Zagreb Assembly bans hate symbols

The Zagreb City Assembly has voted to ban insignia, slogans, and messages that glorify or incite national, racial, or religious hatred in all city-owned spaces.

The measure, supported by the ruling Možemo!-SDP coalition, explicitly includes the World War Two-era slogan “For the homeland, ready”, which was used by the Ustasha regime.

However, Mayor Tomislav Tomašević said the decision will not affect the upcoming concert by singer Marko Perković Thompson on December 27th, as the event was approved before the vote and will proceed under previous regulations.

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković later commented that the Assembly’s decision “carries no legal weight,” while Deputy Prime Minister Branko Bačić criticized the move, saying it was illegal for local authorities to ban specific phrases or slogans, calling the measure “unacceptable.”

SDP representative Arsen Bauk defended the decision, saying the Assembly was simply reflecting the will of the voters who elected the current city government.