Croatian Journalists’ Association: We condemn insults aimed at the feelings of believers, and we invite journalists to adhere to ethical principles

Furthermore, the Croatian Journalists’ Association invites all fellow journalists to refrain themselves from abusing the media space by spreading articles that offend on the basis of religion or any other social position, orientation, style, or status.

16.04.2016.

The Croatian Journalists’ Association (HND) strongly condemns the texts, articles, and comments published in recent days by the Index.hr news portal, which brutishly offend the feelings of believers who paid their respect to the earthly remains of Leopold Bogdan Mandić, declared a saint by the Catholic Church.

Calling the aforementioned events “necrophilic orgies” and “the arrival of a traveling corpse of a one-armed dwarf saint” is deeply offensive and degrading to the feelings of citizens based on their religious affiliation. Intolerance and spreading hate speech is prohibited by a number of laws, including the Law on Electronic Media. It is also prohibited by the Code of Honor of Croatian journalists.

The Croatian Journalists’ Association (HND) appeals to all fellow journalists to adhere to ethical principles and to uphold the dignity of the profession. Furthermore, the Croatian Journalists’ Association invites all fellow journalists to refrain themselves from abusing the media space by spreading articles that offend on the basis of religion or any other social position, orientation, style, or status.

Saša Leković, President of the Croatian Journalists’ Association