ZAGREB, May 22, 2020 – The Centre for Peace Studies (CMS) and the Welcome Initiative for migration rights staged a rally on Friday in front of the Interior Ministry’s (MUP) building, calling on the ministry to conduct effective investigations into allegations of violence against refugees.
“Two weeks have passed since photographs were released showing refugees being marked with orange spray paint all over their heads, which the refugees say happened during unlawful pushbacks from Croatia,” said Sara Kekus of the CMS.
During the rally, the activists held a banner saying “Humanity, not torture! Investigation, not denial!” and photographs of marked refugees.
We expect the ministry to produce concrete results following the investigation, instead of desperate attempts to defame the media and organisations dedicated to human rights’ protection, said the protesters.
Activists criticised the Interior Ministry for their incomplete response to the inquiries about the unlawful treatment and the investigation. The Ministry had sent them a link to the press release initially directed at the British Guardian newspaper and the No Name Kitchen NGO.
This is not the first time the NGOs are calling for an investigation, they underscore, because for more than four years they have been witnessing that a lot of evidence has been submitted and the public still does not have the results of a single concrete investigation.
“It is up to us to show humanity, prevent further torture and violence and we demand investigations, instead of your denial of responsibility” Kekus said.
