PUBLIC SHOCKED, INSTITUTIONS SILENT: A video of children shouting “Za dom spremni” while holding toy rifles is spreading! (VIDEO)

A disturbing video is circulating on social networks in the region, showing a group of children who, as part of a game, are shouting the Ustaše greeting “Za dom spremni”. The children are lined up, holding toy rifles – wooden or plastic – while one child, in the role of a leader, shouts “Za dom”, and the others respond with “Spremni”. In the end, they all together shout this infamous greeting from the time of the NDH, under which numerous crimes were committed.

To protect the identity of the children, the video is blurred, and the voices are digitally altered. However, the video caused strong reactions, given that the ZDS greeting has been repeatedly declared a violation of public order and peace by legally binding court rulings in Croatia.

Institutions without a response, police do not react

The editorial office that first published the video contacted the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Croatia with an inquiry about whether they are aware of the video, where and when it was made, as well as whether an investigation will be conducted. However, a response had not arrived by the time the text was concluded.

A request was also sent to the ombudswoman for children, asking whether she is aware of such cases, what her position is on the participation of children in publicly shouting the Ustaše greeting, and what measures should be taken in such situations. There is still no official response there either.

ZDS increasingly present – from parliament to stadiums

The greeting “Za dom spremni” has been the subject of fierce social debates in Croatia for years, but in recent months it has been entering the public space more and more. At a concert by Marko Perković Thompson at the beginning of July, several hundred thousand people gathered shouted “Spremni” in response to Thompson’s shout of “Za dom”. The Minister of Defense Ivan Anušić even publicly confirmed that he himself responded to the greeting.

The President of the Parliament Gordan Jandroković defended the concert on social media, where he called the critics “radically leftist do-gooders”.

After the concert, MP Damir Biloglav from DOMiNO greeted with “Za dom spremni” from the parliament podium, but there were no sanctions. This caused additional controversy, given that in the past, MP Miro Bulj was expelled from the parliament for the very same greeting.

The same greeting echoed at the Poljud stadium during the Hajduk – Istra match, when the stands chanted “Let’s go, Ustaše”, and then “Za dom – spremni”.

What will the authorities say?

Despite everything, and despite numerous pieces of evidence and repeated cases, institutional responses are lacking. The legal framework in Croatia in certain cases allows the use of this greeting in the context of the HOS and commemorations, but in this case, where children are involved in an inappropriate game, such an exception cannot be applied.

While waiting for the reaction of institutions, the disturbing message remains that extremist symbolism is appearing more and more often and openly – and that too among the youngest.