SARAJEVO, JULY 11 (ONASA) – Sarajevo is hosting a seminar called “From the Balkans to Gaza: A Critical Analysis of Genocide”, which today in the National Theater gathered important names, among them the Minister of State for International Cooperation of Qatar Lolwah Rashid Al Khater, the president Nataša Pirc Musar of the Republic of Slovenia, Palestinian photojournalist Motaz Azaiza and others.
Minister Lolwah Rashid Al Khater told reporters that the seminar is being held at the right moment, which is just one day before the anniversary of the genocide in Srebrenica. She pointed out that July 11 is the day declared by the UN as the International Day of Remembrance and the commemoration of the genocide in Srebrenica, but also to remind us all that hate speech can lead to such crimes.
– We cannot help but think about that massacre without drawing a parallel between the present and what happened almost 30 years ago. The same approach and methods are used over and over again in such cases. One of these approaches is the use of hunger and food as a weapon of war, followed by a siege, as well as the killing of civilians – said Al Khater.
One important phenomenon that should be highlighted, according to her, is the higher level of hate speech, including Islamophobia. She added that there are many UN reports that show an alarming level of social polarization and rising levels of violence against Muslims.
– We also have to make a distinction between what is reported in the mainstream media and what is reported by independent journalists. When we talk about this disparity, we should highlight the dangers of hate speech. When I speak today, I want to emphasize that hate speech can take many forms, such as anti-Semitism. We could see that during the Holocaust, and we see it now against the Palestinians. Therefore, we should reject all forms of hate speech against any group. I hope that together as journalists, as decision makers, as academics we can gather in order to improve the level of tolerance, better access to international justice, coexistence and that is why we have gathered here and that is why events like this are very important today – said Al Khater before beginning of the seminar.
The seminar, jointly organized by the Center for Advanced Studies (CNS), the Islam and Muslims Initiative (IMI) and Al Jazeera Balkans, explored topics such as the comparison of the Srebrenica genocide, the siege of Sarajevo and the ongoing genocide in Gaza, the growing wave Islamophobia around the world, and the potential connection between the rise of the right, Islamophobia and colonial expansion in Palestine.
The President of the Republic of Slovenia, Nataša Pirc Musar, said that from Slovenia’s point of view, but also from her personal point of view, there is no doubt about the genocide in Srebrenica.
– That is why Slovenia supported the Resolution in the United Nations, and Slovenia is also very vocal about the situation in Gaza. Slovenia recognized Palestine just a few weeks ago and I think it was the right thing – Pirc Musar pointed out.
If you are in favor of a two-state solution, as she added, it is right to recognize both countries and those two countries must be recognized in order to function as such.
– I would also like to point out that there is a global need to reform the United Nations, because I think that the struggle that we see today in the Security Council, countries that are fighting with the right of veto, does nothing good for the international community. That will be my message today – said Pirc Musar.
According to Palestinian photojournalist and activist Motaz Azaziz, the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina understand the people of Gaza best because “people who have gone through such terrible moments can identify with those who are currently experiencing this and know what you are going through.”
– In Bosnia, I managed to see a lot of love and a lot of respect for us – said Azaziza.
When asked if he believes that anyone will listen to what he has to say, Azaziza said that he does not count on politicians, on United Nations agencies, because if they could do something, they would certainly have done it by now.
– The people who help me and the people of Gaza are the force that moves me and that is why I try to justify the trust of those people and the trust of my people and I try to be the voice of my people and all those whose voices cannot be heard and that is my task – said Azaziza.
The director of the Center for Advanced Studies, Ahmet Alibašić, reminded that tomorrow we commemorate the 29th anniversary of a genocide that took place on the soil of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
– It is important that we remember, but it is even more important that we raise our voices for those who do not have a voice and that we encourage those who make decisions to take courage and resist the pressure because we know that they are exposed to enormous pressure and to make the right decision and to stop this agony that it has been going on for too long – said Alibašić. (end)