spiritual values and religious symbols, whatever the religion they belong to". In support to its position, the Rumanian Church mentions article 13 of the Religious Freedom Act and the general regime of worship, under which "any public offence of religious symbols is forbidden in Romania".
