Yesterday started the first Queer Festival in the Bosnian city of Sarajevo with a opeing ceremony and an exhibition of Queer life and culture. The festival and its organizers had already received opposition from various sides, going so far as death threats along with the publication of names and addresses in anti-queer internet forums. When the Festival opened in the evening about fifty hooligans gathered on the other side of the river screaming paroles (i will fuck your mother in the vagina and similar) while at the art center about fifty religious radicals gathered close to the entrance, discussing with and insulting the 150 supporters.

The physical attacs started when people started to leave the exhibition site. One woman got hit in the face at the entrance and seven others got beaten up on the way home or were waited for at their appartments. Four of them are still in the hospital this morning, with broken noses and other substantial injuries. Police presence was moderate with moderate interest to protect the participants of the festival. Eight people were arrested.

There was a press conference this morning. The festival was supposed to last four days, but because the safety of the participants could not be garantied, the organisers decided not to continue the regular program. Today there will be discussions at one local media center about how to react to the situation.

The life of queer people in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but also all over the Balkan is dangerous and repressive. Last week at the queer festival in Beograd activists were attacked in a similar fashion.

Antifašistika Akcija! Show your Solidarity, Fight back and Rebel!