#bosniak

Traditional costumes of Bosniak herders, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Illustrated in 1957. by Hela Volfart, Ethnographic Museum in Zagreb

Attendants of a Bosnian Muslim wedding with an armed guard, 1990s.

But I recently asked one of my closest friends: How old were you when you realized driving through Bosna that the amount of mezara (grave yards) we have isn’t normal?

Because - especially where we’re both from - dotted across the beautiful landscape and comforting villages is grave after grave.

Her response was pretty similar to mine: “When I was six. I remember asking my dad why some are green and why some have white stones. I’ve been noticing it more now that I’m older of course.”

It’s the impact of war you don’t really expect - that 30 years later your children are going to have to put two and two together. And something that felt like home becomes so incredibly saddening.

Remember Srebrenica.

Today marks the 30th anniversary of the massacre of over 8000 Bosniak men and boys by Serb forces in the town of Srebrenica (a “designated UN safe area”) as a part of an ethnic cleansing aim. Not only this, but their bodies were dismembered and scattered across several sites. Limbs, skulls, torsos from the same person ended up in different mass graves often long miles apart. The grieving mothers, wives, daughters, sisters, friends could not bury their loved ones. There was no grave to visit. Some buried a single bone. Families often bury their loved ones more than once, as new parts of their bones are found in new in different sites. Their aim was to conceal the genocide, but also preventing families from ever finding, identifying and burying their beloved. Around 15,000 men and boys held captive managed to escape and attempted to reach safety in Tuzla, embarking on a 55km 'Death March'. Serb Military forces began heavy gunfire. Unarmed and without shelter, the men ran into the woods for cover. Hundreds were killed. Serbian Military used stolen UN equipment to pose as peacekeepers, and coax the men out from hiding. Those who took the bait were encouraged to call out to their relatives - their sons, brothers, and fathers to reveal themselves. There were further ambushes and assaults. Only 3000 survived. The tragedy does not end there. There is massive denial about the Bosnian Genocide. Remember Srebrenica. Remember we said "never again", but there is a genocide happening right now in Gaza. Maybe you were unaware or not alive during the Bosnian War, but do you part today for Gaza, for Palestine - you don't need swathes of money, educating yourself and raising awareness is valuable. Srebrenica, May every drop of blood spilt from your men become a river for you in Jannah. How often must tears of grief fall from the eyes of mothers in Srebrenica, may Allah reunite them with those they have lost and let tears of pure joy now fall from their eyes. May Allah grant the people of Srebrenica justice that they never received here on the Day of Judgement, and hold all their perpetrators to account. May Allah strengthen the faith of those that live and carry grief, and may Allah wash away and forgive the sins of the men and boys of Srebrenica. May Allah ensure that a massacre never appears again on its soil, and the soil of Bosnia. May Allah grant the people of Srebrenica Jannah.

May Allah grant all these duas to the people of Gaza, of Palestine. May Allah liberate Palestine, and rebuild their beautiful country.

Srebrenica. Srebrenica. Srebrenica. We will not forget.