Queer Sarajevo Festival posterThe people of Sarajevo call for an end to recent homophobic brutality.
In an open letter to the international community, a group of progressive citizens of Sarajevo have called for support in condemning the recent brutal attacks against gay, bisexual and lesbian people.
“We, the citizens of Sarajevo, call upon the representatives of the International Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina to raise their voices against the escalation of violence in the Capital, especially with regards to the recent events that increased the feeling of insecurity among law-abiding people. Namely, the events that followed
the opening of the Queer Festival in the night of the 24^th September, when eight people were injured and other participants and visitors verbally and physically harassed in the very heart of the city, are
only the continuation of violent crimes that we have been witnessing over the past year, the most horrific one being the brutal murder of a young boy, Denis Mrnjavac back in February. We believe that the failure of the authorities to take responsibility for prosecuting and punishing the perpetrators in an efficient manner led to this shocking
surge of crime.”
“This is why we ask you to demand from the representatives of the authorities to condemn the violence that occurred on 24^th September and to apprehend and punish the perpetrators. If they fail to do so, we fear that the promotion of fascism and homophobia will spread to the other spheres of social life of the wider community. We, the citizens of Sarajevo, have the right to freedom, without fear of persecution because of our personal beliefs or sexual
orientation.”
“Please help us fight discrimination and violence!“
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