PRESS RELEASE - WHILE THEY SWEAR TO JUSTICE AND THE RULE OF LAW, THEIR MINISTER DESTROYS THE UNIVERSITY IN ZENICA

The University of Zenica is under a brutal political attack by representatives of several political parties. This political attack is currently being led by the Minister of Finance of the Zenica-Doboj Canton, Dženana Čišija, a member and representative in the Government of the ZDK political party DF, whose leadership includes prominent full-time university professors and who publicly present themselves as defenders of justice, constitutionality and the state. Although a current extract from the court register of the Municipal Court in Zenica was submitted stating that Rector Jusuf Duraković is the authorized person to represent the University of Zenica, the same minister is still trying and announcing, through political blackmail, illegally suspend salaries of employees of the University of Zenica and has already suspended payment of invoices to all suppliers of the University, which will cause great damage to the University - because the UNZE Senate, acting in accordance with the state law on higher education, decisions of the Constitutional Court of BiH and the Law on the Public Institution University of Zenica, as the only legally authorized body, refuses to remove the rector on political orders and appoint an acting rector who would be politically obedient.

This isn't about a technical issue - it's about a gross violation of the law and an attack on the autonomy of universitiesBy Article 19 of the Law on Public Institution University of Zenica, as well as according to Framework Law on Higher Education of BiH and Statute of the University of Zenica, appoints and dismisses the rector exclusively Senate. Any attempt to transfer or direct this authority by political force constitutes an act of illegality. The Minister of Finance, although she was warned in several letters that the suspension of salaries would be criminal offense, continues with threats and political pressure. This not only affects the University, but also more than 300 employees who do their jobs honorably.

What makes this scandal even more serious is and the silence of the political party from which the minister comes. The leadership of the DF, which also includes full-time university professors Prof. Dr. Dženan Džonlagić and Prof. Dr. Zlatan Begić, do not stop talking about the rule of law, publicly declaring themselves as defenders of institutions, laws, university autonomy and the state.

And where is that justice now? Where is that fight for institutions now – while Finance Minister Dženana Čišija announces violation of the law and illegally abusing political position blackmails the University of Zenica? Why are the president of the DF and the full-time university professors from the DF leadership, Prof. Dr. Dženan Džonlagić and Prof. Dr. Zlatan Begić, now silent?

If the DF leadership, and especially the regular university professors, cannot provide political support and find the strength to stop this illegal blackmailing of the minister and to publicly distance themselves from this kind of behavior - then they are nothing but accomplices in the attempted political takeover of the university, and false symbols of what they verbally stand for. Here, it is decided not only on the question of the rector - but on whether there will be education in Bosnia and Herzegovina freely and legally, or will become servant of daily politics. The University of Zenica will not agree to political violence. Workers' wages must not be used as a means of political blackmail. Academic integrity, autonomy and legality – not for sale.