no. 07-00-219/2020-02 date: 12.2.2021.

OPINION

The opinion was issued in the procedure regarding the complaint of the civil society organization “…” filed against AA, regarding the statements he gave in the show “…”, broadcast in the morning program on the Television “…”, on March 18, 2020. The complaint states, among other things, that AA, in his statements made in the mentioned show, while commenting on the causes of the pandemic caused by the Corona virus, committed a severe form of discrimination under Article 13 of the Law on Prohibition of Discrimination. In a statement on the allegations in the complaint, AA, among other things, stated that he is, ideologically and politically, an open opponent of exclusivity, intolerance, discrimination and all forms of violence, and that the position expressed in the show is based on his spiritual and ethical principles, „without any claim to incite intolerance towards the designated population”. During the proceedings, it was determined that AA, during a guest appearance on the show “…”, broadcast in the morning program on  the Television”…”, on March 18, 2020, explaining the reasons for the Corona virus pandemic, stated the following: “The human race has gone beyond control, not only deviations themselves are unbearable, but also pride in deviations, haughtiness in disorders, you see these people who started these other deviations, like homosexuality, which was considered immoral throughout the history of human civilization, not that it only became moral, in the perception of officiality, but even worse, as a higher value, it became a measure, that if you do not have a gay parade, you are backward, if you do not support the gay parade, you are retrograde… folks, it’s a disaster! Believe me, I had a premonition that something was going to happen”.  When asked by the presenter whether the Corona virus pandemic might be a way to make people better, AA answered that it meant “arraying people by force”. Given that the statement puts homosexuality in the context of illness and deviation, and that such attitudes are disturbing, create fear, hostility and offensive environment for people of different sexual orientations, and that the statement was given in the media, which makes it available to a wide audience, the Commissioner for the Protection of Equality gave the opinion that AA, with his statements, violated the provisions of Article 12 of the Law on Prohibition of Discrimination. In this regard, the Commissioner for the Protection of Equality recommended that AA meets with representatives of a civil society organization dedicated to the protection of human rights, get acquainted with the problems faced by members of the LGBT population, as well as the consequences of statements that create a hostile and offensive environment in their everyday life, and to take care in the future to adhere to the regulations on the prohibition of discrimination, when giving statements in the media.

COMMISSIONER FOR THE PROTECTION OF EQUALITY

Brankica Janković