OSCE Representative urges swift investigation of all acts of violence against journalists in Bosnia and Herzegovina, following recent arson attack

BUCHAREST, 7 October 2015 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today condemned an apparent arson attack on a car owned by BH Radio 1 Mostar correspondent Emil Karamatić.

“I call on the authorities to condemn this attack at the highest level and to ensure a swift and transparent investigation bringing the perpetrators to justice,” Mijatović said. “Ensuring safety of journalists is essential for media freedom.”

On 6 October, Karamatić’s car was set on fire in front of his home in Višići, Čapljina. A police investigation has been launched. 

In a separate incident on 2 October, the online news portal Nezavisne Novine was subject to a hacker attack. Mijatović last year warned the government in Bosnia and Herzegovina of increasingly frequent cyber-attacks on news websites, and urged the authorities to investigate and protect online portals and allow journalists to perform their work in a free and safe manner.

The Representative recalled the high number of threats and attacks against journalists in Bosnia and Herzegovina which are still not fully investigated, a key issue she raised previously with the authorities, most recently during her official visit in July this year.

Mijatović is in Bucharest participating in an international conference on media freedom and combatting terrorism.

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States. She provides early warning on violations of freedom of expression and media freedom and promotes full compliance with OSCE media freedom commitments. Learn more at www.osce.org/fom, Twitter: @OSCE_RFoM and on www.facebook.com/osce.rfom.