Harsher sentences for hate crimes in Slovenia

Amendments to the criminal code of Slovenia result in harsher sentences for hate crimes, including antisemitic hate crimes.

After amendments to the criminal code were passed in the Slovenian parliament, hate crimes committed based on the victim’s circumstances, such as national origin, race, sex, language, or religion, will be punished with harsher sentences, reports the Euractive.

The criminal code provides general rules on sentencing. With the amendment to Article 49, a crime committed against a victim due to the victim’s personal circumstances will be considered an aggravating circumstance in the sentencing.

The amendment refers back to Article 14 of the Constitution, which lays down that everyone enjoys human rights and fundamental freedoms “irrespective of national origin, race, sex, language, religion, political, or other conviction, material standing, birth, education, social status, disability, or any other personal circumstance.”

According to Justice Minister Dominika Švarc Pipan, the harsher sentencing, confirmed by the National Assembly on January 27, is the first step towards a new systemic approach to hate crimes.