Belgrade University Alumni Condemn Attack on Professor, Cite Political Climate

The Alumni Association of the Faculty of Dramatic Arts (FDU) in Belgrade has strongly condemned a "brutal physical attack" on artist and professor Stevan Filipović. The incident occurred after Filipović used his mobile phone to record a group of men spray-painting offensive graffiti aimed at students onto a building's facade.

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Fascism began when the authorities systematically divided citizens into acceptable and unacceptable, when critical voices were declared enemies, and violence against them became socially acceptable or went unpunished.

In a statement, the association criticized what it described as a "regime that produces targets, incites hatred, dehumanizes dissenters, and systematically destroys institutions." They argued that such a regime cannot distance itself from the violence spilling onto the streets. The alumni group asserted that "fascism began when the authorities systematically divided citizens into acceptable and unacceptable, when critical voices were declared enemies, and violence against them became socially acceptable or went unpunished."

The association highlighted that Serbia today exhibits these patterns, creating a society where fear is used as an instrument of rule, and the "drawing of targets" precedes organized physical violence. They stated that in a society where critical thinking is suppressed and hate speech is normalized, conditions are created for organized physical violence to become an expected outcome.

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The Faculty of Dramatic Arts is a space of free thought, where freedom of expression is understood as responsibility. An attack on an FDU professor is therefore an attack on the very idea of the university.

Demanding immediate action from the relevant prosecutor's office, the FDU Alumni Association called for the swift identification of the perpetrators, determination of any organized group involvement, and the initiation of urgent criminal proceedings. They stressed the importance of showing that such attacks will not go unpunished. "The Faculty of Dramatic Arts is a space of free thought, where freedom of expression is understood as responsibility. An attack on an FDU professor is therefore an attack on the very idea of the university," the statement concluded, urging all university communities, cultural institutions, artists, professors, students, and citizens to condemn the violence. "Today we stand with Stevan Filipović. Tomorrow it could be any one of us. Together, we will not allow it."

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Today we stand with Stevan Filipović. Tomorrow it could be any one of us. Together, we will not allow it.