Organized by the Islamic Community of Bosniaks in Denmark, a commemoration titled "Remembering the Victims of the Srebrenica Genocide" was held in the town of Tønder, gathering a large number of citizens, representatives of institutions, religious officials, and members of the Bosnian-Herzegovinian diaspora from various parts of Denmark.
The program began with the ceremonial unveiling of the monument "Flower of Srebrenica," a symbol of remembrance for over 8,000 Bosniaks killed in the genocide committed in July 1995.
Among the numerous guests, the event was attended by Reisul-ulema of the Islamic Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Husein ef. Kavazović.
Also present were the Director of the Department for Foreign Affairs and Diaspora of the Rijaset of the Islamic Community, Muhamed Jusić; the Mufti for Western Europe, Senaid ef. Kobilica; the Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the Kingdom of Denmark, Anesa Kundurović Mijak; representative in the National Assembly of the entity of Republika Srpska, Ramiz Salkić; and Dr. Fatima Klempić-Dautbašić and Hamed Bektić, survivors of the genocide, MINA reports.
Reisul-ulema Husein ef. Kavazović emphasized that remembering Srebrenica is a moral and human obligation of all generations, stressing that the truth about the genocide must be preserved and passed on to future generations.
Remembering the Srebrenica genocide must not remain only an annual commemoration, but must be embedded in the foundations of society – through educational programs that will pass on the truth to generations, through laws that will prevent its denial, and through institutions that will ensure that crimes are never relativized or justified. If we want a world in which justice and peace are not transient ideals but permanent values, we must build them on an unquestionable truth, said Reisul-ulema Kavazović.
He added that forgetting is a great danger and that we must learn lessons from Srebrenica.
Srebrenica is not only the past, but a warning we must not ignore. Forgetting is not just an injustice to the dead – it is a threat to the living. Truth is not a burden, but the only path leading to a more just and safer world. If we learn the lessons of the Srebrenica genocide, perhaps its victims did not suffer in vain. Perhaps their innocent sacrifice will illuminate a better future for all of us, concluded Reisul-ulema Kavazović.
Mufti for Western Europe, Senaid ef. Kobilica, pointed out the important role of the Bosniak diaspora in nurturing the culture of remembrance and highlighted that such events are an opportunity to convey the truth about the genocide to the European public.
Everything we see here makes us happy and will be motivating for the people leading the Community and the congregations. That we are here today and unveiling a monument dedicated to the Srebrenica genocide is an important activity and something worth mentioning. It was necessary to do and build all this. Nurturing the culture of remembrance of the genocide is important to us, especially for our generations. We do everything to tie them physically to Bosnia and Herzegovina, but we also need to provide them with this – to connect them with our homeland in this way. This is also important for the Danes, our neighbors, because they know and feel our pain and our memory of the genocide committed in Srebrenica, said Mufti Kobilica.
Ramiz Salkić spoke about the importance of the institutional fight against the denial of genocide and attempts at historical revisionism.
This is a great day for this country and for our people in Denmark. I want to thank the Kingdom of Denmark, which has a feeling for such things. We must continue to work on remembering all victims in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and this is one way. The monument we unveiled today shows how important it is to our Bosniaks in Denmark, to this country, and to everyone who knows what happened in Srebrenica, said Salkić.
Genocide survivor and one of the event organizers, Hamed Bektić, spoke emotionally about the monument, emphasizing the importance of remembering the genocide committed against the Bosniaks of Srebrenica.
I am truly happy that we have lived to see this day. The number of people who came makes me glad; of course, all this shows that we are on the right path and that the memory of the Srebrenica genocide will never fade, Bektić stressed.
After the ceremonial unveiling of the monument, the central event took place at the Tønder Cultural Center, during which messages were conveyed to those present about the importance of preserving the truth, the culture of remembrance, and the fight against genocide denial.
The Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to Denmark, Anesa Kundurović Mijak, emphasized the significance of commemorating the Srebrenica genocide in European countries, especially at a time when the importance of confronting the past is increasingly discussed worldwide.
We are here to remember more than eight thousand killed Srebrenica victims. Their lives were extinguished as a result of a systematic plan. We are here to show that forgetting is not an option, reminded Ambassador Mijak.
The President of the Islamic Community of Bosniaks in Denmark, Rašid ef. Malagić, also addressed those present.
Today we have gathered for the twentieth time to pay tribute and remember the Srebrenica genocide. Srebrenica is not just a geographical place; it is a symbol of suffering and a warning to humanity. Our duty is to preserve the memory of the killed Bosniaks of Srebrenica. Our children and our community will never forget what happened in Srebrenica, said the President of the Islamic Community of Bosniaks in Denmark.
A particularly emotional tone to the event was given by the testimonies of survivors Hamed Bektić and Dr. Fatima Klempić-Dautbašić, who spoke about war experiences and the importance of preserving the memory of the victims.
In the artistic part of the program, the Sabur Choir from Randers performed, while Emir Mujčin performed ilahis.
Today's event in Tønder once again demonstrated the strong connection of the Bosnian-Herzegovinian diaspora with the homeland and the commitment to preserving the memory of the victims of the Srebrenica genocide in a dignified, truthful, and lasting manner.
