- Title: BOSNIA: Young men march on gay festival in Sarajevo
- Date: 26th September 2008
- Summary: VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING THROUGH EXHIBITION WOMAN TAKING NOTES
- Embargoed: 11th October 2008 13:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz
- Reuters ID: LVA6XOMOLLVPE902UF1X9BUCQD2Z
- Story Text: Bosnian police clashed on Wednesday (September 24) with young men attacking the country's first gay festival in Sarajevo.
Police said at least eight people were injured when attackers dragged some people from vehicles and beat others in the street. A policeman was also injured.
Sarajevo hospital said six people were admitted with head wounds and that a Danish visitor was the most seriously hurt.
Officers pushed dozens of young men away from the Academy of Fine Arts where about the same number of visitors attended the opening of the four-day Queer Festival.
Islamic media campaigned this month against the organisation of the festival during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan and anonymous death threats were made against its organisers and media that supported it.
Organisers said the timing of the indoor festival of art, film and workshops about sexual minorities was coincidental. They said they hoped the event could go ahead peacefully.
"We of course invite everyone to have a dialogue, as we did all the time and while we were preparing this festival, and we are doing it now as well. I hope that there will be no violence and no violent communication.
That's exactly why we are here, to talk about it, to say how violence is bad for Bosnia's society," said Maria Hilcic, a Q Association activist.
In Bosnia, as in most countries in the Balkans, there is zero tolerance for homosexuals.
The young men, with hoods hiding their faces and some with long beards, yelled offensive words and also Allahu akbar (God is Greatest). Police said one attacker was detained.
"What is the basis of a state, it's family, isn't it?" It is impossible for two guys or two girls to have that, isn't it. We cannot have either a normal family or a normal state if something is not normal,"
said one demonstrator.
Sarajevo, known for centuries for the peaceful coexistence of its Muslims, Christians and Jews, became a majority Muslim city after the 1992-95 war. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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