BH UK Network welcomes the decision of High Representative Valentin Inzko to impose a law prohibiting and punishing the denial of genocide and the glorification of war criminals.
As the umbrella organization of Bosnian-Herzegovinian associations in the United Kingdom, the BH UK Network has been providing psychological and practical assistance to our citizens on the Island who have survived genocide for over two and a half decades. We know that denial is the final stage of genocide in which perpetrators and their heirs and sympathizers deny that any crime took place, destroy records and insult witnesses.
We have been lobbying for years to ban genocide denial. We hope that the passage of this denial law will end the humiliation of victims and their loved ones.
Zaim Pašić, President of the BH UK Network, said: “ The day has finally come when H.E. Valentin Incko did what should have been recognized long ago by all honest citizens of our dear homeland of Bosnia and Herzegovina, to recognize genocide once and for all, as well as the perpetrators who have been and will be held accountable before the courts both in The Hague and in the countries of the former Yugoslavia. On behalf of the citizens of BiH in Great Britain, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr. Incko who belatedly made the right decision. I am glad that Great Britain and many countries, through their institutions, have recognized the events during the aggression against BiH as genocide.”
BH UK Network would like to thank the activists, friends and organisations who have lobbied for the legislation over the years. We would like to thank the organisation Remembering Srebrenica who have made a huge contribution to the fact that, alongside thousands of commemorations across the UK, the Srebrenica genocide is also commemorated in the British Parliament.
With the help of the organization “Remembering Srebrenica”, led by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth and Dr Waqar Azmi OBE , and with the support of key figures in the British government, the memory of Srebrenica has been revived. Thanks to Remembering Srebrenica, many war stories have been told, and the pain and cries of the mothers of Srebrenica have been heard around the world.
The Chairman of Srebrenica Remembrance, Dr Waqar Azmi OBE, said: “ We welcome this long overdue decision
High Representative to prohibit the denial of genocide and crimes against humanity committed in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the promotion of hatred and the glorification of those who committed the worst crimes on European soil since the Second World War. We must be very clear: denial not only exacerbates the pain and suffering of survivors and threatens the reconciliation process, but also makes a mockery of the laws against genocide and crimes against humanity.”
“This is not a moment for complacency, but to continue to be vigilant because ignorance is fertile ground for denial. Therefore, it remains imperative that organizations like “Remembering Srebrenica” continue to honor the victims of the Bosnian genocide, preserve the testimonies of survivors and educate people about the consequences of hatred in order to help build better, stronger and more cohesive communities ,” said Dr. Waqar Azmi OBE.
Lejla Delić is a 22-year-old girl whose parents survived the Srebrenica genocide. She has lost several members of her immediate family. She currently lives in Guildford. She and her surviving family members have been participating in commemorations organized across the UK for years, thus fighting against genocide deniers. “I thank and support the decision of the High President. This decision should have been made much earlier. Let this decision be a guideline for us young people not to forget what happened
“To our parents and relatives. I look forward to the fact that in the future people who deny the crimes and genocide will be punished by law. I also hope that what happened to my family will never happen again to anyone,” said Lejla.
This decision will somewhat ease the pain and suffering of innocent witnesses of a terrible and cruel crime and genocide. We hope that in the future the events during the aggression on Bosnia and Herzegovina will be understood differently and that sincere apologies, forgiveness and reconciliation will come.
BH UK Network
