Source: http://dalje.com/en-world/21-year-old-a ... lag/460924

21-year-old arrested for burning Croatian flag

Banja Luka police have found and arrested the person who set on fire a Croatian flag in that northwestern Bosnian city on Friday evening during a Croatia-Serbia World Cup qualifying match played in Zagreb, official sources confirmed on Monday.

A statement to the press, issued by the Banja Luka Security services, said the perpetrator was a 21 year-old man whose initials are M.S. He was arrested in the night between Saturday and Sunday, but was released after questioning. Police announced they would press charges against him for a crime qualified as inciting ethnic, religious or racial hatred and intolerance.

The flag was burnt in a square where football fans were watching the match on a big screen, and a fight broke out among supporters of the Serbian team shortly after Mario Mandzukic scored the first goal for Croatia in 23rd minute. Most of the fans dispersed after Ivica Olic scored the second goal for Croatia in 37th minute, according to the Bosnian largest web portal klix.ba. (Hina)

We must admit, that it was quick reaction of RS police.

On the other side, police of Sarajevo Canton did nothing, three years ago, when fans of FK Željezničar also burned croatian flag.

Why should burning a flag be a criminal offence in a free society?

I have to agree with Rory on this one... unless it is done with the intention to incite hate. I remember burning Yugoslav fags during protests against the homeland war and during rallies for Canada/US to recognize Croatian independence.

What do you mean with "a free society"? You can create "free" and "open" society in your Western countries, but you shouldn"t apologize crimes and manners which insult emotions of Croatian people.

I agree as well. Somebody who is burning a flag presumably bought it somewhere and is presumably destroying his own property. Under a just system anyone may destroy their property if they are so inclined.

If a third party is offended by this then that is its prerogative, but I don't see how that is a matter for the police or the judiciary. The law isn't there to soothe your feelings it's there to uphold the right of property.

Law protects different values, not only property. Feelings can be more important value than property. This act is crime in any legal system.

In any legal system for cry babies.