Epifaniy to WCC: All religions in Ukraine are 'in favor' of Bill 8371

Epifaniy Dumenko. Photo: ortodoxiamarturisitoare

On April 10, 2024, the head of the OCU, Epifaniy Dumenko, told representatives of the World Council of Churches that all religious organizations in Ukraine acclaim bill 8371.

During his visit to the World Council of Churches, Dumenko "spoke about the attitude of the religious community of our state towards legislative prohibitions for Russian religious associations to have RF-affiliated religious organizations in Ukraine."

"There is not a single religious association in Ukraine that publicly supports the idea that religious organizations in Ukraine can continue to be subordinate to structures controlled by the Russian state," said Dumenko.

According to him, this is explained by the fact that "everyone sees how the Russian state uses religion to justify aggressive warfare."

"The proposed changes to the legislation in parliament do not affect freedom of religion, but on the contrary, protect religious organizations in Ukraine from becoming an instrument of Kremlin hybrid warfare," Dumenko believes.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that the UOC believes that Law 8371 will contribute to the incitement of religious hostility, and therefore the Synod of the UOC urged members of the Verkhovna Rada not to pass this law.

In addition, the Norwegian human rights organization "Forum 18" believes that bill 8371 on the ban of the UOC does not comply with Ukraine's international human rights obligations regarding the respect and protection of freedom of religion or belief, freedom of expression of views, and associations.

Also, the Anglican Church called on Ukraine to withdraw Law 8371, as, according to the spiritual lord of the House of Lords, this bill is discriminatory per se.

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