The 30th Anniversary of the Srebrenica Genocide Commemorated with a Special Program

A commemoration program was held for the 30th anniversary of the genocide in Srebrenica, eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina, where Serbian forces brutally massacred more than 8,000 Bosniak civilians in 1995.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's video message was shown at the commemoration program held at the former battery factory used as a base by United Nations (UN) soldiers during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, while Turkish Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş and Head of Religious Affairs Ali Erbaş also attended the ceremony at the factory.

Speaking at the commemoration program held at the former battery factory used as a United Nations (UN) base during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kurtulmuş expressed that the recovered remains of genocide victims killed in Srebrenica were being laid to rest, saying, "We feel a deep embarrassment toward the people of Srebrenica and Bosnia and Herzegovina. We all feel this embarrassment. At the same time, as valuable members of the international community, we strive to raise our voices on every platform to address the issue of genocide and ensure that what happened in Srebrenica is not forgotten."

Kurtulmuş recalled that July 11 was declared last year as the "International Day of Remembrance and Reflection on the Srebrenica Genocide" at the UN, noting that the decision was an important step but represented a belated apology.

Indicating that efforts must be made to prevent similar situations from occurring in the future with lessons learned from Srebrenica, Kurtulmuş continued:

"I would like to give meaning to this meeting by recalling the valuable words of Alija Izetbegović, the founder and wise leader of Bosnia and Herzegovina: 'Never forget the genocide, because forgotten genocide is repeated.' We have witnessed three major genocides in modern times. One is Auschwitz, another is Srebrenica, and the other is the ongoing Gaza genocide while we speak here."

Kurtulmuş emphasized that among the lessons to be learned, the first is the silence of the international community, saying:

"Second, those responsible for all three genocides are the same type of people. There is no difference between Adolf Hitler, Ratko Mladić, and Benjamin Netanyahu; they are people with the same behavior. Third, ethnic cleansing has been employed in each case. These are actions established to completely destroy the people they see as enemies."

"Humanity, already crushed under the shame of Srebrenica, is being crushed even more under the shame of Gaza"

Kurtulmuş stated that the situation witnessed in Gaza after Srebrenica shows that international law exists "as text" but not "in reality," saying, "The connection between justice and truth has been broken. Justice has been captured by the powerful and turned into a toy in the hands of those with power. That is why we say that if we are to stand against genocide, we must reveal all its foundations and act together to ensure that genocide never happens again anywhere in the world."

Kurtulmuş remarked, "Today's ceremony here teaches each of us a lot. In fact, if even after 30 years only one body can be identified, consider how massive the atrocity was... While bodies are being exhumed from the mud years after the genocide was committed here, with the support of the international community, I fear that we may face the same scene in the near future."

Noting that 60,000 people have been killed in Gaza and thousands of nameless bodies could be recovered from the rubble, Kurtulmuş said, "Humanity, already crushed under the shame of Srebrenica, is being crushed even more under the shame of Gaza and remains under an even greater burden. Together, from Srebrenica, on behalf of humanity burdened by the heavy weight of all past genocides, let us be in solidarity with you valuable members of the international community who show this sensitivity to prevent all future genocides."

Kurtulmuş emphasized that the struggle put forth by the Srebrenica mothers and the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina should be an example to everyone, saying, "Every human being is equal in creation. No human has any superiority over another for any reason. Knowing this and possessing this understanding, we will, God willing, protect all humanity's heritage."

Stating that 7 genocide victims would be buried on the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide, Kurtulmuş concluded:

"I commemorate with mercy the 7 Srebrenica martyrs we will bury today, and I know that their souls are here in this hall with us. May Allah treat the Srebrenica martyrs with mercy. May He welcome them to the highest heavens and reward them as the most honorable people on earth."

Message from the Netherlands: "We could not protect Bosniak civilians"

Denis Becirović, the Bosniak member of the Presidency Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina, speaking at the ceremony, stated that 30 years have passed since the war crimes committed in Srebrenica and Bosnia and Herzegovina, saying, "Thirty years have passed since the systematic killing of civilians, their burial in mass graves, the struggle for justice to punish the perpetrators, and the building of a safer future."

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in his written message, stated that they stand in solidarity with the people of Srebrenica and that Pakistan greatly values its relations with Bosnia and Herzegovina.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, participating in the memorial ceremony via video message, stated that 30 years have passed since the genocide that shocked the world and that they will never forget what happened in those terrible days, saying, "We were with you in those days. For 30 years, we have maintained our presence to ensure security in the region, and we will continue to do so."

Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp, recalling that Bosniak civilians sought refuge with Dutch soldiers under the UN during the genocide in Srebrenica, said, "We failed to protect them. Both we and the international community. I can say that we will not forget what happened here."

Veldkamp, noting that terrible suffering is being witnessed today in Ukraine, Sudan, and the Middle East, said, "Of course, this cannot diminish your pain. We remember all genocide victims and express solidarity with their relatives in building a common future."

European Union (EU) Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos also stated that they have not forgotten and will not allow the Srebrenica genocide to be forgotten, saying, "Srebrenica continues to be one of Europe's deepest wounds. Our responsibility is to not forget what happened and to prevent hate speech and violence."

Solidarity message from Srebrenica mothers to Gaza mothers

Munira Subasic, President of the Mothers of Srebrenica and Žepa Association, pointed out that the pain experienced by Srebrenica mothers in 1995 is now being experienced by mothers in Ukraine and Gaza. Subasic received a standing ovation at the end of her speech.

Hamdija Fejzic, Chairman of the Srebrenica Memorial Ceremony Organization Committee, stated that the pain in Srebrenica has not subsided for 30 years, saying, "Denying genocide is perpetuating genocide. Therefore, we will not remain silent. We will continue to seek justice."

The ceremony also included speeches by Graciela Gatti Santana, President of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT); Rosemary DiCarlo, UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs; Serge Brammertz, Chief Prosecutor of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals; former German President Joachim Gauck; Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen; Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard; Montenegrin Foreign Minister Ervin Ibrahimovic; Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic; European Union (EU) Council President António Costa; and Bosnia and Herzegovina High Representative Christian Schmidt.

Messages from Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset, Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen, Italian President Sergio Mattarella, and French President Emmanuel Macron were also read at the commemoration program.

7 genocide victims will be buried at today's funeral ceremony

Following the memorial ceremony at the factory, 7 identified genocide victims will be buried after a funeral prayer.

The youngest of the 7 victims to be buried are Senajid Avdic and Hariz Mujic, who were 19 years old when they were killed. Fata Bektic, the only woman and oldest victim to be buried this year, was 67 years old when she was killed.

The names of the 7 people to be buried today are as follows:

"Senajid Avdic, Hariz Mujic, Fata Bektic, Hasib Omerovic, Sejdalija Alic, Rifet Gabeljic, Amir Mujcic."

After this year's ceremony, the number of victims buried in the memorial cemetery will rise to 6,772.

More than 1,000 genocide victims still not found

After the occupation of Srebrenica on July 11, 1995, by Serbian forces under the command of Ratko Mladić, Bosniak civilians who took refuge with Dutch soldiers under the UN were later handed over to the Serbs.

The Serbs allowed women and children to reach the area controlled by Bosniak soldiers but massacred at least 8,372 Bosniaks in forest areas, factories, and warehouses. The massacred Bosniaks were buried in mass graves.

In the efforts initiated after the war to find the missing, victims whose bodies were recovered from mass graves are buried each year on July 11 at the Potočari Memorial Cemetery after identification.

Despite 30 years having passed, the bodies of more than 1,000 genocide victims have yet to be found.