10 July 2015

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon marked the 20th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide at a memorial service at St Giles Cathedral.

Srebrenica Memorial Day commemorates the men and boys systematically murdered in the small town in eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina in July 1995, during the Balkans conflict of 1992 – 1995.

The service was organised by Remembering Srebrenica and was led by the Rt Rev Dr Angus Morrison, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.

Service in St Giles’ Edinburgh with @churchmoderator & @NicolaSturgeon to remember genocide in Srebrenica 20 years ago. #Srebrenica2015

— Lorna Hood (@revlornascot) July 10, 2015

The First Minister also met with genocide survivors, Azir Asmanović and Nedžad Avdić, and with Srebrenica mothers, who lost husbands, sons, fathers and brothers in the atrocity.

Azir Osmanović was just 13 when he survived the genocide in Srebrenica. He lost many family members and is still searching for the remains of his older brother who was 16 when the genocide took place. This year it will be 20 years since he was declared missing. In 2015, Azir is burying the incomplete body of his uncle.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said:

“Today, two decades on from the genocide at Srebrenica, we honour both its victims and survivors in our commemorations.

“We must also pause and realise the real consequences of tolerating allowing hatred and division to go unchallenged. We must recognise our responsibility to ensure that diversity is celebrated and protected so that everyone, regardless of their race, faith or nationality, can feel safe and be safe in their own communities.”