BH Journalists Association condemns threats against journalist Nikola Vučić

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - The Management Board of the BH Journalists Association and the Journalist Assistance Line most strongly condemn the threats against Nikola Vučić, a journalist from N1 TV Sarajevo, made via social networks after his post on Twitter.

Commenting on the news that the West Herzegovina Canton declared itself a “corona-free zone,” journalist Vučić sarcastically asked on Twitter whether “a ´fascism-free´ zone will soon be declared.” This was followed by threats, calls for violence with remarks that he should be “thrown into the Neretva or impaled,” labeling Vučić as a “halal Serb,” and numerous other offensive messages directed at him and his family.

The Management Board of the BH Journalists considers threats of violence, hate speech, and the incitement of a witch hunt against journalist Vučić and his family members unacceptable, and calls on the Ministry of Interior of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Federal Police Administration to react urgently, investigate the threats, and take legal measures against the individuals behind them, this Association announced.

The Management Board of the BH Journalists explicitly emphasizes that calls for violence and death threats are a criminal offense, meaning that no one may use the public communication space to endanger the safety of anyone, in this case journalist Vučić and his family. Disagreement with Vučić's comment must not be an excuse for violence or death threats, as freedom of speech and public political debate imply criticism, denial, challenge, and reasoned polemics regarding someone's claims or positions. Also, we remind that journalists and/or media, even if through social networks, must not violate the rules of professional, objective, and fair expression.

In this context, the Management Board of the BH Journalists also considers unacceptable the initiation of a media witch hunt against Nikola Vučić, as well as political manipulations, factually unfounded articles, and generalizations regarding his Twitter comment in a number of media outlets from Herzegovina. Particularly unacceptable is the violation of the right to privacy, as well as the unnecessary exposure of Vučić's parents, especially his father, to the public, for which there is no reasonable basis nor justified public interest.

The Management Board of the BH Journalists and the Journalist Assistance Line will inform the competent police authorities of the Federation of BiH, the Press and Online Media Council in BiH, and the Communications Regulatory Agency, as well as all other media organizations and institutions in BiH and Europe about this case.