Smajić: Thompson's concert in Široki Brijeg is not an incident, it is tolerated by HDZ politics

(Patria) - Delegate in the House of Peoples of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina Džemal Smajić stated that the concert of Marko Perković Thompson in Široki Brijeg once again showed that symbols and ideologies of the fascist regime of the Independent State of Croatia are publicly glorified in BiH.

As he said, that regime was a direct accomplice to Nazi policy and responsible for systemic crimes against Jews, Serbs, Roma, and anti-fascists.

On the other hand, as he points out, a similar policy on the same foundations, which was under the control of Milošević's regime, committed genocide against Bosniaks in 1995.

"It is particularly worrying that at the same time, in today's political space, attempts are being made to switch theses and promote a narrative of alleged "friendship" towards the Jewish community by the politics that is the only one in BiH to allow Thompson's concerts in parts of the country where HDZ rules. It is also important to emphasize that in areas under the political influence of the same party, symbolism and rhetoric that inherit the ideological legacy responsible for the Holocaust are continuously tolerated or relativized," said Smajić.

According to him, we must not accept fascism as a normal phenomenon and allow it to be glorified through musical performances in modern times. It is an ideology that produced camps, persecution, and extermination, and anyone who closes their eyes to its public glorification cannot simultaneously build credibility on alleged care for the Jewish community and speak of contemporary European values.

"Bosnia and Herzegovina is a country that has paid a high price for extremism and ethno-nationalism throughout its history. Therefore, it is the obligation of all responsible actors to clearly and without calculation condemn any glorification of ideologies that produced the Holocaust, genocide, and other mass crimes," Smajić stated.