Activists condemned the actions of police officers against human rights activist Nidzara Ahmetasevic, who was released from custody on Saturday afternoon after she was detained that morning in Sarajevo for disturbing public order and "disobeying the orders of an officer.” Pročitaj više

The circumstances that led to the detention of Ahmetasevic can be seen in a video posted on social media. It shows her arguing with police officers.

Ahmetasevic can be heard asking one of the officers to wear his mask because of the pandemic several times in the video.

“Put handcuffs on this fool, let’s take her to Jagomir,” one of the officers can be heard saying as she is being detained, referring to a psychiatric hospital in the city.

Among those who reacted to the video is activist Refik Hodzic, who explained in a Twitter post that Ahmetasevic is “of fragile health” and called on the KS Interior Ministry to release her as soon as possible “so that her health and life would not be endangered” and to reveal the reason behind the arrest.

KS Prime Minister, Edin Forto, responded to the tweet, saying that he “shared the concern” about Ahmetasevic and that he hopes “police and the acting judge will resolve the case as soon as possible.”

Forto pointed out that he has no power to tell the police and court what to do.

According to the KS Interior Ministry, Ahmetasevic was detained after she disturbed public order and peace, insulted police officers and obstructed their work “for no reason.”

The Ministry resolutely rejected allegations that Ahmetasevic was detained because of her activism, saying the officers only acted in line with the Law on Misdemeanors and the powers of police officers prescribed by the Law on Police Officers in Sarajevo Canton.

Police also said that the journalist and activist “publicly belittled” the officer.

“After she was repeatedly warned by police officers to stop disturbing public order and peace, she refused to act on the legally issued order of the police, and thus continued to commit misdemeanours, after which she was, in accordance with the Law on Misdemeanors, deprived of liberty,” police said.

“The KS MUP Police Directorate and police officers will not tolerate the illegal behaviour of any individual, regardless of who it is,” it said.

According to the ‘Transbalkan Solidarity’ group, “the arrest is a strong indicator of the pressures and evidence of the criminalization of solidarity to which activists and journalists have been exposed in recent years when they express their displeasure, protest against silencing and the seizure of freedom of speech and movement.”

Nidzara Ahmetasevic is known for her activism regarding human rights and migrant issues.