Homophobic attack in downtown Belgrade

The Gay Straight Alliance NGO says a gay man was a victim of a verbal homophobic attack in downtown Belgrade on July 18. The 21-year-old, identified with his initials, was approached by three unknown men, who blocked his way and began to "shout and threaten using the most offensive homophobic curses", the NGO has said. Homophobic attack in downtown Belgrade After that, they attempted to physically assault him, but their victim manage to move away and grab a cell phone from his bag in order to call the police, which, according to the statement, stopped the attackers. The three men stood for a while chanting, "kill the fagot", to then run away, the Gay Straight Alliance reported the victim's testimony. The NGO warned in its statement that the incident showed the same pattern repeated many times in anti-gay actions undertaken by several right-wing and extremist organizations that are still active in Serbia. The alliance also criticized the efficiency of the measures undertaken by the state in order to reduce violence directed against the LGBT population, and said lenient sentences for rioters during last year's gay parade in Belgrade were once example of this. The alliance called on all relevant state organs to immediately and efficiently start a systematic fight against violence targeting LGBT persons, as well as all the other citizens. Gay parade participants are driven away by police (FoNet, file)

Homophobic attack in downtown Belgrade

After that, they attempted to physically assault him, but their victim manage to move away and grab a cell phone from his bag in order to call the police, which, according to the statement, stopped the attackers.

The three men stood for a while chanting, "kill the fagot", to then run away, the Gay Straight Alliance reported the victim's testimony.

The NGO warned in its statement that the incident showed the same pattern repeated many times in anti-gay actions undertaken by several right-wing and extremist organizations that are still active in Serbia.

The alliance also criticized the efficiency of the measures undertaken by the state in order to reduce violence directed against the LGBT population, and said lenient sentences for rioters during last year's gay parade in Belgrade were once example of this.

The alliance called on all relevant state organs to immediately and efficiently start a systematic fight against violence targeting LGBT persons, as well as all the other citizens.