ĐOKIĆ: FLAG-BURNING INCIDENT REFLECTS HATRED AND INTOLERANCE

BANJA LUKA, JUNE 26 /SRNA/ – Socialist Party /SP/ President Petar Đokić said that the removal and burning of the Republika Srpska flag from a flagpole along the Inter-Entity Boundary Line between the Federation of BiH and Republika Srpska was an act of hatred and intolerance that deeply offended the Serb people.

According to Đokić, the incident was not surprising, given what he described as days of inflammatory statements by SDA President Bakir Izetbegović, whom he accused of calling for the use of force.

"With such inflammatory rhetoric, he further encouraged and emboldened extremists to resort to actions like this, clearly demonstrating how irresponsible political discourse can have dangerous consequences," Đokić stated.

He added that every Serb living in the Federation of BiH would feel unsafe upon seeing the Republika Srpska flag taken down and burned.

Đokić said it was time for political leaders in the Federation of BiH to come to their senses and begin using responsible language, arguing that this was the only way to build a society in which everyone could live without fear and hatred.

"In that regard, the competent institutions, including SIPA and the Prosecutor's Office of BiH, should also become involved and prosecute Izetbegović and others like him for hate speech and inciting ethnic intolerance," Đokić said.

He added that such incidents must neither be tolerated nor justified, and that anyone who incites hatred and violence through words or actions should be held accountable for the consequences.

A video circulating on social media appears to show a group of individuals removing the Republika Srpska flag from a flagpole and then setting it on fire while shouting "Allahu Akbar" and using profanity.

According to media reports from the Federation of BiH, the flag had been flying on a flagpole erected along the Inter-Entity Boundary Line between Republika Srpska and the Federation of BiH.