Bosnia's Independence Day under threat of ban: Zvornik Youth Centre withdraws permit for celebration!

(Patria) - The Zvornik Youth Centre has cancelled today's hosting and use of the hall for the celebration of March 1, Bosnia and Herzegovina's Independence Day.

This is another example of how the marking of state holidays in Bosnia and Herzegovina continues to face political and social obstacles.

The cancellation of the hall in Zvornik for the celebration of BiH's Independence Day shows how tensions remain present, especially in parts of the country where there is a pronounced political influence from the Republika Srpska.

The use of the hall was cancelled after they received notice that the gathering was risky, as gatherings in front of the Youth Centre were announced by veterans' associations of the Army of Republika Srpska.

Incidentally, the organisers of the celebration of March 1, Bosnia and Herzegovina's Independence Day, are Preporod Zvornik BZK, the Emmaus Association, and the association 'Srcem za Podrinje'.
The recommendations given to the organisers are – look for an alternative hall. It is still uncertain whether the marking of March 1 in Zvornik will happen at all.
In previous years, this state holiday was celebrated without hindrance at the Youth Centre, in front of several hundred attendees.

In previous years as well, the organiser was the Bosniak cultural community 'Preporod' Zvornik.

March 1 is one of the greatest and most significant dates in the thousand-year history of our homeland. On March 1, 1992, the independence of Bosnia and Herzegovina was officially restored, but even before that date, Bosnia and Herzegovina was a land, a state...

Bosnia and Herzegovina's Independence Day was traditionally celebrated also in the smaller Bosnian-Herzegovinian entity, on the banks of the Drina River, in the Podrinje town of Zvornik, but this has been banned for them in 2025.

(A.Č.Z.)