09/12/2008
Posters Read 'Death to Gays' Ahead of First Gay Festival in Bosnia
International human rights groups have their eye on Bosnia ahead of a first-ever gay festival scheduled for September 24 in the largely Muslim city of Sarajevo:
"Neither the head of the Islamic Community in Bosnia, Mustafa Ceric, nor his institution has officially reacted to the festival, which will include films and art exhibitions. But two local imams in Bosnia have condemned it. 'We will not grab them by the neck on the street, but we have to say: This is immoral ... a promotion of ideas that are in violation with religion,' Seid Smajkic, an imam from the southern city of Mostar, was quoted as saying in Friday's Dnevni Avaz, a daily newspaper. Another local imam, Sulejman Bulgari, said on television Thursday night that the Quran forbids homosexuality and that the holy book is clear about that. Neither imam was available for an interview on Friday, the Muslim day of worship. Several posters have appeared in the streets of Sarajevo this week, saying 'Death to Gays.' Police quickly removed them."
Posted 1:36 PM EST by Andy Towle in Bosnia, Gay Pride, Gay Rights, News, Sarajevo | Permalink
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... and Bosnia-Hercogovinia is the most tolerant of the three nations that once made up Yugoslavia. I pray for the safety of my brothers and sisters in Sarajevo.
Posted by: Rodney | Sep 12, 2008 2:45:43 PM
Fucking religion rearing its ugly head again. If these fool Imams don't like homosexuality, they can just avoid it. Memo to Imams: It's not all about YOU. Everybody has equal rights to happiness and freedom of expression. No-one is stopping anyone from practicing their religion, they are free to do so, HOWEVER they can go fuck themselves if they think they can tell us how to live our lives!!
Posted by: CK | Sep 12, 2008 4:56:23 PM
Sarajevo was and still is a place that tolerates diversity, including the religious right with its hateful rhetoric. The queer organizers have been extremely eloquent in explaining that intolerance of queer sexuality is no more permissible than intolerance of other ethnicities and beliefs. They have the full support of all the NGOs, as far as I hear.
They're also on the cover of all the magazines, as one can see from a Facebook group to support the festival:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=32761468593
There's always a backlash. Let's hope it doesn't get out of hand!
Posted by: Kevinvt | Sep 12, 2008 8:52:42 PM
How would the religious freaks feel if they
took away there gay children, let say as soon as they learn there children are gay.
Posted by: Terry Pond | Sep 25, 2008 9:13:48 AM