SIMIĆ: THE TREATMENT OF TODOROVIĆ - CONTINUATION OF PRESSURE ON FREEDOM OF SPEECH

BANJA LUKA, JUNE 8 /SRNA/ - The Association of Journalists of Republika Srpska emphasizes its support for RTRS journalist Jasenko Todorović, pointing out that what is happening to him is a continuation of pressure on freedom of speech and expression in Srpska following the adoption of the so-called Inzko's law, that is, the law on verbal offense.

The President of the Association Danijel Simić pointed out that such a law does not exist anywhere in civilized countries, and especially not in America, which highly values freedom of speech and where it is guaranteed by the Constitution.

"What first catches the eye, for example, is that in the show `Odbrojavanje` hosted by Hatka Nezirović, Zahirović, a Muslim politician, said that Republika Srpska is a `genocidal creation,` and no one called her the next day to explain why she did not react to such behavior," said Simić.

He added that there is a whole series of examples where the Serb people and their history, past, and future are flagrantly insulted by Muslim politicians.

"At the same time, it is completely clear that these levers called Inzko's law were created precisely for such situations and that these `laws` are applied exclusively if they are to the detriment of Serbs," Simić told RTRS, reacting to Todorović's questioning at the State Investigation and Protection Agency , by order of the Prosecutor's Office of BiH.

He points out that this is an attempt to cause fear and confusion among Serb journalists, editors, and media workers, so that in the future it "does not even occur to them to allow their interlocutors to say what they think, which is their legitimate right guaranteed by the Constitution".

Simić also recalled the case when the "so-called Mothers of Srebrenica sued Mira Kostović".

"We already had one such case where just because the media, acting as mediators between someone who speaks and the general public, dared to broadcast someone's statement, that in itself is their sin," added Simić.

Journalist Jasenko Todorović was questioned today at the office of the State Investigation and Protection Agency of BiH in Banja Luka, after being reported because in the show "Drugi ugao," which was broadcast more than a year ago, as stated, "the Srebrenica genocide was denied".