SafeJournalists condemns Croatia’s entry ban on Bosnian reporter Avdo Avdic

According to the organization, Croatian border police at the Gradiska crossing handed Avdic an official decision on November 12 at 1:28 pm, stating that his name appears in the national registry of persons banned from entering the country. The Interior Ministry provided no explanation for the decision.

In a statement to SafeJournalists, Avdic said he believes the ban is connected to his recent participation in a public panel at Zagreb’s Islamic Center, where he discussed Bosnia and Herzegovina’s election law and the official policies of Zagreb toward Sarajevo.

“The decision contains no reason for the ban, it simply says I’m listed in the national registry,” Avdic said. “If I had committed a crime or even a misdemeanor, I’d have been detained or fined. Instead, they just banned my entry, so I can only speculate about the motives.”

The decision sparked reactions from Bosnian officials. Foreign Minister Elmedin Konakovic and Presidency member Zeljko Komsic said they would formally seek an explanation from the Croatian Embassy in Sarajevo, calling the move a serious attack on press freedom in the region. Another Presidency member, Denis Becirovic, labeled the ban “unacceptable.”

SafeJournalists described Croatia’s action as an arbitrary violation of the journalist’s right to free movement and to report on matters of public interest, warning that it sets a “dangerous precedent incompatible with EU democratic standards.”

The network urged Croatia’s Interior Ministry to immediately clarify the reasons for its decision and to ensure journalists can work freely.

“Every attack on journalists is an attack on democracy, the public interest, and fundamental human rights,” the statement concluded.