Komšić and Radončić ask Izetbegović to advocate for Bosnian student arrested in Turkey

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - The Democratic Front has called on the competent state institutions to urgently get involved in resolving the case of Bosnian student Selmir Mešetović, who, as a citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina, was arrested in Turkey.

- We in the Democratic Front are not surprised by the silence of the Ministry of Justice, led by HDZ cadre Josip Grubeša, nor are we surprised by the cowardice of SDA, which turns a blind eye to the fact that our citizens are being arrested around the world without the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina being informed of the circumstances of these arrests, but the frightening, humiliating, and devastating realization is that no one is reacting.

We are not in a position to draw any conclusions, however, it is devastating that neither the students' parents nor Bosnian diplomats have yet been able to contact the young man.

Therefore, we demand that the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, especially the Chairman of the Presidency Bakir Izetbegović, urgently engage with the authorities of the Republic of Turkey to determine all the circumstances under which the Bosnian citizen was arrested, and to provide legal assistance to the said person - the Democratic Front stated.

We remind you that yesterday, the president of SBB, Fahrudin Radončić, also called on Izetbegović to react to the Turkish President Erdoğan to ensure the urgent release of the student from Bosnia and Herzegovina.

- I am sorry that in the month of Ramadan we have a situation where a young man from our country has been arrested under such accusations. I think it is the obligation of every state, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, to maximally protect its citizens, in this case, young Mešetović. This is a case of negligence, and I also call on Mr. Bakir Izetbegović to use his friendship with President Erdoğan and do everything to ensure that our citizen returns to his BiH as soon as possible.

Friendships cannot be built solely on when it suits the Turkish authorities or the SDA authorities, and not when it is in the interest of the citizens of BiH. Therefore, I demand that the Turkish authorities release the citizen of BiH; if he has done something contrary to the laws, it will be processed before the independent judiciary of BiH - Radončić stated.