Republika Srpska Constitutional Court issues split ruling on Bosniak vital interests

Republika Srpska Constitutional Court Bosniak rights Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina symbols vital national interest

The Constitutional Court of Republika Srpska has issued a split ruling regarding the protection of the vital national interests of Bosniaks. The court found that the Law on Cemeteries and Funeral Activities violates these interests due to a specific formulation regarding the ‘feelings of the Serbian people,’ which the court ruled undermines the principle of equality among the entity's constituent peoples.

However, the court rejected claims that amendments to the Criminal Code violate Bosniak interests. These amendments criminalize the public display of symbols and flags associated with the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (ARBiH). The court stated that the law does not target the official flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina or its international legal continuity, and that the importance of the ARBiH to Bosniak identity does not fall under the constitutional guarantees for vital national interests.

The Party of Democratic Action (SDA) has announced its intention to appeal the decision regarding the criminalization of ARBiH symbols to the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, arguing that the ban violates the constitutional continuity of the state.

Entities

Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina · Bosniak Club · Bosniak Delegates Club · Constitutional Court of Republika Srpska · Milorad Dodik · National Assembly of Republika Srpska · Party of Democratic Action

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 2 SOURCES] The SDA plans to appeal the Republika Srpska Criminal Code amendments to the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina. www.072info.com · sarajevotimes.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] The National Assembly of Republika Srpska adopted amendments to the Criminal Code that introduce prison sentences for the public display of certain symbols and flags. tuzlanski.ba
[● 3 SOURCES] The court ruled that amendments to the Criminal Code criminalizing symbols of the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina do not violate the vital national interest of Bosniaks. face.ba · www.oslobodjenje.ba · tuzlanski.ba
[● 3 SOURCES] The Constitutional Court of Republika Srpska ruled that the phrase ‘feelings of the Serbian people’ in the Law on Cemeteries and Funeral Activities violates the vital national interest of Bosniaks. www.rtvslon.ba · face.ba · www.zenit.ba