Europe News
Serbia hands down light sentences against anti-gay ringleaders
Apr 20, 2011, 13:43 GMT
Belgrade - A Belgrade court on Wednesday sentenced a rightist leader to two years in prison for leading a campaign of violence against gays taking part in the Belgrade pride parade last year.
Mladen Obradovic, head of the extremist organization Obraz, was sentenced as the ringleader in riots in which 145 police were injured and 249 arrested.
Obradovic's wife and 12 others charged in connection with the violence were handed sentences of eight to 18 months. The sentences were at or near the legal minimum.
Hundreds of thugs threw bricks, flares, Molotov cocktails and bottles in clashes with police during Belgrade's gay pride parade on October 10.
In traditionalist Serbia, organizations such as Obraz, as well as the influential Orthodox Church, condemn homosexuality, which they consider a disease.
Read more about Serbia Justice
COMMENT
blog comments powered by DisqusLatest Headlines in Europe
- 1. Pope in Easter message calls for peace and religious tolerance
- 2. Magnificent Messi leads Barcelona to ninth straight win
- 3. Pope leads Easter vigil, calls for "true enlightenment"
- 4. Barcelona increase pressure on Real with romp in Zaragoza
- 5. Pope Benedict XVI leads Easter Vigil
Older Talkback
