Srebrenica: the Grand Mufti
of Bosnia on the need for reconciliation
On 11 July 1995 Bosnian-Serb troops killed over 8000 Muslim
boys and men in and around the town of Srebrenica in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The
Grand Mufti emeritus of Bosnia reflects on the concept of reconciliation and
says although the direct culprits have never apologized, he is proud no act of
vengeance has been perpetrated.
By Alessandro Di Bussolo
The world is marking the Srebrenica genocide in which more than 8000 innocent Muslim boys and men were killed by Bosnian Serb troops in July 1995. The massacre took place although the Srebrenica enclave had been declared a ‘safe area’ under UN protection.
The world is marking the Srebrenica genocide in which more than 8000 innocent Muslim boys and men were killed by Bosnian Serb troops in July 1995. The massacre took place although the Srebrenica enclave had been declared a ‘safe area’ under UN protection.
Mustafa Ceric, who was born in the Bosnian town of
Visoko, is the Grand Mufti emeritus of Bosnia. He was the spiritual leader of
Bosnian Muslims at the time of the genocide and he was recently in Rome to
receive a prize for peace.
In an interview with Vatican Radio he talks about how
“Reconciliation” is based on truth, justice and confession, and says that in
order for the victims to be able to forgive the perpetrators of the massacre,
an apology must take place.
The Grand Mufti says that in Bosnia-Herzegovina this is not
what victims have been hearing. He talks about how those that committed the
genocide and were sanctioned by the International War Crimes Tribunal in The
Hague have become trophies of those who are trying to cover up their own
crimes.
He reflects on the fact that it is difficult to distinguish
individual guilt from collective guilt, and says that in order to be able to
say all Serbs are not guilty, those who are responsible must be made
accountable and apologize for their actions.
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