Human Rights Action strongly condemns threats of physical violence against psychologist Petar Marković from Bar, which were caused by his visual identity. We expect that the persons who sent these threats will be discovered and prosecuted, in both his and the general interest. Montenegrin society must become tolerant of diversity, which implies absence of uniformity. It is not important how the speaker is dressed, but what he is telling us. In recent days, Marković spoke in an enlightened fashion about the need to use a fundamental reform of upbringing and education to influence the encouragement of empathy and the reduction of aggressive communication that escalates into the most terrible forms of violence.

Threats of lynching and similar physical violence, addressed to Marković, constitute a criminal act of endangering security and must be efficiently prosecuted and punished to prevent them from being repeated and leading to more serious consequences.

In its Constitution, the Criminal Code and other laws, Montenegro has expressly prohibited any form of hatred and intolerance. We expect that every form of causing and inciting hatred on discriminatory grounds will be prosecuted, that everyone over the age of 14 who is subject to criminal and misdemeanour liability will be prosecuted, and that parents will be held accountable for the damage caused by unlawful behaviour of younger children.

We appeal to decision-makers to show responsibility in their actions, especially in creating public opinion, and to work to promote tolerance. It is only in this way, with the legal and dedicated action of the competent institutions, that we can ensure an environment in which we could hope for safety for all of us and our children.