The Serbian Orthodox Church said on Saturday that Christians in Palestine are facing persecution and discrimination,
The Serbian Orthodox Church said on Saturday that Christians in Palestine are facing persecution and discrimination, while warning against efforts to marginalize their historic presence in the region. In a letter addressed to Palestinian official Ramzi Khoury, Serbian Patriarch Porfirije expressed solidarity with the Palestinian people and voiced concern over the deteriorating situation facing Christians and other communities in the region. Emphasizing that the suffering of civilians, regardless of their faith or background, is incompatible with human dignity, the church said that “the community is facing suffering, persecution and discrimination.”
The church also stressed the need to protect Christian communities, noting that Christians have maintained a continuous presence in the region for more than 2,000 years and is an integral part of its history and heritage. The church further warned that excluding or marginalizing any religious or ethnic community risks damaging the region’s social and religious fabric, and called for respect for international law and religious rights. Patriarch Porfirije said the church would continue to highlight the protection of Christian communities and efforts to promote peace in the Middle East during meetings with political leaders and international institutions.
Khoury is a member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and heads the Higher Presidential Committee of Church Affairs in Palestine. The Palestinian committee has repeatedly expressed concern over attacks on Christian communities and institutions in the occupied West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem, as well as restrictions affecting access to places of worship, education and religious sites. The impact has also extended to the Gaza Strip, where five Palestinians, including four women, were killed on Saturday morning. Two of the women were Christians.
