US Com. for Religious Freedom condemns persecution of Montenegrin believers

A many-thousand cross procession in defence of the Church in the capital of Montenegro. Photo: mitropolija.com

On June 26, 2020, members of the U.S. Commission for International Religious Freedom Rev. Johnnie Moore and Nury Turkel published an article entitled "Jews, Muslims and Christians Are All Persecuted in Europe. It Must Stop Now", which condemned the persecution of believers in Montenegro. The article was published on the “Newsweek” portal.

"In Montenegro, it's the Christians who are under attack. Since December, there have been ongoing protests following the passage of a law on religion that many believe will allow the government to confiscate religious properties. The Serbian Orthodox Church rightfully fears that the law is a pretext to seize its property. These concerns have led to large and sustained protests across the country. With restrictions on religious gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbating tensions, these protests have led to clashes and the repeated detention of some of the country's most well-known Orthodox leaders—including the interrogation this week of Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro (the second time the archbishop has been interrogated this year)," human rights activists write.

As reported, earlier the Parliament of the Republika Srpska spoke out for the SOC's rights in Montenegro.

Read also