Arnaud Gouillon, director of the Office for Public and Cultural Diplomacy in the Government of Serbia, has claimed that "Kosovo Serbs are suffering because of their religious beliefs."
In a statement from Russia, Gouillon said that Serbs in Kosovo suffer "because they are Orthodox."
"There are people in the heart of Europe, in Kosovo and Metohija, who suffer because they are Serbs, because they are Orthodox. Serbs, unfortunately, are not the only Christians who suffer in the world, but the only ones in Europe who suffer because of their faith. The loss of Serbian holy sites in Kosovo and Metohija would not be a loss only for Serbia and the Serbian people, but for the entire European civilization and for humanity.", he was quoted as saying from a visit to Russia.
The publication was published in Serbian language media (see here, here and here).
Gouillon has not mentioned any facts for his claim. His statement creates the impression of a violation of religious freedoms in Kosovo and a threat to heritage.
How is religious tolerance and the protection of religious sites guaranteed in Kosovo?
Kosovo is a secular state and neutral in matters of religious beliefs. The Constitution states that the Republic of Kosovo ensures the preservation and protection of its cultural and religious heritage.
The Constitution also states: "The Republic of Kosovo shall promote the preservation of the religious and cultural heritage of all communities, as an integral part of the heritage of Kosovo. The Republic of Kosovo shall have a special duty to ensure the effective protection of the entirety of objects and monuments of cultural and religious importance to the communities."
In support of freedom of belief, Kosovo also has the Law on Religious Freedom (see here).
meanwhile law on Special Protected Areas “ensures the protection of Serbian Orthodox Monasteries, Churches, other religious sites, as well as historical and cultural sites of special importance to the Serbian Community as well as to other communities in the Republic of Kosovo, through the establishment of Special Protected Areas”.
The Kosovo Police, as a law enforcement institution, 2022 in a public announcement it had announced that since 2008 it has been providing physical security for 24 Orthodox religious buildings, mainly churches and monasteries, as well as, in various operational ways, for about 170 other Orthodox buildings. According to the announcement, since March 2013, these services have been under the supervision of the unit specially formed for the security of religious cultural heritage buildings (NJSOTKF). The announcement also indicated a decrease in incidents at religious buildings, and that incidents were mostly at Muslim buildings.
Gouillon has not provided any evidence for the claim of "loss of holy places."
A Google search with the words "Attack on Serbian Orthodox Church in Kosovo"does not issue any credible announcement or international report that would emphasize that there are attacks on the Serbian Orthodox Church in Kosovo or an attempt to "alienate" Serbian holy sites.
Even in reports by international organizations or local institutions, on the issue of religious freedom, it is not specified that there is pressure on Serbs in Kosovo in this regard (Amnesty, People's Advocate).
Gouillon's statements have also been covered by hibrid.info in the past. Several inaccurate and unfounded claims have been identified, which have been refuted with concrete facts and reliable international sources (see here).
Arnaud Gouillon's claim that Serbs in Kosovo suffer because of their Orthodox faith is unfounded and unsupported by facts. The Constitution and laws of Kosovo guarantee religious freedom and the protection of religious heritage, including the properties of the Serbian Orthodox Church. Local and international reports do not indicate religious persecution of Serbs in Kosovo.