Serbian Minister Bans Anti-Migrant Protests

Nebojsa Stefanovic, Serbia's Interior Minister, on Wednesday banned protests against refugees in Serbia after two far-right organisations, Nasi [Ours] and Srbski obraz, announced a rally next Monday.

The groups denounced what they called "an EU plan" to settle 400,000 migrants in Serbia.

"We will not allow the expression of intolerance and hatred to be something that is characteristic of Serbia. The Ministry of Interior will not allow any meetings against migrants and people passing through Serbia, who were forced to do so because of difficult conditions or war in their country," Stefanovic stated.

He said Serbia was proud of its traditions and would not allow "fascist manifestations".

Milan Antonijevic, from the Belgrade NGO Lawyers Committee for Human Rights, told BIRN that the ban was a good move but urged the authorities to do more to prevent problems from arising.

"The government should start a campaign to explain to citizens who the refugees are and why they come here - that they are facing terrible conditions and wars in their countries and so were forced to leave," Antonijevic said.

At the same time, he added that the government should clearly remind people that hate speech is a crime and that those found responsible for it will be properly sanctioned.

"The fears of refugees are irrational and I feel sorry that some organisations are trying to emerge from anonymity by mobilizing and abusing people with anti-gay propaganda and xenophobia," Antonijevic said.

Another Belgrade NGO, the Youth Initiative for Human Rights, said the planned protest against refugees would be a "shameful act."

The propagation of hatred against asylum seekers would only escalate conflict in the entire region, the NGO stated,...