The imams and rabbis of the largest mosques and synagogues in London will visit Srebrenica together, it was announced by the humanitarian organization Remembering Srebrenica.
As a part of the interreligious trip to BiH, they will visit the site of the largest mass crime and last genocide in Europe after World War II. A similar visit was organized last year and produced major results.
The visit will be organized in part of the cooperation between Remembering Srebrenica and the organization “Joseph Interfaith Foundation.”
The imams and rabbis are visiting Srebrenica in order to hear the stories of survivors of the genocide and cousins of the more than 8,000 killed. By learning about the past, the organizers wish to strengthen the communities’ ties in Great Britain.
Under the slogan “lesson from Srebrenica,” this visit is a part of the culture of remembrance and the process of learning about Srebrenica, which also takes place in the educational system of Great Britain. The curriculum has encompassed more than 50,000 British children. Students in Britain learn about both the Holocaust and the genocide in Srebrenica, which the organization “Joseph Interfaith Foundation” works on.
Mehri Niknam MBE, the executive director of the organization “Joseph Interfaith Foundation,” which will be leading religious leaders in Srebrenica, said that one of the main aims of the visit is to enable the imams and rabbis to learn about the suffering of Muslim victims of the genocide in Srebrenica and to remember the lesson of the Holocaust on the Jews during WWII.
“We believe that we’ll contribute to a better understanding of the suffering of people, regardless of religion, and that their dedication to joint work, joining forces against stereotypes and misunderstandings,” she said.
Dr. Wagar Azmi OBE, representing the organization Remembering Srebrenica noted that religious leaders in Great Britain significantly contributed to the remembrance of Srebrenica since commemorations were held in about 100 mosques and 26 synagogues, the 22nd anniversary of the genocide in Srebrenica.
“That sends a strong message that communities can join in collective memory for all victims and really remember what is common to all of humanity, showing how similar we are,” dr. Waqar Azmi said, according to INS.
(Source: Klix.ba)
