Salkić: Bosniak students in RS are discriminated against, and now they are being dehumanized over prayer

(Patria) - Ramiz Salkić, a deputy in the National Assembly of the RS, reacted to the statement of Branimir Kojić, president of the "Assembly of the Republican Organization of Families of Captured and Killed
Soldiers and Missing Civilians" about children who performed prayer at the "First Elementary School" in Srebrenica. Salkić believes this is an attack on students who symbolically depict Muslim prayer and an attempt to further dehumanize Bosniak students in the educational process in this entity.

"A veterans' organization that cherishes the legacy of an army convicted of genocide should work on the catharsis of its members and confronting the burden they carry due to the genocide committed against Bosniaks, rather than commenting on occurrences in schools, for which there are competent institutions. Through the continuity of my political work, I advocate for the removal of all forms of discrimination in the educational system in this entity, and I will continue to do so.

It is clear that Bosniak children are discriminated against compared to children of Serbian nationality, because they are denied the right to name and study their mother tongue, the Bosnian language. This is confirmed by rulings of the Supreme Court of the RS, the Court in Bijeljina, and the Court in Srebrenica, as well as the opinion of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The fact that the school slava in this entity is Saint Sava's Day is proof of the Orthodoxization of the educational system in this entity.

Bosniak children are forced to participate in various programs during the celebration of this slava. The history textbook offers content that the RS army and Ratko Mladić are heroes and creators of the RS entity, while ignoring the fact that they were convicted of genocide and other serious war crimes. Bosniak children must learn all of this," states Salkić.

He further says that schools are decorated with icons, and during the celebration of Easter, children of Bosniak nationality are often forced to be part of the program, so as not to be further stigmatized in the classrooms.

"Proof of what the educational process is like is also the national structure of employees, which in no way corresponds to the structure of students. There are many examples that can be cited in support of the argument of systemic discrimination against Bosniaks in the educational process in this entity.
An attack on students who symbolically depict Muslim prayer is an attempt to further dehumanize Bosniak students in the educational process in this entity.

Children and teachers of Serbian nationality regularly cross themselves, and there are also frequent examples of blessing schools at the beginning of the school year, which, according to the 'just and highly moral veterans' organization,' stemming from an army convicted of genocide against Bosniaks, certainly does not bother. We will continue our legal and every other struggle for our equality and the restoration of forcibly revoked status rights, without regard to the opinions of those who would be happiest if we did not even live on our own hearths," said Salkić.