Homosexuality remains a taboo in Sarajevo. This was confirmed by the opening of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s first Queer festival on September 23 at the Academy of Fine Arts in the capital city. The Festival was rightly assessed as being a high-risk event, secured by significant police presence, reports the Sarajevo X Portal.
Fearing trouble, the organizers didn`t allow TV cameras at the opening ceremony. However, they emphasize that the exhibition aims to increase the public awareness about homosexual population in BiH.
Dnevni avaz daily reports that a group of a hundred or so members of the Vehabi movement gathered in front of the Academy Building, to protest the holding of the festival they see as `an insult to all Muslims` during the `holiest days of the month of Ramadan`.
The protesters chanted `Allah Akhbar` (God is Great) and cursed and insulted the guests at the opening ceremony, leading to a number of fistfights and melees with the security. Some of the guests were attacked and beaten, six of them seeking medical assistance at the Sarajevo University Clinical Centre.
Prominent journalists Emir Imamovic and Peda Kojovic were also attacked. One visitor from Denmark was seriously injured and was hospitalized with multiple bruises and lacerations. Eyewitnesses claim that football hooligans even pulled people out of their cars and beat them. After 22:00 o’clock, the mob in front of the Academy dispersed, but a series of incidents in the other parts of the city followed.
The Cantonal Ministry of Interior emphasizes that the event was secured by both the riot-police unit and private security agencies, and that three persons were detained for their participation in incidents in Skenderija and Novo Sarajevo.
“The security was at the highest level”, says Maša Buzic on the behalf of the organizers, adding that the sad events last night demonstrated the homophobia and xenophobia in Bosnian society and the necessity of changes.
The Festival was already condemned by various religious and political groups. Even a group of 13 BiH NGOs that advocate conservative views and values condemned the Queer Festival which, they say, “undermines the values of BiH society”.
The organizers say that they are even more dedicated now to continue with the Festival as planned, until its completion on September 28.
Find out more:
Watch the video of the riots on VitaEurope TV
Read more about the riots on http://see.oneworld.net
Read what Amnesty International has to say, click here
Get Active! Find out more about the movement: www.queer.ba
