Diocese: Removal of the church flag in Lipljan is an act of intimidation against remaining Orthodox believers

The Raska–Prizren Diocese has strongly condemned the vandalism involving the removal of the Serbian Orthodox Church flag from the bell tower of the Church of the Entry of the Most Holy Mother of God in Lipljan, describing it as an act of intimidation against the remaining Orthodox Christians living in the area.

In a statement published on the Diocese’s website, it is noted that the incident occurred last night around 6 p.m.

“According to footage from security cameras, an individual wearing a balaclava approached the churchyard and forcibly removed the flag, which had been raised just a day earlier to mark the church’s feast day. This act is not only an attack on the property of the Serbian Orthodox Church, but also a form of pressure and intimidation against the remaining Orthodox Christians in Lipljan, as well as a clear indication of further intentions toward the SOC. The Serbian Orthodox Church has reported the incident to the Kosovo Police and hopes that this time, unlike previous cases, the perpetrator will be identified and punished, and that the criminal offense will be qualified as a serious crime involving elements of religious hatred and intolerance,” the statement says.

They further note that a similar incident occurred in June 2023.

“As the perpetrator was not found or properly punished at that time, this deepens the concern of the faithful and undermines the sense of security in a community where today only a few hundred Serbs remain, compared to the former 6,000 before 1999,” the Diocese warns.

It adds that a particular problem lies in the attitude of Kosovo institutions toward such incidents, noting that most perpetrators go unpunished or receive only symbolic penalties, while the classification of such offenses by the Kosovo police and judiciary conceals the gravity of the acts and the true motives behind them.

“In this way, Kosovo institutions not only obscure the real extent of interreligious and interethnic attacks on the Serbian Orthodox Christian community, but also send a message that such acts carry no consequences for the perpetrators. This encourages the most extreme nationalist elements within Albanian society to continue with such attacks,” the statement emphasizes.

The Diocese also states that countless times so far it has been shown that Kosovo institutions are not interested in enforcing their own laws or protecting the Serbian Orthodox Church and its believers.

“The passivity of these institutions regarding the protection of Orthodox Christians encourages further attacks and violations of the rights enjoyed by the SOC, like any other religious community. The Raska–Prizren Diocese appeals to the international community to condemn this attack and to engage all its capacities in addressing the position of the Serbian Orthodox Church. As the situation on the ground shows daily, only by defining our status—one that does not depend on inadequate conduct or failure of protection by Kosovo institutions—can the right to the survival and peaceful life of the Serbian Orthodox Church be guaranteed,” the Diocese concludes.