IGK Sends Letter to Canadian Association of Journalists Regarding Avdo Avdić's Entry Ban to Croatia

(Patria) - The Institute for the Research of Genocide Canada (IGK) sent a letter to Brent Jolly, national president of the Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ), regarding the entry ban imposed on Bosnian-Herzegovinian journalist Avdo Avdić into the Republic of Croatia.

The letter states that “the entry ban for Avdo Avdić, one of the best Bosnian-Herzegovinian and European investigative journalists, is a flagrant and shameful attempt to stifle freedom of public speech, a violation of basic human rights, and an attempt to discipline journalists who critically report on the Republic of Croatia's policy towards Bosnia and Herzegovina.”

“This is a political persecution of a journalist, an attempt to silence a critical voice. It is a dangerous precedent that goes against all proclaimed Canadian liberal values,” the letter states.

IGK called on the Canadian Association of Journalists to stand in defense of Avdo Avdić “as a symbol of investigative journalism in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Europe” and to “sharply reject the ill-intentioned paternalism from the Republic of Croatia and stand in defense of the fundamental ideas of a free society.”

“This type of ban and restriction represents a dangerous precedent and is contrary to Canada's proclaimed values. No journalist should be targeted by the institutions of any state because of the work they do,” IGK stated.