Former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich stated that there are moments in history when silent injustice speaks louder than war, and that such a situation is currently unfolding in Republika Srpska, where, he claims, authorities connected to the level of Bosnia and Herzegovina are seizing property belonging to Orthodox Christians.
In an op-ed for the portal Populist Sentinel, Blagojevich emphasized that when faith is taken away, freedom is next.
“This is not just a local dispute over land ownership or administrative authority. It is something much deeper—whether freedom of religion still means anything in a world that too often looks away,” he said.
He added that he has seen “political overreach” before and understands what happens when authorities justify taking what is not theirs through legal technicalities and bureaucratic language, but that a line is crossed when property belonging to the Church and communities built around faith is taken.
“That crosses a line and should concern anyone who values freedom, whether you are an Orthodox Christian or not. Because today it is them, but tomorrow it could be you,” Blagojevich warned.
According to him, the Orthodox Church in the Balkans represents not only a religious institution, but also history, culture, and the survival of a people.
He stressed that seizing such property is not merely a legal transfer on paper, but an erasure of history and a threat to a community’s ability to gather, practice faith, and exist as a distinct people.
Blagojevich also pointed out what he described as a lack of reaction from the West, arguing that similar actions affecting other religious groups would likely provoke strong responses.
“Why is it acceptable to ignore this? Why is it easier to dismiss it as a regional issue rather than recognize it as a violation of fundamental human rights?” he asked.
He suggested that the answer lies in geopolitics and prevailing narratives, but emphasized that human rights are either universal or meaningless.
Blagojevich warned that such developments raise serious concerns about the rule of law, as property rights are a cornerstone of any free society.
“If authorities can seize church property under questionable circumstances, what prevents them from doing the same to individuals, companies, or other institutions?” he said.
He concluded that the international community has an obligation to respond clearly and consistently, stressing that silence in such cases does not represent neutrality, but complicity.
“Orthodox Christians in Republika Srpska deserve to know they are not alone, and that their faith, history, and rights matter. Because when faith is taken, freedom is next,” Blagojevich concluded.
Source: RTRS
