Four Protestant churches in Belarus are asking the constitutional court of this former Soviet republic to repeal a law that forbids religious groups from worshipping in private homes.
"The law has limited citizens' religious rights, it has set obstacles to activities of legally registered organizations and it imposed restrictions on religious freedoms," a statement from the churches said.
Protestants have been harassed "simply because they study the Bible at home with their friends," the four churches said.
The law, enacted in 2002, forbids religious groups from conducting worship services outside of churches. It also puts restrictions on religions that have been working in Belarus for less than 20 years, barring them from publishing literature or setting up missions.
The law appeared to be an attempt at ending the inroads minority religions, especially evangelical Protestants, have made in Belarus. Opinion polls indicate that 80 percent of the population still consider themselves Orthodox Christians.