On September 24, 2008, as organizers celebrated the opening of the first LGBT Pride Festival in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, dozens of young extremists attacked visitors to an arts and cultural exhibit.

Eight people were injured and organizers received death threats, which they believe were inspired by local religion-based hate rhetoric.

"This cannot continue to happen to our people," said The Rev. Elder Diane Fisher, who learned of the Sarajevo attacks while preparing to attend the meeting of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, an intergovernmental agency under the United Nations Charter. "An increasing atmosphere of intimidation and a blatant disregard for treaties and laws that mandate protection of LGBT people by European Union member states and those applying for membership cannot and must not be tolerated. "

"I am calling on all spiritual and political activists today," she continued, "to deluge the Sarajevo government with demands to introduce hate crimes provisions designed to protect LGBT people or withdraw their application from the European Union."

"I am also clearly saying: Religion, no matter our particular persuasion, is about honoring the sacred presence in all life. Religious leaders advocating disrespect for that presence and even violence against it, must publicly acknowledge their culpability in the recent violence and call their communities to repentance."

Source: Statement by MCC Moderator, Nancy L. Wilson, 26 September 2008