During October, the RDN monitoring team detected a range of hateful narratives and discourse fuelled by ethnic discrimination, anti-LGBTIQ+ rhetoric, sexism and unprofessional media reporting.

Sexism in Kosovo and Montenegro

In Kosovo, a debate was held on TV7+ – a popular television channel in Albania and Kosovo – which focused on the topic of family issues. One of the questions addressed during the debate was regarding the difficulties faced by single mothers and the societal prejudices against them. One participant in the discussion stated that there was no reason to call them single mothers since they receive child support and additional financial aid, suggesting that if they are unemployed, they simply “go out and about”. The editor and host of the debate, Zana Avdiu, responded to this statement, emphasising that no woman simply “wanders around” and that such a comment is insulting. In reaction to her statement, several commentators on social media directed hateful language toward the host. Avdiu has been raising issues concerning women’s rights for the second consecutive year, challenging the deeply entrenched patriarchal attitudes toward women and their unequal roles in families and society. This often leads to sexist and highly offensive comments on social media after each of her programs. 

In Kosovo, many couples divorce each year, typically granting custody of minor children to mothers, who face challenges when fathers fail to pay child support. Single mothers, especially those rejected by their extended families or those whose partners have died, struggle with limited shelter options, exacerbating their difficulties and affecting their children’s mental health. The government’s assistance of 20 euros per child per month is insufficient, and in additional to economical challenges, divorced women often face societal stigma, being seen as failures in maintaining their families.  This negative bias marred with a lack of empathy and support from the system is often resulting in marginalisation.

In Montenegro, Vesna Bratić, a prominent political figure and former Minister of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports, was the target of death threats, particularly spread on social media platform ‘X’. These threats were made after she received heavy criticism for her views. In response, the Center for Civic Education (CGE) came out and strongly condemned the death threats, calling upon the competent authorities to process the case urgently and thereby, showing that they have zero tolerance towards violence and threats of violence.

Vesna Bratić has been a victim of numerous insults and threats in the past and as a female politician, she is often exposed to misogyny and sexism. Female politicians are frequently exposed to misogyny, facing not only public scrutiny but also death threats and violent rhetoric that their male counterparts rarely endure in comparison. The inequality is clear, with their political positions often undermined by gender-based discrimination. Furthermore, this discrimination is coupled with a lack of adequate responses from authorities, who often fail to pursue appropriate legal action or offer sufficient protection. The absence of serious legal repercussions for such threats further exacerbates the inequality female politicians face.

Anti-LGBTIQ+ rhetoric in Albania

On the 14^th of October, several articles and the TV program Kafe Shqeto on Syri TV covered the news about the approval of the Guideline on the Implementation of the Social Housing Loan Interest Subsidy Program in the Municipality. The focus of the coverage was on how the LGBTQ+ community is perceived as benefiting more from soft loan programs due to an additional 2 or 3 points awarded to LGBTQ+ individuals in the point system. While these articles and programs may not use inflammatory language, framing the issue as an ‘unfair advantage’ for LGBTQ+ individuals in a highly patriarchal society risks reinforcing negative stereotypes and fostering resentment toward this vulnerable group. 

To better understand why this portrayal is misleading and could contribute to discrimination, we need to understand the point, legal framework and the patriarchal context in Albania.

According to the Guideline on the Implementation of the Social Housing Loan Interest Subsidy Program, the primary objective of the law is to support vulnerable and marginalised groups who struggle to secure housing on their own. This includes various groups such as young couples (under 35 years), single mothers and women victims of domestic violence, minorities such as the Roma and Egyptian communities and the LGBTIQ+ individuals, among others. 

The law aims to provide equitable housing access to groups facing systemic barriers, such as discrimination or safety concerns. Isolating the LGBTIQ+ benefit without considering the overall purpose of the point system distorts the law’s intent and fosters the spread of anti-LGBTIQ+ sentiments.

In the official point system, LGBTIQ+ individuals receive an additional 2 or 3 points, but other criteria weigh much more heavily, such as the status of an orphan and being up to 30 years old (6 points), being a victim of domestic violence / victim of trafficking / possible victims of trafficking (8 points) and member(s) of the Roma / Egyptian minority (8 points)

While LGBTQ+ individuals may gain a few extra points, this is not enough to claim they have an unfair advantage over other groups, especially taking into consideration their overall socially disadvantaged position. Other applicants, such as those from larger families, victims of domestic violence, or low-income earners, can receive significantly more points, making it misleading to imply that LGBTQ+ individuals dominate the process.

