Austrian advocates about UOC ban: A decision of questionable legality
The OIDAC Europe believes that Law 8371 will likely face challenges in the justice system, including the European Court of Human Rights.
The Austrian non-governmental organization OIDAC (Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination Against Christians in Europe) published a report for 2022-2023, highlighting the law aimed at effectively banning the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC).
At the time of the report's preparation, the Ukrainian Parliament had preliminarily approved a bill aimed at banning the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (October 19, 2023).
Referring to this legislative initiative, OIDAC concludes that "this is a decision of questionable legality that is likely to face challenges in Ukraine's justice system and potentially at the ECtHR."
As previously reported by the UOJ, the Austrian NGO OIDAC Europe also noted in its report that people in Ukraine are being persecuted for their religious beliefs.