The Central Election Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina (CEC BiH) has warned political parties, candidates, their supporters, and the media that hate speech in public spaces will be strictly sanctioned, including through the removal of candidates from electoral lists.
The warning comes amid concerns that hate speech and nationalist rhetoric have become recurring features of political discourse in Bosnia and Herzegovina, particularly during election campaigns.
At the end of last year, the CEC BiH imposed its maximum fine of 30,000 KM on the SNSD for hate speech. In previous election cycles, political parties have also faced sanctions for similar violations.
The coalition “Under Scrutiny,” which monitors hate speech in the media and on social networks, has identified dozens of cases that could constitute or raise suspicions of hate speech.
“We have some 55 cases that can be characterized or have a basis for suspecting that there is hate speech in the posts or media articles that we have processed. What is worrying is that we cannot see a clear trend of such cases decreasing from pre-election campaign to pre-election campaign. What is definitely needed in any case are harsh punishments,” said Srđan Ostojić of the coalition “Under Scrutiny.”
Research by BIRN indicates that political actors who previously used hate speech and messages of intolerance continued to do so during election campaigns. According to BIRN journalist Irvin Pekmez, this includes political actors associated with the SNSD, while sexist messages targeting female candidates for the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina have also been recorded.
“In this case, in the previous election campaign, it is the SNSD party, their officials and their actors at the state level. We have also noticed the sexist messages of some smaller parties that are directed towards female candidates for the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina,” Pekmez said.
Communication expert and political scientist Mladen Bubonjić warned that the growing tolerance of hate speech could influence broader social behavior, particularly when citizens see that politicians are not held accountable.
“The competent authorities who are supposed to deal with it usually pass over it, they don’t pay attention at all, so there is no official action. Even when there are complaints, let’s say in the police what they tell you – block that order and something similar, so that almost all possible consequences that hate speech can bring are ignored. And, politicians use it more and more,” Bubonjić said.
Ombudsman of Bosnia and Herzegovina Jasminka Džumhur emphasized the importance of an effective response by judicial institutions.
“The issue of hate speech, especially coming from officials, is what the Prosecutor’s Office had to prosecute to send a clear message of what illegal actions are,” Džumhur said.
The Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina has received several reports from individuals and political parties concerning hate speech. A case related to such allegations is currently before the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
According to available information, two people have so far been sentenced to prison terms of three and three and a half years for hate speech, while suspended sentences have been imposed in two other cases.
The CEC BiH has reiterated that hate speech and other prohibited forms of political communication can lead to sanctions, stressing that parties, candidates, supporters, and media outlets are expected to comply with election legislation during the campaign.
