Reactions to Prayer during Marking of Srebrenica Day in Parliament

During Friday’s marking in Parliament of International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica, 11 July, Parliament Speaker Afrim Gashi and representatives of the Bosniak community recited a prayer, which was fiercely criticised by VMRO-DPMNE, ZNAM, SDSM, and Levica.

As VMRO-DPMNE and ZNAM said, Parliament is not and must not be a place for religious rites. SDSM urged liability over the matter, while Levica even said it would file a no-confidence motion against Gashi.

“We assess this anti-state, anti-constitutional, and anti-secular behaviour is a result of a joint deal of the ruling coalition,” Dimitar Apasiev’s party said.

On the other hand, VLEN said the prayer was just a humane gesture, adding that it hadn’t taken place during a regular session of Parliament.

“Parliament’s hall was used to pay tribute to those killed in the genocide,” the coalition added.

Former Justice Minister Krenar Lloga, who’s part of the Alliance for Albanians wing headed by Ziadin Sela, expressed support for the prayer.