Thousands gathered today in Srebrenica to mark the 30th anniversary of the 1995 genocide, where over 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys were systematically killed by Bosnian Serb forces.
The solemn ceremonies, held at the Srebrenica-Potocari Memorial Centre, served as a poignant reminder of one of Europe’s darkest chapters since World War II.
The day began with a collective funeral at the Memorial Center in Potocari, where the remains of seven newly identified victims were laid to rest.
Among them were two 19-year-old men and one woman, their identities confirmed through ongoing efforts to exhume and identify remains from mass graves.
Mourners, including survivors and families, placed flowers at the memorial, where over 6,750 victims’ names are engraved, honouring those lost in the July 1995 massacre.
The annual Peace March, a three-day journey retracing the 100-120 km route taken by Bosnian Muslims fleeing the genocide, concluded at the Memorial Centre.
Approximately 6,000-7,000 participants joined this year’s march, symbolising resilience and remembrance. The march ended with emotional gatherings as participants reunited with loved ones at the cemetery.
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At the former car battery factory — once a UN base during the genocide and now part of the Memorial Centre — ceremonies included prayers and speeches reflecting on the tragedy.
In July 1995, Bosnian Serb forces attacked the UN-declared safe area of Srebrenica, killing more than 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys despite the presence of Dutch peacekeepers.
The forces led by Gen. Ratko Mladic, who was later sentenced to life for war crimes and genocide, overran the area on July 11, executing around 2,000 men and boys that day and thousands more in the following days as they fled into nearby forests.
The bodies of victims have been found in 570 mass graves across Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Meanwhile, Türkiye said it rejects all statements and remarks that seek to deny the Srebrenica genocide or “glorify war criminals” in defiance of international court rulings.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s remarks came in a video message marking the 30th anniversary of the 1995 Srebrenica massacre.
Erdogan also reiterated Ankara’s continued and unconditional support for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s territorial integrity, sovereignty, and constitutional order.
Touching on Israel’s relentless ongoing attacks on Gaza, Erdogan said that decades ago the international community remained silent on Srebrenica, and now in recent years it is a mere bystander to the oppression taking place in Palestine.
European Union leaders on Friday also marked the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide by firmly rejecting denial, revisionism, and the glorification of war criminals, while reaffirming support for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s path to EU membership.
Speaking at the commemoration ceremony in Srebrenica, European Council President Antonio Costa said: “There is no room in Europe or anywhere else for genocide denial, revisionism or the glorification of those responsible. Denying such horrors only poisons our future.”
Costa emphasised the EU’s commitment to accountability and truth, saying the bloc honours the victims and stands in solidarity with survivors, pledging to keep their memory alive.
He also underlined that the EU remains committed to its enlargement process, stressing: “We believe the place of Bosnia and Herzegovina is in the European Union.”
