OSCE: THREATS AGAINST SOC IN TUZLA - SERIOUS VIOLATION OF FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHTS

SARAJEVO, OCTOBER 3 /SRNA/ - The OSCE Mission to BiH warned that threats against the Serbian Orthodox Church /SOC/ in Tuzla constitute a serious violation of fundamental human rights and called on the relevant authorities to urgently conduct a thorough investigation and utilize mechanisms to prevent such incidents.

The OSCE Mission to BiH strongly condemned intimidation and threats directed at individuals or religious communities, including those based on ethnic or religious affiliation. "Such actions undermine the principles of fundamental human rights and violate domestic laws," the OSCE Mission to BiH told SRNA, commenting on threats that the Orthodox priest in Tuzla "will be forcibly converted to Islam, and the cross replaced with a crescent and star". The OSCE Mission emphasized that freedom of belief or conviction is one of the fundamental human rights, protected by international standards and obligations undertaken by all OSCE member states, including BiH. The Mission stated that it remains committed to supporting BiH in combating intolerance and ensuring that the safe and free expression of beliefs and convictions is preserved and protected. "Within its mandate, the Mission promotes inter-religious dialogue and mutual understanding and cooperates with communities and institutions to counter all forms of hatred. Acknowledging the complexity and sensitivity of such matters, we urge victims to report all incidents to the local police and prosecutor's office," the Mission emphasized. Given the sensitivity of these issues and their impact on communities, the OSCE notes that responsible and timely media reporting is crucial to preventing further repercussions. The Mission welcomed the strong statement from the Inter-Religious Council of BiH, which reflects genuine solidarity among communities and stands firmly with the community affected by this act, as well as with all those who seek to practice their religion peacefully. Dževad Hasić, previously known for threats and vandalistic intrusions into Orthodox churches, sent a threatening letter from Tuzla prison in which he announced that he would “switch the church bell to vibration.” He threatened that he would "convert the priest with the vigil lamp to Islam so that the individual could recite the call to prayer five times a day with the greatest pleasure" and that he would "replace the cross with a crescent and star as in the Al-Aqsa Mosque, accompanied by the greeting `Allahu Akbar`". The Inter-Religious Council of BiH strongly condemned the threats against the clergy of the Serbian Orthodox Church /SOC/ in Tuzla yesterday and called on the relevant authorities to urgently respond and severely punish this and any behavior that incites hatred, violence, or intolerance.