Serb Patriarch Irinej denounces planned gay pride march, calling it 'shameless' event
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
The head of Serbia's Christian Orthodox church has denounced a gay pride march planned for the weekend, adding to tensions over the event, which has faced threats from extremists.
Patriarch Irinej said in a statement Tuesday that the "shameless" event casts a moral shadow on Serbia — a conservative Balkan country whose gay population has faced harassment.
Officials have suggested they could allow Sunday's event despite fears of a repeat of the violence in 2010 when right-wing groups attacked a pride march in Belgrade, triggering clashes with police that left more than 100 people injured. Authorities banned gay rights marches planned for the following three years.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Holding the march is seen as a test of Serbia's pledge to respect human rights as it seeks European Union membership.