Bosniak Party Vice President and MP Jasmin Ćorović condemned the singing of Chetnik songs that glorify war criminals Pavle Đurišić and Dragoljub Mihailović.
"Let us repeat, Pavle Đurišić and Dragoljub Mihailović are criminals, collaborators of the occupiers and symbols of a destructive ideology, which ultimately led to catastrophic consequences, murders and destruction. I condemn in the strongest terms any glorification of the image and deeds of these criminals. The particular damage caused by the actions of these individuals and the Chetnik movement in general was felt by members of the Bosniak/Muslim population in World War II, as well as later through the collapse of the SFRY. However, the consequences of the actions of the Chetnik movement were also felt by other peoples, including numerous Serbs," Ćorović said.
Some of those gathered at this morning's event, where a baptism of the Holy Cross was held in Podgorica on the occasion of the church holiday of Epiphany, sang a Chetnik song. As can be heard in the recording, the song "Od Topola pa do Ravna Gora" was sung. In the recording, verses from the song can be heard being sung - "reconnaissance, reconnaissance of Pavle Đurišić, advance guard, advance guard of Duke Đujić".
"Unfortunately, this retrograde and backward ideology still has its followers today. Montenegro is also not immune to this disease. I was saddened to see young people today, but also older ones, who, on the Orthodox holiday of 'The Epiphany' on the Morača River in Podgorica, sang the Chetnik songs 'The Scout of Pavle Đurišić' and 'All the Guards of General Draže', glorifying war criminals and the ideology of blood and soil. And I wonder what connection noble Orthodoxy, which is guided by universal ideas of love and peace, has with the ideology of ethnic cleansing, killing and extermination. How can the most important biblical message 'love your neighbor' be connected to the actions of Pavle Đurišić? And why is he worthy of being glorified on just one religious holiday," asked Ćorović.
DON'T MISS IT
He added that "instead of God appearing, fascist songs and evil messages appeared."
"And this is not the first time. It has become a practice. I ask all these young men and religious figures who are not bothered by such songs, is it right to celebrate if it is not love that is celebrated but hatred? Do these people even know how to rejoice without hating. Or can one only feel celebration and joy through hatred towards others? What kind of celebration is this? Right or wrong? Who is actually distorting Orthodoxy? And leading this people astray? And for how long? Anyway, I congratulate all sincere believers on the Orthodox holiday of Epiphany, regretting this reaction. And for those who still do not know what Orthodoxy really is, I wish that God would appear to them instead of Pavle and Draža," stated Ćorović.
Bonus video:
