Vandalism of the church

Case information
Incident date
Country
Kosovo
Place
Ibarski Kolašin
Categories
  • Social Hostility / Intolerance
Attack Against
  • Faith
Perpetrator / Motive Indicators
  • Private
Hate Crime & Violent Incidents
  • Vandalism (all)
  • Vandalism of Church
Place of Incident
  • Church
Bias Indicators
  • Lack of Other Motive
  • Racial/Ethnic/Gender/Cultural Differences
  • Significance of Property/Structure/Location to religious community
  • Time/Place/Location
Reported to Police
  • Unknown
Response of Local Authorities
  • Unknown
Image credit: Orthodox Times

On 27 September, an act of desecration took place at the church in Međugorje, in the Ibarski Kolašin area, during the Feast of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos. Sacred icons were destroyed and the church was damaged by bullets.

The Diocese of Raška and Prizren emphasised the gravity of the situation. 'This church is not only a religious monument, but also a symbol of the preservation of the spiritual and cultural identity of our community,' the diocese emphasised. It also stressed that ongoing violence and the desecration of sacred sites remain largely unpunished, endangering religious heritage, and raises concerns about the safety of the Serbian community in the region.

Sources