Diocese: Dangerous Statements and False Claims About the SOC in Kosovo Fuel Religious and Ethnic Tensions

The Raška-Prizren Diocese has issued a detailed statement addressing accusations and inflammatory remarks against the Serbian Orthodox Church (SOC) made by some Kosovo Albanian individuals and published via social media platforms and several other Kosovo Albanian media. These remarks, they say, are exacerbating ethnic and religious tensions in an already fragile environment.

Selim Pacolli, a member of the New Kosovo Alliance (AKR), called for a new „Operation Storm“ and advocated for a „cleansing of the terrain“ on social media this Saturday, following the explosion at the Ibar-Lepenac canal.

In a subsequent post, Pacolli accused the Serbian Orthodox Church (SOC) of being a primary instigator of violence against Albanians.

„Historically, it was precisely on Orthodox holidays that these Chetnik formations and gangs killed, cut, and burned us, with the Serbian Orthodox Church as the main instigator and scriptwriter,“ he wrote, referencing claims from Pristina media about alleged “warning from a young Serb” that the “Chetnik resistance” was responsible for the canal explosion, with the message “Christmas is Coming.”

In an initial comment to KoSSev, the Diocese labeled Pacolli’s remarks as „dangerous hate speech.“

Today, it issued a more detailed statement, emphasizing that the SOC in Kosovo has “never supported violence or war.”

The Diocese also condemned comments by Gurakuç Kuçi of the Oktopus Institute, who speculated on television that Serbian Orthodox churches in Kosovo might harbor weapons and questioned the identities of those residing in these religious institutions.

Several media outlets reported Kuçi’s statement, neglecting to clarify that no „large cache of weapons“ was found within the Banjska Monastery itself. Instead, the discovered items were located in the surrounding area. Investigations revealed that the few pieces of equipment near the monastery were left behind by a paramilitary group of Serbs, who had forcibly entered the monastery against its will and interests—a point the Diocese had already publicly addressed during the conflict.

Historical Context and the Role of the Church

In a statement issued today, the Diocese emphasized that the SOC in Kosovo has consistently opposed violence and played a humanitarian role during times of conflict. It highlighted the efforts of the Visoki Dečani Monastery during the 1999 Kosovo War, where monks sheltered Albanian civilians and coordinated humanitarian aid. The Church also noted its historical role as a refuge for displaced persons, including Roma and Serbs, in the aftermath of the conflict.

“The SOC has never supported violence or war,” the statement read. The Church cited its longstanding advocacy for peaceful solutions, which has been recognized by international officials visiting its monasteries.

Disputed Claims About Weapons in Churches

The Diocese also addressed recent allegations linking Orthodox churches to weapon caches, including claims made in connection with the September 2023 incident near the Banjska Monastery.

Addressing this incident, the Diocese emphasized that „all weapons found in the vicinity were discarded by an armed group of Serbs retreating through the area and temporarily staying outside the monastery walls.“ Investigations by police, EULEX, and the Kosovo government confirmed that „no stored weapons or involvement of the monastery or the Church in the tragic event were found.“

“Campaign to Incite Ethnic and Religious Hatred”

The Diocese condemned the spread of false information as part of a campaign to incite ethnic and religious hatred, stating: „Such information is deliberately spread by irresponsible individuals and has never been confirmed by the Kosovo government or police, although representatives of KFOR, EULEX, and international officials are well aware of the facts.“

“These baseless accusations are part of a recurring slander campaign,” the statement asserted. It pointed to previous unsubstantiated claims, such as those by British MP Alicia Kearns that SOC churches in Kosovo are reportedly being used to store weapons.

Lastly, in its call for peace, the Diocese reiterated: „For 30 years, our Church has consistently advocated for peaceful solutions to all problems in this region, in accordance with the teachings of the Gospel.“

Read more:

Pacolli Calls for a New ‘Operation Storm,’ Accuses SOC of Being the ‘Main Instigator’ of Violence Against Albanians

Sveçla and Hoxha: Eight Arrested, Raids at Ten Locations Yield 200 Uniforms, AK-47s, and Explosives