Pettigrew warned: Inaction by the BiH Prosecutor's Office and the OHR has led to an escalation of genocide denial and glorification of war criminals

(Patria) - David Pettigrew, Professor of Philosophy and Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Southern Connecticut State University and a member of the Genocide Studies Steering Committee at Yale University, spoke today on the topic "Genocide Denial: The Pathology of Impunity in BiH".

He warned that despite the amendments to the Criminal Code of BiH by High Representative Valentin Inzko in 2021, which punish genocide denial and the glorification of convicted war criminals, the denial of genocide and glorification of war criminals has continued with almost impunity.

"There has been virtually no criminal prosecution for genocide denial and glorification of war criminals. The denial of genocide and glorification of convicted war criminals are an insult to the truth established by court rulings, a re-traumatization for survivors, and a threat that crimes could be repeated. Let us recall that in the Criminal Code of BiH, genocide denial and glorification of war criminals are understood as incitement to violence or hatred, in other words, as forms of hate speech that threaten violence directed towards a specific group. The inaction of the Prosecutor's Office, as well as the OHR, has contributed to the escalation of hate speech and denial. The situation has become increasingly difficult," states Professor Pettigrew.

He recalled that no criminal proceedings have been initiated for the plaque glorifying Ratko Mladić at Vrace, no criminal proceedings have been initiated for the mural of Ratko Mladić in Banja Luka, nor have criminal proceedings been initiated for the mural of Ratko Mladić with the inscription "city of heroes" at the entrance to Kalinovik.

"No criminal proceedings have been initiated against Milorad Dodik for persistently denying the genocide in Srebrenica or for his hate speech directed against Bosniak Muslims, as in the case of his recent post on X (formerly Twitter) in which he stated that Sarajevo Serbs left their homes "because they refused to be under Muslim rule." Instead of being prosecuted, Dodik's sanctions were recently lifted, and he accompanied a delegation from Republika Srpska to Washington, where he appears to have taken on an active lobbying role. After returning from Washington, Dodik did not hide his separatist ideology when he boasted: "We met with more than 14 congressmen, and they all know that we came there as representatives of Republika Srpska." In his statements, Dodik emphasized the position that the "Dayton Agreement is 'destroyed' and that there is 'no' chance of it being renewed," and that the separation model, as he said, is "the best option." Dodik's and Republika Srpska's lobbying efforts in Washington seem to be generating support for his secessionist and anti-Muslim policies," warns Pettigrew.

He also pointed out that Max Pomerance's article titled "Islamic State on the EU Border?" in which he labeled BiH as an "emerging threat" to NATO on its "southern flank" is unfounded, as is the claim that "Sarajevo has become a Muslim city."

"At the invitation of Mr. Dodik, retired Lieutenant General Michael Flynn recently appeared in Banja Luka, where he warned of the threat of so-called "radical Islam" and maliciously characterized Islam as a political agenda rather than a religion. In addition, Rod Blagojevich, a US-based lobbyist for Republika Srpska, posted a video on X (formerly Twitter) claiming that "Christian church property" is being "confiscated" by "radicalized Muslim leadership in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina." These articles and statements must be condemned and prosecuted to the fullest extent possible, as they demonize Bosniaks with reckless cruelty, inciting hatred and putting them at risk of persecution and violence.

This spread of fear of Muslims is accompanied by public events that evoke the nationalist ideologies of the 1990s, ideologies that sought the permanent removal of Bosniaks, whether through the so-called "Greater Croatia" or "Greater Serbia." At a recent concert by Marko Perković Thompson in Široki Brijeg, the song "Bojna Čavoglave" was also sung, which begins with the Ustasha salute "Za dom spremni" (Ready for the Homeland), to which the audience raised their right hands. Such public nationalist fervor is concerning, given the efforts to create a separatist "third" entity of Bosnian Croats in BiH. Equally concerning is the gathering of members of the Ravna Gora Movement in Višegrad on March 13th to pay tribute to the WWII Chetnik leader Draža Mihailović. Participants wore military uniforms, evoking memories of war crimes committed against Bosniaks in Višegrad in the 90s as part of an extermination ideology. Speakers at the event glorified convicted war criminals Ratko Mladić and Radovan Karadžić. These events are particularly disturbing as they represent a toxic synthesis of fascist symbols and ideologies from the 1990s and World War II," he states.

He recalled that the pathology of impunity has reached a new peak of perversion with the promotion of the Vilina Vlas hotel in Višegrad at the Belgrade Tourism Fair as a tourist destination.

"At least 200 Bosniak women and girls were forcibly detained and subjected to sexual assault at Vilina Vlas by members of the Army and Police of Republika Srpska. It is believed that fewer than ten victims survived. The hotel was reopened after the genocide, without replacing the room or furniture where the crimes occurred. Promoting Vilina Vlas, or other locations in Višegrad where Bosniaks were killed, as tourist destinations is a heinous attempt to deny the war crimes committed. It disgraces the memory of the victims."

The inaction of the BiH Prosecutor's Office and the Office of the High Representative has led to an escalation of genocide denial, glorification of war criminals, ethno-nationalist rhetoric, and incitement of hatred against those who were targeted during the genocide.

"It is imperative to resist this pathology of impunity through criminal prosecution and transitional justice initiatives. Such initiatives must ensure the right of survivors to erect memorials at sites where they are prohibited from doing so, such as the Pilica Home, Heliodrom, Kalinovik, Kravica, and Prijedor, and the removal of plaques and murals glorifying convicted war criminals, such as the mural of Ratko Mladić at the entrance to Kalinovik. In addition to criminal prosecution for hate speech, genocide denial, or glorification of convicted war criminals, the Office of the High Representative must undertake transitional justice initiatives to affirm the truth established by court rulings and ensure a more just future in Bosnia and Herzegovina where the dignity and human rights of survivors are protected, and the memory of the victims is honored. There is no time to lose," concluded Professor Pettigrew.