Rochdale Council of Mosques hosts memorial event to remember Srebrenica

Rochdale Council of Mosques hosts memorial event to remember Srebrenica

The Rochdale Council of Mosques, in collaboration with Rochdale Council, held a poignant Remembering Srebrenica Memorial Event at the newly refurbished Town Hall.

The ceremony aimed to honour the memory of the more than 8,000 Muslim men and boys who were systematically murdered in Srebrenica in July 1995.

The theme of this year’s memorial, “I Am Because You Are,” emphasises the importance of unity and the need to stand against hatred, discrimination, harassment, and prejudice. The event served as a reminder of the tragic events in Srebrenica and the significance of standing together in the face of division.

The United Nations has described the Srebrenica massacre as "the greatest atrocity on European soil since the Second World War," underscoring the enduring impact of the tragedy. The massacre was the shocking climax of the war in Bosnia - a conflict that erupted after the breakup of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s.

The memorial event at Rochdale Town Hall not only commemorated the lives lost but also reinforced the community's commitment to fostering a more inclusive and understanding society.

Mrs. D. Hawkins JP LLB, His Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of Greater Manchester; was joined by Deputy Lieutenant Ian Sandiford JP; Mayor of Rochdale, Councillor Shakil Ahmed and Consort Councillor Rachael Massey; Rochdale Council leader Councillor Neil Emmott; deputy leader Councillor Daalat Ali; Jasmin Dajic; Dobir Miah from Rochdale Council of Mosques; community members; police; statutory and voluntary service leaders; and various faith and non-faith group leaders to remember the atrocity that claimed the lives of many innocent Muslims.

The audience heard from several speakers, particularly the personal story of Jasmin Dajic, a survivor of the genocide. His emotional account of what happened on the 11th of July was a chilling reminder of what hate can do to communities.

Nadeem Mir QPM of Rochdale Council of Mosques said: "It was important not to forget the harrowing ordeal innocent people went through on that fateful day. Through raising awareness of hate and its causes we need to learn from the past to ensure this never happens again."

The event concluded with 11 pledges a community would take to end hate.

• "We pledge that when we hear the language of “us and them”, we will reach out and find common ground with our neighbour.
• "We pledge that, when we hear stereotyping and scapegoating, we will find and share alternative positive stories.
• "We pledge that, when we see discrimination in our schools or workplaces, we will challenge this and promote equal opportunities for all.
• "We pledge that, when we hear dehumanising language, we will remind the speaker of our common humanity.
• "We pledge that, when we see members of our community becoming disenfranchised, we will make a concerted effort to engage and include them
• "We pledge that, when we hear divisive propaganda, we will challenge this effectively.
• "We pledge that we will protect those who speak out against human rights abuses.
• "We pledge that, where we see persecution, we will do everything in our power to protect those who are suffering.
• "We pledge that, where we believe that extermination is taking place, we will call on our governments and the international community to take immediate action.
• "We pledge that we will always challenge denial by believing the victims and sharing their stories.
• We pledge that we will always choose the side of those who are suffering over the side of the oppressor."