Journalist imprisoned for insulting far-right politician

Did I read this crap correctly? This can't be happening today, in 2012 Serbia. This kind of thing was going on in former communist days and countries. What was it that he said, B92? You don't always report the entire story. But whatever he said, certainly cannot be justified with imprisonment. In a democracy, you can be sued for defamation of character, but one would have to publish an out right slanderous untruth. Simple criticism of political figures, is one of the most common journalistic practices in a democratic society. For Christ's sake, I remember the press calling former president Bush in the USA, things that should have been censored for out right lewdness, yet were aired. This story has sent a shiver through me.

"In case this ruling stands, Šaš will be the first journalist sent to prison for insult since the new criminal law has been passed," said a joint statement issued by the Association of Journalists of Serbia, the Independent Association of Journalists of Serbia, and the Independent Association of Journalists of Vojvodina.

Interesting, all these new 'laws' suddenly implemented in Serbia, might it be this one, or the unconstitutional province capital Novi Sad, and so on..

I hope Cedomir Jovanovic has been made aware of this new law.

Wow, jailed for exercising the freedom of speech. Way to go Serbia. WTF is wrong with you guys.

@ j...do U know WTF u'r talking about? Before U speak, U should know the facts, and unfortunately we don't have all of the facts before us. U, and I, don't know who the Judge is that convicted him of this transgression, but know that it was done by a Court in Subotica, where approx 80% of the population are ethnic Hungarians, hence a good chance exists that the Judge in the case was Hungarian- Serbian! Kid yourself not, there r a lot of people in that city and area that would very much like to c themselves a part of Hungary, once again, as in WWII, while serving Hilter, and before that while a part of Austria-Hungary!

Further, chances r pretty good that if the presiding Judge were Serbian, he/she wouldn't convict a journalist for criticizing d Leader of an ultra right movement, bent on making that part of Serbia a part of Hungary!

Shame on Serbia! Shame on us, people of Serbia for having this honest man imprisoned!

freedom of speech and press in today's democratic serbia.

if i were held to the same standards, all the things i've said and written about yr rotten-ass politicians, i'd never lv yr nasty prisons... not to mention our own :) ditto for most of us here.

as serbia moves to the eu?!

wake up, ppl!!

roberto

"In case this ruling stands, Šaš will be the first journalist sent to prison for insult since the new criminal law has been passed," said a joint statement issued by the Association of Journalists of Serbia, the Independent Association of Journalists of Serbia, and the Independent Association of Journalists of Vojvodina.

Interesting, all these new 'laws' suddenly implemented in Serbia, might it be this one, or the unconstitutional province capital Novi Sad, and so on..

Did I read this crap correctly? This can't be happening today, in 2012 Serbia. This kind of thing was going on in former communist days and countries. What was it that he said, B92? You don't always report the entire story. But whatever he said, certainly cannot be justified with imprisonment. In a democracy, you can be sued for defamation of character, but one would have to publish an out right slanderous untruth. Simple criticism of political figures, is one of the most common journalistic practices in a democratic society. For Christ's sake, I remember the press calling former president Bush in the USA, things that should have been censored for out right lewdness, yet were aired. This story has sent a shiver through me.

I hope Cedomir Jovanovic has been made aware of this new law.

Wow, jailed for exercising the freedom of speech. Way to go Serbia. WTF is wrong with you guys.

Shame on Serbia! Shame on us, people of Serbia for having this honest man imprisoned!

freedom of speech and press in today's democratic serbia.

if i were held to the same standards, all the things i've said and written about yr rotten-ass politicians, i'd never lv yr nasty prisons... not to mention our own :) ditto for most of us here.

as serbia moves to the eu?!

wake up, ppl!!

roberto

@ j...do U know WTF u'r talking about? Before U speak, U should know the facts, and unfortunately we don't have all of the facts before us. U, and I, don't know who the Judge is that convicted him of this transgression, but know that it was done by a Court in Subotica, where approx 80% of the population are ethnic Hungarians, hence a good chance exists that the Judge in the case was Hungarian- Serbian! Kid yourself not, there r a lot of people in that city and area that would very much like to c themselves a part of Hungary, once again, as in WWII, while serving Hilter, and before that while a part of Austria-Hungary!

Further, chances r pretty good that if the presiding Judge were Serbian, he/she wouldn't convict a journalist for criticizing d Leader of an ultra right movement, bent on making that part of Serbia a part of Hungary!