AMENDMENTS TO THE LAW: UP TO THREE YEARS IN PRISON FOR GLORIFYING NDH AND SO-CALLED ARMY OF BiH

BANJA LUKA, JULY 9 /SRNA/ - Members of the National Assembly of Republika Srpska are considering the Bill on Amendments to the Criminal Code of Republika Srpska, which envisages a prison sentence of up to three years for glorifying the Independent State of Croatia /NDH/ and the so-called Army of BiH.

In his introductory remarks, Minister of Justice of Republika Srpska Goran Selak said that, at its session on March 17, the National Assembly adopted a Resolution condemning and prohibiting the promotion and glorification of the ideology and symbols of the Independent State of Croatia, as well as Ustasha, Nazi, and fascist ideologies and symbols. He emphasized that these legal amendments introduce two new criminal offences: glorification and public display of the ideology and symbols of the Independent State of Croatia and the so-called Army of BiH. "Republika Srpska has the right and responsibility to protect the peace of its citizens. We must not allow ideologies that have caused harm to our people to be glorified. These provisions have a preventive purpose, and the aim is not to punish," Selak said. The amendments to this law stipulate that anyone who, through the press, radio, television, a computer system, social networks or by any other means, in a public place or at a public gathering, promotes, glorifies, spreads, supports or encourages the positive evaluation and acceptance of Ustasha ideology or the Ustasha ideology of the Independent State of Croatia, or publicly displays and promotes the flags and symbols of the so-called Army of BiH, shall be punished by a prison sentence of up to three years.