Gay Pride March Banned in Serbia

Julie Bolcer 04/1022012 Police in Serbia banned the march for the second year in a row following a complaint from Patriarch Irinej of the Orthodox Church, who called the event a “tragicomic parade of shame.” Police in Serbia have banned a gay pride march in Belgrade for the second year in a row, citing security concerns but also appearing to comply with a demand from the leader of the Orthodox Christian Church. The Associated Press reports, “Police said they are banning the march planned over the weekend because they fear a repeat of the violence in 2010, when right-wing groups attacked such an event in Belgrade, triggering day-long clashes with the police that left more than 100 people injured.” The influential head of the Orthodox Church in Serbia had asked authorities to ban the march, calling the event a “tragicomic parade of shame” that insults the country’s Christian tradition. Serbian news source B92 reported on a statement from Patriach Irinej that said the parade “casts a heavy moral shadow on Belgrade, on Serbia’s longstanding Christian culture and the dignity of the family, as the basic unit of humanity.” Prime Minister Ivica Dacic had said the event would be banned if security risks were deemed too high