The 1995 Srebrenica massacre marks a dark chapter in European history. On July 11, 1995, Bosnian Serb fighters brutally executed over 8,000 Bosniak Muslim boys and men in the town of Srebrenica, Bosnia-Herzegovina. The genocide was confirmed by the UN General Assembly last year, solidifying its place as Europe’s only massacre since WWII.
To commemorate this somber occasion, thousands have gathered in Srebrenica to pay their respects. A collective funeral is set to take place for seven newly identified victims, with over 6,000 more already buried at a vast cemetery near the town. The event will also see the inauguration of an exhibition showcasing personal items found in mass graves.
The conflict that led to this tragedy began in 1992, when Bosnian Serbs rebelled against Bosnia’s independence from Yugoslavia. The violence resulted in over 100,000 deaths and millions displaced before a US-brokered peace agreement was reached in 1995.
While Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic has expressed condolences for the massacre, he refuses to acknowledge it as a genocide. However, many others have been convicted and sentenced for their roles in the atrocities. The ongoing commemoration serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of acknowledging and learning from history’s darkest moments.
Source: https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/thousands-gather-srebrenica-30th-anniversary-europes-acknowledged-genocide-123669027