In a patriarchal society, emphasising LGBTIQ+ benefits without context can fuel misconceptions and negative sentiment. Claiming that “heterosexual couples have fewer chances” compared to LGBTIQ+ individuals may reinforce biases and breed resentment toward the LGBTIQ+ community resulting in further discrimination.

The articles highlight LGBTQ+ individuals as the primary beneficiaries of soft loan programs, often using sensational language that overlooks other groups or minorities who also benefit from this system. Some media outlets like Syri, Ditar, Boldnews, Bota sot and Joq Albania used headlines in the articles emphasising the LGBTQ+ community as benefiting more from soft loan programs, often using sensational phrasing. This selective focus misrepresents the program, suggesting an unfair advantage for LGBTQ+ people and fuelling negative sentiments.  Media outlet Joq Albania used an image showing two men kissing, which further amplifies the sensationalisation of the topic. Even if the language in the article appears neutral, pairing it with an image that over-emphasises sexuality can serve to distract from the real issue, which is about housing support for marginalised communities. The image shared and posted by Joq Albania garnered significant reach and attracted numerous hate speech comments.

Ethnic hatred in Serbia and North Macedonia

The Radio Television of Serbia organised “RTS Cross”, an international running competition for children. Abdulah Šehović, a Bosniak boy from Novi Pazar, Serbia, won the 500-meter race for first graders, however, the media reported that he did not climb the winning podium as there was supposedly “only room for Serbia and children”.

RTS then went on to apologise for the “technical error” with social media users commenting on how this case highlights ethnic discrimination present within the country. However, as it was later confirmed by Radio Beograd journalist Miloš Panić who reported from the event, the whole case was actually based on disinformation.

Panić explained the situation and provided a photo from the official website of RTS, where Abdulah is seen on the podium after receiving his medal. It is unclear why RTS apologised, as what they were accused of did not actually happen. After Novi Pazar portals published these texts, many different media outlets from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina picked up on the story and reported on this as well, failing to check the facts before republishing the (dis)information. This uncritical approach, without necessary fact-checking, led to disinformation about this event spreading in both countries. Some BiH media used clickbait headlines referring to the case as a “scandal”.

Fact-checking is a cornerstone of responsible journalism. Without it, we risk amplifying misinformation and disinformation that can mislead the public and fuel harmful narratives and, in this case, ethnic division. Media outlets must uphold professional standards, and this example shows how harmful the lack of ethical standards and the combination of disinformation and polarising discourse can be.

In North Macedonia, on October 23, 2024, Bilal Kasami, leader of the Besa movement and a member of the Albanian coalition Vredi within the Macedonian government, sparked controversy with his statement during a speech in Debar, where he declared that the city is part of “natural Albania.” This remark provoked heated debates, particularly among opposition politicians who accused Kasami of nationalism. Conservative and pro-Russian media outlets took his statement as an opportunity to further their anti-Albanian rhetoric and gain political traction. Media reporting on the event were filled with hate speech comments including calls for violence

Debar is a city in North Macedonia therefore, calling it a city which is part of ‘natural Albania’ refers to a nationalist rhetoric of ‘Greater Albania’. This ties to the idea of uniting ethnic Albanians in the Balkans into one state incorporating regions of neighbouring countries like Kosovo, parts of North Macedonia, Montenegro and even southern Serbia. This concept is highly controversial and associated with nationalist movements in the region. This rhetoric often exacerbates tensions, fostering animosity and hostility, particularly in multi-ethnic areas. Moreover, the idea of “Greater Albania” is seen by many as a destabilising force, complicating regional cooperation and peace-building efforts in the Balkans. Having a member of parliament spread such rhetoric, only further serves to create divide and tension in multi-ethnic regions of the Balkans. Politicians and individuals with influence and a platform, should be weary of their words and not use their voice to promote nationalist ideas which can heighten tension and act as a barrier to social cohesion and cooperation.

Unprofessional Media Reporting on Domestic Violence in Bosnia and Herzegovina

After information that a singer from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Aldina Bajić, was brutally beaten by her husband Adis Cigura in their home, reached the public, the media reported on this case unprofessionally and unethically. In their coverage of the case, Faktor.ba described the violent scenes and even posted a link to a video with “a note that the video is disturbing”. The report referenced the Agency for Gender Equality’s response, which condemned the violence and shared contact information for support services available to victims. However, this contribution to awareness raising does not diminish the harm done by sharing videos of violence.

