OSCE, EULEX condemn desecration of graveyards

PRISTINA - Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo Jean-Claude Schlumberger and EULEX officials condemned on Monday the desecration of Orthodox graveyards and religious monuments across Kosovo-Metohija and called for restraint from violence and faster police reaction.

"I strongly condemn these recent acts of desecration against Orthodox graveyards in Kosovo. The desecration of graveyards and religious monuments is unacceptable and does not only violate the rights of the religious and ethnic communities to which they belong, but those of society as a whole,“ Schlumberger noted.

"I am appalled by these repugnant acts of vandalism, and I welcome the Kosovo institutions' condemnation,“ he said, and the OSCE press office announced in a release.

EULEX also published a release, reading that "acts of vandalism or any form of violence are to be condemned.“
"Peaceful protest is normal in any modern, democratic society but the deliberate desecration of cemeteries and religious sites is to be absolutely condemned. EULEX calls on citizens to respect the law and refrain from any violent acts,“ EULEX underscores.

The release adds that EULEX police and prosecutors are closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with Kosovo Police and KFOR. In the last 24 hours, Orthodox tombstones were damaged at several locations in Kosovo-Metohija, mostly in the municipalities of Klokot, Obilic and Prizren. Moreover, a chapel at the Orthodox graveyard in Obilic was set on fire. A week ago, an Orthodox graveyard in Kosovo Polje was desecrated.