Dumenko to Egyptian ambassadors: There is freedom of religion in Ukraine

Head of the OCU and Egyptian Ambassadors to Ukraine. Photo: OCU

On January 9, Epifaniy Dumenko met with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Arab Republic of Egypt to Ukraine, Barakat El-Liety, and the Consul of the Egyptian Embassy, Hossam Kamaleldin. According to the OCU’s website, the head of their structure informed the diplomats about the religious affiliations of Ukraine's population and the state of religious freedoms during wartime.

During the meeting, Dumenko and the Egyptian ambassadors discussed the "need for strict adherence to international law" in religious matters.

According to Dumenko, "Ukraine does not seek war; we want to build our country and Church." However, he added, "We have no choice; the enemy invaded our home, and we are forced to defend ourselves."

For this reason, he assured, "the state is doing everything possible to prevent Putin from influencing Ukraine’s religious sphere for his own purposes of conquest."

Referring to the Ukrainian authorities' adoption of an anti-church law that effectively bans the UOC, the OCU head continued: "This is not a matter of religious freedom but of national security and the preservation of our state."

As the UOJ previously reported, on January 10, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued another statement highlighting the situation with religious freedom in territories temporarily occupied by Russia and reaffirmed that no violations occur in areas controlled by Ukraine.

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