Emir Kadrić, Director of public institution Student Center Sarajevo, stated that gays do not belong in student dormitories in Sarajevo and that he does not approve of them. He said that there is no place for them in student dormitories in Sarajevo. Dragan Mikulić, Director of public institution of Student Dormitory of University in Mostar stated that their doors are closed to gay students in Mostar.
Hate speech coming from „top officials“ of student dormitories in Sarajevo and Mostar is unacceptable and it represents outright infringement of human rights and denial of the „other“ and all those who are different. Student dormitories cannot be headed by persons who in their management employ fascist methods, those that are long transgressed in Europe and civilized world.
Therefore, all relevant institutions are invited to investigate this case of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in student dormitories in Sarajevo and Mostar, and to sanction most severely these two directors in accordance with laws of BiH because of their public display of hate speech and homophobic behavior.
Student dormitories in BiH are public institutions, financed from state budget, and as such they have to respect laws in BiH and not entice hatred and discrimination on any grounds.
Discrimination based on sexual orientation is by law prohibited and punishable in BiH (Article 2, Law on Gender Equality in BiH). Hate speech coming from directors Emir Kadrić and Dragan Mikulić serve as public calls to discrimination of gays and they affirm and justify such discrimination which occurs in those institutions every day.
Homophobia has no place in public institutions of BiH and every homophobic act has to be sanctioned, as they contribute to discrimination and infringement of laws in BiH.
Human rights are not a privilege of the selected few, and their implementation cannot be exclusive or discriminatory. Asociation Q calls on all citizens of BiH, NGO sector, all relevant institutions and BiH authorities to publicly denounce hate speech and sanction discrimination of LGBTIQ persons.
Furthermore, Association Q calls on all parents, who participate in their children’s education, to ask themselves about next steps these and other directors will take in ensuring that their children are worthy and qualified to live in public student dormitories.
More info:
Queer.ba – Official website
