CROATIAN SOCIETY DANGEROUSLY SLIDING TOWARD SERBOPHOBIA

ISTOČNO SARAJEVO, FEBRUARY 4 /SRNA/ – Istočno Sarajevo-based sociologist, Vladimir Vasić, warns that a large part of Croatian society is increasingly sliding toward Ustasha extremism and ever more pronounced Serbophobia, stressing that it is pathological to glorify what should be a source of shame.

"What is particularly concerning is not the existence of extremist groups - every society has them, but the impression that their actions are being relativized or minimized. When extremist symbolism is justified as ‘freedom of expression,’ and another people’s cultural programmes are viewed as provocation, the problem becomes one of a society and institutions’ moral and institutional compass," Vasić told SRNA. Vasić pointed out that instead of Ustasha symbols and iconography in Croatia serving as a warning, they remain a "core value" for certain so-called "patriots." Emphasizing that an attack on the culture, language, or identity of any people is not only an attack on that community, Vasić stressed that it is an assault on the very principle of freedom and coexistence. "A society that lacks the strength to clearly draw a line against extremism risks allowing that scourge to become the norm," warned Vasić, who is also a professional associate for material resources at the Rectorate of the Istočno Sarajevo University. Vasić recalled that not so long ago there were times when the Serb people on the territory of what was then the state of Croatia were legally banned from their language, religion, alphabet, and culture, and that today, despite proclaimed "European values," remnants of those same policies and ideologies still live on among certain so-called "patriots". He points out that hatred is not merely a relic of the past, but a living danger that continues to threaten freedom, culture, and normal human coexistence, and that a society which ignores or minimizes this while boasting of civilization and democracy is "brazenly lying to itself." Vasić says it is a fact that these are defective phenomena within society that can cause serious consequences. "If someone takes pride in ideologies that pushed humanity into tragedies of immeasurable proportions and proclaims them `cultural and national` values, then the poet truly was not mistaken when describing them as the bravest. Because, indeed, one must possess a special sense of absurdity - or a complete loss of moral compass to glorify `apostles of misery` from the 1940s of last century," Vasić said. The escalation of Ustasha euphoria, which also enjoys the support of the "European" Government of Croatia and Prime Minister Andrej Plenković /HDZ/, is evidenced by facts banning entry into Croatia to a Serbian Orthodox Church priest from Tivat, the punishment of Serbian singer Snežana Đurišić, an organised attack by Split residents - supporters of Hajduk FC on Red Star FC fans near Tuzla, and death threats against the leader of Serbs in Croatia, Milorad Pupovac. The latest in a series of examples is the shameful welcome for the Croatian national handball team in Zagreb, who insisted that the notorious and openly declared singer of Ustasha songs, Marko Perković Thompson, with the support of the Croatian Government and despite objections from the Zagreb City Administration, to perform for them.