August 08, 2020

Islamic community praise the pride march cancellation

topic:	LGBT Rights
located:	Bosnia and Herzegovina
editor:	Katarina Panić

The first-ever pride march in Bosnia and Herzegovina took place last September amidst heavy security. The second one was scheduled for August 23, 2020, but was cancelled by organisers, being aware of the worsening COVID-19 pandemic.

"We emphasize that we are postponing the march due to the epidemiological situation, but we draw attention to a number of problems that are the reality of the organization of LGBTQI public events," organizers stated two days ago.

The very same day, a prominent representative of the Islamic Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo-based imam Muhamed Velić, praised the news on his Facebook.

"The media inform us that the homosexual parade in Sarajevo has been postponed due to the coronavirus. In every misfortune and tragedy there is also a grain of happiness, goodness and beauty. Thank Allah for everything. May dear Allah make sure the corona and gay parade never return to our city and country! Amen," posted Velić who has almost 75,000 followers on Facebook.

The post has sparked thousands of comments. Those who support Velić's attitude believe that LGBT people endanger the family as one of the greatest values. "We don't need these parades, they should hide their shame, not publicly be proud of it and disturb the normal people," Ismeta Hodžić from Bosnia wrote on her Facebook.

Activist Branko Ćulibrk, one of the organisers of the pride march, reminds that the antagonism of the largest religious communities towards the queer population is well known from before, so the further discrimination and stigmatization was unnecessary.

"It is horrible that Effendi Velić puts the current situation with the coronavirus and the cancellation of the gay pride on the same level because this is about the struggle for human rights that citizens cannot simply have, but must fight for," Branko told FairPlanet.

He emphasised the Interreligious Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina last year called for peace, tolerance and non-violence during the first pride march.

"We hope this time they will address the public too, distance themselves from Velić's statements and clarify the difference between the fight for basic human rights and the situation caused by pandemics," Branko added.

Those who oppose the traditionally homophobic society raised their voice too. "What fascist garbage lives in Sarajevo and still represents the Islamic Community of BiH!" lawyer and former journalist Senad Pećanin tweeted.

Image by rihaij 

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