Participants at the inaugural Bosnian Queer Festival were attacked leaving the Sarajevo Academy of Fine Arts. Six people were admitted to hospitals around the capital with serious injuries, among them one police officer and two local journalists.
The Queer Festival, which took place from the 25 -28 September 2008, aimed to promote the rights of GLBT people through film, literature and workshops. Equality and an end to discrimination were key priorities.
Anti-gay protesters chanted insults through the streets of Sarajevo and homosexual men were dragged from their vehicles and beaten in the streets. Since the first reported attacks, four men have been arrested and detained.
In Bosnia, a predominantly Islamic nation (40%) in the Balkans, homophobia is wide spread. Conservative Islamic Imams and religious clerics condemned the festival as it coincides with the month of Ramadan and labelled it immoral, going against the teachings of the Quran. Street groups and websites were established condemning gays and calling for violent disruption of the festival. Posters stating ‘Death to gays’ were also posted around Sarajevo.
On the Amnesty International site, www.amnesty.org, gay activist Udruzenje Q reported, ‘We do not feel safe for ourselves or for our families. Some of us had to find new accommodation because our names and addresses were made publicly known. We are afraid to use public transport or go out alone. Our dogs are our best protection at the moments.’
Prior to the commencement of the festival Amnesty International made a formal statement regarding the need for security, warning of the potential violence. Nicola Duckworth from Amnesty International released a public statement saying, ‘The authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina are obliged to safeguard the rights of lesbian and gay people to gather and express freely their views. They must promptly investigate all cases of direct threats against them and bring the perpetrators to justice’.
James Donkin
