Zagreb, 08.07.2007

To whom it may concern,


we are addresing you to inform you on the outrageous misconduct of the police in the case of the violence against sexual and gender minorities during the Zagreb Pride 2007 manifestation.

Namely, from the begining of organizing of the Zagreb Pride 2007, the organizers were informed by the police that protection will not be as good as previous years. We were very suprised, having in mind violent atacks against sexual minorities and threats to LGBTIQ organizations that happened this year.

During the Zagreb Pride 2007 manifestation, between 1 and 3 p.m. according to our knowledge, occured 5 attacks on the members of sexual minorites in the center of Zagreb. Some of the people were injured and they required medical assistance.

When a group of citizents requested the police assistance in the 1. police staton, the police officer did not take adequate measures to stop the violence from continuing to occur. He ordered two citizents of Slovenia that were attacked, to stop holding hands at the police station. They told him that they were registered at their country and asked him why is holding hands forbidden. He said that „ in Croatia thtere is no such thing“. Then someone else said that in Croatia Same-sex Unions Act exists, but the officer said „this is not the truth“.

Around 9 p.m. Ombudswoman for Gender Equality noticed a group of young men comming from the area of Medveščak towards Draškovićeva street and shouting „Kill faggot, kill faggot! Faggots into chains!“. She notified the police station Medveščak on the incident.

Activists of the Team for Legal Changes called the police asking if the area around gay club Global is properly protected by the police officers, because attacks in that area often occur. The police officer arogantly answered: „I shall tell you right now: security is enhanced all over the city beause of that yours Pride and you have no bussines calling me about that!!!“ and hang up.

Even after statements of a series of witnesses and injured parties that organized groups brutaly phisically attack citizents in Zagreb, the police did nothing. This leads us to conclusion that the police does not sanctionize violence against sexual minorities and sends the message that such behaviour is acceptable.

The streets og Zagreb are not safe for members of sexual and gender minorities or other citizents, and the police activly contributes to such condition. It is obvious that because of great amount of homophobia and intolerance in Police administration of Zagreb there is no will to sanctionise cases of violence against sexual minorities, and any other minority as well.

Recently the European Court of Human Rights brought a verdict against Croatia beacause for not sanctionising the violence against a member of the Roma minority. It seems that this was not strong enough warning for the police to sanctionise violence against minorities. We are going to take all the appropriate measures to meke sure this case also results with condemnation of international public.

Croatia is the EU accesion country, but while our ambasadors talk about the newly adopted definition of hate crimes at international conferences, in reality the definition has no implementation.

We informed trhe Ombudswoman on Gender Equality on all the attacks and we will inform the OSCE and ILGA Europe as well.

We request from the police to inform the public on all the actions during the Zagreb Pride manifestation. We request the misdemeanor court to inform the public on the complaints against the perpetuators of violence during the manifestation.


Best regards,

Sanja Juras, Bojana Genov,
koordinatorica Pravnog tima Iskoraka i Kontre Ženska mreža Hrvatske

Kristijan Grđan, v.r.
Koordinator Iskoraka