From Srebrenica to Gaza: Honoring Memory, Pursuing Justice

A Call for Justice, Accountability, and Universal Human Dignity

On July 11, the world observes the International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica. On this solemn day, we honor the memory of more than 8,000 Muslim men and boys who were brutally murdered in and around the town of Srebrenica in Bosnia and Herzegovina—the worst atrocity on European soil since World War II.

This massacre was not a spontaneous act of violence. It was the result of a systematic campaign of hatred, dehumanization, and political manipulation. Genocide begins long before the first victim is killed—it begins with hate speech, with the normalization of fear, and with the spread of narratives that pit one group of human beings against another.

As a religious organization grounded in the Islamic principles of justice, dignity, and the sanctity of human life, we affirm that those responsible for such crimes—whether planners or perpetrators—must be held fully accountable. Justice delayed is not justice denied, but justice pursued is essential to healing, prevention, and global moral integrity.

There can be no double standards in the global response to atrocities. Just as the international community rightfully condemns the Holocaust, so too must it unequivocally condemn the targeted and systematic genocide of Muslims in Bosnia. Selective memory and unequal justice undermine the very foundations of international law and human rights.

The Quran reminds us: “Whoever kills a single soul unjustly—it is as if he had slain all of humanity…” (5 :32).

This verse is not merely a moral statement—it is a binding ethical imperative. Every life is sacred. Every human being is worthy of dignity. It is the responsibility of governments, civil society, media, and religious leaders to protect life and reject any discourse or practice that incites hatred and violence.

We also warn against the misuse of freedom of expression to justify hate speech, cartoons, films, or other media that demean religious or ethnic groups. True freedom of speech must be exercised with responsibility. It should nurture empathy, reason, and solidarity, not fan the flames of war.

Let us work together to ensure that freedom of expression becomes a force for coexistence, not division—a tool for building bridges between faiths, cultures, and nations, even amidst our differences.

On this day of remembrance, we pray for the victims and survivors of Srebrenica. We recommit ourselves to the values of justice, peace, and unity. And we call on the global community to stand firm against genocide, discrimination, and all forms of hatred—wherever they occur, and whomever they target.

From Srebrenica to Gaza: The Price of Silence and the Cost of Inaction

We must also acknowledge with heavy hearts that history is repeating itself. Today, the people of Gaza face what numerous international experts and institutions have determined to be a genocide:

• International Court of Justice (ICJ) – Genocide proceedings
• UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) – Report
• UN Special Rapporteur – Official Report (PDF)
• Amnesty International – Position Statement
• Israeli Historian Documentation – Full report (PDF)

Had the international community—including governments, public opinion, institutions, civil society, and religious leadership—taken a firm, timely, and united stand in response to the 1995 genocide in Srebrenica, the ongoing genocide in Gaza might never have occurred.

If we fail again to respond decisively today, there is no guarantee that similar atrocities will not be repeated elsewhere in the world, against other communities. Impunity emboldens perpetrators. Accountability deters future crimes.

Therefore, we reaffirm that justice for the victims—whether in Srebrenica or in Gaza—must be pursued with urgency and seriousness. Failing to hold those responsible to account not only dishonors the memory of the fallen but exposes future generations to the same horrors.

Let us not be remembered as bystanders to history, but as those who stood for humanity, truth, and justice—for all peoples, in all lands, in all times.

O God, make us among those who speak truth to power, uphold justice in the face of oppression, and never turn away from the pain of others.