The issue of national identity is taken seriously by Balkan people – including the least serious among them.
Bosnian Imam Loses Sex Abuse Appeal
Sarajevo | 08 December 2009 |
Resad Omerhodzic was found guilty in February this year of abusing an underage girl during religious classes in Gluha Bukovica, a remote mountainous village in central Bosnia.
The first instance court sentenced him to 18 months in prison.
Omerhodzic has appealed the verdict, but the appeals court in the central town of Travnik announced on Monday it was upholding the initial verdict.
“This is a great victory and message to all, especially to persons who are in direct contact with children… to keep their hands away from children,” the lawyer for the girl’s family Dusko Tomic told the media.
The initial trial which took four years to complete provoked significant controversy in Bosnia as the country’s Islamic Community appeared to be backing Omerhodzic.
However, the Islamic leadership suspended Omerhodzic after the initial verdict promising to tighten up imams’ discipline and supervision.
