Gross violation – International Legal Alliance on situation with SOC head

Serbian Patriarch Porfirije. Photo: spc.rs

On 16 May 2024, the International Alliance "Church against Xenophobia and Discrimination" issued a statement regarding the blocking of entry into Kosovo to Patriarch Porfirije of the Serbian Orthodox Church, in which it informed about its legal and informational support to the SOC in this situation.

The Human Rights Alliance believes that the refusal of the Kosovo authorities to allow the religious leaders of the Serbian Orthodox Church to enter Kosovo for worship and official events is a gross violation of international law and an act of discrimination against the Orthodox believers of the SOC.

According to the Alliance, the refusal of the authorities to allow a group of hierarchs headed by the Patriarch to enter the Peć Patriarchal Monastery in Kosovo to hold the SOC Council of Bishops there was not motivated in any way. Human rights activists also drew attention to the fact that this refusal was not formalized legally and even the formal reason for the entry ban is unknown.

"Given this, we consider it appropriate to organize a legal process for the protection of rights in this situation in accordance with international law, as well as the legislation that is in force on the territory of Kosovo," the statement reads.

The Alliance "Church against Xenophobia and Discrimination" said it will send relevant proposals and recommendations to the Patriarchate of the Serbian Orthodox Church, as well as written requests regarding the incident to the Kosovo authorities.

"For its part, the Alliance will ensure the presence of information about the above-mentioned fact of discrimination, unjustified restriction of freedom of movement at international meetings concerning Kosovo, including in the framework of reporting procedures for monitoring compliance with human rights protection standards," the human rights activists said.

As reported by the UOJ, the Serbian Church called the ban on Patriarch Porfirije's entry to Kosovo an act of lawlessness.

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