Several hundreds of citizens participated in yesterday’s protest march in Sarajevo, as a response to the decision of the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council (VSVT) to ban the wearing of religious symbols to the employees in judicial institutions of B&H.
Organizer of the peaceful walk is the Coordination of Bosniak non-governmental organizations, which gathers more than 50 non-governmental organizations in B&H. the main aim of the walk is to highlight the discrimination and violation of human rights, primarily the right to the freedom of religion, and thus the wearing of religious symbols.
“No one in this country is supposed to stipulate sanctities and symbols. The task of the state and its institutions is to provide freedom and the rule of law for all its citizens. We are surprised by the lack of reaction from representatives of international embassies in B&H, who usually monitor the situation with human rights. The same works for some well-established non-governmental organizations which include the term ‘human rights’ in their name. That is a bad message implying that the protection of human rights is being perceives selectively,” said Ismet Bećar on behalf of the Coordination of Bosniak non-governmental organizations.
Given that the decision of VSTV caused a great deal of attention and outcry in public, the final decision on the ban of wearing religious symbols in judicial institutions of B&H is expected in the coming period. Certain politicians reacted as well; delegates in the House of Representatives of the Parliament of B&H supported the initiative launched by the delegate Kenela Zuko and a letter was sent to VSVT asking to withdraw the decision.
The protest march was organized from Baščaršija to the Square of the Children of Sarajevo (Trg djece Sarajeva).
(Source: klix.ba)
