Sarajevo, 8 January 2026 – The BH Journalists Association and the Free Media Help Line (FMHL) strongly condemn the statements made by the Mayor of Novo Sarajevo Municipality, Benjamina Karić, in which she targets journalists from the Patria News Agency and N1 Television for submitting legitimate and professional journalistic inquiries regarding the work of the Municipality and for seeking clarification of the circumstances surrounding the tragic death of a woman in a neighborhood belonging to this local community. In her social media post, Mayor Karić problematizes the content and tone of journalistic questions, questions journalists’ right to ask questions in the public interest, and accuses the media of exerting “political pressure” on her and municipal services. In the manner of rigid and undemocratic politicians, Mayor Karić lectured the public on what she considers “acceptable” journalistic questions and the limits within which, according to her view, the work of municipal public institutions may be scrutinized.
Such language and approach by Mayor Karić, combined with the public disclosure of emails containing the names of journalists from the Patria News Agency and N1 Television, constitute direct and unacceptable pressure on the media and a gross interference by political officials in the editorial autonomy of the media. BH Journalists consider it absolutely impermissible for public officials, by using their position and institutional power, to publicly challenge journalistic questions on social media, discredit the motives of journalists and media outlets, and dictate what questions they may or may not ask. Such conduct represents open pressure on media freedom and the right of access to information of public importance, thereby seriously undermining democratic principles of transparency and accountability of authorities toward the public.
Attempts to portray journalistic work as politically motivated or illegitimate solely because those in power dislike the content of questions or the manner of reporting are nothing more than a form of intimidation and delegitimization of the media’s work. Particularly concerning is Mayor Karić’s attempt to present a reasoned, polite and legitimate journalistic inquiry as a form of political pressure on the work of the Municipality and the Mayor herself. This is not only a political nonsense, but also an absurd accusation, given that the fundamental task of journalists is to ask public officials questions about how they perform their public duties.
Similar accusations against the media, like those made by Mayor Karić, have also been voiced by other holders of executive power in the Sarajevo Canton and by officials in public companies and services responsible for the functioning of municipal utility services, including during unfavorable weather conditions. Instead of responding to journalists’ questions in a reasoned manner and through direct communication, and informing citizens about the activities undertaken to mitigate the negative consequences of snowfall, public officials have used their positions and social media platforms to confront the media. Such practice points to a troubling pattern of behavior toward the media and a complete misunderstanding of the role of journalism in a democratic society, which neither can nor should be based on the mere transmission of self-promotional posts and photographs on social networks.
The BH Journalists Association reminds public officials that they are obliged to tolerate a higher level of criticism and public questioning, and that professional and direct responses to journalistic inquiries — not public shaming and discreditation — are the only acceptable form of communication with the media. In this context, BH Journalists demand that Mayor Benjamina Karić and other holders of public office in the Sarajevo Canton respect the right to freedom of expression and information of all journalists and media outlets in a professional, transparent, and non-discriminatory manner, as well as ensure direct communication with the media without pressure, threats, or attempts to control media content.
BH Journalists and the FMHL give their full support for journalists and editorial teams who are exposed to pressure due to their professional work. We will continue to closely monitor this and all other cases of public targeting of the media and will use all available mechanisms to protect journalists’ rights and media freedom from political pressure and abuse of public office.
Steering Committee of BH Journalists / Free Media Help Line
