Islamic Relief calls for world leaders to prevent modern-day genocides as Bosnia and Herzegovina commemorates 30 years since Srebrenica Genocide that killed over 8,000 Muslims.
The international community is failing to learn the lessons of the 1995 Srebrenica Genocide, which was Europe’s worst atrocity since the Holocaust and the result of a shameful global failure to protect civilians. Thirty years ago, Bosnian Serb forces captured the town of Srebrenica and then systematically massacred more than 8,000 Bosniak Muslims in a UN-declared “safe area” where people were promised protection then abandoned. Over the course of the Bosnian War more than 100,000 people were killed, more than 2 million forced from their homes, and up to 50,000 women abused in rape camps.
The horrors of Srebrenica continue to haunt survivors and their descendants today. Islamic Relief – which was one of the biggest aid agencies responding on the ground at the time and continues to support survivors today – is participating in national commemorations in Bosnia and Herzegovina this week to honour the memories of the victims and pay tribute to survivors. Ahead of the anniversary, Islamic Relief has documented the horrific testimonies and ongoing trauma of numerous survivors
Now, in places like Gaza and Sudan, we yet again see the world fail to protect civilians from atrocities or ensure accountability for blatant violations of international law.
Waseem Ahmad, Chief Executive of Islamic Relief Worldwide, says the world is failing to learn the lessons of Srebrenica:
“The Srebrenica Genocide is a dark stain on the world’s conscience. People were promised protection then abandoned to be executed or raped while the world stood by. International governments had the knowledge and tools to respond but they lacked the political will. They owe it to Srebrenica’s victims and survivors to prevent genocide from ever happening again.
“But 30 years on, governments yet again lack the will to take meaningful action to save lives. Last year the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered actions to prevent genocide in Gaza, finding it plausible that such a risk exists. Yet the Court’s ruling continues to be ignored without consequence. Palestinians in Gaza are being systematically killed, starved, forcibly relocated, and denied humanitarian aid. Every day we see international law violated with complete impunity.
“Today the global legacy of Srebrenica is more relevant than ever. It is a stark reminder that governments must act in the moment to uphold international law and prevent atrocities. History judges harshly those who fail to act.”
States must honour their commitments in the 1948 Genocide Convention. All states have a moral and legal obligation to act to prevent genocide as soon as there is a risk of it occurring – not wait for legal verdicts that inevitably come years after people have been killed. It was only in 2007, 12 years later, that the ICJ ruled that genocide occurred at Srebrenica. Its legacy demands that the ICJ’s ruling on Gaza must be enough to spur states into action.
Islamic Relief is also calling for governments and institutions to do more to tackle the rise of hate speech and disinformation that fuel genocide and war crimes.
CEO Waseem Ahmad said: “The Bosnian War and the genocide in Srebrenica were fuelled by hate speech, disinformation and dehumanising propaganda that framed the victims as the danger. Today we see similar genocidal language in wars where we work around the world, seeking to strip people of their dignity and humanity in order to justify attacks on their existence. We need to see greater measures to combat hate speech and incitement.”
