UOC: Law 8371 will encourage the incitement of religious enmity
According to the Holy Synod, Bill 8371 aims to eliminate the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
On April 10, 2024, the Holy Synod stated that bill 8371 could contribute to the incitement of religious hostility in Ukraine, as reported by the Information and Education Department of the UOC.
Members of the Holy Synod believe that bill No. 8371 "On Amendments to Some Laws of Ukraine Regarding the Activities of Religious Organizations in Ukraine", initiated by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, "will encourage the incitement of religious enmity and intolerance".
Additionally, the Synodal statement asserts that "under the pretext of protecting national security", the provisions of the bill are actually "aimed at closing down the Ukrainian Orthodox Church", which is the largest religious association in our country.
Moreover, the bill "infringes the principle of the autonomy of a religious community and is aimed at interfering in the internal activities of religious organisations of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church," the UOC Synod underscored.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that the UOC Synod urged members of the Verkhovna Rada not to pass bill 8371.
