The Minister for Human Rights and Refugees of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sevlid Hurtić, condemns the destruction of the flags at the entrance to the central Čaršija Mosque and at the Skela Martyr’s Cemetery in Prijedor, and believes that this is a continuation of several months of attacks and pressure on Bosniaks in Bosnia and Herzegovina. entity Republika Srpska.
“Although, after the brutal attack during the month of Ramadan on the Memišević family in Višegrad, I acted institutionally, held meetings with the highest entity officials, despite promises, that case was never clarified. Instead, a series of attacks on returnees followed in Bratunac, Zvornik, Osmac and now, for the umpteenth time in Prijedor. Most of these attacks are motivated by religious and national hatred.
Numerous murders and attacks on returnees and their property, from the beginning of the return until today, have not been brought to light. The latest attacks, which have not received a judicial epilogue, only further instill fear in the lives of this vulnerable population. Numerous families contact me every day because they are, rightly, worried about the safety of their families,” Hurtić says.
Because of all this, he once again calls, first of all, the investigative and judicial authorities in the entity of RS, but also at the state level, to devote themselves as a priority to solving attacks on returnees and the property of the Islamic community in the past months.
“Every unsolved case is a wind at the back of new perpetrators, which may lead to escalation in the future, for which responsibility will be borne by those whose duty it is to prevent such attacks. I remind you that attacks on returnees are a direct violation of Annex 7 of the Dayton Peace Agreement, which states that “the parties shall ensure that refugees and cross-border refugees are allowed to return safely without the risk of harassment, intimidation, persecution or discrimination, in particular because of their ethnic origin, religion or political opinion,” it was announced from the Cabinet of the Minister.
