A photo of Sava Nikolić, a student at the Higher Medical School in Ćuprija, hugging student Nadija Delimeđac from the State University of Novi Pazar, taken during the march to Novi Sad, caused a strong reaction from part of the public. This brave girl, who is of Islamic faith and wears a hijab, has been receiving serious threats from many “believers” after the photo went viral. Because of the harsh threats directed at both Nadija and Sava over the past few days, this student of the Higher Medical School spoke out on social media.
Sava’s statement is published in full:
“I would like to address the entire public to stand in defense of my comrade Nadija Delimeđac, who is being targeted and insulted for her act because a ‘Muslim woman with a hijab’ allowed herself to be hugged by a ‘Serb wearing a šajkača.’ The insults she and her family are receiving are unacceptable because we are, above all, comrades united in the same fight for a better tomorrow.
The hug from the video, which quickly went viral, was nothing more than an expression of empathy because I saw her crying. Nadija started crying at that moment, and I hugged her to comfort her, not knowing that I shouldn’t have done that. After the hug, she explained to me that she doesn’t hug due to religious rules, which made me feel extremely bad, realizing I had made a mistake. I am especially connected to her because of the photo taken on April 16 at the protest in Kraljevo, which symbolizes love and reconciliation. In that sense, I will not allow her name or her family’s name to be mentioned in a negative context.
Saopštenje za javnost povodom snimka koji je nastao sa Nadijom na putu ka Novom Sadu
— Сава Николић (@savanik0lic) November 5, 2025
Ovim putem bih želeo da se obratim kompletnoj javnosti sa ciljem da stajem u odbranu mog saborca, Nadije Delimeđac, koja trpi razna targetiranja i uvrede na račun svog postupka
👇 pic.twitter.com/e7pnzDKadf
She, like all the wonderful people I met at the protest in Novi Pazar, does not deserve to be insulted based on religious rules, because a pure heart knows no divisions — neither by faith nor by nationality. I am appalled that people could even think of such disgusting things, let alone post them as comments on social media.
Therefore, I ask everyone (especially Mr. Elvedin Pezić) to stop creating divisions among people because on April 12, a new unity was born, one that has returned after many years. We all want to live in love, peace, and harmony. The offensive comments directed at her and her family are also unacceptable and deserve every condemnation.
I don’t want our hug to overshadow everything the students have done over the past year for the benefit of all of us. At the same time, I call on all students participating in the blockade, public figures, and citizens who support the students’ struggle to stand in defense of Nadija because it is our moral duty — she, like all of us, is fighting for the same justice! Love will prevail!” wrote Sava.
Nadija faces serious threats
He told Nova.rs that he has been deeply shaken for days and unable to rest after the march, as he has been reading threatening comments ever since he returned from Novi Sad.
“I’m trying to support Nadija because she’s under tremendous pressure, and now they’re attacking me too. I publicly told Pezić to stop spreading divisions because it’s normal and natural to approach and hug someone who’s crying. Now I’m receiving threats online — that I’ll ‘remember this,’ that I’ll ‘never dare to come to Novi Pazar again,’ and similar things. These are all fake accounts, but I’m not afraid and I don’t respond to them. I believe she doesn’t deserve this — she has to live in that city, and I don’t want people to look at her with suspicion,” Sava said, adding that it was impossible not to hug her when he saw her crying.
“I just wanted to comfort her. I couldn’t stay indifferent to her tears, and I didn’t know I wasn’t allowed to do that.”
Sava emphasized that he remains in contact with Nadija and is trying to calm her down.
“She is deeply disturbed by the number of comments — they call her a disgrace and a shame — but it’s important that there are far more people supporting her, which is the positive side of our photo. However, the threats are getting worse; some are even calling for her family to be driven out of Pazar, and there are extremists calling for her death, writing that ‘to save the honor of Pazar, she should be publicly hanged.’ I believe that as her comrade, connected through our shared photo, I must be the first to stand by her because I never imagined a simple hug could cause such division and endanger Nadija. I believe love conquers all!” Sava emphasized.
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Source:Nova.rs, Foto: Printscreen Instagram