Croatian mayor "could be investigated" for hate speech

ZAGREB The police and the public prosecution in Croatia "are considering" launching procedures against Split Mayor and Croatian parliament member Zeljko Kerum. Kerum, who was previously quoted as saying that he "did not wish to have a Serb son-in-law", and that "Serbs must know their place", told the country's state broadcaster HRT over the weekend that Serbs were "the source of all problems in Croatia". Croatian mayor "could be investigated" for hate speech According to the Croatian official, this ethnic minority "controls the media and the money". The statements caused strong reactions, while Zagreb's Jutarnji List daily is reporting that "the state apparatus" has now taken interest in the scandal. According to the article, "the police and the prosecution have analyzed the footage in detail in order to ascertain whether Kerum's statements contained element of the criminal act of racial and other discrimination, that is - hate speech". Some Croatian lawyers who spoke to the newspaper believe that what the Split mayor said was "on the verge of being punishable" - in other words, that "it will be difficult to make some kind of court process out of it". On the other hand, many of Kerum's fellow members of parliament are reportedly of the opinion that "such words cannot be uttered without consequences". Even Jadranka Kosor - who as the leader of the HDZ made it possible for Kerum to become an MP by including him in the party list - reacted to say that the statements "deserved every condemnation", as they went contrary to the country's Constitution, "and many laws". Zeljko Kerum (file) B92 Vecernji list

Croatian mayor "could be investigated" for hate speech

According to the Croatian official, this ethnic minority "controls the media and the money".

The statements caused strong reactions, while Zagreb's Jutarnji List daily is reporting that "the state apparatus" has now taken interest in the scandal.

According to the article, "the police and the prosecution have analyzed the footage in detail in order to ascertain whether Kerum's statements contained element of the criminal act of racial and other discrimination, that is - hate speech".

Some Croatian lawyers who spoke to the newspaper believe that what the Split mayor said was "on the verge of being punishable" - in other words, that "it will be difficult to make some kind of court process out of it".

On the other hand, many of Kerum's fellow members of parliament are reportedly of the opinion that "such words cannot be uttered without consequences".

Even Jadranka Kosor - who as the leader of the HDZ made it possible for Kerum to become an MP by including him in the party list - reacted to say that the statements "deserved every condemnation", as they went contrary to the country's Constitution, "and many laws".