Bosniak-Americans Mark 30th Anniversary of the Srebrenica Genocide with Historic Commemoration at the U.S. Capitol: A Testament to Survival, Contribution, and Truth
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a powerful gathering at the United States Capitol, survivors of genocide, U.S. lawmakers, diplomats, faith leaders, and human rights advocates came together to mark the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica Genocide. Held in the storied Kennedy Caucus Room and organized by the Congress of Bosniaks of North America (CBNA), in partnership with the Islamic Community of North American Bosniaks (ICNAB), the commemoration served not only as a remembrance of the more than 8,000 Bosniak men and boys murdered in July 1995, but as a defiant stand against denial, distortion, and historical erasure.
The program featured remarks from Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Congressman Mike Turner (R-OH), Congressman Jake Auchincloss (D-MA), and Congressman Wesley Bell (D-MO); Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO) was also scheduled to give remarks but had to cancel due to a scheduling conflict. Remarks were also given by Ambassador Sven Alkalaj, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Ambassador to the United States; Dr. Emir Suljagić, genocide survivor and Director of the Srebrenica Memorial Center; Dr. Sabahudin Ćeman, President and Mufti of the Islamic Community of North American Bosniaks (ICNAB); and Selma Porca, Executive Director of the Congress of Bosniaks of North America (CBNA).
The program was gracefully moderated by CBNA’s own Lejla Pekaric. It opened with a moving performance of the U.S. national anthem by young violinist Uma Cizmic and reached its emotional core with a haunting rendition of Srebrenica Inferno, a musical composition honoring the victims and the resilience of survivors, performed by Ajla Bajrami.
“This is not just a commemoration. This is a declaration,” said Porca. “Thirty years ago, Bosniaks were targeted for extinction for the third time in the last century. Today, we gather in the halls of the U.S. Senate – not only as survivors, but as an integral part of the life and progress of this great country – as physicians healing communities, engineers driving innovation, educators shaping future generations, entrepreneurs fueling local economies, and public servants upholding the values of democracy. Bosniak-Americans are living proof that truth outlives terror.”
The event underscored the evolution of the Bosniak-American story – from the trauma of genocide and displacement to a vibrant diaspora community committed to democratic values, civic engagement, and interfaith cooperation. The presence of genocide survivors alongside U.S. policymakers and international diplomats reinforced the urgent need to combat genocide denial, which continues to be weaponized in the region and beyond.
Senator Jeanne Shaheen, a long-time champion for Bosnia and Herzegovina, emphasized the U.S. commitment to Bosnia’s sovereignty and future: “We must confront the threat that’s posed by separatists. We must invest in Bosnia’s security. We must support its path toward NATO and EU membership. These are points that I just raised over the last couple of days at the NATO Summit, and that I will continue to push for.” She also highlighted her re-introduction of the bipartisan Srebrenica Genocide Remembrance Act of 2023, reaffirming America’s promise to remember and educate future generations.
Congressman Mike Turner added, “But I know this room, the people who are here, know as we stand together that we stand against those that would perpetrate evil and certainly the United States stands with the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina.”
Congressman Jake Auchincloss reinforced Congress’s commitment: “What we are reaffirming here this evening is bipartisan, bicameral commitment in Congress to the Dayton Peace Agreement. This was a hallmark accomplishment of the United States and Bosnia and Herzegovina and it must be sustained. America cannot retreat from the Western Balkans because we know what will fill the void.”
Congressman Wesley Bell spoke movingly of remembrance and responsibility: “St. Louis is proud to be the home to one of the largest Bosniak communities outside Bosnia and Herzegovina. That’s not just a point of pride; it’s a point of responsibility. It means we don’t get to treat this as a distant history. It means that we have a duty to honor that history and to support those who live with its legacy and trauma every day.”
“This commemoration is a win against silence. A win against forgetting. A win against denial,” said Sabina Zolota, Vice President of CBNA. “Memory is a form of resistance, and today – here – we have won.”
With growing global threats to truth, rule of law, and democratic institutions, this commemoration sends a clear message: the future will be written not by those who erase the past, but by those who refuse to let it be forgotten.
