Thousands of people are gathering in eastern Bosnia today to mark the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide, one of Europe’s worst atrocities since World War II. Commemoration events will take place throughout the day at the Srebrenica-Potocari Memorial Center.
On the eve of the anniversary, thousands of peace marchers arrived at the memorial site after walking more than 100 kilometres (62 miles) in memory of the victims. During today’s ceremonies, the remains of seven newly identified victims will be laid to rest, including a 19-year-old man and a 67-year-old woman.
The massacre occurred in July 1995, when Bosnian Serb forces captured the UN-declared safe zone and killed more than 8,000 Muslim men and boys. Around 100 women were also killed, 80 of whom remain missing. To hide the crime, the perpetrators relocated bodies to secondary mass graves, often mutilating the remains.
To date, about 7,000 victims have been identified and buried. Around 1,000 remain unaccounted for. Some families have waited decades to bury their loved ones. “Thirty years have passed and I have nothing to wait for anymore,” said Mevlida Omerovic, who is burying only her husband’s jawbone.
Despite international convictions, Serbian and Bosnian Serb leaders continue to deny the genocide.
