Helsinki Committee informs FIBA about Belarusian flag issue
The incident occurred at the European Women’s Basketball Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland.
Helsinki Committee has sent an appeal to the International Basketball Federation saying that the organization violated the freedom of expression by removing the flag from the stands. Human rights activists also stress that no interference in fans’ symbols is allowed by FIBA’s statute. It can only be applied to official flags used at championships and competitions, reports the Polish information channel TVN24.
Let us remind you that the flag incident occurred during a match of the European Women’s Basketball Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland, on June 25. Belarusians were playing with Lithuanians back then. The stadium security guards did not allow a group of Belarusian fans to hoist a white-red-white flag and the fans were rudely removed from the stadium. The security guards referred to the fact that the International Basketball Federation was against the usage of unofficial symbols to support our team.
Bydgoszcz authorities apologized to Belarusians later. The International Basketball Federation, the organizer of the match, has not presented its apologies.
An appeal about the offence committed against a group of Belarusian basketball fans was sent to the Polish General Prosecutor's Office on July 12.
