France
Practice Relating to Rule 27. Religious Personnel
France’s LOAC Summary Note (1992) provides:
The specific immunity granted to certain persons and objects by the law of war [including military religious personnel and religious personnel of civilian medical units or civil defence] must be strictly observed … They may not be attacked.
France’s LOAC Manual (2001) states: “The law of armed of conflicts provides special protection for the following persons: … religious personnel attached to armed forces [and] civilian religious personnel”.
France’s Code of Defence (2004), as amended in 2008, states:
Combatants must respect and treat with humanity all persons protected by the applicable international conventions, as well as their objects.
… [R]eligious personnel are protected persons …
Protected persons are protected as long as they abstain from taking a direct part in hostilities.
It is prohibited for combatants to deliberately target protected persons.