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Kastel: Banja Luka’s Heart of Stone | Balkan Diskurs
Milan Sofrenić
April 21st, 2023
Standing on a small hill along the left bank of the Vrbas, the Kastel Fortress in Banja Luka has always been a suitable strategic point.
Continuous housing and constant construction activity in this area have destroyed traces from earlier periods. Nonetheless, the Kastel site covers an area of 26,610 square meters inside the fortress walls and about 21,390 square meters outside the ramparts.
Since 2004, Kastel has been one of the national monuments of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This includes the fortress, archeological finds deposited in the Museum of the Republika Srpska, and archeological finds located elsewhere in the country in unexplored areas, as well as on the left bank of the Vrbas river below Kastel.
The curator and archaeologist of the Museum of the Republika Srpska, Ivana Pandžić, tells us that the oldest evidence of the existence of a settlement in the area of the Kastel fortress dates back to the Upper Paleolithic, which in this area is the period of the 14th and 13th millennium BC. It was the hunter-gatherer period, before large, permanent settlements began to be built.
“Research has revealed that the site of the fortress was the old Roman settlement of Castro with its road station and military camp. Since this settlement was located on a very important Roman road that connected Split (then Salona) and Gradiška (then Servitium), it shows that Kastel and today’s Banja Luka, even in ancient times, were recognized as an important strategic location,” said Ivana Pandžić.
The construction of the Kastel fortress, as we know it today, is attributed to the Ottomans. They paid particular attention to Banja Luka and Kastel’s great strategic importance. During their rule, Banja Luka was composed of two parts, Gornji and Donji Šeher, and the fact that Banja Luka was chosen as the seat of the Bosnian pashaluq, which was founded in 1580, speaks of the importance of this area for the Ottomans.
“All-out construction of the Kastel fortress began in the penultimate decade of the 15th century, during the Turkish occupation and the reign of Ferhat Pasha Sokolović, who in addition to this fortification built other buildings in the Ottoman style. Ten years later, the tophana, or armory, would grow into a real fortified city with towers and bastions,” she says.
Since the fortress is located on two rivers, two bridges were built from the fortress. One stretched across the Vrbas, and the other across the Crkvena river.
“The bridge over the Vrbas has been preserved only in one old engraving. Vrbas and Crkvena were connected by a large moat, so that the fortress was, in fact, a fortified island surrounded by the waters of two rivers. In the walls of the fortress, there was also a large wooden inn overlooking the Vrbas, as well as a series of masonry buildings from the Austro-Hungarian period. The fortress, but also the city of Banja Luka, gained special importance during the Ottoman-Habsburg wars as an important geostrategic center,” says Pandžić.
The Ottomans take the lion’s share of the credit for how the fortress looks today as it was during their reign that Kastel gained its present form, and it is one that has lasted for centuries.
“During its reconstruction during the reign of Numan-pasha Ćuprilić in 1712-1714, the fortress got its final outline. From an anonymous description, written around 1785, there were 50 cannons in the fortress. The last repair of the fortress was in 1868. With the Austrian occupation, there was one battalion in the fortress. After World War II, until 1959, the Kastel Fortress continued to serve military purposes. From the 1960s onwards, the Kastel area was used for various purposes,” emphasizes Pandžić.
After the cessation of its use for military purposes in the 1960s, the Kastel fortress became the responsibility of the city administration of Banja Luka. In its hands, Kastel has become a venue for numerous events in the city. An opportunity for more detailed archaeological research has been created as well.
There are two legends connected to Banja Luka and the Kastel fortress. Both speak of unhappy love between two young people. The first version of this legend dates back to the 16th and 17th centuries. According to it, Safikada was a beautiful granddaughter of the famous Ferhat Pasha Sokolović, known throughout the region for her beauty. At that time, girls born into rich families had their future secured because their parents could choose the best of all suitors for them.
However, on one occasion, the young Safikada noticed one of the vizier’s soldiers who served at the Kastel. It was love at first sight, so strong that the two dared to go against all the rules and customs of the time. They met secretly to declare eternal love to each other, and when it became inevitable that Safikada’s parents would soon choose her future husband, they decided to flee. Their plans were disrupted by him being sent to the front. Shortly after his departure, news reached Safikada that broke her heart. Her soldier had died. Not wanting to spend the rest of her life with someone of her parents’ choosing, she decided to kill herself. Dressed in a wedding dress, she stood in front of cannon at the Kastel, whose blast was about to mark noon. Her last words were “I will be faithful to you”.
The second story, though different in some details, is equally touching and sad. It places Safikada’s destiny in the 19th century, when Austro-Hungarian soldiers had barracks on Kastel. She was the daughter of a prominent Banja Luka merchant, known for her beauty far beyond Banja Luka. As in the previous story, her life was predestined.
Safikada noticed one Austro-Hungarian soldier while walking around Kastel, and two of them fell in love at first sight. It was unthinkable for a Muslim family at that time to allow their daughter to marry a non-Muslim. The girls were not allowed to move unaccompanied at that time, so Safikada and her soldier saw each other secretly, most often when he was on guard. As in the previous story, Safikada and her beloved had decided to flee, which was prevented by him going to the front. When the news of his death reached Safikada, she decided to keep her vow of eternal love and went to her death by disobeying the order of the Austro-Hungarian soldier not to approach Kastel. After she continued to walk towards it, the soldier shot and killed her at the exact spot of her and her lover’s secret meeting place, thus making her a symbol of eternal love.
Safikada’s grave is located in the immediate vicinity of Kastel, more precisely between the fortress and the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, where, according to the first legend, her body fell after being shot by the cannon. For years, this place has been a shrine to love, where citizens light candles and pray for happiness in love. Thus, Banja Luka’s heart of stone hides a touching and tragic side too, a monument to undying love.
This article was initially published within the first edition of MIR Magazine. MIR, which means ‘peace’ in Bosnian is an annual publication and platform for young inventive people developed by the Post-Conflict Research Center and Balkan Diskurs. It is dedicated to individuals and organizations that left us a legacy of strongly built foundations to continue our fight for peace and justice.

created: April 21st, 2023

author: Milan Sofrenić


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TRIK Kalesija: Improving Life for Young People | Balkan Diskurs
Selmir Smajić
April 24th, 2023
For the fourth year in a row, the association TRIK is bringing young people from the area of Kalesija together in an environment that promotes tolerance, equality, innovation, creativity, and universal human rights. They have also founded a Youth Center, through which they continue to make children and marginalized groups the focus of their work.
Merima Osmanović, president of TRIK, said that the number of the association’s members fluctuates year by year, but currently, there are 45 members.
“At one point, we had 90 members. In addition to the members of the Association, other young people who aren’t able to commit to all of our activities participate in some,” says Osmanović, noting that in their four years of operation, about two hundred young people and 650 activists have passed through the Association.
According to Mustafa Smajlović, vice-president of the Association assembly, young people are always at the center of their work, which mainly focuses on informal education and local advocacy aimed at improving living conditions and opportunities for young people. “We often hold sports and cultural events, humanitarian activities, and projects related to the health of children and young people,” Smajlović says.
Last year, TRIK carried out several successful projects, including distributing 210 New Year’s gifts to children and raising awareness of the importance of young people in the community through the project “Connecting the Dots” in cooperation with the World Vision Foundation and the Sarajevo citizens association Our Children. They also organized activities on the topic of peace and reconciliation through the “Let’s Discover the Colors of Activism” project.
TRIK’s work led to the opening of the Youth Center in Kalesija on August 5th, 2021, with the support of World Vision and the municipality of Kalesija, which provided 100,000 KM of funding. Osmanović clarified that the Center’s premises are available to all organizations, associations, and foundations for their activities and meetings. The Center offers a wide range of activities, including painting, graphic design, CV and motivational letter writing, jewelry making, guitar courses, and more.
“The message we send to children and young people is to take advantage of every opportunity that is offered to them and to participate as much as possible in informal education,” Osmanović says, adding that the government representatives and the wider community should invest more in young people.
Advocacy and support from the community can help improve the work of TRIK and their initiatives. Osmanović stated that the goal of both TRIK and the Youth Center is to provide a safe environment for children to grow and thrive within both TRIK and the Center.
This article is part of a series of texts within the #EmployMe project of the Post-Conflict Research Center and Balkan Diskurs. The series aims to raise awareness about the problems that young people face in the field of education and employment in BiH and highlight some good practices in battling these obstacles. This series is part of the “Youth Retention Program in BiH – Opšta Mobilizacija,” implemented by the Nešto Više Association and PRONI Center for Youth Development, with support from the Delegation of the European Union to BiH.

