Reactions to Britannica article: Use the term genocide, not massacre

(Patria) - In a recently published article by the Encyclopaedia Britannica, the term "massacre" was used instead of the word genocide in the context of the events in Srebrenica in 1995.

Because of this, the IGK sent a letter demanding that the term genocide be used.

"The International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, and many national courts of states have determined that the intent of the perpetrators and the scale of the crime that occurred in Srebrenica in July 1995 corresponds to the definition of genocide. The genocide in Srebrenica is therefore not based on the political, historical, or expert opinions of any politicians, historians, or lawyers, but on facts that have been finally established based on international law and the judgments of international courts in The Hague.

This year, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a Resolution declaring July 11 as the International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the Srebrenica Genocide.

The basic function of an encyclopedia is the precise use of terms that will primarily serve to strengthen international law based on the Srebrenica genocide, as an undeniable fact that is a legal, not a matter of feeling, or a debate that ends in rotten compromises and inevitably leads to the denial of genocide. Your use of the word massacre, instead of genocide, does not contribute to strengthening international law at a time when brutal killings are occurring worldwide.

Also, the number of victims of the Srebrenica genocide, according to the authentic source, the Srebrenica Memorial Center, is at least 8,372 victims. More than 1,000 are listed as missing.

Bearing in mind that the use of the term massacre is not in accordance with the valid court judgments of international and national courts, bearing in mind the United Nations General Assembly Resolution on the Srebrenica genocide, and that your incorrect use of the term insults the victims of the Srebrenica genocide and thus favors the deniers of the established and adjudicated genocide in Srebrenica, we demand that you correct the term massacre by using the word genocide. We also demand that you correct the number of victims of the Srebrenica genocide.

In addition to the Institute for Research of Genocide Canada, many friends of truth and justice about the Srebrenica genocide around the world are asking this of you. We have informed academic institutions in Canada and state authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina about our request," states the reaction of the Institute for Research of Genocide Canada.