Amsterdam: UOC believers are being scapegoated in Ukraine
UOC lawyer Robert Amsterdam. Photo: Jesus Christ’s CEOs TV
Robert Amsterdam, the lawyer representing the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), stated in an interview with the American channel Jesus Christ’s CEOs TV that Ukraine’s leadership is exploiting the situation surrounding the UOC for political goals.
"People are being scapegoated. The government is not terribly popular, and going after our Church is a way for Mr. Zelensky to consolidate power," Amsterdam said. He noted that similar situations can be observed in other countries as well.
Answering the question about his experience in defending religious freedom, Amsterdam said that this issue is not widely accepted and there are tremendous challenges worldwide.
"Ukraine is about to ban a thousand-year-old Orthodox Church. We have terrible problems in the Middle East, trying to defend Christians who are facing persecution in many countries of the Middle East. We also have issues with religious minorities in various African countries, where religious persecution is ongoing," the lawyer stated.
In his opinion, freedom of religion is a "touchstone that all too many companies and sovereigns don't place the proper weight on. Without religious freedom, there is no foundation for human rights, and, by the way, there is no foundation for business rights."
However, there is a loss of universal attraction in religious freedom nowadays, according to Robert Amsterdam.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that, according to Robert Amsterdam, the U.S. government funded the persecution of the UOC.
Read also
Sand for construction of Yermak’s residence brought from cemetery, MP says
MP Yaroslav Zhelezniak said that sand illegally removed from a cemetery in Ukrainka was used in the construction of the elite Dynasty cooperative in Kozyn.
Italian court recognizes family with three parents as legal
In Bari, the appellate court ordered authorities to register an adoption according to which a child is listed as having two "fathers" and one mother.
Archaeologists discover biblical Bethsaida on shore of Sea of Galilee
Researchers have discovered a first-century residential house beneath the apse of a Byzantine church and a mosaic inscription mentioning the Apostle Peter.
Israeli soldiers receive jail terms for mocking statue of the Virgin Mary
Those involved in the act of sacrilege in the village of Debel will spend several weeks behind bars for desecrating a statue of the Mother of God.
Serbian Church officially receives back land of 15th-century monastery
An agreement was signed in Belgrade transferring the territory of the ancient Vojlovica Monastery to the Banat Eparchy.
Pat Daniel comments on conflict between Phanar bishop and community in Turkey
The Bulgarian Primate believes that the hierarch of the Constantinople Patriarchate should not have forced the Bulgarian community in Edirne to serve in Greek.