Organizers' reaction: Latest media reports on the Islamic Community and the Pride Parade are inflammatory

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Lejla Huremović, a member of the Organizing Committee of the first Bosnian-Herzegovinian Pride Parade, denied that the Islamic Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina is 'inciting' citizens to tomorrow's parade in Sarajevo, as reported by media outlets from the region and the country on Saturday.

The Croatian Information News Agency (HINA) published an article titled 'Islamic Community called for a boycott of the gay parade in Sarajevo, Catholic Church for restraint from violence', while the article conceals the information that both religious communities are warning believers that, according to religious beliefs, homosexuality is considered a sin, but at the same time, both the Islamic Community and the Catholic Church are warning citizens that it would also be a sin to commit violence against people of homosexual orientation.

Huremović told the Patria News Agency that the Islamic Community in BiH issued a public statement in which it warned citizens that any violence during the Pride Parade on Sunday is not permitted.

'It is clear what the general stance of the religious communities is, but the Islamic Community explicitly stated that any violence is not permissible,' Huremović stated.

Commenting on the first Bosnian-Herzegovinian Pride Parade, the Council of Muftis of the Islamic Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina stated that Islam affirms marriage and family, encourages the formation of marriage and the preservation of the values of marriage, offspring, and family as the basic cell of human society, that homosexuality is qualified as a great sin in the sources of Islam, and that believers are called not to approach it. On the other hand, in the same statement, the Council of Muftis of the Islamic Community in BiH warns that violence against any person based on their personal beliefs and orientation is not permitted.

Almost identical views were expressed on Friday by the editor-in-chief of Katolički tjednik, Josip Vajdner, in the article 'What can the Catholic Church say about the Parade?'

'What some media outlets have published regarding the Islamic Community and the Pride Parade is pure incitement and can seriously endanger safety, and we call on the media in the region to report professionally and ethically,' said Huremović.