Thousands of people gathered in the Montenegrin capital and in other towns and cities to protest against the controversial new law on religion, which the Serbian Orthodox Church has denounced.
While MPs in parliament in Montenegro debated the controversial religious law, many citizens, opposition supporters and Serbian Orthodox priests took to the streets to express anger over what they call a plan to steal the Serbian Orthodox Church’s property in Montenegro.
Protesters first gathered in front of the parliament in Podgorica on Thursday and were soon joined by Serbian Orthodox clergy.
They led a Church service, which started early on Thursday and lasted until late Thursday night in front of the parliament.
Meanwhile, people gathered in several other cities and towns in Montenegro to support the protests and block some main roads.
Some reports said police used force on protesters and arrested dozens of them while also using pepper spray.
The new law obliges religious communities to provide evidence of ownership in order to retain their property, a provision that the Serbian Church says is designed to allow the government to strip it of its holdings.
Despite the protests and incidents inside and outside parliament, the law was adopted on Friday morning.
— Source: balkaninsight.com