Monthly Monitoring Highlights November: anti-LGBTIQ+ narratives, ethnic and religious discrimination alongside sexism, and attacks against journalists

During November, the RDN monitoring team detected a range of hateful narratives and discourse fueled by anti-LGBTIQ+ narratives, ethnic and religious discrimination alongside sexism, and attacks against journalists.

Anti-LGBTIQ+ sentiments in North Macedonia

At an event organised by the Youth Education Forum (YEF), the Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO) and the National Student Body (NSB), the Prime Minister of North Macedonia announced many more new investments, better conditions for higher education, and more rights and opportunities with the new laws on higher education and student standards. He also stated that “We must fight for a country full of young people: for many children in kindergartens, for many children in schools, for many young people in universities. That means a marital union between a husband and a wife”.

In the last few months, the ruling VMRO-DPMNE party, led by Hristian Mickovski, has given conservative messages especially when it comes to students. President Goranda Siljanovska and the minister of education have presented the same message on what marriage is, stating it is a union between man and a woman with children. This conservative messaging, which is spread throughout the media, leaves a perception that this is the only acceptable type of family and excludes the LGBTIQ+ population.

By framing societal progress around a heteronormative family model, the remarks marginalise diverse family structures and exclude LGBTIQ+ individuals, single parents, and non-traditional partnerships. Such rhetoric not only alienates a significant portion of the population but also risks influencing policies that overlook the needs and contributions of diverse communities, undermining the principles of equality and inclusivity in a modern society.

Ethnic discrimination in Kosovo

The Kosovo national football team halted their match against Romania a few minutes before the end following a brief argument between players from the two teams after Romanian fans began chanting “Serbia, Serbia”. The Kosovo team justified their decision by labelling the chants as “racist”. After the match, representatives of the Kosovo team held a press conference where the team captain, Amir Rrahmani, among other things stated that “Kosovo is Kosovo, and Kosovo is Albania”.

This statement sparked criticism from Kosovan journalist and analyst Halil Matoshi who suggested on Facebook that the captain should be stripped of his armband following such remarks. Matoshi wrote, “Kosovo, with its folklore and the captain’s confusion in declaring that ‘Kosovo is Albania,’ inadvertently legitimises, in the eyes of some Romanians (and opponents of the Republic of Kosovo), the hostile political chant ‘Kosovo is Serbia’!? But this is not racist chanting! This is a nation’s negation chant against their opponent!” His post was shared by the online media outlet Insajderi, attracting around 1,000 hate speech comments against Matoshi on its Facebook page.

Religious discrimination in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Jasminka Tica Isović, media adviser to the prime minister of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and SDP president Nermin Nikšić, faced backlash after posting a controversial message on Instagram. Her post followed the election of SDA candidate Emir Muratović as the chief of the municipality in Jablanica, defeating the SDP’s Damir Šabanović.

In her Instagram story, which featured a photo of the article announcing the SDA candidate’s victory, Tica Isović wrote: “At three in the morning, you call Neka, and Neka is with you, Neka helps. All for you people from Jablanica. A very nice thank you. With all due respect, here’s Imam for you now, and you will finish everything in two days. A complete disappointment. Dado, head up. Everyone chooses as they deserve.” In this message, “Neka” refers to Nermin Nikšić, while “Dado” is a nickname for Damir Šabanović.

The message drew criticism for being tone-deaf to the struggles of Jablanica’s residents, who had recently endured catastrophic floods in which their homes were destroyed and family members lost. Šabanović, who lost his bid for re-election, had served as the municipality’s chief during and after the disaster. Residents had questioned authorities about unresolved issues, including a quarry suspected of contributing to the wider scale of the floods that hit Jablanica, but received no answers.

Media outlet N1 criticized Tica Isović for blaming the locals for their electoral choice without acknowledging their suffering.

Her post also offended Muslims by referring to the SDA candidate as “Imam,” implying the SDA is merely a “Muslim party” – a statement which is both insulting and inappropriate. Shortly after posting, Tica Isović deleted the message, leading to speculation about whether this was done voluntarily or under pressure. However, regardless of this, such statements should not be made by anyone, especially someone with such a high position. Platforms should not be used to spread hate and insults.

Sexism in Albania

On 17 November 2024, Renée Reffo, influencer and the daughter of actress Julia Ilirjani, made a provocative statement during an appearance on Pardon my French, Top Channel, igniting debates across social media platforms. When asked about her requirements for a partner, she revealed that financial expectations are a defining factor. Her comments, which emphasised the need for a partner to earn at least twice her income, sparked discussions related to gender inequality and societal standards.