source: news-balkandiskurs

created: April 24th, 2023

license: Creative Commons - Attribution - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

author: Selmir Smajić


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Abrašević: A Safe Haven, A Hub of Activity | Balkan Diskurs
Marko Mlikota
April 28th, 2023
Throughout its two decades of work, Abrašević Youth Cultural Center (YCC) has had to support itself in its project of providing Mostar with a social hub, a gathering space, and a place that creates unique and alternative cultural opportunities for young people. Abrašević’s history goes back much further than is commonly known, but its goals remain unchanged to this day.
“The Abrašević Workers’ Cultural and Artistic Society (WCAS) was founded in 1926 with the aim of developing the cultural life of workers. The work of the WCAS was interrupted several times throughout the 20th century, depending on the historical changes that affected Mostar. The rebirth of Abrašević as a place of emancipation started at the turn of the millennium. In the disarray after the wars of the 1990s, young people from a number of new youth organizations looked to the future and decided to come together. They had the same goal and desire – to obtain a space for the free circulation of independent thought and alternative cultural development,” says one of the volunteers and well-known Mostar activist, Husein Oručević, on the revival of the new ‘Abraš’.
According to Oručević, they gained experience in resisting the general hopelessness of the postwar period, firstly through the initial squatting of various destroyed spaces, then through their enthusiastic work to maintain much-needed alternative cultural activities. This is how the idea of more serious collaboration among young people became more concrete.
Several peace-oriented organizations were developing the idea of merging their work under one umbrella organization and in 2003 the ‘Mobile Cultural Containers’ project – an OSCE-supported Achim Koch project – had a key role to play. As part of the project, young people across the devastated Balkans were provided with a place of gathering and of tolerance in these makeshift rooms. Their slogan ‘In Defense of Our Future’, says Oručević, perhaps best describes the creation of the Abrašević Youth Cultural Center.
“That year was also marked by a painstaking court battle with the City for the recognition of ownership over this space. The demolished building of the former Workers’ Cultural and Artistic Society on the boulevard was still being fought over as spoils of war. However, YCC Abrašević officially became the legal successor of the former WCAS, which enabled this new non-governmental organization to become the only one in the Balkans, and one of the few in Europe, to own such a large space”, says Oručević.
The name Abrašević itself, he explains, was used by many such organizations during the last century. It is named after the late Serbian poet Kosta Abrašević, who celebrated the ideas of unity, freedom and workers’ struggle with his revolutionary poetry.
“WCAS Abrašević in Mostar had the task of emancipating the working class with cultural uplift during their official eight hours of recreation. It was a hotbed of new ideas, art and culture in general, so many cultural institutions created later in Mostar find their roots right here. The older generations of Mostar still remember the theater productions, music, dance and various other WCAS cultural and entertainment programs with nostalgia,” Oručević points out.
The program that the 21st century Abrašević offers to its fellow citizens is the only progressive, future-oriented cultural content available in Mostar. It is here that events such as the Mostar Intercultural Fest, Street Arts festival, and Short Film Festival take place. Zoster and Damir Avdić Diplomtz held their first concerts in the city here, along with many other quality bands from abroad.
‘Abraš’ has nurtured numerous peace and alternative events, bringing people together and helping the social and cultural development of the city.  In fact, the YCC, Oručević recalls, played a key role even in Mostar’s most difficult times.
“Abrašević has played the role of many city institutions. It is a theater where films are screened and concerts and talks are held, all of which found its place here when there was nowhere else for it in Mostar. Abrašević has provided shelter for refugees and opened its doors to excluded individuals and groups in our society. It has supported the socially endangered, the disenfranchised, and the LGBT community, but also those who simply cannot find their place in a deeply divided city. Abrašević tries to continue in this vein today, adapting to the current context and needs,” says Oručević.
Abrašević, he says, is a hub of ideas and activity where new ideas are also born – sometimes useless and not so great, and sometimes good, useful and sustainable. In this context, the vision of Abrašević is to present and bring to Mostar new, bold, experimental and engaged trends in culture, music, art and socio-political practice, and to try to incorporate them into this city through the engagement of individuals who appreciate these values.
This article was initially published within the first edition of MIR Magazine. MIR, which means ‘peace’ in Bosnian is an annual publication and platform for young inventive people developed by the Post-Conflict Research Center and Balkan Diskurs. It is dedicated to individuals and organizations that left us a legacy of strongly built foundations to continue our fight for peace and justice.

created: April 28th, 2023

author: Marko Mlikota


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Young People from Kalesija Are Choosing Volleyball | Balkan Diskurs
Sumeja Mehmedović
May 1st, 2023
Young people, including young athletes, are increasingly leaving Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) as a result of inadequate conditions and a lack of support from the authorities. Among those who are determined to stay are volleyball players from the Bosna Club from Kalesija, who believe that volleyball has a future in this small BiH town.
Nadir Mujkić, now eighteen years old, has been playing volleyball in Kalesija since the fifth grade. He says he chose this sport because it was less popular at the time and because there is less risk of being seriously injured, since the sport does not involve direct contact with the opposing team. When it comes to support from the authorities in Kalesija Municipality, Nadir believes that they see the potential in young people and, for this reason, there is a future for this sport in the town.
“My dream is to make a living playing volleyball,” says Nadir.
Samra Bručić has been playing volleyball in Kalesija for less than four years. Based on conversations with friends and her own perspective, she asserts that “athletics have a future in Kalesija […] I think we have a lot of talent and at this pace, sports could survive here for many more years.” She adds that she has met many people who are very motivated to start their “sports stories” in the athletic programs and clubs offered in Kalesija.
Samra says that the love she feels for the Bosna Club and the girls she shares the field with has kept her from leaving the country in search of a better future.
Both the women’s and men’s volleyball teams of Bosna Club are already known in the world of sports in our country because their talented volleyball players have participated in various competitions since the club started, from which they have often returned to Kalesija with trophies. The fact that several volleyball players have worn the jersey of the national team also speaks to the success of these clubs.
Among them is Ensar Mešić, a twenty-one-year-old from Rainac Gornji in Kalesija Municipality, who participated in the Balkan Beach Volleyball Championship together with a friend from Bosna Club. As he says, it is one of his favorite moments of his athletic career so far, along with the games he played at the FBiH Super League Final and at the BiH Cup Final.
When it comes to his favorite victory, Ensar talks about the second Super League trophy they won. This was also the first trophy he held up as captain of Bosna Club, after taking over as captain in 2019.
“Being team captain is a major responsibility, but also an incentive to train even more and work on myself in order to live up to the job and show respect to my teammates who chose me,” Ensar adds. He has been playing volleyball for seven years and likes the sport because it’s dynamic and it requires cooperation with other players, speed, and special skills.
Bosna Volleyball Club has had many successes over the years, and one of the biggest was in the 1996/1997 season when it played in the European Cup and became the first team in Bosnia and Herzegovina to win an international victory. In 2010, the volleyball players of Bosna Club were FBiH champions and BiH Cup finalists, as well as cantonal, federal, and state champions in the youth categories several times.
The Kalesija men’s volleyball team were second in the FBiH Super League this year, while the Bosna Women’s Volleyball Club is currently in sixth place, but they believe that their strong will and perseverance can lead them to their main goal – the Premier League of BiH, in which they played in the 2010/2011 and 2014/2015 seasons.
“If I said that I never thought about moving to another club, I would be lying. In fact, I’ve thought about it many times, and many times I found myself in a situation where I was at a crossroads, deciding whether to move to a new club. I believe that for now my place is here,” says Samra. She adds that she grew up and became who she is alongside her teammates in the Bosna Club, which she is immensely grateful for.
Samra characterizes the Bosna Women’s Volleyball Club as a place where you can be who you are and build yourself up to what you want to be. She also stresses the important role of their coach, Rašid Tubić, without whom the club would not have the same spirit.
Among the prominent volleyball players of Bosna Club is Amila Tupković, who was also born in Kalesija, and started playing volleyball at the age of seven. As she explains, her love for volleyball came out of nowhere, after she came to watch her father’s practices and stayed for the practices of the female team afterwards. There, she met a volleyball player with whom she still shares the court today.
“I started coming to their matches, admiring her performance, and wanting to play on the same court one day. I had already decided by then, I knew that volleyball would be my path,” recalls Amila.
She notes that she has received offers to play for other clubs such as Sloboda Tuzla and Kula Gradačac, and even had offers from Austria. But she decided to finish the season in Kalesija, after which she will continue her education in Sarajevo.
“By playing for the Bosna Women’s Volleyball Club, I fulfilled my childhood dream and it will always remain my favorite club, but now it’s time for some new goals and successes,” adds Amila.
Considering everything that they have done so far, the volleyball players of the Bosna Club of Kalesija are the pride not only of their city, but also of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and a positive example of how to keep young people in our country.
This article is part of a series of texts within the #EmployMe project of the Post-Conflict Research Center and Balkan Diskurs. The series aims to raise awareness about the problems that young people face in the field of education and employment in BiH and highlight some good practices in battling these obstacles. This series is part of the “Youth Retention Program in BiH – Opšta Mobilizacija,” implemented by the Nešto Više Association and PRONI Center for Youth Development, with support from the Delegation of the European Union to BiH.

