Press release – Mirnes Ajanović filed criminal complaint against members of the RS Government and responsible persons in the RS Special Anti-Terrorist Unit for religious symbols on “DESPOT” police vehicles

BOSS President Mirnes Ajanović filed a criminal complaint to the Prosecutor's Office of BiH against members of the RS Government and responsible persons in the Special Anti-Terrorist Unit (SAJ) after RS police exercise marking the 30th anniversary of establishment of the RS Ministry of the Interior, on wich a special police vehicle “Despot” with Orthodox religious symbols was used on the training ground and after two vehicles with religious symbols “Despot” were parked in front of the RS Government building.

Religious symbols on police vehicles violate Article 14 of the Law on Freedom of Religion and the Legal Status of Churches and Religious Communities in BiH, which stipulates in paragraph 1 that churches and religious communities are separated from the state, and violate Articles 1 and 2. of the said Law because preference is given to one religion over others, by public display of symbols of that religion on public property – police vehicle, and violation of Article 5, paragraph 1, of the said Law which prescribes that any discrimination based on religion is prohibited.

These actions of the RS Ministry of the Interior not only endanger the religious rights of Muslims, Catholics, Jews and others, but also Bosniaks, Croats, Serbs and others who are not religious, to which they are entitled under Article 4 of the Law which stipulates that citizens of all nationalities , have the right to profess and not profess the faith.

In connection with all the above, the criminal offense under Article 145a of the Criminal Code of BiH was also committed, which stipulates that – whoever publicly causes or incites religious discord or intolerance among constituent people and others, as well as others living or residing in BiH, shall be punished by imprisonment for a term between three months and three years, and at least one year when commiting a criminal offense by distributing leaflets, pictures or other materials, all in connection with Article 250 – Organized crime, for which a minimum sentence of three years in prison is imposed.

Considering the use of religious symbols on the vehicle of the RS Ministry of the Interior, despite the provisions of the Law on Freedom of Religion, including the Law on Prohibition of Discrimination in BiH, there was an intention to unrest and intimidate citizens of non-Orthodox faith in Republika Srpska, which results with intolerance among the constituent people and others in BiH.

Coexistence, tolerance, peace, as well as preventing incitement to religious strife and intolerance among the constituent people can not be achieved anywhere in BiH through the installation of religious symbols on police vehicles – because the police must protect all citizens, warned BOSS President Mirnes Ajanovic who addressed citizens and live via Facebook.

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