OSCE urges Bosnian authorities to look into latest hate incidents

NEWS 12.01.202210:59 0 komentara
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The OSCE Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina expressed concern over the hate incidents that were reported in various towns across the country, warning that inflammatory rhetoric used by some officials is contributing to proliferation of such incidents. The mission encouraged authorities to look into those incidents and to reject divisive rhetoric and actions.

“Respect for others, regardless of one's religious, cultural and/or ethnic affiliation, must be protected by all, and in the interest of all. Elected and appointed officials have a particular responsibility to protect the interests of all citizens regardless of their background, to reject divisive rhetoric and to act as a role model for responsible behavior, cooling tensions and promoting constructive dialogue,” the mission said in a statement on Wednesday.

The concerns expressed in the OSCE's statement referred to, what was called, “a recent spate of hate incidents registered in various localities, including Bijeljina-Janja, Prijedor, Brcko, Gacko, Istocno Sarajevo, Ilidza, Foca, Doboj and Buzim.” These towns are situated in both Bosnia's entities – the Serb-dominated Republika Srpska and the Bosniak-Croat shared Federation.

“The Mission notes that the growing use of inflammatory, divisive rhetoric by some officials in BiH, including in recent days in Republika Srpska (RS), is contributing to the proliferation of such incidents. The Mission cautions against any and all acts that carry the potential to incite conflict and lead to the destabilization of peace and security in BiH,” the OSCE warned.

It commended the investigative steps already taken by some law enforcement structures in Bijeljina, Prijedor and Brcko and encouraged authorities in other locations where incidents took place to follow suit without delay.

“We welcome the condemnations of those incidents by several senior political and religious officials and civil society leaders across the country, along with the many public expressions of support for those targeted. Doing so will send a strong signal of zero tolerance and help restore confidence in institutions and the rule of law,” the mission said, adding that it would continue closely following the institutional responses to the incidents and encourage the authorities to reject divisive rhetoric and actions.

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