author: Sumeja Mehmedović


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Alen Salihović: A Bosnian Hero on Turkish Soil | Balkan Diskurs
Selmir Smajić
May 5th, 2023
Alen Salihović, a twenty-one-year-old medical student in Tuzla and a member of the Tuzla Mountain Rescue Service (MRS), volunteered to help the distressed Turkish citizens after the devastating earthquakes that began on the night of February 5th, 2023, and affected areas in Turkey and Syria.
Despite the horrors he witnessed and being saddened by the tremendous losses, including children and young people, he says that he would volunteer again, not only in Turkey, but anywhere he could contribute to the reduction of human suffering.
“When I was called to rescue victims in Turkey, I didn’t consider not going even for a moment. I didn’t hesitate. I immediately applied,” said Salihović, who spent five days in Turkey with his team from Tuzla MRS.
Several teams of rescuers from Bosnia and Herzegovina were present in Turkey to assist in finding and extracting people from collapsed buildings. Rescuers from Bosnia and Herzegovina managed to extract several children who had been buried under rubble for days. Photos of the rescuers were a source of honor and pride not only in this country but also beyond.
“There were many risks during the rescue missions, and we had to be especially careful during extractions, but every person we were able to save gave us greater motivation and the strength we needed to continue our work,” said Salihović. He emphasized that the rescue training they had previously was very useful to them during the mission.
Salihović describes what they saw when they came to Turkey as frightening, but the most shocking experience was pulling the dead out from under the rubble. “We had to stay strong so that we could provide timely assistance to those who had a chance to survive,” he added.
A significant number of people were left homeless after the earthquake, serving as a reminder to Salihović that “we all need to appreciate what we have because everything can disappear quickly.”
During his five-day stay in Turkey, Salihović slept in a tent using a sleeping bag. He ate mostly canned food or quickly prepared food that they received from mobile kitchens set up for both rescuers and victims.
Upon their return to Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Tuzla rescuers were greeted with a festive welcome. The Tuzla City Fire Department, Tuzla MRS station, and their families organized their reception. Salihović was very proud of his accomplishments and was glad to see that so many citizens of Tuzla came to the reception, appreciating the support of his family, friends, Tuzla residents, and fellow citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Salihović was formally recognized by the Mayor of Sarajevo, Benjamina Karić, the Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Civil Protection Service of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina for his involvement in the rescue operation in Turkey. The city of Tuzla also reimbursed the expenses incurred during his stay in the earthquake-affected area.
Salihović wants the public to know that greater investment is needed in MRS and other non-governmental organizations. He calls on the citizens of Tuzla to join the mission of MRS and support the work of Tuzla rescuers.
He has been an active member of MRS for about a year. He explains that he has always felt the need to be socially active and has participated in various sports and cultural events. However, MRS has given him the opportunity to help those in need. His passion for helping others is also the reason he enrolled in medical school in Tuzla.
Salihović’s obligations to MRS include attending regular trainings and educational seminars on search and rescue in different terrains. He emphasizes that he always attends these sessions regularly and with satisfaction, because they provide him with the knowledge and training needed to work in real rescue situations, such as rescuing those lost in the mountains, in caves, rivers.
MRS membership and all of their activities are voluntary, as was their mission to Turkey. According to Salihović, MRS is financed by donations from businesses and civil society organizations. Unfortunately, there have been instances where rescuers had to use their own funds to go out in the field and save someone due to the lack of institutional and state support. He hopes that the state’s financial relationship with MRS will change. Salihović hopes that the state’s financial support for MRS will increase in the future.


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Dawood: Wooden Glasses Conquering the World | Balkan Diskurs
Sanela Tufekčić
May 7th, 2023
In his quest to craft wearable, functional glasses frames from solid wood, Damir Bajraktarević from Sarajevo has discarded more test frames than he can remember. Five years have now passed since he perfected his frames and the result today is his Dawood brand of recognizable wooden glasses and sunglasses.
Damir loves to be out in nature, especially cycling, and he was a professional guitarist up until recently. Now, music is just his hobby, but in addition to the production of wooden glasses, he also makes guitars.
“I was looking for a unique wooden product that could be packed in an envelope and sent cheaply to the end of the world. The original idea of making guitars was not going to be profitable due to the weight of the instrument and the cost of transport,” recalls Damir.
Progress has been slow and difficult, but he has had the privilege of meeting every one of his customers. Damir tells me that learning how to use new machines to craft his frames was an unforgettable experience, but a painful one too. He learned quickly that there is no hurry when working with wood, because otherwise you could be left without your fingers. In the Dawood workshop, the glasses are made of solid, quality wood, which is one of the most important differences compared to most manufacturers of wooden glasses.
“Due to the sensitivity of wood, many manufacturers are not able to make glasses from solid wood. They lack sufficient knowledge of the structure, hardness and elasticity of types of wood, amongst other things,” says Damir, adding that he spent a year testing the product.
Creating a single wooden frame involves more than ten phases, each of which is tested at the end. If defects are noticed at any stage of production, the frame is discarded.
“We pay the greatest attention to the final fine processing of the frame. We often hear the same comment from customers who try our products for the first time: they can’t believe how comfortable and light Dawood glasses are. They expect the wood to be heavy and uncomfortable on the face,” he points out.
Among the greatest of his successes must be the brand’s survival on the market in such unstable conditions. If the situation with the pandemic calms down, the plan is to expand production. He adds, however, that in the current circumstances, it would be ungrateful to predict anything.
“In BiH, it is difficult to succeed in anything so we are proud of what we have done so far. Dawood has also welcomed another member, business partner and top designer and artist, Ahmet Ertem. A few years ago, we had the honor and privilege of starring in the e-Golf commercial for the regional market. The quality of the Dawood frame was recognized outside BiH’s borders, resulting in some manufacturers sending us offers for collaboration,” says Damir.
However, he believes that it is not fair to sugarcoat anything to young, educated people, instead warning of the reality of the working environment for those starting their own business.
“The situation with the pandemic has shown us the disorder of this country and the negligence of the authorities towards their citizens. Many small businesses have failed or will soon fail due to the impossibility of earning money. The state has imposed restrictive measures without lifting, suspending or reducing our financial obligations and charges to it,” he warns.
This article was initially published within the first edition of MIR Magazine. MIR, which means ‘peace’ in Bosnian is an annual publication and platform for young inventive people developed by the Post-Conflict Research Center and Balkan Diskurs. It is dedicated to individuals and organizations that left us a legacy of strongly built foundations to continue our fight for peace and justice.

