Published: 15 June 2012
Region: Serbia & Worldwide
By MDI staff
A decision by the Serbian Supreme Court to outlaw the right-wing extremist group Obraz may finally have created a publicity roadblock for a group which has for years successfully used traditional and online media networks to promote its hate-filled political agenda.
The decision comes after a right-wing victory in presidential elections and was widely welcomed by gay rights groups and minorities who have been targeted. Over the past decade Obraz have used media — including the meainstream media — to brand themselves as ‘patriots’ and ‘promoters of Serbian heritage’.
They have most often been represented by their young general secretary Mladen Obradovic, who would, as rule, use the media time allocated to him either to intimidate or threaten those who he disliked.
According to the information on their website, ‘Obraz is committed to a struggle against those groups which it views as enemies of the Serbian people: Zionists, converts to Islam, Ustashe, democrats, false pacifists, perverts, ethnic minorities, criminals and drug addicts.’
It is a hostile political agenda which many observers are convinced was disseminated too uncritically by both mainstream and online media in Serbia.
The story of ‘Obraz’ and its development over the years, starting as orthodox Christian semi – official monthly publication and evolving into a fully-fledged extremist organisation with branches in several Serbian cities is lengthy, but some of the controversies in which they have been involved give a flavour of their politics:
- (2007) Violent protest during art exhibition by a Croatian and Albanian artist.
- (2007/2009) Attacks on peace rallies in Belgrade downtown
- (2008) Attack and physical violence against people gather during “Queer Fest” in Belgrade
- (2009) Calls for violence against participant of “Pride day” in Belgrade, that was finally cancelled, as police explained that it cannot guarantee security for participants.
The Serbian Constitutional Court has now decided to ban the activities of the‘Obraz’ organization according to reports in Serbian media, because ‘Its activities were aimed at violent destruction of the constitutional order, guaranteed human and minority rights or causing racial, national and religious hatred.’
The Constitutional Court adopted the decision at the request of the public prosecutor who demanded that ‘Obraz’ should be banned in September 2009. The Interior Ministry designated the group as a “clero-fascist organization” in 2005.
Not surprisingly, Serbian Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) welcomed the ruling by Serbian Supreme Court.
In the statement GSA emphasise that even this measures won’t be sufficient to put an end to right wing extremism and escalating violence: ‘None of this will be enough, if the state doesn’t proceed with systematic measures on hate speech and discrimination prevention, or more efficient activity by governmental agencies in raising the awareness and supporting tolerance’.
Further reading and references, in English and Serbian:
- Wikipedia entry on ‘Obraz’ (in English)
- B92 report on ‘Obraz’ (in English)
- Blic.rs on ‘Obraz’ (in Serbian)
