CIVIL – Center for Freedom strongly and unequivocally condemns the incidents of burning the national flag in which young people were involved, including minors, under the influence of the dangerous nationalist rhetoric. These actions not only symbolize destructiveness and disrespect for the principles of coexistence and multiculturalism, but also deepen hatred and division in our society.

It is deeply disturbing to witness such incidents, but even more serious is that young people are being exploited for spreading destructive ideologies.

CIVIL calls on all responsible institutions, community leaders, but also parents, educators, civil society organizations and all responsible and dignified people to take urgent measures for promoting tolerance and to take urgent steps for intensive education against hatred on any basis. Society and the state are obliged to protect the legal order and hold accountable all those violating the law. At the same time, institutions and social actors have an obligation to protect the children and youth from harmful propaganda.

CIVIL also condemns the political profiteers who, instead of offering solutions, used the incidents with the burning of the Macedonian flag for daily political points, in statements that contain condemnation, but at the same time sent inflammatory, polarizing messages. This contributed to a response from the “other side” and additional incidents of burning the Albanian flag, but also violence in which, according to the data known so far, a young person was beaten.

CIVIL, in its 25 years of existence, has continuously worked on promoting multiculturalism and respect for diversity in the country, in the region and globally. In the light of these incidents, CIVIL demands from all relevant stakeholders to urgently take steps to strengthen efforts for promoting interethnic and intercultural tolerance, through comprehensive education and support for the youth to reject hateful rhetoric. Civil society, educational institutions and the media must cooperate to create an environment in which young people will be free from the influence of the destructive propagandas.

At the same time, CIVIL insists on a legal and institutional response to all those who incite or participate in acts of hatred, including those who abuse the incidents for political manipulation and polarization. Only by uniting all stakeholders can further violence be prevented and the values of multiculturalism, coexistence and democratic values be protected.

Translated by: N. Cvetkovska