Zagreb Reported for Religious Discrimination After Preventing Red Wednesday Commemoration
On 9 July 2026, the Croatian Protestant Conference reported the City of Zagreb to the Ombudswoman for religious discrimination after the authorities’ prolonged failure to decide on its request to commemorate persecuted Christians through a Red Wednesday projection on the Zagreb fountains. The city remained silent even after a national ministry ordered it to issue a decision within 15 days, forcing the organisers to cancel the event. A subsequent parking decision obstructing the entrance to the Conference’s office and a Protestant place of worship raised further concerns about the city’s treatment of the Christian organisation.
The Hrvatska protestantska konferencija (Croatian Protestant Conference, HPK) reported the City of Zagreb to the Office of the Ombudswoman on 9 July 2026, alleging discrimination on the grounds of religion and prolonged administrative inaction. The complaint followed the city’s failure to decide on the HPK’s request to commemorate Christians persecuted for their faith through a public Red Wednesday projection.
In August 2025, the HPK applied to the City Office for Reconstruction, Construction, Spatial Planning, Building, Municipal Services and Transport for permission to use the Zagreb fountains on 19 November for a Red Wednesday projection commemorating persecuted Christians around the world. The organisation states that it submitted all the required documentation within the relevant deadlines.
Red Wednesday is an international initiative in which churches, monuments and public buildings are illuminated in red as an expression of solidarity with persecuted Christians. Similar commemorations are held in cities across Europe and other democratic countries. The proposed projection in Zagreb was intended to draw public attention to Christians who suffer violence, imprisonment and other restrictions because of their faith.
Zagreb neither approved the request nor issued a written refusal explaining why the event could not proceed. Despite repeated enquiries, the HPK received no formal decision and was consequently forced to abandon the planned commemoration. Without a written response, the organisation was also denied a clear explanation that it could examine or challenge through the ordinary administrative process.
The HPK appealed to the Ministry of Physical Planning, Construction and State Assets in oder to ensure the event for 2026. On 30 January 2026, the Ministry reportedly upheld the appeal and ordered the responsible municipal authority to issue a decision within 15 days. Nevertheless, the City of Zagreb did not responded or complied with the ministerial instruction.
HPK President and pastor Vatroslav Župančić argued that the matter could no longer be regarded simply as an administrative delay. The city’s continued silence had already led to a Christian organisation being prevented from using a prominent public space to commemorate people persecuted for their religion, while receiving no explanation for that restriction. The complaint asks the Ombudswoman to examine whether the city’s conduct amounted to unequal treatment based on religion.
A second incident was reported on 7 August, when a newly marked parking space appeared directly in front of the entrance to the HPK’s Zagreb office, which also serves as a place of worship for the Evangelička metodistička crkva (Evangelical Methodist Church). Published photographs show that neighbouring residential and commercial entrances were protected by yellow no-parking markings, while vehicles were permitted to park in front of the entrance used by the Christian organisation. This obstructed access for worshippers and created particular difficulties for wheelchair users.
Župančić regarded the timing as a possible message following the discrimination complaint. No institutional decision has established that the parking arrangement was retaliatory, but the HPK reported that neither the municipal authorities nor the street planning office provided a concrete response after being informed. Together, the continued refusal to decide on the Red Wednesday request and the subsequent obstruction of the organisation’s premises raise serious concerns about whether Zagreb is treating this Christian organisation with the transparency and equality required from public authorities.
Source: Vjerujem, N1, Narod.hr
Image: Josip Regovic/PIXSELL