LGBT people and activists have not given permission for the protest march in Sarajevo

Open Center (SOC) canceled a protest march of LGBT people and activists who fight for their rights, but that was to be held on Saturday 13 May. The meeting was canceled because activists SOC have not yet received permission from the Ministry of Transport of Canton Sarajevo to march from the Eternal Flame to the Parliamentary Assembly building in Sarajevo.

On this occasion today in Sarajevo Open Center held a press conference at which the activist Leila Huremović, Vladan Vasic and Emina Bosnjak expressed dissatisfaction with the "administrative silence" of the Ministry of Transport KS.

"The protest march we have a month ago, reported the Ministry of Transport KS where we have them present the route that we wanted to move. We have not yet received a response. You ignored us and therefore we believe that the set of limits. In this way, the responsible are deducted right to freedom of movement one of the most vulnerable categories bh. society, "said Huremović. Vasic stressed that the protest march was announced at the time and how SOC repeatedly addressed the Ministry hall road HP.

"We needed the answer on 8 May, but we have received information that the person who started the process on sick leave, and then they told us that we invite to a meeting, or not. According to the law on safety, such assembly shall be 48 hours advance notice, but we do not have a license and would not be able to comply with this legal decision ", explained Vasic.

As stated in the invitation to the protest march, during 2016 and early 2017 SOC has recorded more than 25 cases of criminal offenses motivated by hatred, motivated by sexual orientation or gender identity, and the reactions of the relevant institutions or are lacking or were inadequate. Emina Bosnjak pointed out that more and more LGBT people exposed to various forms of violence in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

"We believed that our work and struggle contribute to violence against each in this country inadmissible. Today showed us that we are far from equality for LGBT people in our society. The planned route was to be from the Eternal Flame, which shows our anti-fascist commitment , to the Parliamentary Assembly, which points to the ultimate institutional responsibility to the LGBT population, "said Bosnjak at today's press conference. SOC is invited LGBT people and activists who are fighting for their rights to them, instead of march, join in on Saturday at 11:45 am in front of HP to peaceful assembly.

"We invite all who are against discrimination and homophobia in our society to join us. I hope we all together show that violence is not normal," said the people of the SOC.

• 11 May, 2017
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