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Published by SCOBA,
August 11, 2005
SCOBA
CONDEMNS IMPRISONMENT OF ARCHBISHOP JOVAN BY
FYROM AND ASKS FOR HIS RELEASE |
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New York — The Hierarchs of the Standing
Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the
Americas (SCOBA) have declared unanimously their
outrage concerning the imprisonment of
Archbishop Jovan of Ochrid by the Former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM).
"With this imprisonment," they declared, "the
right of freedom of thought and belief has been
denied and trampled upon by the state
authorities of FYROM."
"That a recognized, canonical Orthodox Christian
hierarch can be sentenced to a year and a half
prison term for fulfilling his religious
responsibilities is simply beyond our
comprehension," the hierarchs stated. "To seek
to impose upon all the people of FYROM one
religious organization, abrogates the universal
values of civilized nations and denies respect
for the right of free choice of belief and
opinion."
"We are saddened by this denial of what all
civilized nations have declared is one of the
basic human rights. Reports concerning treatment
by the police during the arrest of the
Archbishop are also very disturbing," they
noted.
"We join the Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox
Church in demanding the release of Archbishop
Jovan of Ochrid. His imprisonment is an offense
to all democratic societies and to all
institutions and organizations dedicated to the
protection and preservation of human rights."
"We ask the government of FYROM to correct this
injustice and to free Archbishop Jovan without
delay. Furthermore, we call upon our government
to intercede and implement appropriate measures
to hasten this process."
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