The Minister for Human Rights and Refugees of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sevlid Hurtić, reacted to the statements of the president of HSS, Marija Karamatić, after it was announced that a request had been sent to FIFA for a ban on displaying the flag with lilies in stadiums.
Hurtić said that the flag with lilies is legal and that it represents historical symbol of the state and its continuitywhich is why it cannot be subject to arbitrary political qualifications.
Commenting on the allegations from the letter sent to FIFA, in which it is claimed that it is a “politically and historically burdened symbolism” and a symbol that “is not an official state symbol”, Hurtić stated that such argumentation is unacceptableand because it tries to reduce the state’s identity to a narrow political interpretation.
He pointed out that various historical and regional symbols are used without problems on the international sports scene.
I will remind you that i FC Schalke in a sports context celebrated their successes with the flags of Bosnia and Herzegovina. If that’s a problem, let those who are making noise today be brave enough to report Schalke as well, and not selectively target only Bosnia and Herzegovinasaid Hurtić.
According to him, calling for a ban on “political symbols” represents an attempt to limit the identity and expression of a nation and statewhich is not in the spirit of sport.
Bosnia and Herzegovina has the right to its symbols and its identity. The flag with lilies is not a threat, it is part of our heritage. Any attempt to ban it is a political act, not a sporting act. Bosnia and Herzegovina will not give up its symbols, stated Hurtić in a press release from his office.
(www.jabuka.tv | Photo: Denis Kapetanovic/Pixsell)
