Dinko Gruhonjić, a professor who has written anti-nationalist books, has been the subject of a dangerous campaign of false statements that has led to death threats.
https://seemo.org/ressources/25-03-2024-graffiti-rewritten-at-dinko-gruhonjics-building-entrance/
April 1, 2024
General Secretariat of the President of The Republic Of Serbia
(Contact the President)
Andrićev venac 1, 11000 Beograd, Serbia
+381 11 311-1473
predstavkegradjana@predsednik.rs
Dear President Vučić,
The Committee of Concerned Scientists is an independent organization of scientists, physicians, engineers, and scholars devoted to the protection and advancement of human rights and scientific freedom for colleagues all over the world.
We write to you concerning the organized threats and general harassment of the Faculty of Philosophy of Novi Sad Professor, Professor Dinko Gruhonjić. In addition to being a lecturer, Gruhonjić is a journalist and the author of three books. One of these books in particular contains multiple columns in which he criticizes the nationalistic praise of war criminals. These books have been the target of tabloids that claim to express pro-government viewpoints.
After a video was recently manipulated to make it seem as if Gruhonjić was identifying with a known war criminal, he received multiple threats including graffiti on his home that implied he was going to be murdered imminently. His personal information has been made public, and this has resulted in numerous other death threats. We are deeply concerned a concerted and organized effort appears to be underway to silence and physically harm Professor Gruhonjić.
We strongly urge the Serbian government to declare they do not endorse the life-threatening statements and false evidence against Gruhonjić. Professor Gruhonjić has made statements that the Serbian government disapproves of. However, it is Serbia’s responsibility to show tolerance rather than destroy careers and threaten lives, even if these threats are made indirectly via tabloid proxy or by other means.
Last year, we wrote to you regarding the campaign of intimidation and harassment of University of Belgrade Associate Professor Jovo Bakić, a scholar of Yugoslavian sociology. It appears that this campaign continues. We ask you to make a public statement that Serbia respects freedom of speech and to put an end to government-sponsored propaganda against Professors Gruhonjić and Bakić.
Sincerely,
Joel L. Lebowitz, Paul H. Plotz, Walter Reich, Eugene M. Chudnovsky, Alexander Greer
Co-Chairs, Committee of Concerned Scientists
CC:
Antony J. Blinken
Secretary of State
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street, NW
Washington, DC 20520 USA
Phone: (202) 647-4000
Twitter: @ABlinken