MAJORITY OF CROATIANS REFUSE SAME SEX MARRIAGES

        Zagreb, 29 Muharam 1435/3 December 2013 (MINA) – More than 65 percent of Croatian people who voted at the referendum on definition of marriage, which was held on Sunday, voted “yes” to ban same sex marriages. Only 33.63 percent of people voted “no”.

        The question was “Do you support the introduction of a clause to the Croatian Constitution that defines marriage as life-long union between a women and a man?”

        However, the referendum had a very low turnout – only 37 per cent. Yet, the size of the turnout is irrelevant, since by the law there is no minimum threshold for a referendum to be valid and binding.

        Based on the referendum, the Croatian constitution should be changed to define marriage exclusively as a union between men and women, Anadolu Agency reported monitored by Mi’raj News Agency (MINA).

        The referendum was organized by grassroots organizations headed by the organization “In the name of the family,” and supported by the right-wing parties and Catholic Church.

        A government spokesperson confirmed that the constitution would now have to be changed accordingly.

        Saturday saw hundreds of gay rights supporters protest in Zagreb. A petition backing the referendum, drawn up by a Catholic group, received more than 700,000 signatures.

         The vote also received support from 104 members of Croatia’s 151-seat parliament.

         President Ivo Josipovic said he was disappointed but not surprised by the outcome of the vote. “The referendum result must not be the reason for new divisions,” he warned.

         The government, human rights groups and prominent public figures had all spoken out against the referendum, urging people to vote no.

          Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic had argued that the referendum threatened people’s right to happiness and choice. His government has pledged to push forward in the coming days proposals to give greater rights to same-sex couples.

         But leaders of the opposition HDZ party supported the referendum.

Attitudes changing

         Croatian Lesbian Group: “The government never had the intention of allowing same sex marriages in Croatia”

         Gay rights protesters, under a heavy police presence, marched for an hour through the the capital Zagreb on Saturday and unfurled a giant rainbow flag outside parliament.

         “We urge voters… to protect minority rights so that no-one in Croatia becomes a second-class citizen,” activist Sanja Juras told a crowd in the city.

         The plan for a referendum was allowed parliamentary scrutiny after a Catholic group called “In the Name of the Family” gathered enough signatures to pass the required threshold of support.

          “Marriage is the only union enabling procreation. This is the key difference between a marriage… and other unions,” said Croatia’s Cardinal Josip Bozanic in a letter read out in churches.

          Correspondents say attitudes towards gay rights in Croatia – which joined the European Union in July – are slowly changing.

          In Zagreb’s first gay pride parade in 2002, dozens of participants were beaten up by extremists.

Parades are now held regularly although under heavy security. (T/P04/P03)

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)