author: Sanela Tufekčić


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Acknowledging CRSV: Lessons from BiH for Ukraine (Part III) | Balkan Diskurs
Minna Erith
May 11th, 2023
Conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) has lasting consequences not only for survivors but also their families and communities. According to reports published by NGOs in BiH, memorialization and public acknowledgement of these crimes are an important part of securing justice for victims, facilitating their healing and reintegration into society.
The third and final part of this series will look at CRSV in society, focusing on measures in place in BiH to deal with its consequences and what Ukraine can learn from the societal reality in this country.
There is no straightforward path to repairing a post-conflict society. As Mattias Steifel (1999) argued, “the challenge of rebuilding societies after war is much more complex and difficult than the task of putting an end to fighting.”
Legal justice for CRSV survivors is only one part of the healing process; the process also extends to the rights to rehabilitation, reparation, and the guarantee of non-repetition (Zecevic, 2022). In addition, memorialization and public acknowledgement of the crimes committed against them are major contributions to the process of achieving justice, and satisfaction and aiding their integration into (TRIAL International, Vive Žene, GSF, 2022). It is also important to recognize that CRSV does not just affect survivors and their families, but also has long-lasting consequences for whole communities and society (TRIAL, 2021).
The United Kingdom’s Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative PSVI has been a central part of how BiH’s society has navigated the post-conflict landscape.
As the only country to have a department dedicated to CRSV and its prevention, it has funded the legal advocacy body TRIAL, which successfully advocated for the landmark ruling by the UN Committee against Torture that sets out states’ obligations to survivors of sexual violence and gives organizations a baseline to work from (HMG, 2020).
The large investment as well as the fact that it was spearheaded by Angelina Jolie drew the attention of both citizens and the government, and as such, as Jasna Zecevic, the President of To Vive Žene and someone who was involved with the Initiative argues, the PSVI was “effective in the sense that it was good for the visibility of survivors.”
Even though it didn’t directly lead to the creation of any new laws, the Independent Commission for Aid Impact (ICAI) noted that the best examples of lasting impact have come from BiHThe international protocol provided the necessary structure to enable the use of information collected by non-governmental organizations and service providers, the processing of individual cases and the provision of legal protection through judicial or quasi-judicial mechanisms, the submission of documentation collected in accordance with the standards of international law enforcement, investigative, and judicial bodies, secure storage of evidence for later use in accountability and transitional justice processes and use of evidence to assist survivors in making out-of-court claims. (ICAI, 2020).
It is undeniable that CRSV has lasting consequences for those directly affected by it. A report published by the women’s organization Medica Zenica and the German NGO Medica Mondiale examined the current outlook for CRSV survivors in BiH, and the results were telling of the cultural barriers that CRSV survivors face today: more than 70% of the participants reported that rape still majorly influences their lives, and 56.5% of the women said that their husbands or partners knew about the rape experience (Medica Mondiale and Medica Zenica, 2014).
Recent incidences of femicide and the failure of the legal system to prosecute crimes of domestic violence demonstrate that patriarchy continues to shape society in BiH.  In 2018, 25% of women still tended to agree that domestic violence was a private matter and should be handled within the family (OSCE, 2018). In a society that views women’s rights as secondary issues, female victims of violence are shrouded by stigmatization, judgement, and humiliation. The shaming and disempowerment of these women have been and continue to be damaging to peacebuilding efforts in the country.
This tendency to marginalize the experiences of those who have suffered is especially apparent with children born of rape. There is no state-level law granting children born of rape and thus, these children continue to face stigmatization and administrative obstacles. Recent efforts have aimed to combat this. Children of wartime rape were first legally recognized by the Brčko District in July, and this legislation was one of the first cases of legal recognition globally. The draft law regulating the rights of children who were born after rape in the territory of the Federation of BiH was also adopted and passed a public debate, and its adoption is expected this year in the form of a draft law on the protection of civilian victims of war in the Federation of BiH.
The “Name One Parent” initiative launched in 2019 by the Association of Forgotten Children of the War has also been fighting for more recognition of these children. In the Federation of BiH, due to the Initiative’s advocacy, 15 municipalities have changed the discriminatory requirement to name both parents on documents, meaning that now, the name of only one parent is sufficient (TRIAL International, Vive Žene, GSF, 2022).
Male survivors are also overlooked in many of the discussions of CRSV. Elissa Helms argued that the idea of vulnerable male bodies “does not sit comfortably” within Bosnian society, which is why there are no mechanisms in place to support male victims (Helms, 2003). Currently, those who survived CRSV as members of the armed forces, whether in combat or non-combat positions, are not eligible for war victim status under any of the legal frameworks of the BiH administrative units (TRIAL International, Vive Žene, GSF, 2022). Moreover, because the status of prisoner of war is not regulated by laws on civilian war victims, men who experienced CRSV as prisoners of war are left without any mechanism for recognition of their status as victims (TRIAL International, Vive Žene, GSF, 2022).
Reports from Ukraine indicate that men are also being subjected to CRSV in this conflict. Thus, going forward, it is critical to ensure that these victims are acknowledged and given the same rights and access to justice as their female counterparts.
In BiH, CRSV survivors are economically vulnerable, with many living on or below the poverty line (UN Women, 2015). Financial struggles are one of the main obstacles to achieving effective rehabilitation for survivors and their families (TRIAL International, Vive Žene, GSF, 2022).
A 2022 study ‘We Raise Our Voices’ published by TRIAL International, Vive Žene, and the Global Survivors Fund outlined that survivors have not been compensated for the harm they have suffered and that some survivors have felt further victimized by judicial institutions in their attempts to seek compensation.
The BiH legal framework for compensation is processed across four criminal procedure codes – one at the state level and three at the entity level. A landmark 2015 case was the first time that compensation was awarded to a victim and a turning point for BiH regarding survivor compensation.
However, there are several issues with the current compensation process which has limited its effectiveness. At the root of these issues is the lack of a consistent mechanism across courts, meaning that the application of the law is inconsistent across the country. Courts at lower levels still regard compensation claims as prolonging factors in trials, so it is unsurprising that in BiH, compensation has been awarded by lower courts only twice – once in Doboj and once in Novi Travnik (TRIAL, 2022).
Furthermore, there is no mechanism by which the state or entity courts can enforce the payment of compensation to the victim. Arguably, this is the main flaw in BiH’s current compensation process. With this inability to enforce compensation payment, especially at the entity level, survivors are left without a crucial element of the healing process.
In the healing process, humanitarian organizations have worked to encourage constructive dialogue between survivors and their relatives. Research has shown that cultures of silence result in transgenerational effects of survivors’ trauma on their children and families (Medica Mondiale and Medica Zenica, 2014). For example, Fondacija CURE’s ‘Speak Up Against Violence’ project focused on empowering young women through education so that they could then transfer knowledge among their peers regarding the prevention of gender-based violence and violence in youth relationships.
Vive Žene in Tuzla similarly works with various groups in different communities to help wider societal healing. Their President, Jasna Zecevic, advised that in any other warzone, including Ukraine, “family work and this discussion in the family should start from the beginning” (Zecevic, 2022). Fondacija CURE suggested that Ukraine should “make available and co-create holistic and meaningful support to victims and survivors, communities and children born as a result of conflict-related sexual violence, including by tackling stigma” (CURE, 2022).
Despite the crucial work carried out by these women’s NGOs, their reliance on donor support calls into question their long-term sustainability. Professor of Transitional Justice and International Criminal Law at University of Birmingham, Janine Natalya Clark agrees, arguing that a combination of factors, including donor priorities and political interests, have contributed to stalled progress and the emergence of a multi-level victimhood structure that risks further stigmatizing CRSV survivors (Clark, 2019). This is a concern shared by UN Women, which predicted that organizations working with CRSV survivors “will not be able to ensure their financial sustainability” due to changing donor interests (UN Women, 2015).
Unfortunately, a study by the ICAI in 2020 revealed that globally, the effectiveness of the UK’s PSVI has declined and “activities aimed at addressing conflict-related sexual violence are often not prioritised at all.” This goes to show that even initiatives with sincere intentions like the PSVI fall victim to these dynamics. The study attributed the cause to the lack of infrastructure to translate pledges into practical action and insufficient mechanisms to monitor and review progress.
Although the UK has committed £50 million in funding since 2012, the effectiveness of such funding has been limited by the short one-year FCO funding cycles and the departure of the pioneer of the Initiative, Lord William Hague (ICAI, 2020). In response to this criticism, the UK Government accepted that there were further improvements that could be made to the PSVI learning processes. They adopted a 3-year strategy but insisted that the cross-departmental approach allowed the Initiative to leverage maximum effects from respective areas of expertise (HMG, 2020). The ICAI’s 2022 follow-up report is more optimistic and shows that the UK Government has taken advice and is displaying a more coherent and proactive approach to the PSVI.
Looking forward, the new 3-year PSVI Strategy will have a country-specific focus on BiH (ICAI, 2022). Out of the £12.5 million of new funding, £1.8 million will go towards priority countries. This is a far cry from the £15 million allocated to the project in 2014-15 (ICAI, 2020). The strategy states the intention to develop a “strong monitoring, evaluation and learning framework for the PSVI” and includes a significant monetary allocation to a new ACT for survivors’ initiative that aims to increase the number of successful prosecutions (ICAI, 2022 and UKGOV, 2022). This new strategy was detailed as part of the UK Foreign Secretary’s opening speech at the PSVI Conference in London, a follow-up conference to the spearhead conference in 2014.
The 2022 conference provided an important platform for the discussion of current issues surrounding the prevalence of CRSV. The social media hashtag for the conference #forsurvivorswithsurvivors highlighted the positive steps the international community has taken towards ensuring a survivor-led approach.
However, the fact that only with this conference did the UK allocate new funds to the Initiative is indicative of the limitations of international support to CRSV globally. Apart from this specific occasion, support for the Initiative has been in steady decline.
Since the outbreak of war in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the first reports of CRSV, there have been considerable improvements in not only the treatment of CRSV survivors but in the mechanisms available to pursue justice and accountability. Further improvement is needed, however, which will incorporate a gendered perspective on human rights in all spheres of activity (CURE, 2022). In BiH, progress is hindered by the complexity of the power-sharing system; without state-wide legislation and initiatives, CRSV survivors will continue to be marginalized in society. Nevertheless, its support for civil society initiatives working for societal changes in the region remains crucial.
In juxtaposing the BiH and Ukrainian examples, one main difference stands out: the willingness of the West to support Ukrainians from the start of Russia’s invasion in February. The world is watching Ukraine, and so, with the experience of the last 30 years, measures to combat CRSV should ensure that survivors receive the support and justice they deserve. Although 54 countries have endorsed a political declaration headed by the PSVI to end CRSV with a focus on Ukraine, if the previous funding cycles and declines in activity are anything to go by, it remains to be seen if the international community will act on their promises this time.