During the interview, Renée Reffo stated that she would not consider a partner who hadn’t experienced half of what she had or who earned less than she does in a month. She specifically said “My financial condition is that the man by my side must earn at least twice as much as I do. If it’s more, even better, but that’s the minimum. I can’t date a guy who hasn’t had half the experiences I’ve had or who doesn’t make as much money as I do” further adding “If I go to a luxury restaurant once a week, he must be able to take me at least twice a week.” These remarks quickly garnered attention online, sparking debates about gender roles and financial expectations in relationships.

Renée’s statements highlight traditional gender stereotypes, particularly the notion of men as primary providers. By asserting that a man must earn at least twice her income to be a suitable partner, she reinforces the idea that a man’s value is tied to his financial success. This only serves to perpetuate and uphold societal pressures on men to meet outdated expectations, reducing their role in relationships to financial contributors rather than emphasising emotional or intellectual compatibility. Such views contribute to the challenges men face in navigating modern relationships while conforming to patriarchal standards.

For women, these comments can have a dual effect. On one hand, they reflect a sense of empowerment, as women assert their standards and refuse to settle. On the other hand, they risk perpetuating stereotypes that women prioritise financial security over meaningful partnership. This can lead to women being unfairly labeled as “materialistic,” despite similar expectations from men often going unquestioned. This double standard underscores the persistent gender inequality in how society perceives relationship dynamics. A public figure like Renée, with a platform and significant audience, should be mindful of the messages she shares. Using interviews on widely viewed platforms like Top Channel to promote harmful narratives on gender is both irresponsible and harmful, as it perpetuates stereotypes and bias.

Attacks against journalists in Montenegro

Ana Raičković, editor of the crime section at the daily newspaper Pobjeda, was verbally and physically attacked allegedly by businessman Zoran Bećirović, his son Luka Bećirović, and his bodyguard Mladen Mijatović, an employee of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. This assault was reportedly prompted by Pobjeda’s investigative reporting on Bećirović’s business activities. Furthermore, the attack extended beyond Raičković herself, as two of her family members were also targeted.

Zoran Ćoćo Bećirović is a controversial Montenegrin businessman who has faced scrutiny from journalists and anti-corruption activists for his questionable business practices. His aggressive response to media coverage underscores a troubling pattern of hostility toward journalists who expose corruption and misconduct. Furthermore, this incident highlights the lack of protection and mechanisms in place to protect journalists from being verbally and physically attacked.

Journalists like Raičković play a critical role in holding powerful figures accountable, and violence or intimidation against them undermines their ability to perform this vital function. When journalists are silenced through fear, it deprives the public of transparency and critical information about those in power.

Furthermore, the targeting of Raičković’s family members, intended to instil fear and discourage investigative journalism, is a dangerous and harmful tactic used by individuals and institutions at risk of being exposed. Such actions are reprehensible and should be prevented and perpetrators held accountable.

International frameworks, such as Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, protect freedom of expression, and many countries have specific legal provisions to safeguard journalists from threats, violence, and intimidation while performing their duties. In Montenegro, journalists are protected through its constitution and laws which guarantee freedom of expression and speech, however, attacks and threats to press freedom remain unpunished. To preserve press freedom and expression, it is essential for authorities to investigate these attacks thoroughly, hold perpetrators accountable, and ensure journalists can work without fear of retaliation.

Media targeting of students and activists in Serbia

After an outdoor roof collapsed at the Novi Sad train station on the 1^st of the month, leaving 15 people dead and 2 more fighting for their lives, media reporting at first took the focus away from those responsible. As a result, huge protests erupted in Novi Sad and other cities followed by a student-led blockade of the Faculty of Dramatic Arts (FDU). FDU students were physically and verbally attacked during a roadblock organised to commemorate the victims and demand justice. Other students followed in solidarity, resulting in nationwide blockades of all faculties at the three biggest state universities in the country – Belgrade, Novi Sad and Niš.

The media targeted activists, students and others participating or publicly showing their support for the protests. They were called ‘anti-Serbian’, ‘working against the state’, ‘violent’ and accused of ‘wanting to cause a civil war’. They were also accused of cooperating with the opposition and taking money for their activism. Tabloids used manipulations, disinformation and spin in an attempt to target, discredit and intimidate young people. Apart from the media targeting and harmful media narratives on protesters and students, those participating in protests, especially in 15-minute commemorations for the 15 victims held across the country have been attacked both physically and verbally.