Vandal attacks on returnees in Prijedor: IGK calls for condemnation and protection of human rights

(Patria) - On the night of January 13 to 14, the Čaršijska Mosque in Prijedor was the target of a vandal attack. A few days earlier, a window on the building in front of the imam's apartment was also broken, while the religious official himself was attacked in December last year.

This is a continuation of systematic intimidation of returnees in Prijedor, clear evidence of the continuity of a nationalist idea reflected in the mass violation of basic human rights and freedoms of the displaced and returnees, surviving victims and witnesses of genocide.

The frustrated municipal authorities of Prijedor have never publicly acknowledged the deeds of the then nationalist authorities, expressed remorse for the suffering endured by thousands of Bosniaks and Croats, or extended a hand of reconciliation and repentance. On the contrary, the ruling establishment in Prijedor regrets that the issue of “unwanted, non-native elements,” Bosniaks and Croats, was not completely resolved.

IGK calls on all political, academic and legal individual and collective entities aware of truth and justice, and all fighters for the protection of human rights and freedoms and their organizations and communities, to oppose the dehumanization of returnees in Prijedor.

IGK protests against such an anti-civilizational attack, demanding that the Mayor of Prijedor and the city authorities condemn these attacks and sanction the perpetrators.

IGK demands from the competent state authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, especially the judicial authorities, from the High Representative in BiH and the Steering Board of the Peace Implementation Council in BiH, to prevent the humiliation of Prijedor returnees and victims through swift action.

IGK has informed Canadian political, academic and human rights and freedoms protection entities about the aforementioned attack, the Institute for Genocide Research Canada announced.