Anti-gay Riot In Belgrade
- October 11th, 2010
- Posted by EUEditor
COMMENTARY: Hundreds of rioters in Belgrade on Sunday (10.10.10) attacked police, chased gay pride marchers indoors, and set fire to a section of the ruling Democratic Party’s headquarters building.
The crowds, identified as part of an extreme right wing Serbian nationalist grouping, shouting and throwing stones, after some hours had injured more than 40 police officers sent to contain them.
A small number of other people were also hurt.
The occasion was an attempted gay pride event organised by the lesbian-gay-bisexual-and-transgender (LGBT) lobby, which has been confronted with violence repeatedly since it started the commemoration in 2001
Marchers were kept inside a building as mayhem developed in the streets.
Serbian moves towards applying for membership of the European Union have been slowed by eruptions of violence in the country, as well as external disputes, especially Serbia’s opposition to independence for the disputed province of Kosovo.
It might have helped somewhat that the authorities set out to protect a beleaguered minority, more in line with EU policies on human rights and standards of government.
Similarly the Serbian Orthodox Church, while adamant in opposition to the homosexual movement, also condemned any resort to violence against it.
Reference
AFP, Paris, “Anti-gay riot erupts in Belgradeâ€, 10.10.10; “Serbian church warns anti-gay parade violence unacceptableâ€, 8.10.10.   . http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gyGs4Mg67Bg8kj4oTDBpsrOQ9cRA?docId=CNG.512d2f0a3cde8fd7ccb65b43026c6218.111, (10.10.10)..
BBC News, London, “Anti-gay riot erupts in Belgradeâ€, 10.10.10. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/, (10.10.10).
Jovana Gec, AP, NY, “Serb police clash with anti-gay riotersâ€, 10.10.10.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5idojTTQM-5dwx5wlFDdHHjzcnw9gD9IOQ3080?docId=D9IOQ3080, (10.10.10).
Reykavik Gay Pride (Home),”Reykavik Gay Pride warns queer people going to Belgrade”, 27.2.08. http://www.gaypride.is/Index/English/News/Seemore/118, (11.10.10).
Pictures  Serb Gay Pride activists – Reykavik GP; bbc