Alongside these outlets, other media in Bosnia and Herzegovina reported on the case of domestic violence in an unprofessional manner, sharing personal information about the singer’s life including her medical status. Some media, furthermore, cited statements from her friends who talked about the alleged reasons for the beating which is extremely unprofessional and unethical. Breaching privacy, interviewing an inadequate interlocutor, and sensationalising violence are some of the common mistakes in the media representation of gender-based violence which go against professional standards. Describing violent acts in detail reduces the dignity of the survivor, turns the public into passive observers, traumatises other victims and potentially inspires further violence. Responsible reporting should prioritise the well-being of those affected and avoid sensationalising violence.

During September, the RDN monitoring team detected a range of hateful narratives and discourse fueled by religious and ethnic discrimination and sexism.

Religious discrimination in Montenegro

On the 4^th of September, portal Borba published an article from the unregistered portal Srpska 24, titled ‘Concert for Nermin – Islamization of Podgorica’, in which ethnic and national insults were directed at Nermin Abdić, the candidate of the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) for mayor of Podgorica in the upcoming local elections. The text claimed Abdić is unfit to be a mayor of all citizens of Podgorica because he is Muslim. Additionally, the article contained hate speech and discriminatory views against Muslims and, in general, against religious and national minorities in Montenegro.

Montenegro is an ethnically and religiously pluralistic society. Articles and content such as the piece by portal Borba only serve to further divide communities and spread hate against one another. Islamophobia and hate towards others on religious grounds is never acceptable.

Sexism in Serbia, Albania and North Macedonia

In the Serbian Parliament, when a female opposition MP questioned him about his expensive car, Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vulin deflected the criticism by moving the attention to his admiration for women. Instead of addressing the critique, he chose to trivialise the situation by talking about women as objects of desire and to say that “no one should argue with women”.

This cynical speech only underlined how women are constantly put in a position of ridicule by their male colleagues. Deputy Prime Minister Vulin used his platform and influence to redirect the discussion towards belittling women and highlighting their traditional gender role of merely being pretty and not being taken seriously. By saying “you should never argue with women” he avoided answering her accusation, discrediting her based on her gender, and undermining her role as an opposition MP. During the rest of the debate, opposition MPs made more sexist remarks. Zoran Lutovac commented on Ana Brnabić’s sexuality, and Zdravko Ponoš told Minister Milica Đurđević Stamenkovski to “go make lunch” and “put up curtains,” for which he was fined.

Aleksandar Vulin’s sexist remarks could have been appropriately condemned by fellow MPs. Instead, they escalated the rhetoric with similar comments, turning the debate into a battleground at the expense of women. Such behavior should not be tolerated—there is no place for sexism, whether in political arenas or elsewhere.

In Albania, during a segment on Ftesë në 5 on Top Channel, a panelist referred to Georgina Rodriguez’s clothing as “prostitute clothing”. Only one other panelist objected to the comment, while the host remained silent. The panel discussion centered on Rodriguez’s fashion choices, but it quickly escalated when one panelist made a derogatory remark. The show’s failure to immediately address or condemn the comment raises concerns about the normalisation of harmful language. Top Channel’s coverage of this case focused more on the offensive remark rather than condemning it – using such remarks to capture viewers’ attention, rather than addressing sexism and educating its audiences about its harmful effects.

The unchecked use of sexist remarks and derogatory language, both online and offline, can lead to their normalisation, making such behavior appear justified and acceptable. In moments like these, media outlets like Top Channel who have a large viewership and popularity in Albania should use their platform to counter instances of sexism, especially when spread on air on their platforms. It is both their role and duty.

In North Macedonia, during an interview on ATV, Adelina Tahiri – a popular Albanian signer – spoke about her life, her husband and his child. Tahiri is married to a Macedonian which was utilised to spread a lot of hate against her on social media and in the comments section. Despite not saying anything provocative during her interview, Tahiri was nevertheless attacked on the basis of who she is married to and indeed, his ethnicity.

North Macedonia is an ethnically diverse country, home to both large Macedonian and Albanian communities. However, deep divisions and ongoing hate speech between these two groups persist. Incidents like these highlight how ethnic tensions are intensified, as some individuals seize moments like these to spread hate based on ethnicity.

Ethnic discrimination in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, specifically in the entity of Republika Srpska, a new addition to the school curriculum was decided on. As a result of this decision, students will be able to learn and explain the importance of the creation of the Army of Republika Srpska. They will also be able to list the most important war operations and goals, structure, and names of the Commander-in-Chief of the Army of Republika Srpska alongside names such as Radovan Karadžić, Ratko Mladić, Momir Talić and Novica Simić, who will be labelled ‘war heroes’.

