The law banning genocide denial which the High Representative in Bosnia imposed on Friday is good, but it is important to ensure that judicial institutions in the country implement it, said the head of the ‘Movement of Mothers of Srebrenica and Zepa Enclaves’, Munira Subasic.
Only days before he is set to leave Bosnia, the High Representative of the international community, Valentin Inzko, used his special set of powers – the Bonn Powers – to impose the law.
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The law changes that Inzko imposed stipulate prison sentences lasting between six months and five years for anybody who “publicly condones, denies, grossly trivializes or tries to justify a crime of genocide, crimes against humanity or a war crime.”
“This law is important and I want to thank him (Inzko) for what he did,” Subasic said, adding that Inzko can now “leave with honour.”
She said that the Austrian diplomat only focused on the issues of the citizens throughout his term and that this is the first thing he did for the victims of the 1995 Srebrenica genocide.
However, she argued that the law should have been imposed immediately in Bosnia 26 years ago, as it would have prevented all the insulting rhetoric many mothers of genocide victims had to endure throughout the years, and many of them did not live to see this decision.
There are many laws that are not being implemented in BiH, she noted.
“This law must be implemented by the judiciary and the prosecutor's office, because we, the victims, will ask for it. In case that does not happen, we will raise our voice,” said Subasic.
“It is important for us to be protected in some way from hatred, insults and humiliation. This law is good, we will be happy if the Court of BiH and courts across the region implement this law. If someone denies genocide, and the Court of BiH does not arrest such a criminal, at least at in beginning, then that law will be not mean anything,” Subasic stressed.
“We, the mothers of Srebrenica, have managed to raise our children without hatred and a need for revenge, while I think that on the other side, children still live with lies, hatred and I think that this law will help all children in BiH gain trust. Without trust, there is no reconciliation,” Subasic said.
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