Kosovo to enact law restricting Serbian Church, experts say

Gracanica Monastery of the Serbian Church in Kosovo. Photo: orthodoxianewsagency

According to analyses and expert opinions, the implementation of the so-called “Law on Foreigners”, which has been announced to come into full force on March 15 by the Pristina authorities, may directly affect the Church, the residence of clergy and monks, as well as the access of believers to pilgrimages.

As reported by Orthodoxianewsagency, the issue of the presence and spiritual heritage of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Kosovo is entering a new, particularly critical phase. According to specialists, the application of the law could become an instrument for introducing restrictions on people working in institutions connected with the Serbian presence in the region, including in the Church, education system, and healthcare.

Historian Aleksandar Rakovic told the Serbian newspaper Politika that the Serbian Orthodox Church remains a key pillar of the cultural and national identity of Serbs in Kosovo. According to him, the new law could create a climate of insecurity for the clergy and the faithful.

According to him, this could pave the way for administrative measures that will limit the presence of clergy or workers. He stresses that such developments could lead to increased pressure on the Serbian community in the area.

Additional concern is caused by reports of attacks on Orthodox shrines and monuments. Speaking to Serbia's state-run RTS , art historian Jasmina Ciric notes that attacks on churches and monasteries are not just acts of vandalism, but a blow to the cultural and religious heritage of the region.

As the UOJ wrote, over the past decades hundreds of Orthodox churches and monasteries in Kosovo have been damaged or destroyed. Between 2014 and 2020, 247 attacks on cultural heritage and religious sites were recorded in Kosovo and Metohija, and most incidents were related to churches and cemeteries of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

Earlier, the Diocese of Raska and Prizren of the Serbian Church stated that the tightening of rules for entry, residence, and work of "foreign citizens" could have serious consequences for the Serbian community, including threats to the right to education, work, and normal daily life. The diocese emphasized that the hasty application of new norms without a transitional period could lead to increased tensions and legal uncertainty for thousands of people.

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