author: Minna Erith


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The Politicization of Religious Institutions | Balkan Diskurs
Kristina Gadže
May 15th, 2023
In Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), as well as regionally and around the globe, there is a growing trend of intertwining religious and ethnic identities. The fusion of religion and politics can be seen in the construction of monuments to armies on religious properties.
This can be confusing and even dangerous, particularly for younger generations. Theologians and representatives of religious institutions believe the solution lies in the education of young people, but also of believers in general, with the aim of overcoming ethno-nationalist narratives.
Within the regional context, Alen Kristić, theologian and project manager of the Center for Peace Education (CPE), explains that religion’s role is being reduced to that of a mere ideological tool. This reduction has been influenced by a variety of historical circumstances, including the decline of the Ottoman Empire and the delayed arrival of modernity.
“An abundance of poisonous socio-political and religious fruits has sprouted on the tree of this centuries-old regional reduction of religion. Awareness of universal humanist values of a religious nature – without which secular notions of human dignity and human rights are unimaginable – is nearly suffocated in the bosom of religion,” says Kristić.
According to Kristić, the exclusive utilization of religious resources as a tool for national ideology has resulted in a situation where every outgrowth, especially those which blur the line between religion and nationality, is neurotically embraced as a symbol of militant exclusivity, rather than as a symbol of unconditional hospitality.
The interconnection between religion and politics also manifests in the erection of monuments inside or near religious structures, commemorating specific armies from the most recent war. Mustafa Prljača, from the Public Relations Office of the Rijaset Islamic Community in BiH, emphasized that there are no such monuments on the premises of their religious institutions. However, there are memorials in certain locations that serve as remembrances for the victims from those places. These memorials were not built by the Islamic Community but by local associations, as they were unable to obtain the necessary permits to construct them in public space.
“We, as a community, resisted this as much as we could, but the local authorities in some places, especially in the Republika Srpska entity, wouldn’t allow people to build a memorial in public space. So, they then built it on land belonging to a mosque or some other Islamic religious property,” said Prljača. He pointed out that the Islamic Community functions completely autonomously and is not at all dependent on other domestic or foreign entities.
We have yet to receive a response from the Office of the Bishops’ Conference of BiH or the Metropolitanate of Dabrobosna in BiH regarding the construction of monuments on their properties. Friar Ivan Nujić, Director of the Franciscan Classical High School in Visoko, believes that it is inappropriate to erect monuments within the premises of churches and mosques, honoring the armies of the recent war in BiH, or any other army for that matter.
“The place of the army is not in sacred space but in a profane space – in a barracks or on a military training ground. Placing the war insignia of a particular army in or near sacred spaces sanctifies the participation of that army in the war in a way – that is, its war ‘successes’ and ‘victory over the enemy.’ Thus, the killing of people is legitimized with justifications of a divine nature. ‘Our army,’ no matter how many people are killed along the way, is ultimately presented as ‘God’s army,’ and killing people is promoted as a praise-worthy or even God-pleasing act. Of course, this is serious manipulation,” said Fr. Nujić.
He believes that religious institutions should always be independent of political and economic influence, even though such institutions have historically been connected to varying degrees to political, economic, as well as military power.
“Religious ministers have spiritual influence over the members of their communities, which can be translated into political and economic power in no time. Unscrupulous or incompetent religious leaders, if they have the opportunity, sell out to cunning or corrupt politicians or abandon their influence over the members of their communities, which of course leads to the collapse of religious life and falling away from faith,” Fr. Nujić continued.
Patriarch Kirill Calls the West “Evil”
As an example of a religious leader who propagates political ideologies and supports Russian aggression against Ukraine, Kristić highlights Patriarch Kirill, who has essentially reduced the Russian Orthodox Church to serving as an ideological instrument of the Putin regime.
“Patriarch Kirill has even granted sacred legitimacy to the war in Ukraine, portraying the West, in a Manichean manner, as absolute evil – a place where Christian values are destroyed, even a kind of antichrist – while Russia is presented as absolute good. It is noteworthy that such conduct by Patriarch Kirill has prompted various forms of ecclesiastical and theological opposition, especially considering the repressive nature of Putin’s regime,” stated Kristić.
Kristić further explained that the group called “Russian Priests for Peace,” comprising about three hundred Orthodox priests within Russia, signed a statement condemning Russian aggression against Ukraine. Additionally, around 400 priests from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which falls under the jurisdiction of Patriarch Kirill, have appealed to the leaders of the Eastern Churches to declare Patriarch Kirill guilty of heresy for aligning himself with the ideology of the ‘Russian world’ and for the sin of blessing the war against Ukraine. Kristić cited the example of the courageous Russian Orthodox priest Ioann Burdin, the parish priest of Karabanov, who openly preached against the war in Ukraine.
On the other hand, Kristić believes that Pope Francis exemplifies interfaith cooperation. This was demonstrated when he signed the “Declaration on Human Brotherhood and Sisterhood for World Peace and Coexistence” together with the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmad Al-Tayyeb, in 2019. Additionally, Kristić highlights Bishop Mat Uzinić as an example of the distinct approach within the Catholic Church in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as Bishop Grigorije Đurić within the Serbian Orthodox Church.
Memorials Need Not Be Manipulative
According to Fr. Nujić, the construction of military monuments, whether merely inscriptions on stone or elaborate sculptures featuring war iconography, in cemeteries, religious buildings, or on religious property is not a phenomenon exclusive to Bosnia and Herzegovina. He noted that in many Austrian villages, the main square, which is often located in front of or near a church, features monuments displaying the names of soldiers who lost their lives in World War I and World War II, including those who fought for the Wehrmacht.
“That doesn’t bother anyone there, because in this way, the local community and the families of the soldiers preserve the memory of their members, regardless of which army they served in,” stated Fr. Nujić. He pointed out that in such cases, the construction of a monument to fallen soldiers does not necessarily have to be a manipulative act, because it does not have to glorify the army in which these soldiers fought.
Kristić believes that merging religious and ethnic identities can be dangerous as well as confusing for younger generations. He argues that the fundamental issue is that the new generations in this region uncritically inherit a disastrous approach to belonging and identity formation in general, not only in the context of religious or ethnic identity.
“Having lived for centuries on the borders of conflicting civilizations and empires, constantly feeling the presence of an immediate enemy threat, real or imagined, our region has embraced the construction of identity in opposition to these enemies as the only possible option. In practice this means that all our identities resemble military fortresses, and that the key strategy for their formation is demarcation and differentiation – even if it means artificially creating divisions,” explained Kristić.
He went on to note that the primary duty of all religions, including Christianity and Catholicism, is to mend the fractured bonds of universal human brotherhood and sisterhood.
“No religion – not even Christianity, not even Catholicism – is an end in itself. It should not be subjugated to any political or religious ideology. Instead, it should commit to the humanization of civilization, to serving as a constant reminder that all human beings are brothers and sisters by creation. All our other affiliations, all our other particularities, should serve the purpose of preserving and deepening the awareness that we are all created as brothers and sisters, as well as that ultimately, we are  all equally fragile, vulnerable, and mortal beings,” explained Kristić.
Education is Key
Kristić emphasizes the need for education among young people and believers in general to overcome ethno-nationalistic narratives. As part of the Center for Peace Education, he has organized the “Big School of Peace,” in which 12 schools participate, and the “School of Peace,” in which four schools participate from the Central Bosnia Canton.
“I am deeply convinced that these forms of informal education are of inestimable importance in our context, first of all because our formal education still lacks even the basic elements of comprehensive peace education. Moreover, young people are often exposed to pernicious narratives of a militant and exclusive nature, even within their own families,” said Kristić.
He added that the time has come for religions in the region reflect upon the penitential sins of obediently serving the national ideological agendas.
“It is high time for religions in our region to dedicate themselves, as Pope Francis insists, to repairing the fractured bonds of universal human brotherhood and sisterhood, to developing social solidarity beyond national, religious, and ideological boundaries. Practically, this would mean reviving the values of universalistic humanism of a religious character and becoming premier regional educators. Only then can all our particularities, especially religious and national ones, finally begin to thrive in a spirit of radical openness and hospitality,” said Kristić.
Kristić emphasizes that religions should remind us that all our individualities are an embrace of the universal – a peaceful encounter with people from the other shore. This understanding prevents them from being distorted into stinking dens, while simultaneously safeguarding the universal from abstract sterility.
Fr. Nujić believes that promoting peace entails addressing and correcting toxic relationships at their core by actively opposing religious exclusivity, prejudice, and hatred.
“Endorsing and spreading religious exclusivity and resorting to violence in the name of religion cannot be justified by any means, simply because peacemaking is part of the very essence of religion. Therefore, promoting peace and fostering cooperation with others is an essential aspect of religious identity and the duty of all who consider themselves believers. It is a joint project in which all believers should participate responsibly, a project unlimited in terms of time and methodology, a path to be followed, a path that is paved with good deeds in everyday life,” concluded Fr. Nujić.

author: Kristina Gadže


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Only An Honest Man Can Be Free | Balkan Diskurs
Mirnes Bakija
May 18th, 2023
A theology and history graduate from Banja Luka, Danijel Mihić is often said to be an unusual educator. He strives to be an older friend to his students and teaches them how important it is to stay honest because, in his own words, only an honest man can be free.
Danijel teaches Orthodox religion classes in Banja Luka. For him, education is not a job, but a vocation. He tells me that if you are engaged in this profession, it is quite natural that you be socially responsible as well. Danijel also explains how our educational system essentially comes down to the memorization of an enormous amount of information which students easily forget.
“Even when they learn, children do it solely for the sake of assessment, and critical thinking, as far as I know, is only mentioned in passing when they learn about democracy,” says Danijel.
Five years ago, he launched an initiative which later grew into the Kultura Kulturi (Culture to Culture) organization. Initially, the initiative aimed to fight for the renovation of a part of the Banski Dvor cultural center. They wanted a club that would be a kind of bridge between “high” culture and those who were new to such cultural activities. He says that, fortunately, with the arrival of the great Mladen Matović to the position of director of Banski Dvor, their activism in that regard is no longer necessary. Today, this space is completely renovated and open to everybody.
“We are still looking for a way to pressure the authorities to start an independent cultural and educational center. We have plans for something big, we’re just waiting for the opportune moment,” adds Danijel.
He says that in addition to activism, volunteering is a good way for young people to get involved and contribute to positive changes in society. He believes that any volunteering activity with the right intentions will be successful, and that it is generally a good way to connect with other people. He himself has gained dozens of acquaintances throughout the region thanks to volunteering.
“Volunteering is a noble thing and you set a good example that motivates others to unlock the humanity within them, so it creates something much bigger. You get a lot of positivity all around,” Danijel adds.
He says that the most important characteristic of a person is to be constantly growing and developing. In order to achieve this, Danijel emphasizes, we should be free, and in order to be free, we should be brave enough to remain honest in the face of anything. Only an honest person is truly free. In addition, it is extremely important for a person to say what they think, regardless of whether they will make a mistake. For him, people should act on their words, communicate healthily, look at things from different perspectives, and never unthinkingly condemn people with whom they disagree. Those are the ones from whom a lot can be learnt.
“With knowledge, you overcome prejudices, rise above divisions, and seek essential common interests. For everyone everywhere, this is essential for survival as it helps us to save each other from the hopelessness that is so often present,” says Danijel.
He plans to publish two books soon. His first book, Better Days Are Coming, which he has been working on periodically over the last ten years, is a short diary of his experiences and thoughts regarding the arduous process of growing up. The second book is an extensive and somewhat more serious book in which he describes all the regions of the world from the point of view of history, geography and faith. It is penned to be published by the fall.
“It’s so much more wonderful to be outside the box. Outside the box that they’ve pushed us into, which remains largely undisturbed as our lives pass us by,” adds Danijel.
We are witnessing the departure of a large number of young people from all over Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Danijel believes that this problem is complex and layered. First and foremost, he believes that we are all more or less responsible for the condition in the country. He explains how in the last three decades, politicians have reduced culture and education to a party enterprise, at the head of which they place their people so that their orders can be executed without discussion. He says that it is difficult to identify specific culprits in the present situation, but he sees the solution in culture and education.
“We are a group of neglected people and nations, blind in sight. We do not see beyond the end of our noses. We are sickly, cynical and distrustful. Some will say that we have bigger issues than those of culture and education, but that is not true. Our biggest misfortunes stem from the fact that we are uncultured and uneducated, and we are like that because our elites leave us to gnaw away at ourselves and everyone around us. It is easier to manage the crowd if you pull the wool over their eyes,” he explains.

