The cancellation of the European Rabbinical Conference is a major scandal and a dangerous symptom of extreme intolerance that resides in Sarajevo, said Željka Cvijanović, Serb member and Chairwoman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“With this act, Sarajevo has shown the entire world its dark side, which it has long stopped trying to hide when it comes to Serbs, Croats, and other dissenters in BiH. The self-proclaimed ‘European Jerusalem’ has slammed its doors on Jewish leaders who promote freedom of religion and interfaith dialogue, shattering all illusions of its false openness,” Cvijanović emphasized.
She stated that this move will severely damage Bosnia and Herzegovina’s already tarnished international reputation and lend credence to those who describe it in global media as a stronghold of antisemitism and a cradle of radical ideologies.
“Unfortunately, this is not the first time that Sarajevo’s politicians, media, and intellectuals have displayed hostility toward the Jewish people. This is merely the latest in a series of incidents marked by clear signs of antisemitism in recent years, which we have continuously warned about. It is a disgrace that reflects on all of BiH, even though BiH is not only Sarajevo, and what happens in Sarajevo does not represent the views of all peoples in Bosnia and Herzegovina,” Cvijanović told Srna.
Unlike Sarajevo, she continued, Republika Srpska would welcome members of the Jewish religious community with open arms, as well as anyone else who comes with messages of peace and dialogue—just as we have done many times before, welcoming our Jewish friends, representatives of their communities, business leaders, athletes, and many others who are always dear and welcome guests in Republika Srpska.
The European Rabbinical Conference, which brings together chief rabbis from across Europe, was scheduled to take place in Sarajevo from June 16 to 18. However, the management of the Swissotel, where the event was to be held, informed the organizers that the gathering was canceled due to “security reasons.”
The decision followed a public campaign led by Adnan Delić, Minister of Labor and Social Policy in the Government of the Federation of BiH. In an open letter, he called on citizens to oppose the conference and labeled Israel a “genocidal entity” committing “shameful crimes against humanity.”
As a result, the organizers decided to relocate the conference to Munich, from where they had received an invitation.
President of the European Rabbinical Conference, Pinchas Goldschmidt, stated that with this action, Sarajevo had declared itself “a city of openness and tolerance for all—except Jews.” He added that following this shameful attack on European religious groups, Bosnia and Herzegovina should be barred from joining the European Union.
Source: RTRS
