Survivor Stories 43
Ramiza Gurdić
Ramiza is a member of the Movement of Mothers of Srebrenica and Žepa Enclaves. She recalls those days in Srebrenica like they were hell on earth, where people were killing themselves trying to escape what was coming. She lost her husband, 2 sons and 33 members of her family. Several years later, Ramiza and her only […]
The Courage to Remember: Safet Vukalić
Safet Vukalić was saved from a concentration camp by his mother, who said he was too young to go “with the men”. Safet came to the UK as a refugee and has courageously shared his story.
The Courage to Defend: Jovan Divjak
Jovan Divjak was a Commander of the Territorial Defence in Sarajevo when the war in Bosnia began. In April 1992, he stayed in Sarajevo to be part of the multi-ethnic ABiH, defending the city and its civilians.
The Courage to Testify: Nusreta Sivac
Nusreta Sivac was of 37 women taken to the infamous Omarska camp in Prijedor, and subjected to unimaginable sexual violence. Nusreta has bravely spoken out about her experience and encouraged others to do the same.
The Courage to Dream: Predrag Pašić
Predrag Pašić was an international footballer before the war. When Bosnian Serb forces surrounded Sarajevo, he had the choice to leave the besieged city. Instead, he chose to stay and to set up a football school for children of all faiths and ethnicities.
The Courage to Build Bridges: Zoran Mandlbaum
Zoran Mandlbaum was one of the last people to cross the Mostar bridge before it was destroyed, whilst bringing aid to the Muslims trapped on the East bank of the city.
The Courage of a Child: Elvisa Avdić
Elvisa Avdić was ten years old when the war broke out. Having fled to Srebrenica, she was one of the last to leave Potočari when Bosnian Serb forces took the town. Elvisa returned to Srebrenica after the war and courageously spoke out about being a child survivor of genocide.
The Courage to Risk Your Life for Neighbours: Fadila Kapic-Mehmedbašić
Raised with stories of the heroism of her father, a human rights activist murdered in World War II, when war came again to Stolac, Fadila followed in his footsteps, courageously saving her Serb neighbours from the Croat soldiers.
The Courage to Speak Out: Hasan Nuhanović
Hasan Nuhanović was a translator for the UN when Serb forces took Srebrenica in July 1995. Forced to translate the order to send his family away, he never saw them again. He has dedicated his life to seeking truth and justice.
The Courage to Help: Dr Ilijaz Pilav
It probably wouldn’t be stretching the truth to state that Dr Ilijaz Pilav was the last man to leave Srebrenica. Forcing his injured patients into the care of unwilling UN staff, the doctor ran back to the post office to make a last ditch attempt to radio Sarajevo for help. As he raced across the […]
The Courage of a Mother: Kadefa Rizvanović
Kadefa shares her story of surviving the genocide with two young children while her husband and 20 close relatives were murdered.
The Courage to Survive: ‘Mirsada’
At the age of 15, 'Mirsada' was imprisoned in a rape camp as part of the campaign of 'ethnic cleansing' taking place across Bosnia. She has shown incredible courage to survive, raise a family and now tells us her story.
A harrowing but important read 👇 https://t.co/AkHWlxhagg
Throughout the Bosnian genocide, there were over 625 concentration camps operating that served as ways to humiliate, exterminate, and destroy Bosnian Muslims. In many of these places, the survivors haven’t been allowed to memorialize them for the genocidal tools they were. https://t.co/vFYz06Ro13
Today also marks the establishment of the Batković concentration camp; one that was operated from ‘92-‘96 and in which over 4,000 mainly Bosnian Muslims, as well as Croats, were detained in, tortured, and raped at the orders of the Serb army. Harrowing account of the conditions:
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