Zagreb is back in the spotlight, but not for good reasons. After a massive concert by Marko Perković Thompson at the Zagreb Hippodrome, the police had to step in due to recordings of people singing Ustasha songs and shouting “Za dom spremni”. Yes, you read that right — in 2024, in the heart of Croatia, people are singing songs glorifying the notorious Ustasha units, known for mass crimes against civilians, including women and children. The police have filed four criminal charges and three indictments for public incitement to violence and hatred, as well as public order offenses. But is that enough? Footage shows that a day before the concert, in the center of Zagreb on Bogovićeva Street, Thompson’s fans were singing the Ustasha reveille “Evo zore, evo dana, evo Jure Bobana”, praising commanders of the Black Legion, a unit responsible for horrific crimes in Bosnia, including massacres in villages like Uri. Jure Francetić and Rafael Boban, names synonymous with evil, are back on people’s lips, alongside Ante Pavelić, leader of the Independent State of Croatia. This situation is not just a problem for Croatia but for the entire region, as such songs and ideologies must not be forgotten, let alone celebrated. The police continue their investigation, but the question remains — how long will this be tolerated? Is it time to finally put an end to this evil, or will we keep watching hatred and violence gain space in public? If you have something to say about this, feel free to drop a comment — maybe your word can spark change!
