SNSD complains about transfer of jurisdiction regarding stricter penalties for criminal offenses related to terrorism

(Patria) - The Bill on Amendments to the Criminal Code of BiH, proposed by MPs Saša Magazinović, Jasmin Emrić, and Šemsudin Mehmedović under an abbreviated procedure, more precisely defines the challenges facing BiH society.

This proposal envisages a drastic tightening of penalties for criminal offenses related to terrorism.

This bill proposes that the criminal offense be the abuse of information technologies, the internet, and social networks for terrorist purposes.

“This is actually an alignment with international standards for combating terrorism. With these amendments, considering new technologies, abuse is prevented. These amendments enable the removal of content that incites terrorism.

It is expected that this pandemic will further affect the situation in BiH. A broad political platform stood behind this proposal in the previous convocation, but unfortunately, due to the interruption of the last session, it was not addressed, which is why I, along with Emrić and Magazinović, submitted this proposal,” said Šemsudin Mehmedović.

Snježana Novaković Bursać (SNSD) stated that this law also involves a transfer of jurisdiction.

“There is a lot of duplication, as many offenses are mentioned in the Criminal Code of Republika Srpska,” said Snježana Novaković Bursać, and she called for caution when adopting this law.

This bill proposes that the criminal offense be the abuse of information technologies, the internet, and social networks for terrorist purposes. It is proposed that a person who produces, offers, makes available, or otherwise transfers, acquires, or possesses for distribution for terrorist purposes digital content that glorifies any form of terrorism or is suitable for inciting others to take hostages, endanger persons under international protection, unauthorized acquisition or disposal of nuclear material, endangering a nuclear facility, piracy, hijacking of an aircraft or ship, or seizure of a fixed platform, endangering the safety of air or maritime navigation or fixed platforms, destruction and removal of signs serving air traffic safety, misuse of telecommunication signals, terrorism, financing of terrorist activities, public incitement to terrorist activities, recruitment for terrorist activities, training for carrying out terrorist activities, organizing a terrorist group, travel and stay in another country for terrorist activities, and committing criminal offenses of forgery of documents and property offenses for the purpose of terrorist activities, be punished with imprisonment of at least three years.

The bill also precisely defines the criminal offense of committing forgery of documents and property offenses for the purpose of terrorist activities, as well as the criminal offense of travel and stay in another country for the purpose of terrorist activities.

Branislav Borenović (PDP) said he expected a general consensus on this law.

“I see that Lazar Prodanović was among the proposers. What happened in the meantime that led to the withdrawal,” said Borenović.