Crimes in the cities of the Sana river valley are not a local tragedy, but an introduction to systemic crimes

(Patria) - As part of the commemoration of the 33rd anniversary of crimes with elements of genocide, which were committed in 1992 in the cities and municipalities of the Sana river valley, the Bihać Mufti, hafiz dr. Mehmed-ef. Kudić delivered a sermon in Bihać today.

The sermon was read in all mosques in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and it reminds, among other things, that the crimes were committed at the very beginning of the aggression against Bosnia and Herzegovina, when the Serbian army, with the support of local structures, expelled civilians from their homes.

– Many were then taken to execution sites or killed in front of their homes, while entire families were wiped out, often by the hands of neighbors with whom they had shared their daily lives for years – noted Mufti Kudić.

He warned that these events do not represent just a local tragedy but were an introduction to a wider, organized pattern of systematic crimes that subsequently spread throughout Bosanska Krajina and culminated in the genocide in Srebrenica.

– These were the days when evil began to be sown systematically, with a clear intention and without any mercy, days when it was necessary to react decisively. The question arises as to who should have reacted then. The international community, as many times before and after, proved to be slow, uninterested, and blind to the signs of genocide being committed against a people. They had neither the will nor the courage to recognize and stop the criminal intent while it was still possible – emphasized Mufti Kudić.

He also pointed out the destructiveness of forgetting the past, reminding of the frequent examples of Bosniaks who believe that no one will harm them because they are open and well-intentioned towards others.

– In that delusion, forgetting our identity, we have often tried to adapt to others and follow their paths, not knowing or forgetting that the answers and lessons we need at all times are found in Allah's Book, the Qur'an – stressed Mufti Kudić.

Following this message, the Mufti recalled the verses of the Qur'an which state that we cannot trust those who deny God and who are enemies of believers.

– Allah, may He be exalted, warns us that every effort and endeavor we undertake must aim for Allah's pleasure and that the purpose of action must not be material interest. This is a great warning that we cannot have friendly relations or trust with those who deny a faith, a people, a language, who expel believers and fight against the truth – noted Mufti Kudić.

Explaining this message, Mufti Kudić reminded that tolerance towards others is part of Islamic teachings and interfaith coexistence, but it must not turn into a submissive mentality towards those who are hostile towards our faith and homeland.

– Few nations and states have gone through such severe trials and attempts at complete destruction as Bosnia and Herzegovina experienced in the nineties, and as Palestine is experiencing today. In moments when everyone abandons you, when support and justice disappear, only one hope remains, and that is to trust in the Lord of the worlds. Then we truly realize that only deep and sincere faith can save us, that it keeps us upright and firm when everything else disappears – emphasized Mufti Kudić.

It was faith, the Mufti reminded, that gave strength and hope to the mothers of martyrs to survive and rise again. He referred to the example of Mother Hava from Zecovi near Prijedor, whose husband and six sons were killed simply because they were Muslims.

– She last saw her sons and husband when they were being taken away down the local road. She found them after the war in Tomašica, the largest mass grave in Europe after World War II – recounted Mufti Kudić.

These individual stories, the Mufti noted, are part of a series of hundreds of crimes and the culmination of a criminal ideology.

– If we truly want the crime not to be repeated, we must prevent its cause. And the cause is precisely that murderous ideology whose goal was to destroy everything that is different: everything that is Bosniak, everything that is Muslim – warned Mufti Kudić.

He also noted that July 20th is a symbol of the suffering of Bosniaks in the Prijedor, Kozarac, and wider Bosanska Krajina regions, and that 3,176 people were killed in the municipality of Prijedor alone.