BH Journalists Association condemns attacks on cameramen by FK Sarajevo fans

BH Novinari

Authorities in Sarajevo must urgently investigate and take action to sanction the Football Club Sarajevo fans who recently attacked two cameramen as they were doing their job, the Management Board of Bosnia’s journalists' association said in a Sunday statement, urging the management of club and its supporters to ensure that no such attacks take place in the future.

FK Sarajevo supporters attacked Nova TV’s Sedin Lepic and Hayat TV’s Faruk Avdovic on Wednesday as they were filming reports on a protest over the dismissal of the club’s former manager Husref Musemic. Lepic suffered a light head injury, while Avdovic’s equipment was severely damaged.

“The Management Board of BH Journalists strongly condemns attacks on news teams and the efforts to prevent the cameramen from performing their professional tasks freely and safely. The fact that FK Sarajevo supporters repeat attacks on journalists and news teams without adequate reactions from the club and the leadership of its football fans is especially concerning,” the BH Journalists’ statement said.

The Association urged authorities in Sarajevo to investigate the case and ensure that the perpetrators are sanctioned accordingly and urged the management of the club and the leadership of its supporters to “take adequate measures to stop the violence against media professionals.”

“If this violence does not stop, BH Journalists will ask media to boycott sports events which FK Sarajevo or its supporters organise or participate in,” the Association said.