CoE slams Serbia for "discrimination, racism, anti-Semitism"

There is a climate of hostility towards ethnic minorities in Serbia, according to a Council of Europe (CoE) report. The document, published by CoE’s European Commission against Racism and Intolerance, states that Serbia has taken a number of measures, such as the signing of a convention for abolishing all forms of racial discrimination, adopting the new Constitution and criminal laws and the appointment of a new ombudsman, but that "much more must be done". CoE slams Serbia for "discrimination, racism, anti-Semitism" Several regulations of the Constitution are criticized, such as the one found in Article 1 which states that Serbia is a state of the Serb people and all other citizens that live within its borders, which according to the commission, “indirectly draws differences between Serbs and other citizens". The report adds that the Law on Churches and Religious Communities “helps create a negative climate for the so-called untraditional religious communities, such as Jehovah’s witnesses and certain Evangelical groups.” “Several Serbian Orthodox Church dignitaries, which play an important role in the social and political life of the country, have had a part in fostering hostility towards these groups, which they refer to as 'cults', accusing their followers of being 'Satanists',” according to the report. The commission recommended that the Serbian government secure that all students take a course in civil society, which is currently an elective along with Bible study. The commission also stated that human rights education must be a staple of the school program on all levels, and that teachers should be trained appropriately, "in addition to police officers and judicial officials in a more widespread social context". The report criticizes “racial discrimination towards Romas and other minorities,” such as "the Hungarian minority in Vojvodina and the Albanian minority Serbia, especially in Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja, where this minorities suffers discrimination in the fields such as access to education and state administration, especially the police and the judiciary.” The report states that Serbian police and courts react ineffectively to racist attacks and "vandalism of religious monuments and cemeteries", including that against the Jewish sites. The report notes the existence of anti-Semitism which is seen through "undisturbed distribution and sale of anti-Semitic books and other publications". The climate of hostility towards religious minorities is especially produced by certain media and politicians, the report stated. “The development of democracy has also increased the number of tabloids, which often negatively report about ethnic and religious minorities,” the CoE commission stated. The document concludes that Serbia still does not have an independent body for considering complaints against the media and recommends that the Serbian government secures these necessary legal regulations against hate speech, and implement the laws against journalists who violate the regulations.

CoE slams Serbia for "discrimination, racism, anti-Semitism"

Several regulations of the Constitution are criticized, such as the one found in Article 1 which states that Serbia is a state of the Serb people and all other citizens that live within its borders, which according to the commission, “indirectly draws differences between Serbs and other citizens".

The report adds that the Law on Churches and Religious Communities “helps create a negative climate for the so-called untraditional religious communities, such as Jehovah’s witnesses and certain Evangelical groups.”

“Several Serbian Orthodox Church dignitaries, which play an important role in the social and political life of the country, have had a part in fostering hostility towards these groups, which they refer to as 'cults', accusing their followers of being 'Satanists',” according to the report.

The commission recommended that the Serbian government secure that all students take a course in civil society, which is currently an elective along with Bible study.

The commission also stated that human rights education must be a staple of the school program on all levels, and that teachers should be trained appropriately, "in addition to police officers and judicial officials in a more widespread social context".

The report criticizes “racial discrimination towards Romas and other minorities,” such as "the Hungarian minority in Vojvodina and the Albanian minority Serbia, especially in Preševo, Bujanovac and Medveđa, where this minorities suffers discrimination in the fields such as access to education and state administration, especially the police and the judiciary.”

The report states that Serbian police and courts react ineffectively to racist attacks and "vandalism of religious monuments and cemeteries", including that against the Jewish sites.

The report notes the existence of anti-Semitism which is seen through "undisturbed distribution and sale of anti-Semitic books and other publications".

The climate of hostility towards religious minorities is especially produced by certain media and politicians, the report stated.

“The development of democracy has also increased the number of tabloids, which often negatively report about ethnic and religious minorities,” the CoE commission stated.

The document concludes that Serbia still does not have an independent body for considering complaints against the media and recommends that the Serbian government secures these necessary legal regulations against hate speech, and implement the laws against journalists who violate the regulations.