EULEMA statement in honour of the victims in Srebrenica, Bosnia, 30 years later
LETTER TO THE WORLD ON THE OCCASION OF THE 30th COMMEMORATION OF THE GENOCIDE IN SREBRENICA
Dear brothers and sisters,
Today is the thirtieth anniversary of the genocide in Srebrenica. Europe and the world have heard about Srebrenica. Last year, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a Resolution on the Srebrenica Genocide, which will mark July 11 as the International Day of Remembrance of Genocide. This is great news and the result of great efforts in the memorialization of the genocide.
Much more important than memorialization is ensuring the conditions so that genocide will never be repeated in Srebrenica or anywhere else. We must do much more to ensure a peaceful future for future generations. This can only be achieved through legal and legal means within the framework of the state. State institutions exist to ensure law and order in every state.
In a time marked by the resurgence of violence and extremism, the memory of Srebrenica compels us to ask: What are we doing to ensure that such atrocities never happen again, anywhere, to anyone? Remembrance must be an active force—one that defends truth, safeguards human dignity, and guides our political and social choices.
Our memories cannot be silenced or reduced to mere ritual. They must become a living force — defending truth, upholding dignity, and shaping our social and political decisions. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) warned us of dark times when evil would be commanded and good rejected. This teaches that evil becomes most dangerous when it is normalized and goodness is sidelined. Today, we see clear signs of such times, when justice weakens and hatred grows.
At the same time, we live in a world of uncertainty and fragmentation. Bearing the heavy burden of genocide, we are called to build bridges — between faith communities, scholars, governments, and civil society — to secure a safe and hopeful future for our children.
From our position as religious leaders in Europe, but also as a fellow human being, we call for unity in action, shared remembrance, and common responsibility — to protect the dignity of every human life, everywhere.
Let us be guided by the words: “whoever saves a life, it will be as if they saved all of humanity.” (Al-Mā’idah, 32) And let us never forget that in our daily lives — especially here in Europe, where we live and serve — our behaviour must be marked by sincerity, wisdom, integrity, and dialogue. Only then can we truly answer the call of our faith and humanity. The true measure of our compassion is not what we say at memorials, but what we choose to do between them. Srebrenica calls us to remember, to act — against hatred, denial, exclusion, and silence.
Our prayers to Reisu-l-Ulema of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Husein Kavazovic, and to all our brothers and sisters, parents and citizens of the blessed land of Bosnia.
Special thanks and wishes of Peace and blessings to Mufti Nedzad Grabus, mufti of Sarajevo, imam Senaid Kobilica, mufti for Europe, imam Edin Hamzakadic, Istiqlal mosque in Sarajevo, imam Ahmed Tabakovic, CIBI religious authority in Italy.
Please read and share the open letter from the Reisu-l-ulema Husein Kavazovic.
Imam Yahya Pallavicini
