ZAGREB, February 24, 2020 – The government on Monday condemned the burning of an effigy of a same-sex couple with a child during carnival in the southern town of Imotski, saying that “judging” minorities in Croatian society is not in the carnival spirit or satire nor is it traditional, entertaining or in the spirit of Croatian and European values.
“The tradition of burning the carnival effigy usually consisted of a sort of humorous and mocking criticism of various events in Croatian society. That sort of carnival spirit can remain within the boundaries of satire when it ‘judges’ someone in power like the president, the prime minister, a mayor or some other politician, but by no means those who represent various minorities in Croatian society. That is not traditional, nor entertaining nor in the spirit of Croatian and European values. As such, we condemn that act,” the government said.
Our approach is that we oppose any form of hate speech and aggression – political, ideological, verbal and physical – just like any other act that offends the feelings of the Croatian people and contributes to divisions in society, the government said in a response to Hina’s query sent by spokesman Marko Milić.
A majority of parliamentary parties condemned the Imotski incident.
Social Welfare Minister Vesna Bedeković on Monday strongly condemned the burning of an effigy representing a same-sex couple with a child during the carnival in the southern town of Imotski, saying she acknowledged carnival traditions across Croatia but that this event was neither funny nor entertaining.
“I strongly condemn every form of hate speech. Building Croatia as an inclusive and tolerant society has no alternative. Therefore, I condemn this act which is not in the spirit of Croatian and European values,” the minister said in a press release in connection with Sunday’s incident.
More news about LGBT rights can be found in the Politics section.
