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Loading ...Gay pride fest cancelled in wake of violence
09.26.2008 10:03am EDT
(Sarajevo, Bosnia) Organizers of Bosnia’s first LGBT pride festival have cancelled the event following the beatings of 10 people on the opening night.
At least 10 people were injured when protesters attacked people attending the festival in Sarajevo on Wednesday night. One of the victims, a Danish film producer, is reportedly in serious but stable condition in the hospital. The others received treatment for cuts and bruises and were released.Q Association leader Svetlana Djurkovic told a hastily arranged news conference late Thursday night that the organization was pulling the plug on the festival, which was to have run through the weekend, because of security concerns. About 50 people attended the opening.
Amnesty International and a number of European Union parliamentarians have criticized Bosnian authorities for failing to provide adequate security at the festival, despite signs there was likely to be violence.
Dozens of opponents to the festival began gathering hours before the opening ceremony at the Academy of Fine Arts. Anti-gay religious and cultural groups – mainly Muslim – had warned for weeks they would demonstrate against the festival.
The protesters yelled “kill the gays” and “God is great.” The timing of the festival had irked Bosnian Muslims because it was scheduled to take place during the holy month of Ramadan.
Sarajevo, once a beacon of multiculturalism and tolerance with a mix of Christians and Muslims, became predominantly Islamic after the 1992-95 Bosnian war.
Posters calling for death to gays began appearing on streets earlier in the month. Police removed the posters but have been unable to catch the people behind them.
Two prominent imams have publicly condemned the festival, although they refrained from endorsing violence.
“We will not grab them by the neck on the street, but we have to say: This is immoral,” Imam Seid Smajkic told the daily newspaper Dnevni Avaz this month.
On Bosnian television, another imam, Sulejman Bulgari, said that the Quran forbids homosexuality and that the holy book is clear about it.
Pride organizers say they did not intend to offend Muslims, and that the date was set a year ago.
Here we go again the muslims at it again….Are they ever goin to all grow up… If they want to live in the west AND!! IN THE E.U… [FREAKING]!!! grow up and STOP!! living in the dark ages!! ITS NOT 2000 YEARS AGO…THIS IS WHY EVERY WERE IS [SCREWED] UP…BECAUSE OFF THEM.
Well, I guess the US efforts to help free Bosnia from the bloody civil war and genocide have been largely forgotten.
This is a shame.
Newsflash to the hate-mongers who falsely make claims in the name of God: don’t come crying to us for help if the Serbs come back after you all!
I remain perplexed by religious bigotry and hatred – neither the Bible nor the Koran should be used to justify acts of violence: that is a perversion in itself and does greater harm to those who believe in such justification.
Islam means peace; Jesus taught to love one another.
It is such a sad commentary that the followers of those religions do not actually believe in their most basic teachings!
So, bye-bye, Bosnia. Grow up and join the rest of enlightened society, or next time you are under attack, go ask Saudi Arabia or Iran for help and leave the USA the hell alone!
I don’t understand why progressives who are so anti-Christian want us to accept Islam which still executes gay people and is a religion of mostly pure hatred.
This American is very concerned about the immigration of Muslims into America; will they bring their hatred here also?
at least 5 or so tiems I have had to ask the staff to please refrein from using tiny ant-sized font like ss was used in this story. It produces unneceassary eye strain to have to squint sa such tiny print. As we get older some of us can’t read such tiny, iiny print as well as some of the younger folk can. Please use normal size print.
I knote that on other occassions, a few other people have asked the very same thing.
The protesters yelled “kill the gays” and “God is great.”
And a decade ago, they were yelling; ‘murder all of the subhumans’ and ‘rape that 7 year old girl over there!’
Ya know, fuck “Ramadan”. A whole freaking month of brainwashed nut jobs wallowing in… more brainwashing. This has nothing to do with “God” and everything to do with the glorification of their own misguided and troubled egos. They are the true dangers to their own society.
I find news such as this to be very disturbing. Every religion has its fundamental sects, and these seem to gain footholds when there’s societal upheaval. Muslim immigrants coming to the U.S. aren’t assimilating into the mainstream culture, bringing their religious beliefs. They seek freedom of religion but have no problem denying the rights of others. I wonder if, in my lifetime, we will see such violence against gays rise in the U.S. I hope not … love conquers all.