SREBRENICA (Bosnia-Herzegovina), July 11: Some 30,000 Muslims from across Bosnia gathered on Friday to remember the 1995 Srebrenica massacre and bury the remains of more than 300 newly identified victims.

The funeral ceremony for the 308 Muslims, who were among 8,000 killed in Europe’s worst atrocity since World War II, was held at a memorial site just outside the eastern town.

The remains of the victims, aged between 15 and 84, were exhumed from mass graves after the end of Bosnia’s 1992-95 war and identified by DNA analysis.

“It was so hard when they informed me that my father has been identified,” said Vanesa Mehmedovic, who is to bury her father Mevludin.

“However, since he is not with us in a way, I’m glad that his soul will finally find peace,” the 26-year-old added.

Almost 220 buses ferrying around 10,000 people converged on Srebrenica, while many more arrived in other vehicles, said organisers.

The commemoration was held amid fears of possible anti-Muslim violence due to Bosnian Serb anger with a UN court’s decision last week to clear the former commander of Muslim forces in Srebrenica, Naser Oric, of war crimes.

Refik Dervisevic, a massacre survivor, arrived in Srebrenica late Thursday after taking part in a 100km “March of Peace.” Some 2,000 people participated in the symbolic march from the village of Nezuk, near the eastern town of Tuzla, to Srebrenica — the route taken by many Muslims seeking to flee Serb forces.

“This is the third time that I am taking part in the march,” Dervisevic said.

At Friday’s ceremony, survivors and victims’ relatives were joined by Croat and Muslim members of Bosnia’s tripartite presidency — Zeljko Komsic and Haris Silajdzic.

The commemoration was not attended by any senior Bosnian Serb officials.—AFP

Opinion

Editorial

A hasty retreat
Updated 28 Nov, 2024

A hasty retreat

Govt should not extend its campaign of violence against PTI and its leaders, thinking it now has the upper hand. Enough is enough.
Lebanon truce
28 Nov, 2024

Lebanon truce

WILL it hold? That is the question many in the Middle East and beyond will be asking after a 60-day ceasefire ...
MDR anomaly removed
28 Nov, 2024

MDR anomaly removed

THE State Bank’s decision to remove its minimum deposit rate requirement for conventional banks on deposits from...
Islamabad march
Updated 27 Nov, 2024

Islamabad march

WITH emotions running high, chaos closes in. As these words were being written, rumours and speculation were all...
Policing the internet
27 Nov, 2024

Policing the internet

IT is chilling to witness how Pakistan — a nation that embraced the freedoms of modern democracy, and the tech ...
Correcting sports priorities
27 Nov, 2024

Correcting sports priorities

IT has been a lingering battle that has cast a shadow over sports in Pakistan: who are the national sports...