Many media in the country reported on this new addition to the school curriculum including portal Klix.ba resulting in many reactions. In addition to the information about the new curriculum in Republika Srpska, Klix also reported on the background of the entire case, i.e. the article emphasised that almost the whole leadership that managed the Army of Republika Srpska was convicted of war crimes. It also added that the importance of the judgments of international and domestic courts for war crimes is not recognised in the curriculum, nor is the suffering of other people, or crimes such as the genocide in Srebrenica. Radovan Karadžić and Ratko Mladić were sentenced to life imprisonment, among other things, for genocide. Momir Talić was accused of genocide but died before the verdict was passed. Klix emphasised that the High Representative Christian Schmidt not only has the right and power but also the obligation to take action in such matters because learning based on historical revisionism are what can truly threaten the foundations of peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Due to the organisation of the state, Klix pointed out that Schmidt is the only one who has the power to stop the destruction of future generations in Republika Srpska who are at risk of learning history that does not promote humanitarian values but glorifies those responsible for some of the worst crimes in Europe after the Second World War.

Alongside this, a popular travel blogger in Bosnia and Herzegovina Robert Dacešin, who is from Banja Luka, published a post on his social media platforms about the new textbooks in Republika Srpska and allegations that war criminals Radovan Karadžić and Ratko Mladić will be mentioned as heroes. His post resulted in numerous insults being directed towards him, with some calling him derogatory names and some even cursing him. Some commented that they would no longer follow him on social media and that he should have mentioned the Serbian victims, accusing him of being one-sided, given that he mentioned victims in Srebrenica in that post. People like Dacešin, who voice their opposition to such actions as those taken in Republika Srpska, are often scrutinised for it by their own community and portrayed as “traitors”.

Following his post, ATV, a television station in Republika Srpska, released a statement saying it  was “shocked by the statements and attitudes of the travel writer from Banja Luka” and that is has decided to end cooperation and broadcasting of his series.

Politicians from Republika Srpska often deny or relativise the genocide in Srebrenica. Media from the entity also play a key role in shaping attitudes about the genocide in Srebrenica among citizens, as shown by a report of the Srebrenica Memorial Center.

In Kosovo, tensions have escalated in the north of the country between the Albanian and Serb communities. “Homeland associations” from northern Kosovo blocked four border crossings with Serbia and Montenegro, leading Kosovan authorities to shut them down due to the presence of masked individuals. Foreign Minister Donika Gërvalla warned that borders would remain closed until these individuals withdrew, calling on NATO to prevent Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić from escalating tensions. Despite this, the crossings reopened within 24 hours.

Kosovo’s government has recently intervened in the Serb-majority north, closing parallel Serbian institutions, banning the Serbian dinar, and pushing to reopen the Ibar River bridge, which is currently dividing Albanian and Serbian communities in North Mitrovica. These actions have heightened tensions, leading to the blockades.

During a visit by Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti to North Mitrovica, Aleksandar Arsenijević, leader of the Serbian Democracy party, and Vice President of the party Ivan Orlović were arrested for protesting the government’s policies. Their detention, along with that of a group of young Serbian men, who were arrested the night before for, according to the police, insulting and attacking two policemen, sparked further protests and condemnation from analysts and opposition figures, who criticized Kosovo’s violation of basic human rights.

Almost little to no Serbian media covered the recent events in Kosovo and the ongoing relations between the two countries. Indeed, the media that did cover the events – Kosovo media outlets in Serbian and Albanian language, resulted in a great number of hateful comments along ethnic lines – something which is very commonly seen in cases like these. It is the media’s responsibility and duty to monitor their comment section and ensure that hate is not spread on their platforms.

During August, the RDN monitoring team detected a range of hateful narratives and discourse. This month, we’ve witnessed hate fueled by ethnic and religious divisions, coupled with targeted attacks against the media, journalists, and activists.

