Hundreds of Sarajevo and Zenica residents protest abuse in Pazaric institute

According to N1's Slavisa Starcevic who was at the scene, some 100 Sarajevans took to the streets asking the Federation (FBiH) entity's authorities to resolve the issue of the Pazaric home.

Even though the FBiH government adopted the proposal for the dismissal of the entire management board fo the Pazaric institute and its director, the citizens said they want more.

One of their demands was the formation of a commission made of parents, health care professionals and representatives of local and international organisations to control the entire investigation process into the Pazaric case.

In Zenica, several hundred citizens walked to the city centre, in support of the Sarajevans who gathered Saturday morning.

“We came to support this protest, on behalf of those children, and to send a strong message that children must be above everything. We want to say that modern slavery should not happen,” Amna Kepeš from the “Nasa djeca” (Our Children) Association said.

She noted that she rescheduled her regular activities planned for the International Children's Day, to come out and warn of the shocking photos published on the very day November 21.

Last week, Sabina Cudic, and MP, held a press conference at which she showed images and videos of mentally disabled children placed in the care of the Pazaric Institute, who were tied to their beds, radiators, and their hands were either tied behind their backs, or the children were wearing a straitjacket.

She said the children suffered physical and emotional harm as a result of prolonged periods of sitting or laying down tied like that.