On February 21, a Serbian newspaper censored part of an obituary of a graphic artist, which noted that one of his last works was a book about censorship.
Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (NUNS) strongly condemned [4] the censorship of the in memoriam article in the daily Politika, about its recently deceased art director Darko Novaković (1949 – 2018).
Politika removed a segment of the obituary which noted that “one of the last books he designed was entitled ‘Vučić and Censorship,’ [2] and Darko was brave enough to sign his name and surname under his work.”
The obituary, as well as the unmentionable book about the Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić [5], were written by Srđan Škoro, a friend of Novaković. In response to the censorship incident Srđan Škoro said:
„Nemam reči, zaista. Kad vlast ozakoni cenzuru, koja je zakonom zabarnjena, onda doživite da se cenzuriše i naslov jedne knjige iz oproštaja od kolege.“
I am lost for words, really. When a government legitimizes censorship, which is in fact forbidden by law, then one can experience censoring of a book title from an article with last farewell from a colleague.
Novaković's son published the full obituary [6] on his website and posted the link and the photo of his father on Twitter.
In memoriam – Darko Novaković
(1949 – 2018)https://t.co/5xadU1TXiD [7] pic.twitter.com/NTDverQOiy [8]— in mourning (@Singalongest) February 19, 2018 [9]
In their reaction, the Independent Journalists’ Assocation said they were shocked, even though in recent years they have “almost gotten used to examples of quiet censorship and galloping self-censorship… Such political ‘editing’ of obituaries is unheard of even by our most senior members.”
A social media user who shared the link to the announcement compared the current situation in Serbia, under the Serbian Progressive Party [10], with repression that took place when it was ruled by the Communist Party of Yugoslavia [11], led by Josip Broz Tito [12].
Naprednjaci su i čitulje počeli da cenzurišu. Ovoga nije bilo ni kod Broza.https://t.co/IqabSTZUON [13]
— Srdjan Milivojevic (@srdjanmil037) February 21, 2018 [14]
The Progressives had begun to censor even the obituaries. Such a thing has not happened even during Broz's regime.
NUNS osuđuje cenzurisanje In memoriam-a u Politici https://t.co/5z8nFooT58 [15]
EU&ostali slobodni svet: “I, šta se dešava u Srbiji?”
Srbija: “Cenzura nekrologa”
EU: “?!”
Srbija: “Ništa još niste videli”— gordana comic (@gordanacom) February 21, 2018 [16]
NUNS condemns censorship of an in memoriam article in Politika.
EU & the rest of the free world: “So, what's new in Serbia?”
Serbia: “Censoring obituaries.”
EU: “?!”
Serbia: “You ain't seen nothing yet.”