SDA: Protect returnees from persecution and pressure by the authorities of the RS entity

(Patria) - The Party of Democratic Action (SDA) strongly condemned the continued persecution and pressure on Bosniak returnees carried out by the authorities of the RS entity.

"The latest in a series of examples are the apprehension of Mirsad Omerović from Srebrenica due to his Facebook status, and the break-in at the building of the Islamic Community in Bijeljina accompanied by nationalist threats against an employee of this institution.

The reasons and manner of Omerović's apprehension are particularly concerning, as he objected to the shameful concert held in front of an Orthodox church on the anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide.

Instead of apprehending the organizers and preventing the holding of an anti-civilizational celebration on the anniversary of the genocide, whose obvious goal was to insult the families of the victims and incite religious and national intolerance, the RS Ministry of Interior apprehends those who object to it.

For years, an anti-Bosniak atmosphere has been created in the RS entity, the creators of which are the official policy led by Milorad Dodik, as well as part of the Serbian Orthodox Church. Attacks and persecution of returnees are never condemned in a single word, but on the contrary, they are encouraged through statements and actions.

We demand from the competent state and federal institutions to take all necessary steps to help Mirsad Omerović and other returnees who are targets of systematic attacks and persecution.

The case of Mirsad Omerović's apprehension is given particular weight by the fact that he is a man who was a prisoner in the Šljivovica camp in Serbia for more than eight months.

We also demand from representatives of the international community to use the capacities at their disposal within their mandates and protect the returnee population," the SDA stated.