Letter regarding an article authored by a member of your institution Mr. Neven An?eli?.

Regent's University London
Inner Circle
Regent's Park 
London NW1 4NS 
United Kingdom


Professor Geoff Smith
Vice-Chancellor & CEO

smithg@regents.ac.uk  (ovaj email je moje educated nagadjanje)
press@regents.ac.uk (ovaj email je siguran) to je press



Dear CEO Smith, 

We are reaching out to you regarding an article authored by a member of your institution Mr. Neven An?eli?.
Mr. An?eli? wrote an article about the Mayor of Sarajevo, and this online publication, which can be considered inflammatory, mentions his association with your organization.

Many women who keep their maiden names in marriage still face biases rooted in historical gender prejudices. These biases can include resistance to tradition, assumptions about commitment, confusion, social pressure, perceived feminist motivations, professional consequences, and potential travel and legal complications. Some mistakenly assume a woman with her maiden name is a staunch feminist or making a political statement, even if it's a personal choice without strong ideological roots. This happened to Mayor Kari? of Sarajevo, who faced criticism and was labeled a populist for using both her married and maiden names.

Mr. An?eli?'s critique of Mayor Kari?'s performance and decision-making as the Mayor of Sarajevo is a crucial aspect of democracy. Criticizing public officials serves as a check on their power, promotes transparency, and prevents corruption. Constructive criticism leads to better governance, keeps citizens informed and engaged, ensures fair representation, encourages responsive leadership, and sparks meaningful debates about a city's future. In essence, it upholds democratic principles and advances effective governance. In a democratic society, the right to criticize and hold public officials accountable is fundamental, ensuring that those in power remain connected to their constituents and work to enhance community well-being.

In his article, Mr. An?eli? referred to the Mayor of Sarajevo as Benjamina Kari?, never mentioning her maiden name Londrc along with her first name Benjamina and her married surname Kari?.
Only at the end of his text did he mention her maiden name Londrc. Mr. Andelic wrote: 

"If Dodik, Izetbegovi?, and ?ovi? have put the country (Bosnia and Herzegovina) on life support, there is a danger that someone else may unplug those life support machines.
The danger was born Londrc."

Dodik is a Serb leader, Izetbegovi? is a Bosniak leader, and ?ovi? is a Croat leader in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In his article, Mr. An?eli? wrote, 'Danger was born Londrc,' and he even titled the whole article in the same way: 'Danger was born Londrc.' Notably, Mr. An?eli? did not write, 'The danger is Benjamina Kari?' or 'Benjamina Kari? Londrc.' Instead, he wrote, 'Danger was born Londrc,' referencing the Mayor's maiden name.

The Londrc surname is of Jewish origin and relatively uncommon in Bosnia and Herzegovina, unmistakably linking it to Jewish heritage. Mr. An?eli?'s statement, 'Danger was born (Jewish name),' is a shocking display of raw misogynistic anti-Semitism. It falsely associates Jews with danger on a national scale. It's important to note that Mrs. Kari? is the Mayor of Sarajevo and holds limited influence over the entire country of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

This constitutes a blood libel.

Blood libel is a false and harmful accusation that has historically been made against Jewish communities, alleging that Jews use the blood of non-Jewish children, typically Christian children, for ritual purposes, such as in religious ceremonies or to make Passover matzah. This accusation is entirely baseless and has been used as a tool of anti-Semitic propaganda for centuries. Blood libel accusations have led to severe persecution, violence, and pogroms against Jewish communities in different parts of the world. It's important to emphasize that these claims have no factual basis and are rooted in prejudice and hatred.

Nazi prejudice against Jews was based on deeply rooted and false stereotypes such as blood libel that propagated harmful and hateful beliefs. One of the most heinous aspects of Nazi ideology was the false claim that Jews were responsible for various societal problems and that they posed a threat to the Aryan race. This prejudice escalated into the notion that Jews were not only responsible for societal ills but also that they were actively involved in killing people, which was a part of the baseless conspiracy theories propagated by the Nazis.

We strongly urge you to publicly distance yourself from Mr. An?eli? and to issue an unequivocal condemnation of his disgraceful, anti-Semitic, and misogynistic attack on the Mayor of Sarajevo. Such actions are not befitting of individuals or organizations committed to fostering tolerance, diversity, and respect within society.

Mr. An?eli?'s offensive remarks not only perpetuate harmful stereotypes but also contribute to a climate of discrimination and hatred. It is imperative that responsible leaders and institutions take a firm stance against such behavior to demonstrate their commitment to promoting inclusivity, combating prejudice, and upholding the principles of equality and respect for all individuals, regardless of their background or identity.

By dissociating yourself from Mr. An?eli? and condemning his actions, you can send a powerful message that discrimination and hate speech have no place in our society, and that individuals who engage in such behavior will face the consequences of their actions. This is an opportunity to reaffirm your organization's commitment to promoting a more just, tolerant, and equitable world for all.

Dr. Emir Ramic