AI Index: EUR 70/25/95

November 1995

Husno BIHORAC - Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY)

Husno Bihorac, aged about 35, is a (Slav) Muslim from in the Sand_ak region, which straddles areas of western and eastern . , the descendants of Slavs who converted to during the centuries of Ottoman (Turkish) occupation of much of the Balkans, account for about half of its population, the remainder being and Montenegrins. In the former Yugoslavia, Muslims were recognized as a distinct national group, mostly living in Bosnia-Herzegovina and the Sand_ak area. Since 1991, following the break-up of former Yugoslavia, political parties in the Sand_ak representing Muslims have called for the region to be given autonomous status. During 1992 and 1993, following the outbreak of armed conflict in Bosnia-Herzegovina, thousands of Muslims left the Sand_ak after they or their Muslim neighbours' homes, businesses or cars were destroyed by Serb or Montenegrin paramilitaries and political extremists (some operating from Serb-controlled areas in Bosnia-Herzegovina). There were also cases in which Muslims were murdered or abducted in the Sand_ak area. Although the FRY authorities publicly condemned such crimes, they frequently appeared unable or unwilling to offer effective protection to Muslims. Many Muslims, like other Yugoslav citizens, responded to the situation of insecurity by seeking to obtain weapons. The authorities have carried out mass searches for arms in the region. Muslims have complained that they are specially targeted for such searches and that the authorities turn a blind eye to the arming of Serbs and Montenegrins. There have also been reports that police have beaten many of those they arrested during arms searches, although such incidents were apparently fewer in 1995 than in 1994.

Husno Bihorac is a member of the Novi Pazar Steering Commitee of the Party of Democratic Action (Stranka Demokratske Akcije - SDA), the main party representing Muslims in the Sand_ak. He was arrested and severely beaten in three police stations on 18 September 1995 after police carried out a search for arms at his home [they did not find any arms]. On 23 September 1995 he made the following statement:

"On 18 September the police came to my place of work and took me to the police headquarters in Novi Pazar. There they ill-treated me. The police went to my house to search for arms. They found nothing. [When they came back] the deputy chief of police of Novi Pazar [named], slapped me while my hands were handcuffed behind my back; he punched me and damaged my ear-drum. Then they began to strangle me and tear my hair out and to hit me with truncheons. That lasted for three or four hours in Novi Pazar. Later they took me to the police station in Raška. There they made me get up on a table and they beat the soles of my feet with truncheons. That lasted for an hour. Then they took me to . On the way there they threatened me that they would take me to and kill me. They said they would bury me in cement so that no one would know where I was. Later they told me they would take me to Zvornik [a town over the border in Serbian-held territory of Bosnia-Herzegovina] and exchange me [for Serbian prisoners held by Bosnian Government forces]. 2

When we reached Kraljevo, they handcuffed me to a cupboard and state security police officers began to beat me. They punched me and then they put my feet up on the table and beat the soles of my feet with truncheons. After that I had to sit on a chair and they again beat the soles of my feet. Then six of them threw me to the floor and kicked and punched me and beat me with truncheons. That lasted for about 15 minutes.

They repeated this several times. They questioned me about weapons, about which I knew nothing. At mid-day they took me back to Novi Pazar. They released me in the market place. They told me I must report back at mid-day the next day to sign a statement. I didn't go.

On 21 September they came again to my home to look for me. My sister told them I was at the doctor's. They came to the hospital and saw me there. They were there the whole time at the hospital, so that I couldn't complete the medical examinations. From the hospital they went back to my home to look for me although they had seen me at the hospital. The third time they came they left a summons that I should report to the police the next day, 22 September at 10am.

They next day I went there. The police chief [named] had heard that I was going to file a complaint against them and he threatened to jail me and my brother. He said that he had information that my brother had been the leader of a paramilitary unit and he said that if I filed a complaint against them, he would protect his subordinates and jail me. 'No one has ever won a court case against the State,' he said."

Amnesty International notes that Husno Bihorac's account is supported by a copy of a police report concerning the search carried out on 18 September 1995 at Husno Bihorac's home which states that the police did not find the incriminating objects they were looking for; photocopies of photographs of his severely bruised feet and back; photocopies of three medical certificates issued by Novi Pazar hospital dated 19 September 1995, and a photocopy of a police summons ordering him to report to office no 36 at the police station in Novi Pazar at 10am on 22 September 1995.

On 28 September 1994 Radio Bosnia-Herzegovina reported that the SDA had protested at a press conference about the detention and ill-treatment of Husno Bihorac.

Amnesty International is concerned that Husno Bihorac was beaten and otherwise ill-treated by police officers at police stations in Novi Pazar, Raška and Kraljevo on 18 September 1995. Amnesty International is calling for a full and impartial investigation into this incident. The organization is further calling for those responsible to be brought to justice and for fair and adequate compensation for the victim.

Amnesty International opposes unconditionally torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment of all prisoners.