Nikola Posted August 27, 2016 Share Posted August 27, 2016 So, this is my first topic ever on this forum. I would love if it was something more pleasant but here I am. I will share my story, because maybe someone will be interested and I can't sleep right now. For last few years I was very outspoken about reconciliation, peace activism, war crimes and war victims, I am also out gay man in this homophobic asshole of Europe. I was born and raised in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Yugoslavia when I was born in 1989.) in small town Prijedor (38 persons from my town were convicted for war crimes by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in Hague) and i still live there/here. War in my country was really complicated so if someone is interested you should google it. Anyway, in my town more than 50 000 people were in the concentration camps, more than 3200 were killed (102 of them were children). It all happened from 1992-1995. but mostly in 1992. In Bosnia there are 3 major ethnic groups: Bosniaks, Croats and Serbs, Basically the same people divided by religion, Bosniaks are Muslim, Croats Catholics and Serbs are Eastern Orthodox. In Prijedor non-Serbs were killed, Because of my name I'm percieved as Serb, although I don't consider myself anything but human (I have many identities but not any of them is ethnic related). With few of my friends I started The White Armband Day campaign (if interested in it: Google ) to raise awareness for non-Serb victims, comemorate and change divided society. Because I'm percieved as Serb most of the people in my town, and Serb part of the country saw me as traitor. I was threatened by neo-nazis, hooligans, basic peasants basically. Bur slowly things changed. We are still waiting for at least one memorial for non-Serbs though. Long story short, few days ago I was at my friends place (we watchet Confessions tour, they are not Madonna stans but respect and admire her and drank wine) and at one point police patrol came to the door, asked us all to leave and they were really rude. I entered into elevator(lift) and said: Our government is corrupt and criminal but they are harassing us like this. At that moment one police officer grabbed me for my face and started to beat me with police bat, than he and other officer took me for my hands, and dragged me down 10 flights of stairs, showed me in police car and continued to beat me. (Oh my, this is a long story, sorry) They took me to the police station, humiliated me because i cant see well and wear glasses, said i was smartass and fined me 600 KM (Bosnian currency, around 300 euros) for breaking public peace and order (hahaha), torture continued for maybe one hour. Than I was dragged literally to the solitary confinement, where I was until morning. In the morning Chief officer tried to fix the damage because he was aware of the public attention this would get. I said that I will sue. My face was all covered in blood and they said I need to wash it if I want to go home, they also denied me one call I'm entitled to by law. I'm still in state of acute stress and on medication for it, I'm also on painkillers. So I'm really sorry for my bad grammar, I did not proofread anything. Funny fact: while I was in confinement i sang Human Nature and yelled: I'm not your bitch, don't hang your shit on me (I was in shock lol). Did you ever experienced something like this? I had to look for psyhiatric care and I feel really anxious. Any advice is welcomed. And I will sue the shit out of them, even if this is the most corrupt country in Europe. Sorry for my long post, maybe its unnecessary, I don't know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ULIZOS Posted August 27, 2016 Share Posted August 27, 2016 That's an awful story. I'm so sorry to hear that and I'm very glad you made it out okay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Django Posted August 27, 2016 Share Posted August 27, 2016 WOW! I'm shocked! Sorry for having to go through all this. Luckily I have never experienced anything like that and I hope I never will. You should definitely sue even if it's a corrupt country, unless it can get you into more (and worse) trouble. I get very mad when I read such things... the people who should and must be there for our protection are the criminals. Damn I hate this putrid world so much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sloane Posted August 27, 2016 Share Posted August 27, 2016 Wow. Thank you for sharing. Amazing that a person can be charged with breaking public peace when theyre inside watching a DVD. