Violation of universal human rights and persecution of the Serbian orthodox church in Montenegro during the COVID-19 epidemic
Abstract
At the end of 2019, the Law on the Freedom of Religion was adopted in Montenegro, causing protests and mass litanies from December 2019 to March 2020. After the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic, the authorities in Podgorica actually abolished the freedom of assembly and the freedom of religion. Thus the authorities in Montenegro, under the pretext of the urgent social need or public health protection, acted disproportionally and inappropriately during the epidemic. That was the violation of the international conventions guaranteeing universal protection of the freedom of religion and the regulations prohibiting discrimination. The COVID-19 epidemic was used by the authorities to clamp down on the Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro for the purpose of establishing the non-canonical Montenegrin Orthodox Church, expropriating the church property and imposing the provisions of the illegitimate and illegal Law on the Freedom of Religion.
References
Avramov, S., Kreća, M. (2008). International Public Law. Beograd: Pravni fakultet u Beogradu [In Serbian]
Bigović, R. (2009). Human Rights in Christian Tradition. Beograd: Službeni glasnik [In Serbian]
Blei, К. (2002). Freedom of Religion and Belief: Europe’s Story. Assen: Uitgeverij Van Gorcum.
Beaud, О. (2016). The State and Its Power. Beograd: Pravni fakultet [In Serbian]
Čavoški, K., Vasić, R. (2006). Introduction to Law. Beograd: Pravni fakultet u Beogradu [In Serbian]
Durković Jakšić, Lj. (2020). Whose are the religious objects in Montenegro? The Metropolitan of Montenegro has never been autocephalous. Beograd: Catena mundi [In Serbian]
Duterte, G. (2006). Key case-law extracts - European Court of Human Rights. Beograd: Službeni glasnik [In Serbian]
Dworkin, R. (2001). Taking rights seriously. Podgorica: CID [In Serbian]
Džomić, V. (2013). The Church and the State in Montenegro. Cetinje: Svetigora [In Serbian]
Džomić, V. (2018). Current Challenges on Realizing the Freedom of Religion in Montenegro. Podgorica: Orthodox Metropolitan of Montenegro& Littoral Legal Council
Đorđević, S. (1967). On the Continuity of the States with a Special Overview of the Continuity of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and the Federal People’s Republic of Yugoslavia. Beograd: Naučna knjiga [In Serbian]
Esanu, N, Velaers, J., Vermeulen, B. (2019). Montenegro Opinion On The Draft Law On Freedom of Religion Or Beliefs And Legal Status Of Religious Communities. Strasbourg: European Commission For Democracy Throught Law (Venice Commission). Available at: https://www.venice.coe.int/webforms/documents/?pdf=CDL-AD(2019)010-e
Government of the Republic of Montenegro (2020, 8th June). Measures and Recommendations. Podgorica. Available at: http://www.gov.me/naslovna/mjere_i_preporuke/
Hanski, R., Šajnin, М. (2007). Most Important cases before the Human Rights Committee. Beograd: Beogradski centar za ljudska prava [In Serbian]
Jovanović, S. (1990). Examples of Political Sociology: England, France, Germany 1815–1914. Beograd: BIGZ, Jugoslavijapublik, SKZ [In Serbian]
Kelsen, H. (1955). The Communist Theory of Law. New York: Praeger
Lukić, R. (1964). History of Political and Legal Theories, Book 1, From Antiquity to the Beginning of the 17th Century. Beograd: Naučna knjiga [In Serbian]
Machiavelli, N. (2012). The Prince. Beograd: Javor [In Serbian]
Mićović, (2020). In Europe: Christians under attack. Christianpost. Available at: https://www.christianpost.com/voices/in-europe-christians-under-attack.html
Paunović, М., Krivokapić, B., Krstić, I. (2010). International Human Rights. Beograd: Pravni fakultet [In Serbian]
Samardžić, S. (2001). Norm and Decision: Carl Schmitt and His Critics. Beograd: Filip Višnjić [In Serbian]
Schmitt, C. (2011). Nomos of the Earth: in international law: Ius Publicum Europaeum. Beograd: Fedon [In Serbian]
Stanković, O., Оrlić, М. (2001). Property Law. Beograd: Nomos [In Serbian]