On the eve of March pogrom anniversary, Orthodox churches in Kosovo broken into and robbed

Photo: Office for Kosovo and Metohija - Press Service

The Sveta Nedelja (Holy Sunday) church in the village of Gornja Gusterica in the municipality of Gracanica, was broken into and robbed during the previous night. The crime was noticed by the villagers in the morning and the authorities have been informed about it. Money was stolen from the church, the front door was forced open, and there was more material damage.

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Over the past ten days, five Serbian Orthodox churches have been targeted by vandals and thieves, which clearly indicates that the Serb religious heritage is continuously endangered, which unsettles Orthodox believers.

The previous weekend, during the night before All Souls Day, the temples of St. Peter and Paul in Klokot and of the Holy Trinity in Partes were broken into, as well as the church of the Forty Martyrs of Sebastian in the village of Drajkovce and the church of St. Demetrius in the village of Donja Bitinja in the municipality of Strpce. The last two incident happened three days ago.

Photo: Office for Kosovo and Metohija - Press Service

As the Office for Kosovo and Metohija has warned before, it is indicative that such cases are intensifying on the eve of the anniversary of the March pogrom in Kosovo and Metohija, when 35 Serb religious buildings were destroyed.

It is inadmissible that in the 21st century in the territory of Kosovo and Metohija, whose politicians in Pristina and international representatives declaratively stand for European values, religious tolerance and coexistence, most horrific violations of religious rights and freedoms are taking place on the ground.

We appeal on all representatives of Pristina's provisional bodies and international institutions, who have taken on the duty and obligation to ensure the peace and security of the Serb people in Kosovo and Metohija and protect Serb property and religious heritage, to urgently resolve these cases and bring the perpetrators to justice, the Office said.

(Telegraf.rs)