Coalition against Hate Crime: We Condemn Police Violence and Demand Its Prosecution

(Patria) - The Coalition against Hate Crime and Hate Speech condemns violence and arbitrary arrests of migrants and refugees in Sarajevo. After recorded attacks by private security agencies, another case of police brutality occurred on the streets of Sarajevo, as stated by an employee of the Peacebuilding Network association who witnessed the event.

On January 10, 2020, a case of police violence occurred against four young migrants who were peacefully walking near the City Hall when three police officers ran out of a police car and, using force, dragged the migrants from the sidewalk into Zelenih Beretki Street. The part of the street they were dragged into is not a roadway, but a parking lot/courtyard from which there is no exit. The witness contacted the Stari Grad Police Station by phone and reported the violent behavior of the officers. The response of the duty officer was that she was lucky the police officers came, because the said migrants are perpetrators of criminal acts. When the witness asked whether police officers would treat her in such a way if she were a perpetrator of criminal acts, the duty officer replied: „Of course not“. Later, the witness submitted a formal complaint to the Stari Grad Police Station.

The Coalition believes that by their actions, the police officers who used force to apprehend the migrants, according to the Law on Police Officers of the Sarajevo Canton, committed a violation of official duty for which disciplinary responsibility of the police officer is provided under Article 101 of the Law. Criminal or misdemeanor liability of the perpetrator for a criminal offense or misdemeanor does not exclude disciplinary responsibility of the police officer if the commission of the criminal offense or misdemeanor is also a violation of official duty. The Criminal Code of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Article 182, defines abuse of office as a criminal offense.

Furthermore, the use of force by police officers against migrants that they would not use against other citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina constitutes a violation of the Criminal Code of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Article 2, paragraph 11, which states: A hate crime is any criminal offense committed due to race, skin color, religious belief, national or ethnic origin, language, disability, gender, sexual orientation or gender identity of another person.”

The Coalition demands that the authorities properly investigate and prosecute this as well as other similar cases of violence by police and private security agencies occurring in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In addition, we call on the relevant ministries and international organizations to ensure safe conditions for the stay and movement of migrants and refugees in Bosnia and Herzegovina, respecting their dignity and fundamental human rights.