Podgorica, (MINA) - LGBT Forum Progress has filed charges and complaints over hate speech against LGBTIQ+ persons broadcast on Prva TV, the NGO announced, stating that it expects concrete action from the authorities.

It is stated that reports and complaints have been submitted to the Police Administration, the Protector of Human Rights and Freedoms, the Agency for Audiovisual Media Services (AMU) and the Disciplinary Prosecutor of the Bar Association, over, as stated, hate speech, promotion of discrimination and violations of the dignity of LGBTIQ+ persons during the “Topic of the Morning” program aired on Wednesday.

“Writer and professor Dragan Koprivica and lawyer Mitar Susic were the guests in the studio, and on a TV channel with national coverage made statements for nearly an hour equating LGBTIQ+ people with pedophiles, necrophiliacs and zoophiles, describing them as sinners whose existence “threatens the right to life” and accusing the entire community of contributing to the decline of ancient civilizations”, the press release says.

According to the press release, the title of the show “Forcible entry into the world of adults” framed the presence of LGBTIQ+ topics in education as a form of violence even before the discussion began.

The press release adds that a report was submitted to the Police Administration against Koprivica, Susic and the responsible in the newsroom for hate speech, offensive language and dehumanization of LGBTIQ persons through a media outlet with national coverage.

A complaint was also submitted to the Protector of Human Rights and Freedoms over the violations of constitutional and international guarantees of dignity and equality of LGBTIQ+ persons.

It is further stated that a complaint was filed with the AMU for violating the Law on Audiovisual Media Services, which prohibits the broadcasting of content that incites hatred and discrimination.

The Forum stated that a separate disciplinary complaint was submitted to the Bar Association against Susic, who appeared in the show in a professional capacity, violating the Code of Professional Ethics of Lawyers, which requires the preservation of the rule of law and the reputation of the profession.