Moscow Patriarchate representative takes part in OSCE experts meeting on religion and security

A meeting of OSCE experts on security, radicalism and prevention of terrorism took place on 28–29 July 2008 in Istanbul. Experts on security, human rights and religious freedom took part in the meeting. They discussed the observance of human rights in penitentiaries, where there is a threat of the spread of radical views, the limits to which governments can monitor the life of religious communities and the attempts to identify people accused of terrorism with certain ethnic and religious groups.

Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin, deputy chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, member of the OSCE Advisory Council on freedom of religion or believes, was among the participants. In his speeches Fr.Vsevolod called to respect the traditions of various religious communities as well as the rights of a person to private life and religious practice, which must be defended against unauthorized interference.