author: Mirnes Bakija


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Culture of Resistance: “Sarajevo Will Endure, Everything Else Will Pass” | Balkan Diskurs
Amina Sejfić
May 22nd, 2023
The siege of Sarajevo, the longest siege of a capital city in the history of modern warfare, continues to be remembered for its brutal disregard for life. Nevertheless, amidst the grave destruction, daily shelling, and the constant struggle for survival, the people of Sarajevo refused to surrender. During this harrowing period, artists played a vital role, contributing to the birth of a culture of resistance in the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina and showing that the spirit of Sarajevo will never die.
Through their efforts, images from the Golgotha of Sarajevo traveled around the world. Moreover, these artists helped the people of Sarajevo preserve their spiritual identity, played a crucial role in preserving the spiritual identity of the people of Sarajevo. Resistance to cultural disappearance as well as the siege itself gave rise to a culture of creativity and resilience.
“Artists continued making art in order to uphold pre-war norms and as a means of coping with the extreme psychological stress that life under constant mortar and sniper fire entails,” said German historian Ewa Anna Kumelowski.
The siege of Sarajevo began in April 1992 and lasted a staggering 1,425 days. As confirmed by judicial verdicts, the deliberate campaign of shelling and sniping was carried out with the explicit purpose of terrorizing Sarajevo’s citizens. As a result, thousands of people were killed – men, women, and even children. Thousands more were maimed and wounded. The deep psychological scars and irrevocable trauma that so many Sarajevans endured remain with them to this day.
Before the siege, Sarajevo was an important center for rock music in the former Yugoslavia on account of the numerous rock bands that originated in the capital, including Bijelo Dugme, Indexi, Plavi Orkestar, Crvena Jabuka, Zabranjeno Pušenje, and many others. With the disintegration of Yugoslavia, even the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina could not stop the music, sending the message that Sarajevo continues to thrive. Bands such as Sikter, Seven Up, and Erogene Zone helped carry this message to the world.
“Even during the war, for many Sarajevans, going to concerts was an escape from the harsh reality. It was a way to temporarily forget about the fear, pain, and uncertainty and to find the hope we all needed,” recalls Aida Tinjak, who frequently attended concerts and plays during the siege along with her friends.
According to Tinjak, it is difficult to say that attending cultural events during the siege of Sarajevo was either expected or unexpected, as it ultimately depended on the choices made by each individual. “For some people, going to a concert or play was too dangerous or impractical, while for others it was necessary to maintain their mental health and continue to fight against death,” Tinjak said.
Music was indeed a lifeline during the siege. The Sarajevo String Quartet performed more than 200 concerts over the course of nearly four years. Vedran Smailović, “the cellist of Sarajevo cello,” famously played Albinoni’s Adagio in G minor every afternoon for 22 days as a tribute to the 22 people killed by a shell explosion while waiting in line for bread on Vase Miskina Street in May of 1992.
In a statement for the Balkan Investigative Reporting  Network (BIRN BiH), Alma Alilović stated “Song was our medicine. We were children singing about peace, love, and our homeland, which we defended through song.” In 1993, at the age of 12, she joined the Palčić Choir, which operated throughout the war.
According to Hana Bajrović Čardaković, author of the book and exhibition Theatre under Siege, the opening of the Academy of Performing Arts in the 1980s precipitated a vibrant artistic movement known as the New Wave. This period saw the emergence of new musical groups, as well as the production of plays such as “Tattooed Theater” and “Moon Show.” All of this had a profound impact on Sarajevo’s cultural scene at that time.
“In all that enthusiasm and new energy that the young, but also the more experienced artists brought to Sarajevo, the aggression happened. Sarajevo and its artists were unprepared for the war and everything that came with it. And maybe because of that, they continued to work and the theaters remained active throughout the years of the war,” Bajrović Čardaković explained.
Thanks to a dedicated group of enthusiasts, namely Dubravko Bibanović, Gradimir Gojer, Đorđe Mačkić, and Safet Plakalo, the people of Sarajevo were able to momentarily distract themselves from the insanity of war and escape the harsh realities of their daily lives. On May 17th, 1992, with the help of the acting community, they founded the Sarajevo War Theater (SARTR).
“An oft-mentioned story comes from Safet Plakalo, who says that after watching the play ‘Shelter,’ Sarajevo’s first wartime premiere, one woman wrote in the impressions book, ‘Thank you for helping me to not go crazy.’ I believe that this encapsulates the greatest value of the Sarajevo War Theater,” said Bajrović Čarkadžić.
The play “Shelter” was performed in SARTR’s first year of operation. This black comedy offers a satirical depiction of the daily life of Sarajevo citizens during the siege. The cast of the play included Senad Bašić, Zoran Bečić, Miodrag Trifunov, Jasna Diklić, Nebojša Veljović, Irena Mulamuhić, Alija Aljović and Nisveta Omerbašić.
“Not wanting in any way to impose judgments or set criteria regarding collective and individual interests, I must acknowledge a few facts. The Sarajevo War Theater, particularly Chamber Theater 55, followed by the Sarajevo National Theater and Sarajevo Youth Theater, made the biggest contribution to the field of performing arts,” stated Gradimir Gojer in the book, Opsada i Odbrana Sarajeva: 1992-1995 [The Siege and Defense of Sarajevo: 1992-1995].
During the siege, about 2,000 play reruns were performed, and 57 new plays were produced, which, as Bajrović Čardaković points out, isn’t far off from the number of plays currently produced annually in Sarajevo. The Sarajevo National Theater staged 11 plays, with the play ‘Bolero’ being performed 16 times in the course of the siege.
In addition to SARTR’s cultural contributions, it also played a role in Sarajevo’s defense. In August 1992, SARTR was established as a military unit at the Regional Headquarters of the Armed Forces of BiH in Sarajevo. Subsequently, on January 12th, 1993, it was designated as a public cultural institution of special importance for the city’s defense by a resolution of the War Presidency of the Assembly of the City of Sarajevo.
“A theater in the middle of a war in the middle of a besieged city signified civilization, it signified cosmopolitanism, it signified that people who are part of Europe and whose legacy is part of European cultural heritage were being attacked. The message from Sarajevo was clear: no matter what, you can’t destroy us,” said Bajrović Čardaković.
Mirsada Baljić, a Bosnian-Herzegovinian painter, highlights the significant role played by the Art Department in the cultural resistance of Sarajevo, alongside theater actors and musicians. Baljić led the department with support from Alma Suljević, Stijepa Gavrić, Ana Kovač, Dževad Hoza, Jasmin Duraković, Edin Numankadić, and others. They also initiated a collective exhibition project featuring fine artists active in Sarajevo during that time.
“The commitment to art helped us overcome all the adversities of those challenging times and connected us by unbreakable bonds. Today, even after so many years, we are proud of our activities at that time. We wanted to demonstrate what unites us amidst all our differences and enriches our existence,” said Baljić. During the siege, Baljić served as the director of fine arts in the Artistic Unit, making significant contributions to the cultural landscape despite the hardships of the time.
One of the most notable projects was “Artists of Sarajevo for a Free BiH.” After being exhibited in Sarajevo in 1992, the exhibition traveled to Ljubljana and Maribor in 1994 and 1995, and later to Fojnica in 1997.
“Time, as a concept, meant only uncertainty. Every moment of our existence was an inner existential scream, a sense of hopelessness, not knowing if we would be alive in the next moment. This gave us a sort of invisible armor of energy, strength, perseverance, optimism, and hope. We believed in a better tomorrow. It was difficult and many moments remain etched in our memory,” explained Baljić.
She emphasized the artistic immeasurable contribution and significance of artists during that challenging period, stating that “through various cultural events and expressions, we showed the world and image of spiritual resistance in the face of evil, establishing a kind of cultural dialogue with the world.”
After the initial shock, the people of Sarajevo adapted to the abnormal circumstances, leading to a revolutionary cultural transformation: the citizens embodied their resistance. Some continued to work, some planted vegetables in gardens while dodging snipers, some played the piano, some organized film festivals, some performed plays, and some sang.
“In this way, Sarajevan artists conveyed multiple messages to the world: intimate, political, intentional, or unintentional statements that diversely represented their unique experiences of the horrors of the siege,” said Kumelowska. She added that the visual arts scene was also remarkably productive despite the numerous limitations and dangers imposed by the siege. It even welcomed a number of established international artists, such as Christian Boltanski and IRWIN, and maintained, to some degree, connections with other cultural centers in the former Yugoslavia.
Art triumphed over death and the politics of aggression, not only through the sheer number of premieres, reruns, recorded songs, and painted works but also through the extraordinary creativity that opposed evil with art in the game of life
“Artists acted because it was their natural response. An actor’s need to perform is always present. This is their answer to every life situation – to portray what they have heard, seen, and experienced. To perform even when they have nothing else left. Cultural resistance arose from the artist’s decision to remain true to himself and to create life even while others are trying to kill him,” said Bajrović Čardaković.

