The Violation of the Institution of the Church of Saint Mary
in Përmet is a Dangerous Precedent of Religious Hatred
PRESS REALEASE
GSHDNJ (Grupi Shqiptar i të Drejtave të Njeriut- The Albanian Human Rights Group) followed with concern and indignation the events of some days ago where employees of the Enforcement Office of the Judicial Decisions (private security forces bailiffs) exerted ferocious physical and psychological force, against the representatives of the Church of Saint Mary in Përmet.
The events were associated with the action of bailiffs to convert the premises of the Church of Saint Mary in Përmet for the service of the Municipality for the purpose of becoming the Palace of Culture, pursuant to a final decision of the court.
Our concern is for the aggressive stance against the Orthodox Church of the private bailiffs’ office, whose representatives implemented the decision, abusing physically and psychologically the Orthodox community in the area of Përmet, and consequently all the Albanian Orthodox believers. The priest of the Church was pushed and hit, while many religious objects were forcibly evicted. The brutal, physical manner which the employees of the private bailiffs’ office exercised against the servants of the Church is similar to the bitter memories of the war that was waged by the communist government against religions, undermining one of the basic human rights in Albania.
This act was not just a routine execution of a judicial decision, but clearly reflects a type of procedure inspired by the spirit of religious hatred for this community.
Ironically, and not coincidentally, the date of the implementation of these brutal acts coincided with the feast of Saint Mary, an important saint for the Christian community. That this church also bears the name of Saint Mary, openly reveals the lack of religious tolerance and the desire to profane the holy place of the Orthodox Church in the area of Përmet.
GSHDNJ (Grupi Shqiptar i të Drejtave të Njeriut- The Albanian Human Rights Group) demands that these actions, that aimed at attacking the religious institution of the Orthodox community should be stopped because they can have serious consequences for Albanian religious harmony.
GSHDNJ requires the heads of the Office of Enforcement bear the legal and moral responsibility for the actions taken and take measures not to repeat such cases. They should be guided by professional principles which do not allow disregarding the rights of individual and require much more respect for religious beliefs.
GSHDNJ values that the spirit of understanding and respect for the freedom of religion is indispensable for the development of our country and a meaningful condition for the integration into the European Union, and that a negative spirit of this kind, will bring consequences to the goals that the Albanian State has in this regard.
Tiranë, August 18, 2013
