They are not terrorists: Investigation stopped in Ruben case against 31 Bosniaks

Prosecutor's office in Banja Luka stopped investigation against 31 Bosniaks arrested last year during 'Ruben' action in Republika Srpska. They were arrested under suspicion of being connected to terrorist groups.

Prosecutor's office Banja Luka issued a press release which confirmed that they did not find any weapons that are forbidden to keep at home. Several of the arrested that were found to be in possession of forbidden weapon will be fined yet cannot be brought into connection with any terrorist organization. It was also concluded that the weapons found in their possession could not be used for the purpose of terrorism.

The group of Bosniaks was arrested last year during spectacular actions of RS Ministry of Interior. Raids and arrests were carried out in Banja Luka, Bosanska Gradiska, Sipovo, Teslic, Prijedor, Zvornik, Srebrenica, Kalesija, Doboj and several other locations. The arrested group was said to be dangerous terrorists who are security threat to the citizens of RS. A year later Prosecutor's office in Banja Luka informed that the arrested persons are not connected to any terrorist groups.

One of the arrested persons who wished to remain anonymous, said to Patria that he is in touch with others now released, and that they are preparing a lawsuit against Republika Srpska. He told us that their livelihoods have been negatively affected because they were once mispresented as dangerous terrorists. They and their families are all seriously traumatized by this experience. They are labelled in their communities. Some have lost their business partners but also their friends.