Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Serbs' exhibition of war pictures banned

Tim Kelsey
Friday 15 January 1993 19:02 EST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

SERBS in Britain have been denied permission to stage an exhibition that details alleged war crimes committed by Croatians and Muslims against Serbs in former Yugoslavia, writes Tim Kelsey.

The exhibition of photographs opened in Belgrade six months ago. It provides a gruesome account of the suffering of Serbs during the Second World War and the present conflict. British Serbs wanted to stage the exhibition in London in an attempt to bolster public support for Serbia.

The Department of Trade and Industry has ruled that this would be in breach of UN sanctions. Ariana Beatty, one of the organisers, last night accused the Government of censorship.

In a letter the department states that the exhibition contravenes UN resolution 757 which forbids cultural exchanges with Serbia or Montenegro. Ms Beatty says the exhibition should be unaffected: the photographs are not of Serbian origin - they show atrocities against Serbs living in other provinces of former Yugoslavia. Also it is not sponsored by the Serbian authorities.

'We just want to bring the photos in,' Ms Beatty said. 'It is so important because since the last war we were not allowed to talk about it.'

Ms Beatty said that the cost of the exhibition in the UK was being met by British Serbs. She argued that the prohibition was an insult to all 30,000 Serbs in this country. 'The Serbs are getting all the accusations and don't get the chance to defend themselves.'

Both Muslim and Croatian expatriates have staged exhibitions documenting their victimisation.

Peace deal in jeopardy, page 8

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in