The march by Torcida members in Split on October 15. Photo: Torcida Split/Facebook.
Ivan Penava, president of the far-right political party Homeland Movement, which is part of Croatia’s governing coalition, held a press conference on Tuesday to denounce what he called a “political and media witch-hunt” against members of Torcida, a hardcore fan group supporting Hajduk Split football club.
Penava’s remarks came after members of Torcida chanted pro-Nazi and anti-Semitic slogans such as “Auschwitz, Auschwitz,” and “Rise, Adolf” during a street march prior to a Hajduk Split match against the Dutch club Ajax.
Police identified 23 individuals suspected of publicly inciting violence and hatred; several were arrested and six remain in custody.
After the incident was reported, Torcida accused journalists of exaggerating it.
“From a fan fight with Ajax fans, with the selfless help of the media, you have created a first-class national scandal,” the group said.
Torcida published portraits of 12 journalists, presenting them in a format resembling wanted posters, accompanied by the caption: “Croatia has already seen all sorts of wonders, but it hasn’t found enough rope for so many Judases.” The group also posted a photograph of a banner reading “Worm Journalists” on its Facebook page.
The Croatian Journalists’ Association, HND called on the police and the State Attorney’s Office to respond, while the international media freedom organisation SafeJournalists urged the Croatian authorities to provide urgent protection to the threatened journalists and to prosecute those responsible.
Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, who heads the ruling Croatian Democratic Union, HDZ, also voiced support.
“We always stand up for journalists. We don’t have to agree with their views, comments or even with what is sometimes an undisguised bias; regardless, we still stand up for them,” Plenkovic said on Monday.
However, Homeland Movement leader Penava, whose party is in coalition with Plenkovic’s HDZ, strongly criticised the Interior Ministry and the media for publishing photographs of suspects who are being sought by the police.
While condemning the pro-Nazi chants during the supporters’ march, Penava claimed that the Interior Ministry “decided to pump up this topic”.
Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic, when asked about Penava’s remarks on Tuesday, said there was nothing unusual about the publication of photographs of wanted suspects.
“When the police are searching for someone and have a photograph, they release it. If they don’t have a photograph, they might release a composite sketch instead,” Bozinovic explained, adding that such procedures were prescribed by the Law on Police Affairs.
“Photographs of all suspects were not released – only those of individuals who are being sought, or who are on the run or in hiding,” Bozinovic said.