Professor, journalist Dinko Gruhonjic receives Weimar Human Rights Award

It is with great joy that we welcome the City of Weimar’s decision to present its 30th anniversary Human Rights Award to journalist and University Professor Dinko Gruhonjic, they said in a press release.

Because of this independent and critical coverage of the increase in nationalism and glorification of war crimes in Serbia, Dinko Gruhonjic “has been and remains the target of slander and death threats,” they said.

In recent years, freedom of the press and of expression in Serbia have come under increasing pressure, added the two organizations.

“Dinko Gruhonjic has been and remains the target of slander, insults and threats aimed at his family as well. In the meantime, threats from within the establishment have grown louder. Representatives of the ruling party and the president of Serbia have launched a public intimidation campaign against Gruhonjic, which has resulted in threats of violence and open death threats,” said the organizations.

“I am glad the City of Weimar respects Dinko Gruhonjic’s tireless dedication to human rights and democracy in the Western Balkans,” Beta quoted STP director Roman Kuhn as saying.

He added that Gruhonjic is being threatened “in the middle of Europe” for his efforts.

“Despite mass attempts at intimidation,

Gruhonjic] has been unwaveringly dedicated to freedom of the press and freedom of expression. The Weimar Human Rights Award sends an important and encouraging message to journalists in Serbia and throughout the world not to let themselves be intimidated,” Kuhn said.

Gruhonjic said the award holds great emotional and human significance for him and his family.

“It represents deep recognition of my journalistic and academic work on promoting human rights, fighting militant ethno-nationalistic ideologies and promoting reconciliation among the peoples of the post-Yugoslav region,” he said, adding that the award will enable him to continue along this path, despite increased threats aimed at anyone in Serbia who advocates humane values.

“I am grateful to all those who nominated me for this prestigious award, to all my friends, my fellow-journalists, academic coworkers and my students, who have supported me and my family in these hard times,” said Gruhonjic.

Dinko Gruhonjic was nominated by the Society for Threatened Peoples, Reporters Without Borders and the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia.