Bosniak children language discrimination in Republika Srpska

In late July 2026 the Supreme Court of Republika Srpska issued a final judgment that the entity and the public elementary school “Sveti Sava” in Zvornik had discriminated against Bosniak pupils by labeling their language inconsistently—using Serbian‑language labels while leaving Bosnian entries blank or marking them as “language of Bosniak nation.” The court ordered the school to correct all official records and student books to ensure equal labeling of constituent peoples’ languages.

A few days later the court reiterated the ruling, emphasizing that the discrimination extended to school records, birth registers and other documentation. The decision concluded a decade‑long legal struggle launched by parents from the village of Liplje, who endured shifting labeling practices, strikes and threats. Parents welcomed the verdict and called for its adoption in other schools, while officials signaled an upcoming review of language‑labeling practices across Republika Srpska.

Both snapshots document the same legal outcome and its broader implications for language rights and minority protections within the entity.