BH Journalists Association: Urgently investigate the attack on Avdo Avdić and punish the attacker

(Patria) - The Steering Board of the BH Journalists Association and the Helpline for Journalists strongly condemned the physical attack on Avdo Avdić, editor of the portal Istraga, and demand an urgent investigation by the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MUP) of Sarajevo Canton (KS) and the sanctioning of the attacker.

"The attack happened this afternoon in the Grbavica neighborhood in Sarajevo, when an unknown young man approached Avdić from behind, hit him hard, and threatened to 'break his legs'.

Immediately after the attack, the journalist started filming the attacker, who continued with verbal insults and asked Avdić 'wasn't that enough', 'do you want more', referring to the blows.

At the same time, hateful messages began to spread on social networks, labeling Avdić as a 'traitor'. One of the Facebook profiles explicitly stated: 'Avdo should be killed, traitors should just be shot, no mercy for traitors'.

According to information available to BH journalists, Avdić was physically attacked by Abdulaziz Musa, son of professor Sanin Musa, a former member of the Salafist community in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and now the leader of the 'Faith, People, State' movement.

Sanin Musa is known in BiH for religious radicalism and attacks on dissidents, and he recently attempted to hold a Muslim religious ceremony in Široki Brijeg, a predominantly Catholic area, but was prevented by the police.

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Sarajevo: Son of Sanin Musa physically attacked journalist Avdo Avdić

(Patria) - Journalist and editor of the istraga.ba portal Avdo Avdić was physically attacked today in Sarajevo, it was confirmed for Patria. The police were called to the scene. According to initial information, the attacker is the son of Sanin Musa, and the circumstances of the incident are still

In a statement to BH journalists, Avdo Avdić confirmed that a possible motive for the attack is his critical writing about the actions and statements of Sanin Musa, as well as his commentary on Musa's recent attempt to provoke conflicts between Muslims and Catholics in Široki Brijeg by holding a Muslim religious ceremony there.

The Steering Board of BH journalists once again emphasizes that any form of violence - verbal and physical - is unacceptable in a democratic society.

The frequent, brutal, and continuous violence against journalist and editor Avdo Avdić is particularly concerning, as he is often a victim of attacks and threats not only from individuals in the criminal milieu or radical groups, but also from high-ranking officials and politicians.

This escalation of violence against Avdić today is also a consequence of the impunity of previous attacks and threats, as well as the ineffective actions of the institutions responsible for investigating and prosecuting individuals behind the violence.

With full support and solidarity with Avdo Avdić, BH journalists and the legal team of the Helpline for Journalists call on the police to conduct a professional and urgent investigation into this incident, to question the attacker Abdulaziz Musa, as well as all other individuals who spread hatred and call for the murder of journalists on their social media profiles.

We also demand enhanced security measures and constant police escort for this journalist, given the real risks to his life and the life of his family," the statement from the BH Journalists Association reads.