Srebrenica Memorial Center Marked Holocaust Remembrance Day

(Patria) - On the occasion of the International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the Srebrenica Memorial Center sent a strong message of solidarity by lighting six candles in honor of Jews and others who perished during the Holocaust, while a seventh candle was symbolically dedicated to the victims of conflicts and war crimes in today's world. On this special day, when the whole world pays tribute to the innocent victims of one of the darkest chapters of human history, the Srebrenica Memorial Center reminds us of the universal values that connect us – the right to life, dignity, and freedom from persecution and violence.

“The Holocaust teaches us that silence in the face of evil is never the answer. Six candles are lit as a symbol of remembrance for the victims of the Holocaust, each with a special message. We must face the responsibility we bear today – the responsibility to protect the lives and dignity of all people suffering the consequences of conflicts, war, and violence around the world. Thirty years after the genocide, we must know that our words have value only if we show what we have learned from the lessons of the past,” said Emir Suljagić, Director of the Srebrenica Memorial Center.

The seventh candle was lit as a symbol of remembrance and solidarity with the civilian victims of today's conflicts, including the suffering of innocent people in Gaza, Sudan, Ukraine, and many other parts of the world. This act carries the message that the fight against hatred, injustice, and dehumanization is not over and that the universal values of humanity must be defended at all times and in all places. The Srebrenica Memorial Center, as a place of remembrance of the genocide committed in Bosnia and Herzegovina, emphasizes that solidarity with the victims of conflicts today is a moral obligation. The historical lesson of the Holocaust and the genocide in Srebrenica reminds us that the fight against genocide, persecution, and human rights violations is a universal task for all people.

“The Holocaust is not just a Jewish tragedy, just as Srebrenica is not just a Bosniak one. These are universal lessons that call on us to be better people, not to turn a blind eye to the suffering of the innocent, and to loudly say ‘never again,’ anywhere and anytime. Today, this is the most important message we send from all these places to those who commit crimes and who do not heed the lessons of history. Through the Memorial Center's Dialogue Committee, we have taken many important steps in interreligious dialogue within and beyond Bosnia and Herzegovina. In the most difficult times, it is important to show the strength to lend our voice to those whose voices are not heard,” Suljagić concluded.

The Srebrenica Memorial Center continues its missions of education and remembrance, reminding us that remembrance is not just an act of the past but also a responsibility towards the present and the future.