The Mothers of Srebrenica gathered in Tuzla to commemorate the genocide against Bosniaks in Srebrenica and condemn ongoing efforts to glorify convicted war criminals.
The gathering once again delivered a message that the truth about the Srebrenica genocide must be preserved and passed on to younger generations.
Participants expressed outrage over messages of support for former Bosnian Serb military commander Ratko Mladić, who was sentenced to life imprisonment by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia for genocide, crimes against humanity and other war crimes committed during the Bosnian war.
“We all saw what was happening and how he was buried in Serbia. Shame on everyone who glorifies such a person. We know very well who he is and what he did. He is a criminal sentenced to life imprisonment,” said Nura Begović, president of the Association “Women of Srebrenica.”
Begović called for those who glorify convicted war criminals and spread hatred to be held accountable.
“Those who glorify him and speak about him should be punished. Instead of being ashamed of what was done, they promote it. We are still seeking justice and still searching for the remains of our loved ones,” she said.
She stressed that Bosnia and Herzegovina can be a country where people of different communities live together, but said that the law must be respected.
“Anyone who glorifies a war criminal, promotes hatred or calls for war must be punished severely,” Begović said.
Students from the Medical High School and the School of Economics and Commerce in Tuzla also joined the gathering in support of the Srebrenica mothers. Their participation was described as an important message that younger generations are aware of what happened in Srebrenica and of the importance of preserving the historical truth.
Imams from the Tuzla Majlis of the Islamic Community and numerous citizens also attended the event.
The Mothers of Srebrenica said their struggle is not only for justice for the sons, husbands, brothers and other family members they lost, but also against forgetting, genocide denial and attempts to portray convicted war criminals as heroes.
