Yugoslavia: Update to YUG18078.E of 8 August 1994 on the treatment of Seventh Day Adventists, including whether it varies regionally, and the state protection available (January 1998 - May 1999)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 May 1999 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | YUG31829.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Yugoslavia: Update to YUG18078.E of 8 August 1994 on the treatment of Seventh Day Adventists, including whether it varies regionally, and the state protection available (January 1998 - May 1999), 1 May 1999, YUG31829.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ab9218.html [accessed 7 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
A 21 January 1998 Adventist News Digest article states:
A Seventh-day Adventist Church building in Novi Sad, Vojvodina, Yugoslavia, was attacked by unknown persons on the night of Friday, 16 January. Windows and the notice board were broken.
"Seventh-day Adventists have lived in the town for more than 100 years and the Adventist Church has been recognised by city authorities ever since. Up until now, the Adventist Church has never had any problems with the authorities nor with other Christian communities since it raises the spirit of tolerance and appreciation of civil and religious freedom," says Radivoj Vladisavljevic, president of the North Conference. The Adventist Church members are loyal and honest citizens of Novi Sad who come from all nationalities living in Yugoslavia. [Radivoj Vladisavljevic]
A 29 April 1999 Adventist News Review article states:
According to Miodrag Zivanovic, spokesperson for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Yugoslavia, there is no communication or any information about Pastor Dijana Daka plus three members in Djakovica, Kosovo. "We are extremely worried about their welfare," says Zivanovic, "and we plead with our brothers and sisters around the world for their prayers."
As reported in a previous bulletin, two pastors have been drafted into the Yugoslavian army, and now we have information that forty church members have also been drafted. They are potentially the targets of NATO's bombing campaign.
Two church buildings have been damaged or destroyed by the bombing together with four homes of church members."
No additional information on the treatment of Seventh Day Adventists in Yugoslavia, nor information on the state protection available to them, could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Adventist News Review [St. Albans, UK.]. 29 April 1999. Bulletin No. 4. "Update on the Crisis in the Balkans." [Internet] Adventist News Review [St. Albans, Australia]. 21 January 1998. "Adventist Church Building Attacked in Yugoslavia. [Internet] Additional Sources Consulted Electronic sources: IRB databases, Internet, NEXIS/LEXIS, REFWORLD, WNC. Keston Institute Frontier [Oxford]. Nos. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6: 1998. Nos. 1, 2: 1999. Religious Discrimination and Related Violations of Helsinki Commitments. 22 March 1999. Vienna: International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights. Transitions [Prague]. January 1998 - December 1998. Unsuccessful attempts to contact oral sources.