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ctg12 Posted August 27, 2016 Share Posted August 27, 2016 Omg I am so so sorry. Truly horrible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moniquearis Posted August 27, 2016 Share Posted August 27, 2016 Oh my. Sorry to hear Stay strong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elijah Posted August 27, 2016 Share Posted August 27, 2016 Document everything u can. Go to a doctor. Sue. Even if you loose in Bosnia, you definitely would win on European Court Of Human Rights. All this sounds bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mmmmm Posted August 27, 2016 Share Posted August 27, 2016 (((((((((((Hugs))))))))))) shocking and terrible! Stay strong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GOD Posted August 27, 2016 Share Posted August 27, 2016 What a shock. You're a brave soul. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Rachelle of London Posted August 27, 2016 Share Posted August 27, 2016 Wow. Stay strong. Thanks for sharing your story Nikola Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebel Saviour Posted August 27, 2016 Share Posted August 27, 2016 What happened to you is absurd and disgusting.You didn't do anything against the law. I am shocked and outraged.Stay strong, sue those bitches and espose them! Keep fighting for human rights in your country! Is homophobia so strong,violent and tolerated in some eastern european countries? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzy Jan Posted August 27, 2016 Share Posted August 27, 2016 Nikola, I am so sad and angry for what you have been through. Disgusting and horrible that you have been treated like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LVX Posted August 27, 2016 Share Posted August 27, 2016 That's horrifying. Hope you'll be OK. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
runa Posted August 27, 2016 Share Posted August 27, 2016 Just like I told you in the picture thread: glad you are ok! Take care of yourself, stay strong and keep fighting. The world needs people like you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nora Posted August 27, 2016 Share Posted August 27, 2016 Gosh. That's horrible. Sorry that this happened to you! Sue them and stay strong! Hugs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikola Posted August 27, 2016 Author Share Posted August 27, 2016 Thank you all so much. I'm not a needy person in general but now every bit of support is great. Luckily M has made many empowerment anthems. I've got great legal team, and I hope this will learn them a lesson. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikola Posted August 27, 2016 Author Share Posted August 27, 2016 Document everything u can. Go to a doctor. Sue. Even if you loose in Bosnia, you definitely would win on European Court Of Human Rights. All this sounds bad. Yes. They have breached European Convention of Human Rights, Constitution a several laws. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elijah Posted August 27, 2016 Share Posted August 27, 2016 Yes. They have breached European Convention of Human Rights, Constitution a several laws. Definitely there is a breach of ECHR. Probably several articles: Art. 3, Art 5 and even eventually Art 8. You definitely gonna win depending on the amount of evidence you have gathered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikola Posted August 27, 2016 Author Share Posted August 27, 2016 What happened to you is absurd and disgusting.You didn't do anything against the law. I am shocked and outraged.Stay strong, sue those bitches and espose them! Keep fighting for human rights in your country! Is homophobia so strong,violent and tolerated in some eastern european countries? Well, even Madonna used a snippet from the video of first pride parade in Belgrade (Serbia) in Nobody Knows Me backdrop for MDNA tour (at 1:39 ). That pride was violently attacked by neo-nazis and hooligans. In Bosnia we had first unofficial pride last year.Just a few months ago this happened in the hallway leading to my office : It means kill the faggot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elijah Posted August 27, 2016 Share Posted August 27, 2016 Well, even Madonna used a snippet from the video of first pride parade in Belgrade (Serbia) in Nobody Knows Me backdrop for MDNA tour (at 1:39 ). That pride was violently attacked by neo-nazis and hooligans. In Bosnia we had first unofficial pride last year.Just a few months ago this happened in the hallway leading to my office : It means kill the faggot. Thats so disgusting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
