Conference Highlights — WHO IS YOUR GOD? Religious terror in the temporarily occupied territories

On Wednesday 30 September, IPHR launched its new report WHO IS YOUR GOD? Religious terror in the temporarily occupied territories with a panel discussion focused on the systematic persecution of religious communities, clergy, and people of faith in the temporarily occupied territories, as well as the legal qualification of these acts and possible pathways to accountability

The first part of the discussion shed light on the patterns of persecution documented in the report, including the targeting of religious communities and clergy who refuse to submit to the Russian Orthodox Church political and religious influence or to associate themselves with Russia’s anti-Ukrainian propaganda and affiliated religious structures. The discussion addressed practices ranging from the control and censorship of religious services, searches and pillaging of religious property, and the seizure or destruction of places of worship, to arbitrary detention, imprisonment, torture, sexual violence, and other forms of cruel and inhuman treatment.

The panel also featured the testimony of a priest survivor, who shared a personal account of the abuses documented in the report and their impact on religious leaders and communities under occupation.

The second part of the discussion focused on the applicable jurisdictions and legal qualifications of these acts. Panelists examined how the documented violations engage international legal obligations, including the rights to freedom of religion or belief and freedom of expression, and discussed circumstances in which such acts may amount to war crimes or crimes against humanity under the Rome Statute.