FUP asks BiH Prosecutor's Office to question BiH Ambassador to UN in Geneva Bojan Vujić

(Patria) - The Federal Police Administration (FUP) has sent a request to the BiH Prosecutor's Office asking them to question BiH Ambassador to the UN Office in Geneva Bojan Vujić, who in his address in Geneva recently stated that "Bosnia and Herzegovina is the most dangerous source of terrorism in Europe".

The Patria News Agency publishes the content of the document, which was forwarded to the BiH Prosecutor's Office by the Federal Ministry of Internal Affairs today, in the continuation of this text.

"I was informed by public media that on March 12, 2024, the Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the United Nations Office in Geneva, Bojan Vujić, addressed the 55th regular session of the Human Rights Council, within the framework of the dialogue on the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the fight against terrorism, which is being held from February 26 to April 5.

In his address, Ambassador Bojan Vujić claimed that 'Bosnia and Herzegovina is the most dangerous source of terrorism in Europe', that 'the influx of foreign jihadists is a serious terrorist threat from BiH', that he is attending the Council session as the ambassador of 'a country that has been the most dangerous source of terrorism in Europe from BiH for more than three decades', that 'reports from Italian intelligence services suggest that up to 20 Islamist terrorist groups are active in BiH today', that 'perpetrators of many of the most horrific terrorist attacks in recent decades have had significant ties to BiH', and so on.

The Federal Ministry of Internal Affairs does not possess information that can confirm the truthfulness of the statements made by BiH Ambassador Bojan Vujić, which negatively affect the reputation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the credibility of the security system services of Bosnia and Herzegovina on the international level.

Article 3 of the Law on Internal Affairs of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina ('Official Gazette of the Federation of BiH', no. 81/14) defines internal affairs within the jurisdiction of the Federal Ministry of Internal Affairs, and paragraph (1) specifically states the prevention and detection of terrorist crimes.

Given all of the above, and especially due to the fact that this ministry does not have information and cannot confirm the accuracy of the claims about Bosnia and Herzegovina being the 'most dangerous source of terrorism', as stated by the Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina Bojan Vujić, it is necessary for the Department for Combating Terrorism in the Federal Investigation Service of the Criminal Police within the Federal Police Administration of the Federal Ministry of Internal Affairs to inform the BiH Prosecutor's Office about the claims and allegations made by Ambassador Vujić, i.e., that Ambassador Vujić, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of BiH, in accordance with the law, be invited to appear at the official premises of the Federal Police Administration within the Federal Ministry of Internal Affairs to clarify the statements and claims he made at the 55th session of the Human Rights Council within the framework of the dialogue on the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the fight against terrorism, and to provide the competent authority for the prevention and detection of terrorist crimes with evidence supporting the accuracy of the claims about terrorism in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Since this ministry does not have data on the existence and spread of terrorist groups in the entity of the Federation of BiH, it is necessary to pay special attention to whether the Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina Bojan Vujić based his address on information about potential terrorist groups operating in the territory of the BiH entity Republika Srpska, which can only be determined after an informational interview with the person Bojan Vujić.

I emphasize that the criminal offenses of 'Terrorism', 'Financing of Terrorist Activities', 'Public Incitement to Terrorist Activities', 'Recruitment for Terrorist Activities', 'Training for Carrying Out Terrorist Activities', and 'Organizing a Terrorist Group' are criminal offenses punishable under the provisions of the Criminal Code of Bosnia and Herzegovina ('Official Gazette of Bosnia and Herzegovina', no. 3/2003, 32/2003 - corr., 37/2003, 54/2004, 61/2004, 30/2005, 53/2006, 55/2006, 8/2010, 47/2014, 22/2015, 40/2015, 35/2018, 46/2021, 31/2023 and 47/2023), for which the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina are competent.

​I draw particular attention to the parts of the statement by the Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina Bojan Vujić that 'most of these dangerous individuals were raised in Muslim sharia enclaves in Bosnia and Herzegovina', 'radical Islamist elements', 'prevention of Islamist politics in the country', and that 'it is necessary, first and foremost, to be wary of certain Bosniak scholars, clerics, and politicians who represent a moderate democratic facade, although their commitment, current relationships, and writings show a commitment to radical Islamist ideology'.

I draw attention to the aforementioned in order to determine whether the statements of the Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina Bojan Vujić contain elements of the commission of a criminal offense under Article 145a of the Criminal Code of Bosnia and Herzegovina ('Official Gazette of Bosnia and Herzegovina', no. 3/2003, 32/2003 - corr., 37/2003, 54/2004, 61/2004, 30/2005, 53/2006, 55/2006, 8/2010, 47/2014, 22/2015, 40/2015, 35/2018, 46/2021, 31/2023 and 47/2023) – 'Incitement to national, racial, and religious hatred, discord, and intolerance'.

I am submitting the present official note for your information and competent action", the document states.