Podgorica, (MINA) – Freedom of religion and belief must not be misused to spread hatred, division and violence, nor to glorify war criminals and ideologies that caused mass suffering, the Center for Civic Education (CGO) has stated.

Marking August 22 – the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief, the CGO stated that freedom of religion and belief is a basic human right that must be safeguarded in every democratic society.

CGO Project assistant Alma Novalic said that in times of rising hate speech and polarization, as well as global tensions, it is vital for Montenegro, as a civil society, to build resistance against violent extremism and show zero tolerance for religiously motivated violence.

“At the same time, freedom of religion and belief must not be misused to spread hatred, division and violence, nor to glorify war criminals and ideologies that caused mass suffering”, Novalic said.

She recalled that the legal framework provides protection against all forms of indirect and direct discrimination based on religion or belief.

“The concern, however, is the spread of intolerance, manipulation and radicalization in the online space, where religious diversity is increasingly misused for political gain, deepening divisions and dehumanizing those who think or believe differently”, the press release said. Novalic said that, despite the existing laws against violence and hate speech, in practice there is still a lack of a consistent institutional response that would send a clear message that such behavior is unacceptable and subject to sanctions.