author: Amina Sejfić


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CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: Srebrenica Youth School | Balkan Diskurs
Balkan Diskurs
May 23rd, 2023
This July, as part of the program marking the 28th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide, in cooperation with the Srebrenica Memorial Center, the Post-Conflict Research Center (PCRC) is organizing the fourth edition of the Srebrenica Youth School in Srebrenica (Bosnia and Herzegovina).
The school will bring together 30 young people from the Western Balkans, Europe, and the world to learn from regional and global experts about transitional justice, memorialization and historical narrative building, human rights, and prevention of genocide and mass atrocities during a seven-day program (July 7 – 14).
The school will include a series of lectures and panel sessions aimed at presenting innovative approaches and techniques, and best practices for working on the issues of genocide and mass atrocity prevention, transitional justice, and human rights. During the first three editions of the school, speakers and lecturers included Emir Suljagić, Tanya Domi, Sabina Čehajić-Clancy, Dino Abazović, Mehnaz Afridi, Matthew Holliday, Denis Džidić, Marijana Toma, Paul Lowe, as well as representatives of OSCE Mission to BiH, United Nations in BiH, TRIAL International in BiH, Balkan Investigative Reporting Network, Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO), Youth Initiative for Human Rights, and many others.
The school is designed for 30 students and researchers from all over the world (aged between 18 and 30) who have an interest in the areas of transitional justice, memorialization, and mass atrocity prevention. The working language of the school is English. The costs of accommodation, transportation, food, and materials for selected participants (citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo, Montenegro and North Macedonia) will be covered by the organizers. Selected international participants are expected to cover their transportation costs to Srebrenica and pay a 100 € fee for accommodation, food, and materials.
Selected participants are expected to fully attend the program. If you are interested in participating, fill out the form you can find here and send it to [email protected]. The deadline for applying is June 16, 2023.

author: Balkan Diskurs


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Tuzla Remembers May 25th, 1995 | Balkan Diskurs
Amina Sejfić
May 23rd, 2023
The historical monument in the city of Tuzla bears witness to many events, but one of the most devastating and sorrowful occurred 28 years ago – the massacre of youth at the Tuzla Kapija [Gate]. Despite the crime having been adjudicated, almost no one was held accountable.
On May 25th, 1995, at 8:55 p.m., members of the Army of the Republika Srpska (Vojska Republike Srpske; VRS) launched a grenade from Mount Ozren towards the Gate the very heart of Tuzla. This act claimed the lives of 71 people and left over 120 injured. Among those killed was Sandro Kalesić, who was just two and a half years old. Dino Kalesić, Sandro’s father, held his son in his arms as he died. He says that it’s increasingly difficult for him to talk about this, as every anniversary brings up painful emotions.
“We were together the entire day. We went to a cafe, and as soon as we sat down and ordered, a grenade hit, and everything disappeared in a single second. Silence, more silence, and then the screams started,” Sandro’s father says, recalling the moment when the first grenade fell.
Novak Đukić, the commander of the VRS’ Ozren tactical group, was convicted in the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina for his part in the Tuzla Gate massacre and sentenced to 20 years in prison. However, Đukić fled to Serbia to evade serving his sentence. He was initially sentenced to 25 years in prison, but a more lenient law in effect at the time of the crime resulted in the verdict being overturned. Consequently, Đukić was released from prison in February 2014, pending a review of the verdict. He took advantage of this to relocate to Serbia. Despite several scheduled hearings for the Serbian judiciary to assume responsibility for the Bosnian and Herzegovinian verdict, this did happen, citing Đukić’s “poor health condition” as the justification.
According to Zijad Lugavić, the mayor of Tuzla, Đukić was convicted for ordering the commission of the crime, but the direct perpetrators were not brought to justice, and no legal proceedings were initiated against them. Lugavić emphasized that the majority of the victims were young people, .
Regarding the execution of the verdict and the transfer of Đukić to serve his sentence, Lugavić explained that the hearings before the High Court in Belgrade have been repeatedly delayed. He elaborated that the court has consistently accepted the medical commission’s report citing alleged “health issues” as the reason for Đukić’s failure to appear before the court and non-attendance at the hearings.
“In the 2018 expert reports, Novak Đukić was declared temporarily incompetent due to alleged ‘psychological’ issues, and although a new expert report was scheduled for one year later, we do not have information on whether it took place at all and whether Novak Đukić is in the hospital or home with his family,” said Lugavić.
Lugavić also highlighted that in November 2019, the Serbian Ministry of Defense organized a promotional event for a book titled “Tuzla Gate: A Staged Tragedy” by Ilija Branković, which denies the crime in question. The promotion was attended by Serbian Defense Minister Aleksandar Vulin and convicted criminal Đukić.
“By hiding the war criminal Novak Đukić, the Serbian regime insults the victims of this war crime and Bosnia and Herzegovina, humiliates all Serbian citizens, and partakes in the cruel propaganda campaign to deny the war crime and contest the final verdict. This is done ruthlessly and monstrously, just like the crime committed on May 25, 1995, itself,” asserted Lugavić.
As the mayor of Tuzla further added, in the modern democratic world, it is disheartening that the monstrous war crime at the Tuzla Gate can go unpunished, depriving the victims of the war crime and their families of the justice they deserve.
“Given that war crimes do not have a statute of limitations, I expect the competent judicial authorities of BiH to open an investigation to find the perpetrators of war crimes at the Gate and to prosecute them,” Lugavić stated.
The Srebrenica Memorial Center and Post-Conflict Research Center, in collaboration with the English production company PINCH Media, created the film “Kapija ‘95” in order to both support the victims’ families and document the crime at Kapija. The film premiered last year in Potočari and in Tuzla, coinciding with the commemoration of the anniversary of the Tuzla massacre. It was also broadcast on several television stations and subsequently donated to the Kapija Memorial Center in Tuzla.
Velma Šarić, the president and founder of PCRC and the film’s producer, emphasized the vital role of documentaries as a powerful tool for educating the public about war crimes and their consequences. Such films serve as a crucial platform for sharing testimonies of survival and also deliver an important message to young people, ensuring that these crimes are never repeated.
“Our Center will continue to document the crimes that took place during the war so that they are not denied, but also so that we accept the facts established by the court,” affirmed Šarić.


