Protests in Serbia over Kepiro's acquittal

Protests were staged in Belgrade and Novi Sad on Sunday caused by Hungarian court's acquittal of Sandor Kepiro. Kepiro is a former member of the fascist Hungarian forces occupying Serbia, who was accused of war crimes committed during the infamous Novi Sad massacre in 1942. Protests in Serbia over Kepiro's acquittal The participants of the Belgrade protest, organized by the Holocaust memorial society, said the acquittal was unacceptable and that Kepiro must be found guilty before a court of higher instance. The protesters in Novi Sad demanded that the Serbian Office of the War Crimes Prosecutor raise its own indictment against Kepiro. One of the organizers of the Belgrade protest, Avram Izrael, told the crowd the goal of the two protests was to express disagreement with the unjust verdict by the court in Budapest. He added there was evidence Kepiro took part in the Novi Sad massacre. Deputy War Crimes Prosecutor Bruno Vekaric was at the Belgrade protest. He told reporters that the applause in the courtroom when the verdict was announced "left an impression on all normal people across the world." "I am not certain that Anders Breivik missed the applause before he killed all those youths in Norway. It is a terrible message to extremists around the world and such messages mock the victims," Vekaric stated. The Office of the War Crimes Prosecutor hads provided all the necessary files and witness statements to Hungarian colleagues, he noted, adding that the verdict by a court of higher instance is now expected. The protesters prayed in Greek and Hebrew. The rally was supported by Simon Wiesenthal Center Director Efraim Zuroff as well, who sent a letter to the organizers. People who witnessed the Novi Sad massacre in January 1942 shared their experience with those gathered at the Novi Sad protest. The organizers demanded that the Novi Sad authorities build a monument dedicated to the victims of the massacre. Novi Sad massacre survivior Lubisa Letic (Beta)

Protests in Serbia over Kepiro's acquittal

The participants of the Belgrade protest, organized by the Holocaust memorial society, said the acquittal was unacceptable and that Kepiro must be found guilty before a court of higher instance. The protesters in Novi Sad demanded that the Serbian Office of the War Crimes Prosecutor raise its own indictment against Kepiro.

One of the organizers of the Belgrade protest, Avram Izrael, told the crowd the goal of the two protests was to express disagreement with the unjust verdict by the court in Budapest. He added there was evidence Kepiro took part in the Novi Sad massacre.

Deputy War Crimes Prosecutor Bruno Vekarić was at the Belgrade protest. He told reporters that the applause in the courtroom when the verdict was announced "left an impression on all normal people across the world."

"I am not certain that Anders Breivik missed the applause before he killed all those youths in Norway. It is a terrible message to extremists around the world and such messages mock the victims," Vekarić stated.

The Office of the War Crimes Prosecutor hads provided all the necessary files and witness statements to Hungarian colleagues, he noted, adding that the verdict by a court of higher instance is now expected.

The protesters prayed in Greek and Hebrew. The rally was supported by Simon Wiesenthal Center Director Efraim Zuroff as well, who sent a letter to the organizers.

People who witnessed the Novi Sad massacre in January 1942 shared their experience with those gathered at the Novi Sad protest.

The organizers demanded that the Novi Sad authorities build a monument dedicated to the victims of the massacre.