March 18, 2026
The Congress of Bosniaks of North America (CBNA) welcomes the joint statement issued today in Sarajevo by a broad coalition of leaders condemning hate speech, Islamophobia, and false narratives targeting Bosniaks and the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
At a time of heightened political tensions, this moment of unity sends an important message about the need to confront disinformation and safeguard Bosnia and Herzegovina’s democratic future, without hesitation. CBNA hopes to see continued cooperation on issues of vital national interest, particularly those that protect peace, democratic institutions, and Bosnia and Herzegovina’s path toward full Euro-Atlantic integration.
📄 Their full statement can be read here:
Let us remember that Bosniaks were the primary victims of genocide during the 1992-1995 aggression against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Today, they are being falsely portrayed as a threat through opportunistic, separatist, and xenophobic narratives. The attempt to depict the very community that suffered genocide as an aggressor is not only historically false – it is profoundly unjust.
Equally concerning are efforts to frame Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Bosniaks in particular, as incompatible with Western civilization. Such narratives are a deliberate distortion. Bosnia and Herzegovina is a European democracy with deep historical, cultural, and political ties to the West, and its future lies firmly within Euro-Atlantic institutions. Attempts to recast this reality are not grounded in fact, but in efforts to justify division and undermine the state.
Yet even in the face of such bigotry, Bosniak leaders and institutions continue to call for dialogue, coexistence, and democratic stability. Rather than fueling division, they are once again choosing responsibility. Rather than tearing down bridges, they are still striving to build them.
That choice speaks volumes as Bosniaks have made it over and over for centuries.
The Bosniak-American community has long worked with policymakers in Washington to raise awareness about the dangers of disinformation, secessionist rhetoric, and efforts to distort the historical record of the aggression and genocide – and will continue to do so.
The Bosniak-American community remains committed to working with partners in the United States to counter misinformation and genocide denial, support peace and democratic development, while strengthening the bilateral relationship between the United States and Bosnia and Herzegovina.