The Ombudspersons of Bosnia and Herzegovina Jasminka Džumhur, Nives Jukić and Nevenko Vranješ have strongly condemned the hate speech directed against journalists expressed in a graffiti sprayed in Mostar.
In connection to this case, the ombudspersons, in accordance with their responsibilities, will open the case ex officio and determine all significant facts and circumstances.
At the same time, the ombudspersons appeal to the competent authorities and institutions to take all necessary actions and measures so that the perpetrators are found as soon as possible and sanctioned in appropriate procedures.
The failure to take more vigorous steps to combat hate speech, according to the ombudsman institution, deepens the division of society and facilitates the formation of social groups that believe they are better than others or that they have the right to impose their will on others. In contrast, a timely response to hate speech gives the opportunity to law enforcement authorities to predict the occurrence of serious incidents.
The ombudspersons remind that they issued two special reports – A special report on hate speech in Bosnia and Herzegovina and a Special report on the situation and cases of threats to journalists in Bosnia and Herzegovina, stated the Institution of Ombudsman for Human Rights of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
