Since the ECtHR judgment became final, due to the gravity of the rights violations, it has been placed under enhanced supervision by the Committee of Ministers. The Committee is monitoring Croatia's steps to prevent further human rights violations like those suffered by the Hussiny family.

To recall, in 2021, the ECtHR found that Croatia violated several rights guaranteed by the European Convention on Human Rights, including Madina’s right to life. Part of the family was expelled from Croatia, and when they managed to return and seek asylum, the entire family was unlawfully deprived of their liberty and treated inhumanely, without access to their chosen lawyer.

Despite a judgment requiring an effective investigation and maximum possible compensation for the family, Croatia has failed to act appropriately, as highlighted in the submission from the Centre for Peace Studies and Human Rights House Zagreb to the Committee of Ministers. Of particular concern is that, even in the repeated proceedings, the Office for Suppression of Corruption and Organized Crime (USKOK) has not conducted a thorough investigation to identify those responsible for Madina's death, despite clear recommendations from the family’s legal representatives, the Ombudswoman, and civil society organisations. USKOK repeated the same oversights as before and dismissed the criminal complaint, disregarding the binding ECtHR judgment. Seven years after Madina’s death, no one has been held accountable.

Ineffective investigations into cases of police conduct are not isolated incidents but part of a systemic practice. Cover-ups within the Ministry of the Interior, mutual protection among police officers, and the destruction of evidence enable impunity for those responsible.

For this reason, the Centre for Peace Studies and the Human Rights House Zagreb have submitted a new submission to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe with recommendations for implementing the judgment. We call on the government to present a concrete action plan that includes an effective investigation, accountability for those responsible, and compensation for the family. We also demand systemic changes to prevent unlawful pushbacks, hold offenders accountable, ensure effective oversight of police work, and uphold the rule of law in Croatia.

The case of Madina Hussiny remains a powerful reminder of the need for justice and accountability, as well as the importance of protecting human rights in every country.

Photo: A projection showing the expulsion of Madina’s family from Croatia along a railway track / an element from the graphic novel "Madina" by Ena Jurov, photographed by Buga Cvjetanović.