Salkić: We demand an investigation and arrest of the attackers on the mosque in Janja

Ramiz Salkić, the Vice-President of the BiH entity RS, strongly condemned the recent attacks on Islamic facilities in this entity and called on the RS authorities to prevent these attacks, reports the Patria News Agency.

On the night between January 6 and 7, 2016, an attack was carried out with firearms on the Čaršija Mosque in the Janja settlement near Bijeljina. During the attack, glass panes on the mosque were broken, and bullet traces remained on the facade, gutters, and interior walls of the mosque. In this regard, Vice-President Salkić gave a statement to the media, which reads:

- The authorities of the BiH entity RS are directly responsible for the radicalization taking place in this entity. We have been pointing out the disastrous consequences of such a policy for years. We have pointed out the discriminatory attitude of the media controlled by the regime. They are functioning to create intolerance towards Bosniaks and all non-Serbs.

Attacks on religious facilities are aimed at intimidating Bosniaks, i.e., at the ethnic cleansing of the territory of this entity. On behalf of the 200,000 Bosniaks living in RS, I strongly protest the attack in Janja, which occurred on the eve of the Orthodox Christian holiday of Christmas. We sent congratulations and an invitation to all Orthodox believers to renew trust and cooperation, and emphasized that Christmas is a good occasion for this.

Bosniaks want to move forward towards the future, we want peace and stability, we want cooperation. We still want to believe that these are isolated incidents, but we are also convinced that they are motivated and encouraged by the growing radicalism generated by the current RS authorities. We demand an immediate investigation and the arrest of the perpetrators - said Vice-President Salkić.

The radicalization of the situation in this entity has been significantly contributed to by recent events related to the non-compliance with the decisions of the Constitutional Court, and the biased and defiant attitude towards the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Therefore, Vice-President Salkić believes, it is necessary to insist on the strict enforcement of laws and the sanctioning of all those who violate these laws. By disrespecting BiH, the RS authorities have sent a clear message to the citizens, because if the top officials of the RS entity can violate laws and the Constitution, why shouldn't citizens do the same. Such a practice must be stopped as soon as possible, Salkić believes.