The processing of war crimes at the state level in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) was criticized by international experts after these cases have been worked on for more than ten years. Their conclusion is that only low-ranking perpetrators are being processed, indictments are often “fragmented” and sent back multiple times for corrections, there is inconsistency regarding the legal qualifications of local law officials, and there are problems with the application of protection measures for witnesses.
As long as they continue to work together to create music, works of art and culture, and theatrical performances, they will bring back the real “Mostar identity” – an identity that belongs to everyone.
By setting double standards and speaking about quasi-democracy and human rights while rejecting everything that is different, Bosnian society is becoming increasingly intolerant.
It is becoming increasingly common to see in the media that ISIL members have killed people in bombings. Terrorism is often associated with BiH, in which there have been several terrorist acts. It is very difficult to say whether those who take lives are somewhere around us or far away. In order to avoid doubt about that, experts consider that we need coordinated action and more government engagement.
Twenty-three years to the day since it was demolished by Serbian nationalists as part of an ethnic cleansing campaign, Banja Luka’s grand mosque, Ferhadija, was reopened on 7 May. Despite continuing tensions between the Serbian and Bosniak population of Banja Luka, the ceremony passed off without incident and marked an important date in the city’s troubled history.
At the Bosniak Institute in Sarajevo, a panel of experts discussed the role of interfaith dialogue in addressing violent religious extremism. By Angelika Hoerner, Tasha Fell, and Marko Kljajić