Subscribe to Print Edition | Thu., February 04, 2010 Shvat 20, 5770 | | Israel Time: 10:16 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
Jewish World Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Focus U.S.A. Strenger than Fiction Business Travel Magazine Week's End Anglo File Books Haaretz Store
Share |
Last update - 16:19 05/06/2009
Bosnia Jew seeks to reverse ban on running for president
By Reuters
Tags: Israel News, Bosnia 
 

A Bosnian Jew and an ethnic Roma have appealed to the European Court of Human Rights to overturn laws that prevent them from running for president.

Under the Dayton peace agreement that ended Bosnia's 1992-95 war, only Bosnian Serbs, Bosnian Muslims and Bosnian Croats may run for the office.

The constitution envisaged 14 years ago sought to stop the war in which 100,000 people died and granted political rights only to ethnic groups that fought each other.
Advertisement

"This closed the door to all those who do not declare as members of one of these three constituent peoples," said Jakob Finci, head of the Jewish community and Bosnia's ambassador to Switzerland.

Minorities and those from ethnically mixed marriages, which were commonplace in Bosnia during Yugoslav times, also do not have the right to run for the national parliament's upper house.

The European Court of Human Rights heard the case this week brought by Finci and Dervo Sejdic, a member of Bosnia's Roma Council, which alleges Bosnia's constitution violates the European Convention on Human Rights and United Nations conventions and international treaties.

"I think it's high time to step away from ethnic patterns that were necessary to stop the war," Finci told Reuters by telephone from his office in Bern. "It's time for Bosnia to enter its European phase."

The court is expected to issue its ruling in September.

The Minority Rights Group International said in a statement the case marked the first time the Strasbourg-based court has considered the application of the Council of Europe's anti-discrimination laws in member states.

"If the court rules in favor of the applicants, it could provide a far-reaching judgment which can be used by other minorities who lack electoral rights in other European states," said Lucy Claridge, the group's legal director.


Minorities and those from ethnically mixed marriages also do not have the right to run for the national parliament's upper house.

Related articles:
  • 'Proud Hungarians must prepare for war against the Jews'
  • Why straight people go to gay synagogues
  • Brazil thwarts neo-Nazi bomb plot
    • PROMOTION: Mamilla Hotel
    Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    Israel's rich future
    Treasury chief: Israel to rank among richest nations if it unlocks minorities' potential.
    Israel braces for snow
    Storm to sweep Israel as northerners brace for snow and steep temperature drop.
      1.   Racist trickery 19:05  |  Mike B 05/06/09
      2.   # 2 mike 22:24  |  Axel 05/06/09
      3.   Axel re Euro courts 01:16  |  Arie 06/06/09
      4.   Sound Familiar? 02:52  |  Nasty Celt 06/06/09
      5.   What are jews still doing in those Holocaust stained countries 02:57  |  Adi 06/06/09
      6.   Celt in Canada:In a way you`re right 04:51  |  Arie 06/06/09
      7.   Dayton Wasn`t Perfect 08:27  |  Mark of Lewiston 06/06/09
      8.   Dayton Wasn`t Perfect 08:28  |  Mark of Lewiston 06/06/09
      9.   Axel you just can`t say, "Anti-Semitism" 12:29  |  world observer 06/06/09
      10.   to Adi 16:27  |  1life 06/06/09
      11.   Not directed at Jews 17:47  |  Daniel 06/06/09
      12.   #11 Thank you for the information 20:10  |  world observer 06/06/09
      13.   no way 11:08  |  imad 07/06/09
      14.   well, everything is not antisemitism 19:21  |  kretenikus 07/06/09
      15.   Celt in Canada: Lebanon, not Israel 02:07  |  Serge 11/06/09
      16.   Dayton imperfect but it did the job 04:11  |  Josh 16/06/09
      17.   re 00:09  |  Gokhan 04/02/10
    Special Offers
    Advertisement
    Eldan Rent a Car
    Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on online reservations
    Shalom Hartman Institute Jerusalem
    This Summer in Jerusalem Learn about the "Other". Special Prices Until Feb. 15
    100% Pure Dead Sea Salt
    Lowest price in the U.S.A. for genuine Dead Sea Salts
    Online forex trading now with
    the security of a Swiss bank
    Best Passover Vacations Under the Suntm in Florida, Arizona, Mexico.
    Resort Vacations. All the traditions of Passover. Glatt Kosher
    Your Aliyah starts here.
    Nefesh B'Nefesh Aliyah Workshops and Personal Meetings in your area
    Camp Kimama Israel - Summer 2010
    An incredible experience with Jewish youth from all over the world
    More Headlines
    09:19 Netanyahu cool to calls for fresh Syria talks
    09:20 Peace will be found in Damascus, not Ramallah
    09:21 U.S.: Easing Gaza siege would help counter Goldstone
    09:30 Australia blocks Iran shipments over nuclear weapons fears
    09:22 The message is clear: Israel must not strike Iran
    09:26 Israel's southern residents irate over missile defense decision
    09:27 Robbing Sderot of defense from rockets
    09:29 Hamas rejects Goldstone charge of Gaza war crimes
    07:13 TV ROUND-UP: Third 'barrel bomb' washes ashore; Syria: Israel leading Mideast to war
    07:11 Israeli schools to teach about Eichmann trial for first time
    04:50 Eichmann united the Jewish people
    06:04 Under pressure from settlers, IDF rebuilding West Bank watchtower
    06:22 Moscow cancels Jewish Agency meet over presence of Putin adversary
    07:09 Grandson of Auschwitz survivor buys Mengele's diary
    Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Site rules |
    | Advert: Recommended Restaurants | Makom: Engaging on Israel
    | Search engine marketing
    Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
    © Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved