State symbol taken by force, justice remains silent: Prosecution rejects report on the confiscation of the Republic of BiH flag!

(Patria) - The BiH Prosecutor's Office has issued an order not to conduct an investigation into the report filed by the Association of Victims and Witnesses of Genocide in Bosnia and Herzegovina against a police officer from the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Republika Srpska who forcibly confiscated the flag of the Republic of BiH from a group of citizens celebrating BiH Statehood Day in Banja Luka on November 25.



The Prosecutor's Office claims that it is evident from the report and accompanying files that the reported act is not a criminal offense!

The report was filed due to the criminal offense of inciting national, racial, and religious hatred, discord, and intolerance by an unknown perpetrator, a member of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Republika Srpska.

The report stated that, according to incident reports, members of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Republika Srpska used force to stop a group of people traveling to Banja Luka by bus. During this, police officers forcibly confiscated the flag of the Republic of BiH, which was a legal symbol from 1992 to 1998, even though, as stated in the report, possessing this flag is completely legal. Furthermore, one of the citizens had 50 euros confiscated, with the explanation that possessing the flag was considered a misdemeanor.

Therefore, the confiscation of the flag and property is not a criminal offense, but the apparent display of the state symbol of Bosnia and Herzegovina is!

The flag of the Republic of BiH, although no longer official, is neither banned nor is its display a criminal offense. If it is true that the flag was forcibly confiscated, using force and confiscating money without legal basis, this opens the door for considering violations of fundamental human rights – the right to freedom of expression, assembly, and property rights.

What is additionally concerning here is the already evident selective treatment and different standards in law enforcement, depending on entity or political affiliation.

(A.Č.Z.)