20.07.2007
European Greens urge Croatian Government
to condemn homophobic attacks
against Zagreb Pride organisers and participants
The Spokespersons of the European Green Party have written to the Prime Minister of Croatia,
Ivo Sanader, to express their serious concern about homophobic acts of violence and threats against the organisers and participants of 2007 Gay Pride in Zagreb which took place on 7th July.
Members of the EGP's youth wing, the Federation of Young
European Greenstook part in the Gay Pride event, as did members of the Croatian Green Party"Green List"(Zelena Lista).
In their letter to the Croatian Prime Minister, EGP Co-Spokespersons Ulrike Lunacek
and Philippe Lamberts urge the Croatian government
to publicly and unequivocally condemn the violent attacks and threats of violence which occurred during and after the Gay Pride event. Up to now, no such public
condemnations by the Croatian government of the attacks and threats have been forthcoming. The attacks included physical violence against Gay Pride
participants and
organisers during the event itself, verbal abuse and death threats which have been repeatedly sent to one of the organisers afterwards.
The EGP Spokespersons recognise that several people were arrested during the
gay pride event and that the throwing of Molotow cocktails was prevented but
express their disappointment that only one of those arrested has been charged
with a hate crime. In their letter, Urike Lunacek and Philippe Lamberts say:
"The events surrounding Zagreb Pride 2007 are of such a serious nature
that they require an immediate reaction from the Croatian Government, in order
to show its dedication to the promotion and protection of democracy, human rights and civil liberties. Therefore, we urge you,
Mr Prime Minister, and the Croatian government, to firmly and publicly condemn
the homophobic attacks at and after Zagreb Pride and to urgently take the
necessary measures to promote the full respect of the inalienable European
values of equality
, non-discrimination non-discrimination and freedom of _expression_ throughout
Croatian society ."