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LEGISLATION INTRODUCED IN THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY TO DECLARE AROMAN CHURCH A FOREIGN AGENT ORGANISATION
11.10.2026

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Several members of the National Assembly representing the National Party of the Stedorian Revolution (NPLS) have tabled draft legislation taking aim at the Aroman Church in Stedoria. The legislation, titled An Act to Uphold State Security and Secularism from Foreign Religious Undermining, seeks to require Stedorian citizens and foreign nationals living in Stedoria who are members of the Aroman Church to register themselves as acting on behalf of a foreign organisation with the federal Security Force. Failure to do so would make said individuals liable to the offence of “Undermining national wellbeing” under the National Criminal Statute, the maximum penalty of this offence being death. The lawmakers, however, emphasised that the law contains provisions encouraging judicial tribunals to “apply a general and reasonable standard of leniency”.

The legislation’s introduction to the Assembly comes following a sharp deterioration of diplomatic relations between Stedoria and Aromania, culminating in the Stedorian ambassador’s recall after the Aroman Government’s decision to impose sanctions on Cruciastâda and nations it deems “supportive” of Cruciastâda’s defensive military operation in Manamana. Though not directly commented on by the Stedorian Government, the Aroman Government’s decision to militarily reinforce its puppet state on the island of Ceris and in the illegally-occupied city of Bastaria have also been noted by political analysts as important factors that led to the decision to recall the Stedorian ambassador.

Much of the capitalist wurld has reacted furiously to the Cruciastâd defensive military operation in Manamana, owing to the Manamana Canal’s importance to the glubal economy. Indeed, many of these nations are haphazardly and quickly attempting to decrease their reliance on Cruciastâd oil exports. The Stedorian Government has assured its citizens that, in spite of modest increases of fuel prices, Cruciastâd oil and fuel will continue to be exported to Stedoria.

Speaking in the Assembly today, one of the legislation’s drafters, Assemblyman for Infaliy-West Matias Jnäidër defended the draft legislation:

What must be understood with this legislation’s drafting is that it is not an attack on the religious freedoms of Stedorians; we are not banning any religions, and citizens can continue to follow their desired beliefs. Rather, this is about the security of the nation itself. A core aspect of the entire identity of the Aroman Government is its zeal in its religious dogma. The Aroman Church is, by proxy, and extension of the Aroman state itself. It is only natural that a question be asked regarding this: How are we to ensure that citizens who make the choice to follow this belief do not have dual loyalties or, even worse, sole loyalty to a foreign government entirely?

Acknowledging that the passing of this bill would likely only further inflame tensions between Stedoria and Aromania, Jnäidër responded that “national security and independence must be prioritised above all other matters” and “that although Stedoria does not seek for this legislation to be seen as a tit-for-tat measure, the Government must at the same time focus on the internal implications of changing glubal dynamics”. Jnäidër further stated that he had been in contact with several groups of lawmakers from Elbenau, Obereland, and Veldoria, all of whom expressed interest in drafting similar legislation with regard to the Aroman Church.

In spite of the bill’s likely passing, very few citizens are likely to be impacted by the law. The most recent census, held this year, determined that approximately 2% of the Stedorian population adhered to the beliefs of the Aroman Church. There are relatively few Aroman churches within the country, with most being located in Stedoria’s major cities.

Both the Stedorian Democratic Movement and the Radicals - Stedorian Left parties have condemned the draft legislation as “an egregious and unacceptable assault of Stedorians’ entitlement to religious freedom” and have stated that they would co-ordinate with opposition-run state governments to prevent the enforcement of this legislation should it pass.