Amsterdam requests UNSC to urgently address persecution of UOC

UN Security Council. Photo: pbs.twimg.com

Robert Amsterdam, a lawyer acting on behalf of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, sent an open letter on May 22, 2024, to the current President of the UN Security Council, His Excellency Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, President of the Rublic of Mozambique. A press release on this matter was distributed through media channels, as reported by savetheuoc.com.

In the 18-page letter, which details numerous instances of illegal encroachments on religious freedom, unlawful arrests of priests, and human rights violations by the Ukrainian government, there is a request to President Nyusi to expedite the consideration of the attack on the UOC by the UN Security Council in light of the expected adoption of a law banning the entire denomination.

"The honorable delegation from Mozambique has itself already spoken bravely against the suppression of religious freedom in Ukraine during two previous Security Council meetings," writes Amsterdam in the letter, referring to the Security Council transcripts dated January 17 and November 17, 2023.

Amsterdam's aim by putting this matter on the agenda of the Security Council is to ensure that Ukraine remains committed to the fundamental principles of international law and human rights.

According to the human rights defender, "The Ukrainian government has turned religion into a weapon of social control, dominating the religious space in the country through its support for the OCU, creating religious strife amongst its people." "There can no longer be any doubt that Ukraine is engaging in severe violations of religious freedom," the letter states.

"I am confident that you will find powerful confirmation of Ukraine’s systematic, on-going, and egregious violations of the freedom of religion and hope that a Security Council discussion would give the government of Ukraine the chance to reverse course before irreparable harm is done both to the freedom of religion and to Ukraine’s stature in the international community," the lawyer concludes.

The full copy of the letter can be downloaded from the savetheuoc.com website.

As reported by the UOJ, Amsterdam previously sent a letter to the UN High Commissioner regarding the campaign against the UOC.

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