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Atif Hussain works as a Publishing manager for a leading Islamic publisher. With a background in teaching and education, Atif has a passion for inspiring the next generation of Muslims to become good role models in society.
12 July 2022
Remembering the Srebrenica Massacre of 1992
A massacre and ethnic cleansing of 100,000 people, including women and children, happened on July 11th during the Bosnian war between 1992-1995.
It has been 27 years since the Genocide, which has been declared the worst mass murder within Europe since World War II. Bosnian president Radovan Karadzic and his military commander, Ratko Mladic, were found guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity, leading them to serve life in prison because of their atrocious acts.
Srebrenica sits on the edge of Bosnia. Bosnia is now home to 3 million Muslims, with Islam being one of the two biggest religions.
July 11th marked the anniversary of the massacre. 27 years later, bodies are still being uncovered and Muslims are still being put to rest. Families of 50 recently identified victims will rebury their loved ones after almost three decades of searching through the mass graves scattered around the Bosnian town.
Despite it occurring 2 decades ago, the genocide has created political fragmentation within Bosnian minority groups and the emotional scars on the country and its people will always remain.
A survivor of the massacre shares her eye-witness account of the events that took place in Srebrenica in July 1995.
Gravestones are seen at sunrise at a memorial complex near Srebrenica, 150 kilometres (94 miles) northeast of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Saturday, July 11, 2015. Twenty years ago, on July 11, 1995, Serb troops overran the eastern Bosnian Muslim enclave of Srebrenica and executed some 8,000 Muslim men and boys, which International courts have labelled as an act of genocide, and newly identified victims of the genocide are still being re-interred at Srebrenica (AP Photo/Amel Emric).
“We lived under siege for 3 and a half years, without water or electricity. We were constantly being bombarded by Serbians with thousands of grenades. It was unbearable.
We were trapped as we were next to a river and surrounded by forces from the other side. We were sitting ducks. We thought we were somewhat of an experiment to the people there to see how long the human could endure such conditions.
When we started getting supplies, we required basic necessities to make ends meet like flour to make bread, but instead, they sent us yeast. We needed things to wash our clothes with but they’d send us nappies. It made things more difficult than it already was.
Aid would be dropped in mass areas by helicopter and would kill the very people it was meant to help on impact.
At that point in time, I had promised that I would talk about what happened to us, not even contemplating the idea that my husband or son would be killed. I wanted to share the stories of the atrocities that took place.
My first neighbour, Muneera, her first daughter was killed by a grenade, and later her husband and son were killed so she was left alone. I asked her why she doesn’t speak and she says that she cannot, but I myself have this need within me to talk so the world knows what happened.
We need to share the stories so that it never happens again. I feel deeply for any mother in this world that has lost their child. I know how that feels.“
To see the full testimony from Fadila Efendic on the horrors of the Srebrenica massacre, click here.
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