Ethnic hate in North Macedonia and Albania

This month in North Macedonia, social media users called for the boycotting of Kipper and KIT-GO supermarket chains, based on the fact that they are bilingual, have Albanian employees, and Kipper is owned by a politician from the Democratic Union for Integration, the largest ethnic Albanian political party and the third largest political party in the country. One of the most notable examples was an Instagram post by influencer Nikola Nikolovski calling on his followers to boycott Albanian markets presenting his “research” where he gives 10 reasons why it’s better to shop at “Macedonian” markets, with one of the reasons being that employees in these markets are Macedonians and speak Macedonian. Nikolovski has over 30k followers and is connected to the Conservative.mk organisation. This campaign had the aim of further provoking ethnic tensions, ever-present in the country. It was not an isolated case, as these types of online campaigns for boycotting businesses, as well as against politicians and certain groups, based on ethnic hate are commonly used in North Macedonia. The call for boycotting along ethnic lines only serves to fuel division and intolerance creating an environment of prejudice and discrimination. Actions like these cause division and undermine social cohesion. An individual such as Nikolovski who has a large platform and therefore influence, should use this space to promote tolerance and respect rather than intolerance and division.

In Albania, sports journalist Ervin Baku appeared on Euronews Albania wearing a T-shirt of the Serbian volleyball team. This sparked a wave of online hate speech along ethnic lines, with numerous aggressive comments emerging, including death threats, particularly from individuals and small social media platforms. The journalist interviewing Baku asked if his shirt was a provocation, to which he said that he simply loves sports and picked a shirt this morning just like he does every day.

“I love Yugoslav and Serbian sports, and let’s not forget that Albania will soon organise the U21 European Championship together with Serbia. I am a person who tries to build bridges, not destroy them, especially bridges that are ready to be opened,” Baku said.

The online response to Baku’s appearance was immediate with numerous hate-filled comments that targeted him. Most of the hate speech has emerged not from the main social media platforms which have a large reach and impact but rather from individuals and small social media platforms.

In one example JOQ News – a popular Albanian online media outlet known for its sensationalist reporting, viral content, and engaging social media presence, often focusing on breaking news, entertainment, and public issues – displayed a surge of hateful comments towards the journalist. These comments included calls for life imprisonment, deportation of his family and extreme insults. 

In response, Baku issued a public and official statement on this Facebook page in which he explained that “The aggressive army of extremist nationalists is being unleashed on me and my image on social media and in the multi-option space of the Internet, turning me into the most threatened Albanian sports journalist within Albania and my national territory!” moreover, he added that “I did not think what this would provoke! This is my mistake for momentarily ignoring the negative impact I am facing and threatened by”.

Alongside his statement, the Union of the Albanian Journalists released a statement in support of the journalist calling on the hate speech towards him to end. According to the Union, the journalist has reported to the State Police’s anti-cybercrime unit, identifying individuals responsible for numerous insults, blackmail, threats, stigmatisation and even physical aggression against the journalist.

Hate speech and aggression against any individual are never justified. The spread of hate speech along ethnic lines, especially when accompanied by physical threats, calls for deportation, or imprisonment, is completely unacceptable. Media outlets like JOQ News should actively monitor the comments on their content and take appropriate action against hate speech. Additionally, social media platforms must not allow hate speech and threats to proliferate on their platforms, regardless of their reach or influence.

Misogyny and trivialisation of violence against women in Montenegro

Misogyny and the trivialisation of violence against women are serious issues in Montenegrin society, as highlighted by events in August involving cases of rape, revenge pornography, and a recent femicide that shocked the nation.

After an article in Vijesti reported on a case involving a girl who was raped and subjected to revenge pornography—the unauthorized distribution of private sexually explicit material— the comment section became flooded with misogynistic reactions and remarks. These comments included attacks on the woman herself, casting doubt on her credibility as a victim, questioning why she had recorded herself, and one even claimed that “rape and filming don’t go together“. To make matters worse, many defended the accused, emphasising that he was “innocent until proven guilty”.

Following a femicide on 22 August, a prominent influencer known online as Radosav Vrbica posted a message on his ‘X’ profile filled with misogynistic content, blaming the victim for “driving him crazy,” thereby justifying the violence against her.

Justifying misogyny, rape or violence perpetuates harmful attitudes that normalises violence against women and justifies its existence. It shifts blame away from perpetrators, erodes accountability, and creates an environment where survivors are discouraged from seeking justice. Rape, sexual assault and revenge pornography are all acts which need to be unequivocally condemned and those responsible must be held accountable.

