The International Human Rights Alliance "Church against Xenophobia and Discrimination" called the refusal of the Kosovo authorities to allow hierarchs headed by Patriarch Porfiry of Serbia to worship and hold official events a gross violation of international law and an act of discrimination against believers of the Serbian Orthodox Church.
As previously reported, on May 13, 2024, His Holiness Patriarch Porfiry and a group of seven archpastors heading to the monastery of the Peche Patriarchate to celebrate the Divine Liturgy, which, according to tradition, they were supposed to open the next Bishops' Council of the Serbian Orthodox Church, were stopped at the Merdare checkpoint on the administrative line separating Kosovo and Metohija from Central Serbia. Without explaining the reasons, the Patriarch of Serbia and the hierarchs accompanying His Holiness were announced that entry into the territory of the unrecognized "Republic of Kosovo" was prohibited for them.
In a statement published on May 16 by the press service of the Church against Xenophobia and Discrimination Alliance, attention is also drawn to the fact that this refusal is "not motivated in any way", and besides, "it was not formalized legally, currently the formal reason for the ban on entry remains unknown."
"We consider it appropriate to organize a legal process for the protection of rights in this situation in accordance with international law, as well as in accordance with the legislation in force on the territory of Kosovo," reads a statement posted on the website of the human rights organization. In this regard, the human rights Alliance "Church against Xenophobia and Discrimination" will send relevant proposals and recommendations to the Patriarchate of the Serbian Orthodox Church, as well as written requests about the incident to the authorities of Kosovo.
"For its part, the Alliance will ensure the presence of information about the fact of discrimination, unjustified restrictions on freedom of movement and religious activities of the hierarchs of the Serbian Orthodox Church at international meetings concerning Kosovo, including within the framework of reporting procedures for monitoring compliance with human rights standards," the human rights defenders emphasize.
***
The international human rights association "Church against Xenophobia and Religious Discrimination" was established in December 2023 by a number of hierarchs and clergy of Local Orthodox Churches together with non-governmental organizations "Public Advocacy", "VSI Zmogaus teisiu apsauga", "European Institute for Religion and Law", which have consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council.