SPIRIT

Synergies to protect places of worship and religious gatherings

About the project

SPIRIT will benefit law enforcement agencies, religious communities and individual religious sites’ operators by improving their prevention / response effectiveness in a resource efficient and cost-effective manner.

Holy Metropolis of Glyfada

The Holy Metropolis of Glyfada (aka IMGL) operates in one of the biggest and most populated area of the southern suburbs of Athens and operates 20 congregations and 1 monastery. Also, within the IMGL area of operations and on specific dates according to the Christian Orthodox calendar, festivities and mass religious gatherings are organised and operated, placing the IMGL as an ideal end-user and and use case scenario partner within the works of the SPIRIT programme.

Europe Islamic Association

Europe Islamic Association (aka EIA) is founded by a group of professional experts with social, theological and scientific skills to promote intercultural values, active citizenship and social inclusion with the objective to enhance the collaboration in a theological and intercultural dialogue in the EU.

Jewish Community of Thessaloniki

The Jewish Community of Thessaloniki is a legal entity under public law, founded in 1912 with religious, educational and social purposes. Its members are all the people of Jewish faith residing in Thessaloniki. It operates 3 Synagogues, an Elementary School, a Home for the Elderly, the Jewish Museum of Thessaloniki and Summer programs for children from all the Jewish Communities in Greece.

Download our dissemination materials

Discover and download our promotional materials.

Download

Objectives

SPIRIT aims to enhance the preparedness and response capabilities of places of worship and religious mass gatherings in a cross-functional and multilevel setting by presenting the relevant stakeholders with modern tools and security-by-design concepts in a holistic, yet cohesive approach.

REPORTING

ENGAGEMENT

ASSESSMENT&ACTION

COMMUNICATION

TRAINING

SPIRIT challenges

The most fundamental challenge that law enforcement and religious stakeholders face in the protection of soft targets like Place of Worhsip is to maintain their openness while staying ahead of perpetrators, preparing for any type of conventional or less sophisticated attack before it takes place.

Terrorist events and crimes of hate are being an emerging threat for which most Place of Worhsip are unprepared as current security measures (if any) are either fragmented or primarily employed only after attacks do occur, thus being translated into human casualties, injuries and loss of property.