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
Kosovo to enact law restricting Serbian Church, experts say
Analysts warn that the new "Law on Foreigners" in Kosovo could restrict the presence of clergy, believers' access to shrines, and increase pressure on the Serbian community.
Congress Speaker: Demand to introduce Sharia law in USA is a serious problem
The Speaker of the House of Representatives stated that there is growing concern in society about attempts to impose Islamic law, which is incompatible with the American Constitution.
UK government introduces restrictions on "anti-Muslim hostility"
UK authorities have adopted a new definition of "Islamophobia" which, according to experts, could provide Muslims with special protection and restrict freedom of speech.
Dumenko brings icon in Church Slavonic to Ministry of Health
Epifaniy presented cardiologists with an Intercession icon, with inscriptions in Church Slavonic, which his structure calls a "sign of the Moscow tradition".
ISIS supporters carries out terrorist attack at anti-Islamic protest in NY
Near the home of New York's Muslim mayor, radicals threw two makeshift bombs at protesters during an anti-Islamic rally.
Hryshchuk: If UOC hands over its church itself, angle grinders aren't needed
An OCU chaplain called on UOC believers to accept the loss of the shrine for the sake of their own "enlightenment".