Jeremic: Montenegro’s Draft Law on Religious Non-Freedom Should Be Withdrawn Immediately

Vuk Jeremic (Beta/Milos Miskov)

People’s Party leader Vuk Jeremic issued a statement on Dec. 19 in which he said that the draft law on religious freedom in Montenegro should immediately be withdrawn, as it, according to him, tramples over human rights, negates the identity of the Serbs living in Montenegro, and allows for the property of the Serbian Orthodox Church to be seized.

In his written statement Jeremic expressed his belief that Montenegrin authorities are getting ready to pass something which is neither a law on freedom nor a law on religion.

“To make this [law] a reality is the intention of Milo Djukanovic’s regime, which is very closely tied with that of Aleksandar Vucic, with whom he [Djukanovic] shares advisors, business partners, and financial interests. While Vucic, from his comfortable Belgrade office promises bright future for all Serbs, he hasn’t got a word of reproach for what is being done in Montenegro by his partner,” wrote Jeremic.

To Jeremic it is obvious that the two of them share the same disregard and disrespect for human rights, property that does not belong to them, and identity that is not to their liking.

“Vucic, like Djukanovic, finds it normal to pass laws without asking those that are to be affected by them for opinion and stand,” Jeremic added.

Jeremic concluded by saying that the law on freedom of religion certainly concerns the largest religious community in Montenegro – the Serbian Orthodox Church.