MPs from the National Minorities Demand for Inclusion of Hate Crimes in the Criminal Code

09 June 2006

As reported by the media, the Members of the Sabor (Croatian parliament) from the national minorities could revoke their support fot he changes and amendments in the Criminal Code proposed by the Government, if hate-crimes are not included in the text of proposed amendments.

The proposed amendments were adopted and incorporated by the Sabor Committee for Human and Minority Rights, on initiative of Iskorak and Kontra associations. The amendments introduce a qualified form of criminal offence committed out of hatred towards a person on the basis of its race, colour, sex, sexual orientation, language, faith, political and other belief, social and economic background.

The vote on the amendments have been postponed for three times already � according to ruling HDZ � because of ongoing consultations. However, the minority representatives contacted by �Jutarnji List� daily claim that nobody from HDZ ever contacted them.

Four of the eight minority Sabor Members announced the possibility to vote against the amendments: Furio Radin, Milorad Pupovac, Ratko Gajica and Zdenko Cuhnil. According to the media, they expect to adopt a joint position for the whole Club of National Minorities. However, the said changes may be adopted without their votes.