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Elvir and Nataša: When Love Triumphs on its Own | Balkan Diskurs
Kristina Gadže
May 26th, 2023
Nataša and Elvir Čelebić, born in 1976 and 1978 respectively, embarked on their love story 20 years ago. Today, it is crowned with two children, Boris (born in 1997) and Ena (born in 2003), demonstrating that love knows know boundaries.
Their parents initially withheld their support for the couple on account of their religious differences as well as a child from Nataša’s previous relationship. Nevertheless, they built their lives together by following their hearts and fighting for what they believed in.
At the time they met, Nataša worked in the children’s ward of the Zenica Cantonal Hospital, where she still works today. She used to go for coffee at the cafe where Elvir worked as a waiter. Dscribing the early days of their courtship, Elvir recalled, “I told her ‘I’m going to marry you one day,’ and she said, ‘Boy, you’re crazy!’ She even reported me to my boss, ‘Excuse me, this waiter is bothering me.’ Then my boss asked what I was doing, and I told him, ‘So what, I like her. She’s a beautiful girl.’ He said, ‘Well, she comes here with a guy.’”
Shortly after, Nataša reached out to Elvir from an unknown number, and that’s how they started communicating on a deeper level. Nataša said that the ‘guy’ mentioned by Elvir’s boss was her three-year-old son, Boris.
“I was taking a German class and he always offered to look after Boris. He bought him those Burago cars, made him balloon animals, and all kinds of things,” Nataša recalled, noting that what attracted her to Elvir most was his intellect, spontaneity, and kindness towards her son.
Elvir didn’t have any prejudices and wasn’t bothered by the fact that Boris wasn’t his child. As Nataša explains, “the two of them got along the most, and then I came after that.”
After nine months of dating, Elvir and Nataša got married.
“One day she was working the first shift at work, and I came and said to her, ‘Do you want to go home or are you coming with me?’ Her mom got angry with her because of that,” said Elvir.
However, the beginning of their relationship wasn’t easy, and they encountered numerous obstacles. The parents on both sides were against their union because of their different religions, but also because Nataša had Boris from her prior relationship. Despite lacking the support of their parents, they faced life’s challenges together, renting an apartment and living off the incomes of a waiter and a nurse.
“We got everything on our own, without anyone’s help,” said Nataša. She explains that they later got the support of their parents, and now her father-in-law often refers to her as his favorite daughter-in-law, even though he has two others who share his Muslim faith.
She describes her husband as resourceful, witty, sincere, temperamental, and full of love, and he has almost the same epithets for his wife.
Five years ago, Nataša faced a challenging phase in her life, and during that time, Elvir and her children were her greatest support. Elvir recalled, “I wanted to shave my head because she was completely bald. If I could, I would have cut my daughter’s hair too, just to comfort and support her. They even told us that she might not survive.”
However, the Čelebić family also successfully overcame this burden of illness.
Religious Differences are Not an Obstacle
Nataša didn’t mind that her husband practiced a different religion. She explains that she grew up in a house where Tito’s picture hung on the wall, and her mother still keeps it there to this day.
“If he had told me that his name was Muhamed or Obren or Darko or Dario… it wouldn’t mean anything to me,” said Nataša. Smiling, Elvir added, “She might have liked me to be an Obren.” He laughed and emphasized that this is just a joke.
Nataša answers, “If I wanted an Obren, I would have gone to Belgrade. So, it really didn’t mean anything to me. At first, we didn’t even know each other’s names, but that’s how we became attracted to each other. It was love, love at first sight. A kind of mutual attraction.”
Nevertheless, they did receive some negative comments about their relationship from friends.
“I have a lot of friends who marry within their faith, but their marriages don’t work out. They separate and all kinds of things. I would wish everyone a marriage like mine. I’ve never thought about divorcing my wife,” said Elvir.
Their relationship is often referred to as a “mixed marriage,” but this doesn’t offend them at all because the people whose opinions they care about are on their side. “I think marriages that have obstacles are more successful. We have friends from mixed marriages who live wonderfully for years and with whom we hang out. They don’t mind it, let them call it mixed marriages. At the end of the day, everyone is mixed in some way,” said Nataša.
Elvir explains that maybe they look at it differently because they grew up in the city, and they have generally explained their “differences” to their children.
“Our marriage was guided by a lucky star, without any prejudices, and that’s how the two of them grew up. Neither child went to religious classes. There were no problems there either. There was an Islamic religious class at school, but the children didn’t attend. I think that religion is something that should be learned in religious institutions,” Elvir noted.
The Biggest Holidays are the Kid’s Birthdays
As they described, their children are not religiously affiliated, and so the most important holidays are the children’s birthdays. “Those are our basic holidays. We also celebrate Eid, Christmas, Easter, and Ramadan in our house. When my mother-in-law fasts for Ramadan, we make iftar here at our place, and we celebrate Eid. When my mom celebrates Christmas, Ena makes cookies. Every year we had a decorated Christmas tree, so our children are growing up like this too,” described Elvir.
Nataša expressed how challenging it was for her when she found out that her children were left to sit alone while the other kids attended religious classes. Boris opted for German instead of religious studies, and Ena sat with a friend outside the school until the subject “Culture of Communities” was introduced.
Nataša believes that it was more difficult for them as a couple because they started dating after the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. But despite all the challenges, she attributes the success of their marriage to love, mutual support, and respect. She advises young people to follow their hearts above all else.
“You have to fight for what you believe in. If I didn’t believe that I could make my marriage with my husband last, we probably wouldn’t have lasted either. If I didn’t believe that my Boris, and tomorrow my Ena, would do something good for this country, we would probably move away from here. Packing your bags and leaving is the easiest thing,” said Nataša.


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Reunited After 30 Years: Beautiful Bosnia and Warm People | Balkan Diskurs
Đuldina Kurtović
May 29th, 2023
A cold March morning in 1993 left a permanent mark on the lives of children from the village of Srmać in Kladanj as well as the United Nations (UN) soldiers, who would reunite 30 years later. Their reunion brought back memories of the smiles on the children’s faces because of the sweets and toys they received from the UN soldiers. At the same time, it confirmed that distance and time cannot sever friendships as long as they are built on love and respect.
Jed, Mike, Ian, and Charlie are four former UN soldiers who were on a humanitarian mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina, delivering aid during 1992 and 1993. After three decades, they returned to Bosnia and Herzegovina in April of 2023. Đuldina Kurtović, a former resident of Srmać, spoke with them about their visit, about both the beautiful and difficult memories they shared, as well as about their current views on Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“Some good memories are when we brought a convey of refugees to Tuzla, when we brought some clothing and food to the hospital. Also meeting a large group of kids asking for ‘bon bons’ and chocolate from Kladanj, meeting your mum, Dino, and yourself. Your family. I know you didn’t have much but you shared food and coffee with us. I remember grinding the coffee a few times,” said Charlie, recalling the good moments from the mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
His colleague Jed remarks that he has made great friends that he can call his family and he feels welcome when he comes to visit. “Kladanj is a special place for me. It’s the first place we all felt so welcome. We would patrol from Tuzla to Kladanj just to see the kids and drink Bosnian coffee with Dino, Fahira, and the family. Anywhere we went in Kladanj, people would stop to talk and say hi,” added Jed.
A good memory for Ian was staying in Tuzla and getting to know Đuldina and the children, seeing their smiles and watching them play, even if it was in a surreal environment. Spending time with the French Foreign Legion and Egyptian Army was also an interesting experience for him, seeing as he was young, and it was his first operational tour outside of Northern Ireland. Mike also has good memories of Kladanj.
During the visit to this Bosnian and Herzegovinian town, the former UN soldiers talked with their friends Selma, Fahira, Đuldina, Zikret, Dino, Šerif, and many others. They enjoyed delicious traditional Bosnian food and, as they say, “good company.” They also visited the high school in Kladanj, to which Jed made a donation a few years ago. They were impressed by the general knowledge of the English language, especially that of a student named Lamija, who helped them as an interpreter.
In addition to Kladanj, the former UN soldiers also visited Vitez, where they laid a poppy wreath and paid tribute to the victims of the massacre in the village of Ahmići. “A few tears were shed and I felt a weight I have been carrying for 30 years lifted off my shoulders,” said Mike.
“I always intended to visit Ahmići on the 30th anniversary of the massacre,” said Jed, adding that when he invited the members of his team to come with them, they agreed immediately.
When asked what he remembers about Bosnia and Herzegovina from the war, Ian answered, “We arrived in the winter, and the winding snow-covered roads that stick out the most in my mind. I remember three main time blocks split between Vitez, Tuzla, and Sarajevo. Your mum’s house and all the kids are my most prominent memory of our time in Tuzla.”
On the other hand, Mike admits that he also has bad memories of that time 30 years ago. The war had just started and there was a lot of uncertainty as to how the situation would develop. “It affected my mental health, and Ahmići especially,” added Mike.
Charlie explained that he had been to many places in the 24 years he had been on missions, but he had never seen anything worse than what he saw in the village of Ahmići.
As confirmed by judicial verdicts, on April 16th, 1993, members of the Croatian Defense Council committed war crimes in the village of Ahmići, killing 116 Bosniaks, whose homes they destroyed in addition to the local mosque.
“I remember Bosnia as a beautiful country with very friendly people. Bear in mind, we were most likely the first westerners most had ever seen or spoken to. It was heart breaking to see such violence towards neighbors and friends. It was a tragedy the country fell apart the way it did. It reminded me of my own childhood when Northern Ireland was a troubled place,” said Jed.
The former UN soldiers also visited Sarajevo, where they also stayed during their mission.
“It’s good to see the investment in Sarajevo and how much it has changed. It’s also sad to see the country split into two entities, the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Republika Srpska,” said Ian. Nevertheless, he said that the highlight of the visit was definitely not visiting the cities but reuniting with Đuldina and her friends and seeing them all grown up.
Charlie enjoyed the view of Sarajevo from the hilltops, as well as the delicious food he ate in Zmajevac and the Old Town – especially the spicey sausage. “The country has lovely scenery, like the Alps, and I would love to come visit again sometime,” said Charlie.
“It was nice to see the kids that we became friends with,” Mike reiterated, adding that those ‘kids’ are now all grown up and have children of their own. “I had the best time in Kladanj meeting old and new friends. I’m so glad that I came to visit Bosnia again. I feel an internal relief, and wish I had gone back years ago,” explained Mike, noting that he will definitely visit Bosnia and Herzegovina again soon.
Jed also describes Bosnia and Herzegovina as a beautiful country with warm people. “During our stay in Kladanj, we visited so many people and houses. The hospitality shown to us was first class. The food was amazing. After 30 years, the investment in Sarajevo really made an impression on me. There are lovely, modern high-rise buildings, which goes to show that Bosnia is open for business. It shows that the city is growing fast, and there are opportunities for young people,” Jed remarked.
He also acknowledges the effect of this progress on small towns like Kladanj. “There’s very few jobs or opportunities, so the young people move to the city, much the same as in any modern society,” added Jed.
After talking with the former UN soldiers, the author of this article, Đuldina Kurtović, stated that she had only one thing in mind, a quote from Mesa Selimović, a famous writer and thinker from Bosnia and Herzegovina: “I value new friendships, they are the love we always need, but old friendships are more than love, because they are a part of our selves.”

author: Đuldina Kurtović