On the occasion of the 32nd anniversary of the siege of the city, the Sarajevo Memorial Center, in cooperation with the City of Sarajevo, organized a memorial walk within the “Path of Memory” project. As part of the project, thousands of pairs of shoes were placed on the streets of Sarajevo.
Citizens gathered earlier at the Monument to the Murdered Children of Besieged Sarajevo, from where the silent walk began through the streets of Maršala Tita, Ferhadija, Sarači to Baščaršija, where the central stage was set up.
Along the route of the participants of the walk, donated shoes were placed that symbolize the murdered citizens of besieged Sarajevo and the fallen defenders of the Army and MUP of the RBiH, as well as billboards where all citizens and tourists could be informed about the way of life in besieged Sarajevo, the struggle of citizens for survival and their spirit.
The director of the Memorial Center Sarajevo, Ahmed Kulanić, reminded that in the past period, thanks to the citizens of Sarajevo, they collected more than 15,000 pairs of shoes.
“We also received a certain contingent of military boots, which together form a whole. The response of the citizens is satisfactory. The display will find its permanent place as part of the memorial forest, which the Memorial Center is building in the future. In this way, all memories of the period of aggression will be permanently preserved , the period of the siege of Sarajevo,” explained Kulanić.
As he said, behind every pair of shoes is a life that has been extinguished.
“It is a message that we can get out to the world as well. Today we are again witnessing the killing of innocent citizens, especially the killing of children,” Kulanić added.
The mayor of Sarajevo, Benjamina Karić, reminded that today marks the 32nd anniversary of the beginning of the siege of Sarajevo.
“The most difficult sieges in the history of modern warfare. We see that the year 2024 in Europe and the world does not become safer, and a better place to live. That is why today, from our freedom-loving Sarajevo, on the anniversary of the beginning of the siege, we are sending messages of peace. We wish that at the moment when we stand in front of the memorial to the murdered children of besieged Sarajevo, no more children in Gaza, Ukraine or anywhere in the world will be killed,” said Karić.
She stated that today in Sarajevo we have a unique “Path of Memory”.
“The shoes that symbolize the violently ended lives of our fellow citizens who were killed during the siege, were placed throughout the city. The path of memory is here to remind new generations that they must fight for a better Sarajevo and a stable and strong state of Bosnia and Herzegovina with education, knowledge and a culture of memory. Today is an opportunity to remember all those who gave their lives so that we could have a country today, and how lucky we are to live in freedom, to have our own city and our homeland, Bosnia and Herzegovina. I hope that the photos that we are sending today from the European and of libertarian Sarajevo to be a warning to the whole world,” added Karić.
Alija Hodžić, vice president of the Association of Parents of Murdered Children of Besieged Sarajevo, had her daughter Jasmina killed during the siege.
“I had an only daughter, Jasmina, the criminals killed her. A damned grenade, one after another. They actually killed her. That was probably the fate,” said Hodžić.
As she said, the “Trail of Remembrance” set up today is a reminder of the crimes committed in this city and country.
“I see these shoes as if they are alive, as if they are going with us now. They are there, they are warning this people,” added Hodžić.
During the implementation of the “Path of Memory” project, citizens, public companies, associations and government institutions donated shoes. Shoes were collected at points provided by KJKP RAD, but also at many frequent locations in Sarajevo, which was helped by numerous volunteers who signed up to be part of this project and contributed.
The project was also supported by students from schools in Sarajevo Canton, authorities, public companies, associations, as well as numerous citizens, most of whom shared with our valuable volunteers the story of the shoes they donate, which they often wore during the war or symbolized someone close to them who was killed during the siege of Sarajevo.
Their stories can be found on the social networks of the Sarajevo Memorial Center.
Trail of memories – commemoration of the 32nd anniversary of the siege of Sarajevo, AA writes.
Photo: Lejla Celjo/BHRT
