The chants heard this evening at the protest gathering in Podgorica — “Move out, Turks” and “Turks out” — are textbook examples of hate speech, which is punishable in European countries as well as in Montenegro.

A gathering where such slogans are shouted cannot be considered “peaceful”, but rather violent. Such an event does not enjoy protection in a democratic society. The police must prevent or restrict the expression and incitement of hatred at public gatherings and take measures to sanction it.

Look at examples of the same kind of speech that the Higher State Prosecutor’s Office in Montenegro has already classified as a criminal offense and a misdemeanor — therefore, consistently, the prosecution and police must act accordingly now as well.

Let us do everything we can to stop the spread of hatred and violence in our country!

Some foreign children were too afraid to go to school today. Do we want to be a society that children are afraid of? Do we want people in Turkey to treat our students, patients, workers, and tourists the same way?