8 Protection of Religious Personnel
Nilendra Kumar
From: The Handbook of International Humanitarian Law (3rd Edition)
Edited By: Dieter Fleck
- Subject(s):
- Armed conflict — Protected persons and property — Geneva Conventions 1949 — Freedom of thought, conscience, and religion — Rights holders
1. The presence of religious personnel in armed conflict is a reflection of the most basic sentiments of humanity and respect for the individual. In Europe, as early as in the Middle Ages, the norms of the Catholic Church established two related prohibitions: clergy were not to be targeted in military campaigns, and they were not allowed to actively engage in warfare. Almost every state takes a different approach in the way it integrates religious personnel into its military, whether they wear a uniform, are part of the chain of command, or teach ethical precepts....