Targeting of media in Kosovo

At a wedding in Bibaj, near Ferizaj/Uroševac in Kosovo, an off-duty policeman killed an 89-year-old man. The officer turned himself in and provided the weapon he used, after which he was suspended. He was remanded in custody. Media outlet Nacionale announced that the victim was suspected of paedophilia many years ago and that he was related to the husband of Vjosa Osmani, the President of Kosovo. Nacionale reported, under assumption, that this case might be the policeman’s revenge for his two sisters that were sexually assaulted when they were children, supposedly by this man. This media also claimed to have proof of Osmani and her husband discussing the sexual abuse case in a closed Facebook group, as well as proof that the judiciary neglected this case because of “the political influence of the Sadria family”, the family of the president’s husband. The Presidency of the Republic of Kosovo did not respond to Nacionale’s questions prior to the release of the article. Later, Osmani denied any connection with this case, and requested an investigation to be launched against Nacionale and its owner Berat Buzhala, who allegedly threatened the life of the president and her family with these claims.

In response, the Association of Journalists of Kosovo (AGK) reacted, as well as other journalists and analysts, calling her act “a dangerous and unacceptable precedent”. Moreover, AGK noted that the repeated accusations that certain media outlets “work for Serbia” is unacceptable and even more dangerous when it comes from the top of the state. AGK invited President Osmani to file a complaint with the Kosovo Print Media Council (KMSHK) if she is dissatisfied with media reporting. Even though this is a complex case and Nacionale, as well as other media outlets, should not have rushed in publishing information not yet confirmed by relevant authorities, it is unacceptable for public officials to target media by requesting investigations against them, especially someone in such a high position of power.

Political targeting of journalists and activists in Serbia

Tabloid media have reported extensively and harmfully on the protests against lithium mining in Serbia, often targeting activists and public figures who support the protests.  Certain pro-regime media outlets, as well as public officials used names to label the activists, including calling them “foreign mercenaries”, working against their country and attempting to “violate the constitutional order”. Targeting and intimidation did not stop at words, as the Center for Investigative Journalism in Serbia marked 30 cases of arrests, informative interviews with the police, confiscation of laptops and mobile phones, and apartment searches. A particularly problematic case was the reporting on young activist Mila Pajić by the tabloid media. She was labelled an “anti-Serb activist” and shamed for supporting the resolution of the Genocide in Srebrenica. A day later Prime Minister Miloš Vučević accused her of the same things, targeting her in a post on X. Civil society organisations were also targeted through pro-regime tabloids, culminating in a special episode on TV Informer called “Uncovering the financing of the special war against Serbia” where editor Dragan J. Vučićević named CSOs and portrayed them as enemies being paid to work against their own country.

In a separate case, a media campaign was launched against journalist Tamara Skrozza at the end of July and beginning of August. In an interview, she said that “the night between 5th and 6th October 2000 should have looked different”. She was referring to one of the biggest protests in Serbia, after which Slobodan Milošević’s regime was abolished, and a new government was formed. Most tabloid media reported that she said “Vučić was supposed to be murdered that night” thereby, twisting her words. The Ministry of Information sided with the tabloids saying Skrozza’s statement was “an example of hate speech”. Journalist associations expressed their support for Skrozza, however this campaign lasted for a significant period. This type of targeting through media smear campaigns is a common way of intimidating and silencing activists and journalists in Serbia.  Twisting someone’s words is a dangerous tactic; a smear campaign can be devastating, undermining reputations, spreading misinformation, and damaging trust, often without a fair opportunity for the targeted individual or group to defend themselves.

Religious Hate Speech in Bosnia and Herzegovina

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Directorate for Religious Affairs of the Rijaset of the Islamic Community, following the guidance of Reisu-ul-ulama Husein effendi Kavazović, recommended performing the Rain Prayer with the congregation. In response, political analyst Ivana Marić commented on platform X, saying: “We need to patent this ingenious idea for solving climate problems as soon as possible.” Her post sparked a wave of comments on X, including insults, hate speech, and calls for violence. Many accused Ivana of mocking Islam, while also sharing past instances where priests had encouraged believers to pray for rain. Two political parties responded to the backlash against Marić. Naša stranka strongly condemned the hate speech directed at her, while Narod i Pravda rejected any approach that involves insulting, belittling, or ridiculing religious beliefs and feelings.

In Bosnia and Herzegovina any critical or satirical stance against religion and religious leaders tends to gain hate comments, insults and sometimes calls to violence targeting individuals. Although it is important to note the freedom of expression and opinion, the line between free speech and hate speech is fine. Belittling, undermining, mocking and spreading hate towards a religious community is extremely disrespectful. However, it is also important to note that hate should not be countered with hate and in no way are hate speech, insults and calls for violence towards Marić justified. It’s possible to challenge hate without simultaneously perpetuating it.