Bishop of Saja hosts the Ombudsman

A meeting between Bishop Andrej Saje of Nova Gorica and Dr. Simona Drenik Bavdek, representative of the Human Rights Ombudsman, took place on August 21, focusing on issues such as freedom of religion, religious symbols, and flags. The discussion covered topics including the protection of religious expression, the position of the Church and other religious communities in Slovenia, prevention of intolerance, and the need for strengthened dialogue with the state. The two sides met in the premises of the Nova Gorica diocese, each accompanied by their respective delegations. They emphasized that the free exercise of faith or other beliefs in private and public life is a fundamental human right. According to reports from the Human Rights Ombudsman’s website, a small number of complaints on this issue does not indicate the absence of problems, as individuals often refrain from reporting violations due to fear of exposure, lack of trust, or unfamiliarity with legal procedures. Both parties gave particular attention to the phenomenon of Christianophobia and strongly condemned the vandalism of religious buildings, symbols, and objects. Such acts not only cause material damage and potential harm to cultural heritage but also infringe upon the dignity of believers, affect their religious feelings, and create a sense of threat. The Human Rights Ombudsman stressed that society must respond decisively to all forms of intolerance based on belief or conviction, including Christianophobia, Islamophobia, and anti-Semitism. They also discussed the general beneficial activities of the Church and other religious communities, touching on the importance of legally recognizing these activities and addressing the cessation of the formal status of a generally useful organization, which was previously granted to the Catholic Church and other religious groups. Both agreed that while considering equal rights for all religious communities, a clear solution should be sought to appropriately value their social, humanitarian, cultural, educational, and charitable contributions. Among the questions the Ombudsman addresses within specific complaints, they highlighted religious symbols on cemeteries, church bell ringing, blessing of public buildings, among others, such as schools, and the lowering of flags on public occasions following the death of a pope. The conversation also addressed the responsibility of the state to address the issue of victims of wartime crimes and ensure their dignified burial. The Ombudsman pointed out that this is not merely a moral and ethical question but also a legal one. The International Convention on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance requires states to locate missing persons, determine their fate, identify remains, and ensure respectful treatment and dignified burial. It is necessary to consider the right of relatives to the truth and their wishes regarding burial. The Ombudsman announced that a meeting of representatives of registered churches and other religious communities in Slovenia will be organized in 2027. Both parties agreed that Slovenia should establish an institutional framework to strengthen regular, lasting, and effective dialogue between the state and religious communities, for example through an independent office of the government or a separate service. Religious communities indeed require a permanent and responsive interlocutor at an appropriate level, enabling meaningful and continuous cooperation on all matters affecting religious communities. Dr. Simona Drenik Bavdek and Dr. Andrej Saje. Photo: varuh-rs.si The Ombudsman announced that a meeting of representatives of registered churches and other religious communities in Slovenia will be organized in 2027, with the aim of exchanging experiences, identifying common systemic issues, and strengthening interreligious dialogue and cooperation with state institutions. As she emphasized, the state must “ensure equal respect for freedom of religion and create conditions in which no one is threatened because of their faith or conviction.”