Fazlović in Potočari: This is a place that calls us, friends of truth will attend the 30th anniversary of the genocide

(Patria) - The 22nd anniversary of the first collective funeral was marked at the Srebrenica-Potočari Memorial Center, from where it was announced that friends of truth from all over the world will attend the commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the genocide in Srebrenica this year.

The Day of the Martyrs, traditionally observed in Bosnia and Herzegovina on the second day of Eid al-Fitr, was also marked.

- 30 years ago, the Riasat of the Islamic Community of Bosnia and Herzegovina established the Day of the Martyrs to be on the second day of Eid al-Fitr. This is a place that calls us, we have a duty to come here, to be in all our martyrs' cemeteries - said the Tuzla Mufti Vahid ef. Fazlović from Potočari.

- Whenever we come to Potočari, we feel dignified. This is a place of our dignity. A place of our vow which states that each of us must be responsible for our duties. We must be responsible and decisive in carrying out all our tasks. The mothers of Srebrenica, all the mothers of our martyrs are an inspiration. This is the year we mark 30 years since the genocide. Friends of truth from all over the world will be with us here - Fazlović said in his address to the attendees.

The Srebrenica Memorial Center reminded that on this date in 2003, 600 victims of the genocide were buried, and that there were two more collective funerals for the victims of the genocide that year.

After the first one, the second funeral was on July 11 with 282 buried victims, and the third funeral was on September 20, 2003, when 107 people were buried. A total of 989 victims of the genocide were buried that year.

- We have marked this place, a place of crime and genocide. Our loved ones, our martyrs are a warning that Srebrenica should never happen or be repeated to anyone - emphasized Munira Subašić, president of the association "Movement of Mothers of the Enclaves of Srebrenica and Žepa".

The Potočari Memorial Center was officially opened on September 20, 2003, and was opened by former US President Bill Clinton. So far, 6,765 victims of the genocide have been buried in the Srebrenica-Potočari Memorial Center, while 250 victims have been buried in local cemeteries by decision of surviving family members.

The victims come from different municipalities, and most of them are from the areas of Srebrenica, Bratunac, Vlasenica, Zvornik, and Milići.

The victims of the genocide were found at 150 different locations, including 77 mass graves. The youngest victim buried so far in Potočari was a newborn baby girl, Fatima Muhić, and the oldest was Nana Šaha Izmirlić, born in 1901.

More than a thousand victims of the genocide are still being searched for.