Have you heard about Marko Perković Tompson’s concert in Zagreb? If not, brace yourself for a shock! This controversial singer, known for glorifying Ustasha crimes, held a concert where he sang songs celebrating the persecution and killing of Serbs. Yes, you read that right! The Ustasha salute “Za dom spremni” echoed through the crowd, with reportedly around half a million people in attendance. And not only that, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković called the event “great” and a “success”! How is this possible in the 21st century in a European Union member state, and with the support of the country’s top leadership?
Tompson performed the song “Jasenovac and Old Gradiška,” which openly celebrates Ustasha crimes against Serbs in concentration camps, as well as the Ustasha leader Ante Pavelić himself. Although he initially denied ever singing this song, audio recordings and his own statement on his official website prove otherwise. He claimed he sang these songs during the Homeland War, when, as he says, he was defending Croatia from Chetnik aggression. But does that justify glorifying crimes and hatred?
To make matters worse, just three days after the concert, the Ustasha salute “Za dom spremni” was shouted from the Croatian Parliament’s podium. Damir Biloglav from the DOO party publicly greeted fellow parliamentarians with this Ustasha salute, declaring that young people don’t want to hear stories about partisans, Ustashas, and Chetniks, but will live and sing as they please. Although some called for a reaction from the Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković, no condemnation followed. He said he is not an arbiter and that citizens should judge.
This situation is alarming! While Serbia and the region are still grappling with the aftermath of the 1990s wars, Croatia openly glorifies crimes and ideologies that led to horrific suffering and death. Is this a sign of a dangerous revision of history happening before our eyes? How is this possible in an EU country that should respect basic human values?
If you think this is just another incident, think again. Half a million people at a concert, support from the top government, Ustasha salutes in Parliament — all this speaks of deep division and problems in society. Will anyone stop this madness, or will we watch hatred and intolerance grow again?
So, what do you think about all this? Is this freedom of expression or dangerous glorification of crimes? Drop a comment, share your thoughts, or just laugh at this absurdity. Because if we can’t laugh, what else is left?
