11.16

SPIRITUAL ASSISTANCE

The Occupying Power SHALL permit ministers of religion to give spiritual assistance to the members of their religious communities. The Occupying Power SHALL also accept consignments of books and articles required for religious needs and SHALL facilitate their distribution in occupied territory. 278

Religious assistance addressed by the GC, however, does not include activities that are a pretext for political agitation against the Occupying Power. 279

279 GC COMMENTARY 318 (“[R]eligious assistance must in no case serve as a pretext for political agitation against the Occupying Power. Should occasion arise, the Occupying Power would be entitled to take appropriate action, since the provision under discussion authorizes only spiritual assistance, and not activities which have nothing to do with religion.”).

https://dod.defense.gov/Portals/1/Documents/pubs/DoD%20Law%20of%20War%20Manual%20-%20June%202015%20Updated%20Dec%202016.pdf?ver=2016-12-13-172036-190