Srebrenica massacre - Explained in under 2 min - BBC News

Summary

In July 1995, over 8,000 Bosnian Muslims were killed in Srebrenica, a UN-protected safe zone, during an offensive by the Bosnian Serb army. Despite being guarded by Dutch peacekeepers, the army took hostages, separated men from women, and began mass killings over five days. In addition to the atrocities, over 23,000 women and children were forcibly deported, with widespread reports of torture and rape. While Serbia has apologized, it denies the systematic genocide of the Bosnian Muslims, despite the event being recognized by the UN as an act of genocide.

Takeaways

• 😀 In July 1995, the worst mass killing on European soil since World War II occurred in Srebrenica, Bosnia.
• 😀 The event is part of what the UN recognizes as a campaign of genocide that lasted for 20 years.
• 😀 Tens of thousands of Bosnian Muslims fled the Bosnian Serb army's offensive and were under siege in Srebrenica.
• 😀 The area was supposed to be a UN safe zone, protected by around 600 lightly armed Dutch peacekeepers.
• 😀 On July 6, 1995, the Bosnian Serb army advanced, took peacekeepers hostage, and eventually entered Srebrenica.
• 😀 The Bosnian Serb army demanded the Bosnian Muslim fighters surrender all weapons in exchange for safety.
• 😀 The Bosnian Serb forces separated men aged 12 to 77 for what they claimed would be interrogations.
• 😀 The killings began two days after the separation, and over 8,000 Bosnian Muslims were killed in just five days.
• 😀 Over 23,000 women and children were forcibly deported, and there were reports of widespread torture and rape.
• 😀 Despite Serbia apologizing for the crime, it denies the killings were a systematic attempt to eradicate a people, calling it not a genocide.

Q & A

What event is being discussed in the transcript?

The transcript discusses the Srebrenica massacre that occurred in July 1995, during the Bosnian War, where over 8,000 Bosnian Muslims were killed by Bosnian Serb forces.

What was the role of the UN in Srebrenica during the massacre?

The UN had designated Srebrenica as a 'safe zone' and stationed around 600 lightly armed Dutch peacekeepers there to protect civilians. However, they were unable to prevent the Bosnian Serb army from advancing and carrying out the killings.

What happened when the Bosnian Serb army entered Srebrenica?

Once the Bosnian Serb army entered Srebrenica, they took peacekeepers hostage, demanded that Bosnian Muslim fighters surrender their weapons in exchange for safety, and separated the men for what they claimed were interrogations, leading to the mass killings.

What was the scale of the killings during the Srebrenica massacre?

Over 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys were killed in just five days, and more than 23,000 women and children were forcibly deported from the area.

What atrocities were reported in addition to the killings?

In addition to the mass killings, there were widespread reports of torture and rape during the Srebrenica massacre.

How have the victims of the Srebrenica massacre been memorialized?

Even 20 years after the massacre, victims are still being identified and reburied in memorials to honor their memory.

What has been Serbia's stance on the Srebrenica massacre?

Serbia has apologized for the crime but denies that the killings were a systematic attempt to eradicate the Bosnian Muslim population, arguing that it was not a genocide.

How has the Srebrenica massacre been characterized by international bodies?

The United Nations and other international bodies have described the events of the Srebrenica massacre as part of a campaign of genocide against the Bosnian Muslims.

Why is the Srebrenica massacre considered a genocide?

The massacre is considered genocide due to the systematic and targeted killings of over 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys, the forced deportation of thousands of women and children, and the widespread acts of torture and rape aimed at eradicating a particular ethnic group.

What was the demographic of the men taken by the Bosnian Serb army for interrogation?

The Bosnian Serb army took men aged between 12 and 77 for interrogation before carrying out the mass killings.