Bosnia, Jul 12: Bosnians commemorated on Saturday the massacre of about 8,000 Muslim men and boys in Srebrenica, marking the 25th anniversary of killings that shocked the world and have stood out as Europe's only atrocity since World War Two constituting genocide.
Nine newly identified victims were buried at a flower-shaped cemetery near the town, where tall white tombstones mark the graves of 6,643 other victims.
"After 25 years we succeeded in finding his mortal remains, so they can be laid to their final rest," said Fikret Pezic, who buried his father Hasan.
The remains of some 1,000 victims of the massacre in the eastern town during Bosnia's 1992-1995 war are still missing.
Ifeta Hasanovic decided to bury incomplete remains of her husband, saying: "We were aware they cannot be complete after 25 years, at least there are some, I did not want to make any new delays."
World leaders addressed the ceremony by video link, unable to attend because of coronavirus epidemic. Instead of the tens of thousands visitors who typically attend the commemoration each year, only a few thousand came after organisers banned organised visits.
During the Bosnian war, Bosnian Serb forces pushed non-Serbs out of territories they sought for their Serb statelet. Fleeing Muslims took shelter in several eastern towns, including Srebrenica, that were designated as United Nations "safe zones".
On July 11, 1995, the Serb forces commanded by General Ratko Mladic overran Srebrenica, which was protected by lightly armed Dutch peacekeepers.
They sent women and children away and captured and executed the men and boys they found. The bodies were dumped into mass graves and later exhumed by U.N. investigators and used as evidence in war crimes trials of Bosnian Serb leaders.
"We grieve with the families that tirelessly seek justice for the 8,000 innocent lives lost, all these years later," said U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Washington brokered Bosnia's peace deal months after the massacre.
Most people at the commemoration were Muslim Bosniaks, reflecting conflicting narratives about the bloodshed - which hinders reconciliation nearly 25 years after the end of war in which about 100,000 people were killed.
The U.N. war crimes tribunal for the former Yugoslavia convicted Mladic and his political chief Radovan Karadzic over Srebrenica genocide but they remained heroes for Serbs, many of whom deny that genocide happened.
On Saturday, the Serbs in the nearby town of Bratunac organised an event marking July 11 as the "Srebrenica Liberation Day".
Sefik Dzaferovic, the Bosniak chairman of Bosnia's tripartite presidency, called for legislation that would ban denial of genocide.
"There can be no trust as long as we witness attacks on the truth, denial of genocide and glorification and celebration of executors," Dzaferovic told the commemoration gathering.
Comments
@Thinker, Of course we(Muslims) are 'minority', but far enough to face 'majority' in the election. As the majority are split according into many caste.
Time is no far to unite the Muslims in 1 platform to gain the ultimate political power and i
MA SHA ALLAH Proud to be a MUSLIM! Many more people are there to revert In Sha Allah.. Its Allah who is helping us..
If you notice the statistics, all these communities belong to Hinduism and further these communities are treated as separate or individuals. The culture including worships are also different.
Where as Muslims have though different languages, they are considered as single community because of single method of worship where singular God is their one and only God.
Surprisingly because of this fact, their share is increasing due to attraction to people of other communities. There is no worry in the end, because gradually everyone will know the truth and everyone will belong to the same (that) community, so no difference and no communal hatred at the end.
\ It is HE who has sent the Messenger with Guidance and the religion of Truth, to manifest it Over ALL RELIGIONS, how much ever the unbeliever might not like it ....\" (Qur'an - Ch 9:33)"
Thinker Hell.....
Come out of hell..So called bramins are less in number but ruling all hindus in the name of God. And what else you want???
Beware dear..chaddeezz....
However the MEDIA malign MUSLIM with false images.... Muslims around the world are increasing and it will increase rapid in the coming Years In Shaa ALLAH. The irony is that Many people understood the MEDIA conspiracy did by the IT professional by Cheddi deceivers. Many people learnt more about ISLAM and the reality and the Fact. Muslims are growing not in their own but also many non muslims are converting to ISLAM by learning & getting knowledge of the CREATOR who created us... Those who worship the creator are successful. Those who worship the created things are need to learn who is our CREATOR who CREATED all that exists.
Frankly speaking I trust this portal (i.e. Coastal Digest) right from the beginning only because it published fact news to convey the readers.
Today when I read the above news I am really surprised to know the facts with figures. Even a common man can understand the political power of each community.
Though we (Muslims) constitute a huge number (75 Lac), Very sad know our M.L.A's are just 11 in number which is equal to nothing. Our community is very much backward in political power.
Currently 'Power of Powers' in one and only i.e. \ POLITICAL POWER\". Let all of us think and act for the uplift of the community & our fellow kannadigas by choose a existing political party in fray."
In sha allah soon it will come to No 1 Place
please convey this messege to other media, they have lack of knowledge in getting news
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