promise to try Posted August 27, 2016 Share Posted August 27, 2016 wow,I'm really sorry to hear what happened to you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pedro Posted August 27, 2016 Share Posted August 27, 2016 It seems that we have to be very aware of our sorroundings more than ever. If we are in developing or troubled countries even if we are Europe or the US. I was beaten once in south beach Miami because being gay coming out of Salvation Club. Funny salvation > beaten. A group of straight gays made fun of me and boyfriend as we walked with our faces dripping blood. Hope everything develops fine in your case. Love Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebel Saviour Posted August 27, 2016 Share Posted August 27, 2016 Well, even Madonna used a snippet from the video of first pride parade in Belgrade (Serbia) in Nobody Knows Me backdrop for MDNA tour (at 1:39 ). That pride was violently attacked by neo-nazis and hooligans. In Bosnia we had first unofficial pride last year.Just a few months ago this happened in the hallway leading to my office : It means kill the faggot. It's disgusting and scary at the same time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anastaza Posted August 27, 2016 Share Posted August 27, 2016 Just reading all this. Holy shit, Nikola. I am so so sorry!! That is horrible. Please take care of yourself. Do you have any support where you are? Are there friends or family you could reach out to? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kokot Posted August 27, 2016 Share Posted August 27, 2016 Nikola stay strong. This world needs more people like you. I hope you'll recover soon from that ordeal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikola Posted August 28, 2016 Author Share Posted August 28, 2016 It seems that we have to be very aware of our sorroundings more than ever. If we are in developing or troubled countries even if we are Europe or the US. I was beaten once in south beach Miami because being gay coming out of Salvation Club. Funny salvation > beaten. A group of straight gays made fun of me and boyfriend as we walked with our faces dripping blood. Hope everything develops fine in your case. Love That is so sad, having great time with your boyfriend and than being beaten just for being you. There is a long way to fight. Today I was first time outside by myself, it was scary as shit but I survived. They want us to crawl under the rock, well that ain't gonna happen (oh my, this sedatives are really good). Our rights are not given to us, we need to take them. When I say our, I mean for every marginalised group. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikola Posted August 28, 2016 Author Share Posted August 28, 2016 Just reading all this. Holy shit, Nikola. I am so so sorry!! That is horrible. Please take care of yourself. Do you have any support where you are? Are there friends or family you could reach out to? Thank you <3 Yes, my mother is so scared for my safety and she urges me to relocate for now because she was sure that police would protect me from treaths i was getting. Now I'm somewhere in-between. Thank you once more, it means EVERYTHING! Thank you all, my friend just said to me that my name is derived from Nike (Greek Goddess Of Victory) so it should mean something Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebel Saviour Posted August 28, 2016 Share Posted August 28, 2016 Thank you <3 Yes, my mother is so scared for my safety and she urges me to relocate for now because she was sure that police would protect me from treaths i was getting. Now I'm somewhere in-between. Thank you once more, it means EVERYTHING! Thank you all, my friend just said to me that my name is derived from Nike (Greek Goddess Of Victory) so it should mean something Yes, Nikola means the "one who wins ( nike, victory or the verb nikà o contracted in nikò-I win in ancient Greek) for its people or with his people (laòs), In Italian we have Nicola or Nicolò (Niccolò). Nicoletta for females. Your destiny is in your name. You have to fight and win a battle! Don't give up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DitaDolla Posted August 30, 2016 Share Posted August 30, 2016 Its 2016 and this is still happening. I hate this world. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ULIZOS Posted August 31, 2016 Share Posted August 31, 2016 My Mexican friend had a meeting in Texas a few days ago, she's a senior manager at Amazon Mexico. I think it was in Austin, but I'm not sure. Anyway, she decided to take advantage of the trip and take a quick road trip by herself from Florida to Texas with stops in New Orleans and other southern cities (Rosa Parks museum? I don't remember what she wanted to see exactly). So she was driving through Alabama and got pulled over. She handed the police officer her Mexican driver's license, which is valid in the US if you're a tourist, and she went to grab her Mexican passport in her purse on the passenger seat with her tourist visa in it and she said all she remembers is the officer putting a gun in her face, screaming PUT YOUR HANDS UP, then she was on the floor getting beat up. They broke her hand, arrested her, and since none of us knew where she was she say in a jail cell in Montgomery for 2 days without receiving medical attention and she somehow managed to contact the Mexican embassy and they helped contact her family and get her out of there. She posted this picture of her in a hospital in Mexico in her public blog so I don't feel bad sharing it here: I felt so angry and embarrassed when she told us what happened. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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