MONITORING REPORT ON HATE SPEECH IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA – 2025
October 30, 2025
As a post-conflict society marked by ongoing political, social, and economic changes, Bosnia and Herzegovina remains especially vulnerable to hate speech rooted in ethnonationalist identities.
Although different forms of hate speech are present, ethnically driven rhetoric is particularly prominent. According to the 2024 Freedom House report, the country continues to be characterised by “severe partisan gridlock among nationalist leaders from the Bosniak, Serb, and Croat communities.”
Although Bosnia and Herzegovina has ratified all major international instruments that directly or indirectly address freedom of expression and hate speech, this phenomenon is often misinterpreted, rarely subject to criminal prosecution, and there are no comprehensive official statistics.
In a society already deeply polarised along ethnonational lines, hate speech risks deepening divisions further: targeted groups often respond by reinforcing their own ethnonational identities and becoming less willing to engage with other communities. The online sphere adds an additional dimension to this challenge.
Digital spaces are neither clearly defined nor sufficiently regulated, allowing hateful content to remain visible, be reshared, and resurface long after its initial publication. In a climate of political and social instability, such persistent online hate speech can play a significant role in mobilising groups and inciting hostility or violence. In recent years, Bosnia and Herzegovina has also experienced a steady decline in media freedom and democracy indicators.
The COVID-19 pandemic, accompanied by an infodemic, further eroded public trust in institutions and the media, creating fertile ground for the spread of harmful narratives. This report examines incidents of hate speech recorded between 1 January 2024 and 30 June 2025, identifying recurring narratives, shifts in targets, and notable trigger events. It aims to highlight broader trends in hate speech, analyse their underlying drivers, and situate them within the wider geopolitical and social context in which they unfold.
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