The Eparchy of Raska and Prizren condemned the attack on the priest in Prizren

The Eparchy of Raska and Prizren condemned the incident that occurred today in Prizren when a priest was physically attacked in the city center.

According to the statement issued by the eparchy, the incident occurred around 8:45 a.m. in the center of Prizren, in front of the Theranda Hotel. During the incident, a Kosovo Albanian hung a KLA flag on the front of the bus and then began verbally provoking pilgrims from central Serbia.

"The pilgrims arrived in Prizren by bus with Vranje license plates to attend the Holy Liturgy and later visit the holy sites of Prizren. At the moment when the Prizren priest J.R. approached the bus to welcome the pilgrims and advise them not to fall for provocations, the individual in question physically attacked the priest, roughly twisting his arm. Immediately, a Kosovo police officer and an Albanian citizen came to the priest's aid, after which the assailant fled in his vehicle. This incident occurred in plain view of the pilgrims. After the incident, the faithful regularly participated in the liturgy and paid homage to the holy sites of Prizren," the eparchy emphasized.

They recall that the spokesperson for the Kosovo Police for the Prizren region, Shaqir Bytyqi, officially stated to the media that the suspect in the attack on the priest had been arrested and detained for 48 hours.

The eparchy underscores that the incident constitutes intimidation on ethnic and religious grounds.

"The Eparchy of Raska and Prizren condemns this incident as intimidation on ethnic and religious grounds and expresses sincere hope that such events will not recur, as it is clearly an isolated case in Prizren, where our clergy and seminarians otherwise live peacefully, and our faithful regularly come to visit the holy sites of this city," they add from the Eparchy of Raska and Prizren.