Za dom spremni

Marko Perkovic, a singer known by his stage name 'Thompson', was found not guilty in a first-instance verdict on Wednesday of disturbing the public order by chanting "Za dom spremni" ("Ready for the home[land]"), the slogan of Croatian WWII fascist Ustasa movement.

Perkovic stood accused of disturbing the public order and peace, and the Misdemeanor Court in the town of Slunj found that him shouting the greeting in question ("Za dom spremni" in Croatian) did not represent incitement to hatred.

The judge read out the verdict to say that the greeting is "an integral part of the lyrics to the song 'Bojna Cavoglave' which he has authored."

The greeting, which translates to, "for home ready" and is abbreviated to "ZDS", was used by the fascist Ustasha regime of the WW2-era Independent State of Croatia (NDH) - a Nazi allied entity that operated death camps for Serbs, Jews, and Roma, including Jasenovac.

A 1990s battalion of the Croatian Defence Forces, named after a WWII Ustasa commander, commemorated its foundation in the city of Split by chanting the fascist slogan ‘Za dom spremni’.

With this act Croatia again relativizes the horrific and genocidal crimes committed in the NDH during the Second World War, and it also sends the Serbs in Croatia more than a scary message. This is in direct contradiction with the foundations on which post-war Europe and international order were built.

An expert advisory council said the Croatian government should allow the WWII fascist salute ‘Za dom spremni’, which has caused repeated controversy, to be used “in exceptional situations” under strict conditions.

Known for his use of the Croatian WWII fascist Ustasa slogan 'Za dom spremni' ('Ready for the Home(land)') in his famous 1991 wartime song 'Cavoglave', Thompson and his concerts are banned across Europe.

During the concert, Kosic - clad in a brown leather jacket - recited verses from Thompson's song 'Maranatha', while the band provided accompaniment.

A controversial memorial plaque that was placed last year near the site of the former death camp Jasenovac in Croatia has been moved to another location.

A controversial memorial plaque that was placed last year near the site of the former death camp Jasenovac in Croatia has been moved to another location.

A controversial plaque with the Croatian WWII fascist Ustasa slogan ‘Za dom spremni’ was removed from Jasenovac, near the location of a wartime Ustasa concentration camp.