Croatia/Yugoslavia: Information on the situation faced by mixed Serb (Orthodox) and Croat (Catholic) couples where the Croats are Croatian citizens, in Yugoslavia and in Croatia
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 11 April 2002 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | ZZZ38867.E |
| Reference | 7 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Croatia/Yugoslavia: Information on the situation faced by mixed Serb (Orthodox) and Croat (Catholic) couples where the Croats are Croatian citizens, in Yugoslavia and in Croatia, 11 April 2002, ZZZ38867.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3df4bed91c.html [accessed 1 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Information provided by a representative of the Croatian Cultural Centre in Vancouver during a 29 March 2002 telephone interview indicated that there are certain difficulties faced by mixed Serb (Orthodox) and Croat (Catholic) couples. The children of such couples are usually forced to pick which religion they will follow. The representative could not give specific details about the situations in Croatia and Yugoslavia, but stated that the situation in Yugoslavia is "worse" than in Croatia. He also stated that pressure to choose between exists within Croatian communities around the world, but not as strongly as in Croatia.
The UK Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) 2001 Country Assessment for Yugoslavia stated that "members of ethnically mixed marriages and their children have suffered abuse throughout the dissolution of the former Yugoslavia" and that they "may have difficulty being accepted by any ethnic community" (Oct. 2001).
A 14 January 1998 United Nations Economic and Social Council report on the situation of human rights in the territory of the former Yugoslavia stated that instances of "discrimination by employers against Croatian Serbs ... including partners in mixed marriages" were reported in Croatia.
A 28 March 2000 Inter Press Service article on the situation of displaced people in Yugoslavia cited one such person born of a mixed Serb-Croat marriage, now married to a woman from a similar background, who no longer felt welcome in Yugoslavia.
Amnesty International reported on an incident in May 1997 in Croatia, in the town of Gornji Bjelovac near Hrvatska Kostojnica, in which a crowd of some 150 Bosnian Croat refugees who had been settled in the area attacked members of the Croatian Serb population, including people in mixed marriages (1 July 1998). During this and following similar incidents, "dozens of people were beaten, some of them severely" (ibid.).
Information in a report published in 1994 by the Paris-based Alternativna Informativna Mre – (AIM, Alternative Information Network) indicated that some "50 per cent of children of Orthodox creed" in Zagreb were "attending Catholic catechism" (7 Dec. 1994). Most of the children were from mixed marriages whose parents either "disagreed" about the religious upbringing of their children or feared that their children would "have problems" if they declared themselves Orthodox (ibid.).
A report by the Danish Immigration Service on its fact-finding mission during August and September 1999 to the Eastern Slavonia region of Croatia cited the following opinions on mixed marriages:
The OSCE in Zagreb explained that mixed-race marriages come up against more problems than monoethnic Serb ones, problems comparable to those faced by mixed marriages in Bosnia. It depends, however, on the side taken by the couple during the war; if, for instance, the Croat remained in the Danube region, the couple may experience problems. According to the organisation, however, the situation has improved greatly since 1995, even though there may be local difficulties.
The UNHCR in Zagreb considered mixed-race marriages to be tolerated, although this might differ from one case to another. Where the husband is a Croat, there will be no problem. Life in the villages may be difficult, however, as couples may be subjected to verbal abuse.
A western embassy described the situation for mixed-race marriages as problematic.
In Open Society's view, mixed-race couples are vulnerable, but it depends where they are living now and where they lived during the war. Open Society added that non-ethnic Croats as a whole experience difficulties in Croatia and mixed marriages are out of favour in the Balkans altogether. Serbs are generally regarded by Croats as traitors, according to the organisation, and not fit for a Croat to marry.
The Helsinki Committee in Zagreb thought mixed-race marriages have a hard time of it, with their offspring enjoying no security. In marriages where the father is a Serb, the children are not regarded as true Croats (Mar. 2000).
No further information on the situation faced by mixed Serb/Croat couples in Croatia and Yugoslavia could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Alternativna Informativna Mre – (AIM) [Paris]. 7 December 1994. Marinko Culic. "Arrogation of the Flock."
Amnesty International (AI). 1 July 1998. (AI Index: EUR 64/002/ 1998). "Croatia: Attacks in the Hrvatska Kostajnica Area - The Effects of Impunity."
Croatian Cultural Centre, Vancouver. 28 March 2002. Telephone interview with representative.
Danish Immigration Service. March 2000. "Report on the Fact-Finding Mission to Eastern Slavonia 30 August-13 September 1999."
Inter Press Service (IPS). 28 March 2000. Vesna Peric Zimonjic. "Politics-Yugoslavia: The Land of Refugees." (NEXIS)
UK Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND). October 2001. Country Assessment: Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
United Nations Economic and Social Council. 14 January 1998. (E/CN.4/ 1998/63). "Situation of Human Rights in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia."
Additional Sources Consulted
IRB Databases
NEXIS
Unsuccessful attempts to contact UNHCR representative in Ottawa.
US Department of State Annual Report on International Religious Freedom 2001 for Croatia.
US Department of State Annual Report on International Religious Freedom 2001 for the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
US Department of State Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2001 for Croatia.
US Department of State Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2001 for the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
Internet sites including:
Human Rights Watch
OSCE
UNHCR
US Committee for Refugees
