Wire tapping, Lejla Zvizdić, Sarajevo, 25.10.2017.

BHJA •︎ 21/11/2017

Wire tapping, Lejla Zvizdić, Sarajevo, 25.10.2017.

Translations: Sarajevo 

  • Case info

  • Personal info

  • Regional center
    Sarajevo
  • Gender
    Female
  • Victim(s) name
    Lejla Zvizdić

  • Media outlet

  • Name of the media outlet
    BHT1
  • Type of media platform
    Radio
  • Source of information about the incident
    Mediji

  • Incident Data

  • Date of incident
    25.10.2017
  • City
    Sarajevo
  • Perpetrator(s)
    Not known
  • Attacked by
    Authorities - individuals
  • Type of incident
    Actual attacks on journalists

  • Action by the authorities

  • Action taken by the journalists' association

  • Was journalist's association informed by the journalists directly?
    Yes

Namely, the director of the Clinic Centre in BiH, Sebija Izetbegović, also wife of Bakir Izetbegović, Bosniak member of the tripartite Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, was interviewed, but the interview was not published when announced. The broadcast of this interview was originally announced on October 25, but it was not aired at the time, and since then there was no explanation why the interview was not displayed.

On November 04, without prior announcement, the interview was finally aired, with subsequently added responses, again without a reasonable explanation.

We consider this is an unacceptable example of political pressure on the PBS, coming from the highest political instances in BiH, wire tapping and censorship.

Also, this is a case of serious violence of political independence and of the ethical principles of journalism as a profession by the Public Broadcasting Service.

Case background:

As stated above, the director of the Clinic Centre in BiH, Sebija Izetbegović is wife of Bakir Izetbegović, member of the tripartite Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina.  When Mrs Sebija Izetbegović, started working on this position, the public reacted badly. Generally, it was considered as nepotism.

Media report regularly on Mrs Izetbegović, her work at the Clinic Centre in BiH, as well as the functioning of this institution.

The director of BHT1, explained much later, after the public already protested, that allegedly there were some technical problems, and that some parts of the interview were re-recorded. BHT1 was asked to deliver the original interview several times, but unfortunately, BHT1 never shared it.