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Sat, May 26 2012
Serious injuries, arrests after anti-gay protesters, police clash in Belgrade
A boy holds a balloon next to anti gay posters during protest in Belgrade, October 9 2010. Nationalists staged the rally dubbed 'A march of family people, for the defence of family and cancellation of gay parade', to protest against a pro- homosexual parade scheduled for October 10 in central Belgrade.
Photo: Reuters
A woman holds a religious icon and shouts as she marches during an anti gay protest in Belgrade, October 9 2010. Nationalists staged the rally dubbed 'A march of family people, for the defence of family and cancellation of gay parade', to protest a gay pride parade scheduled for October 10 in central Belgrade.
Photo: Reuters
About 40 people were injured, some seriously, after anti-gay protesters threw petrol bombs and stones at police protecting an October 10 2010 gay rights parade in Belgrade, local and international media reports from the Serbian capital said.
At least one police officer was seriously injured. Police, who were on duty to protect the country’s latest attempt at a gay pride parade – the first since a 2001 attempt ended in violence from ultra-right groups – called in reinforcements, reports said.
Police used tear gas against the rioters, reported to include a main large group of about 200 with several smaller group elsewhere in the city.
About 60 people were arrested, according to CNN, quoting Serbia’s interior ministry.
Interior minister Ivica Dacic had urged people to allow the march to go ahead without incident, Serbia's Tanjug news agency reported on October 9.
"It is very important that the event, which might be disagreeable to most of Serbia's citizens, goes by without incidents," Dacic said.
Other reports said that the protesters, chanting "death to homosexuals," threw bricks, stones, glass bottles, and firecrackers at the baton-wielding police.
The gay-pride march was viewed as a major test for Serbia's government, which has launched pro-Western reforms and pledged to protect human rights as it seeks European Union membership, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty said.
The Serbian Orthodox Church also had spoken out against the parade, but had called on opponents of the parade not to use violence.
At least one police officer was seriously injured. Police, who were on duty to protect the country’s latest attempt at a gay pride parade – the first since a 2001 attempt ended in violence from ultra-right groups – called in reinforcements, reports said.
Police used tear gas against the rioters, reported to include a main large group of about 200 with several smaller group elsewhere in the city.
About 60 people were arrested, according to CNN, quoting Serbia’s interior ministry.
Interior minister Ivica Dacic had urged people to allow the march to go ahead without incident, Serbia's Tanjug news agency reported on October 9.
"It is very important that the event, which might be disagreeable to most of Serbia's citizens, goes by without incidents," Dacic said.
Other reports said that the protesters, chanting "death to homosexuals," threw bricks, stones, glass bottles, and firecrackers at the baton-wielding police.
The gay-pride march was viewed as a major test for Serbia's government, which has launched pro-Western reforms and pledged to protect human rights as it seeks European Union membership, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty said.
The Serbian Orthodox Church also had spoken out against the parade, but had called on opponents of the parade not to use violence.
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Shame to all nations from Russia via Serbia to Iran, who are on rampage to promote killing of gays. I firmly beleive any healthy relation between man and woman with loving kids and family members are not seeing gays as threat to them. Thugs and sex deprived individuals are searching for reason to remind themselves how horrible life they have by attacking individual right of all people. BTW I am going in Serbia with slogan as man "I love woman but my husband doesn't"
This comment has been removed by the moderator because it contained foul, abusive or discriminating language
I designed this poster way back in 1990 at the University of Minnesota! Glad to see it has taken on in Serbia!
Tom David
Minneapolis
This comment has been removed by the moderator because it contained foul, abusive or discriminating language
The thing is that the Serbs seem to answer to all "threats" with violence. Didn't hear that about the gays... actually I can't believe they are any threat to anybody.
i bet you anything most these violent protesters are gays of the closet variety, projecting their self hatred
This comment has been removed by the moderator because it contained foul, abusive or discriminating language
This comment has been removed by the moderator because it contained foul, abusive or discriminating language
@123 We don't have to enter the EU if you are intolerant as well, of us as a nation this time and it certainly seems like you hate Serbs for whatever reason. Serbia has a lot to learn about many things, many of us know this and are trying. This won't happen easily with attitudes like yours though. Why? Because you ask for tolerance and give intolerance!
This comment has been removed by the moderator because it contained foul, abusive or discriminating language
Just strenghtens my opinion about the Serbs. Hope they will not enter to the EU
This comment has been removed by the moderator because it contained off-topic content
This comment has been removed by the moderator because it contained off-topic content
SERBS ARE TURNING ON EACHEOTHER NOW HAHAHAHHA MADE MY DAY
I am against violence as well, however why push something like a gay parade in Serbia if it just doesnt work. Now supposedly it is one of the options to be parto of the EU. Fuck EU, I dont remember other countries having to have gay parades in order to join. Now once again, we proved this is unacceptable in our country, and while gay pride attendes are celebrating inside some club, streets of Belgrade are in riots and flames. Thank you Serbian government once again, was it really worth it to push this in our country? I dont think [...]
Read the full comment so.
The troubles in the gay parade in Belgrade are regretable and without reason.In any democratic and free society minority rights should be respected without exceptions.
This is shame for Serbia!And I'm thinking both of the "parades"...
You should see Belgrade today. Horrible, horrible events.