UOC procession vs. Hasidic pilgrimage: one war, two security standards

In Vinnytsia region, UOC pilgrimages are banned while Hasidic pilgrimages are allowed. Photo: UOJ

Ukraine has already demonstrated more than enough striking examples of its unprecedented “freedom of religion.” Yet the authorities keep producing new ones.

The Vinnytsia authorities canceled the religious procession from Brailiv Monastery to Pochaiv – and almost immediately held a meeting with police and border guards on how to ensure the safe passage of tens of thousands of Hasidic pilgrims through the region to Uman.

In both cases, the authorities invoke the same word: “security.”

But that security appears to be remarkably selective.

The procession to Pochaiv Lavra follows rural roads and fields in western Ukraine, where the likelihood of a Russian missile or drone strike is minimal. Hasidic pilgrims, by contrast, arrive in Uman by the tens of thousands and gather within a relatively small area. In the event of a strike, the number of casualties could be enormous – the city does not have enough shelters even for a small fraction of the pilgrims.

Yet UOC believers are told that their pilgrimage must be banned for “security” reasons.

When it comes to tens of thousands of Jewish pilgrims, however, those same security concerns somehow cease to be grounds for a ban. Instead, officials discuss routes, border procedures, transport flows, and how best to organize their arrival.

The same country. The same war. The same risks.

Different believers – different rules.

Rarely have double standards in religious policy been displayed so openly.

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