Thousands of Bosnians assembled in the streets on Monday to demand urgent action from authorities in addressing the issue of violence against women. The protests, which took place simultaneously in multiple Bosnian cities including the capital Sarajevo, aimed to advocate for increased protection for women, stricter control over violent media content, and improved police response to cases of violence. Banners with powerful messages such as “Silence is approval,” “We won’t live in fear,” and “Stop femicide” were held by the participants. In Sarajevo, a massive banner declaring “Sarajevo against violence” echoed the slogan used during long-running street protests in neighboring Serbia.
Mayor Benjamina Karic, leading the procession of demonstrators, expressed that the city of Sarajevo was rejecting violence and demonstrating support for all victims of such acts. Bosnia’s Human Rights Minister, Sevlid Hurtic, called for legislative changes to enable stringent punishment for violence against women and femicide.
The citizens of Bosnia were particularly incensed by reports that the slain woman, who resided in the town of Gradacac, had previously reported harassment and violence to the authorities. Their anger escalated due to the fact that the perpetrator had a criminal record. The shooter, in a video posted on Instagram, warned viewers that they would witness a live murder. The video depicted the moment he took a firearm and fatally shot a woman in the forehead while the sound of a child crying could be heard nearby. The video was later removed from Instagram.
The shooter, identified as Nermin Sulejmanovic from Gradacac, also killed two others and injured three before taking his own life. Reports from Bosnian media revealed that the 35-year-old was a bodybuilder and fitness coach who had previously been arrested for drug smuggling and assault on a police officer. The funeral for the victim, Nizama Hecimovic, was held in Gradacac and was attended by several thousand mourners.
Violence against women remains a prevalent issue in Bosnia and the broader Balkan region, where societies tend to be conservative and male-dominated. The area is still recovering from the violent conflicts that ensued in the 1990s following the dissolution of Yugoslavia.
Bosnia continues to grapple with ethnic tensions and economic struggles in the aftermath of the 1992-95 conflict, which claimed the lives of 100,000 individuals. In Serbia, two mass shootings in May triggered widespread demonstrations demanding an end to a culture of violence perpetuated by mainstream media and authorities.
[Image: Thousands of people in Bosnia are protesting against violence after a man livestreamed the killing of his ex-wife on Instagram. (Fox News)]
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