A young woman from Bihać has posted a video on the social media platform TikTok expressing dissatisfaction with the photo-taking procedure at the Croatian border. In the post, she addressed Croatian authorities and citizens, calling for the abolition of this practice, which she considers unnecessary and offensive to travellers crossing the state border.
She described the situation as extremely uncomfortable, particularly highlighting her interaction with a border official. According to her, the official asked her to show her visa, which led to additional identity checks and photography. Although she did not provide details about her documents, she emphasised that the entire process stigmatised her compared to other travellers.
She drew particular attention to the reactions of passengers in other vehicles. She noted that travellers with European Union documents openly commented on her status, which further exacerbated feelings of discomfort and discrimination during the border procedure. Such behaviour, in her view, contributed to the feeling of being treated as a person of suspicion.
The problem of queues at border crossings, which is more pronounced during the tourist season, further prolongs waiting times. Lejla pointed out that these queues are a consequence of the new visa regime at EU borders for citizens of non-member states. This regime, which includes stricter checks and additional procedures such as photography, has attracted criticism for creating long queues.
Through her post, Lejla sought to draw attention to the humanitarian aspect of border control. She believes that abolishing mandatory photography could help speed up the flow of travellers and reduce tensions at borders, particularly during periods of peak traffic.
