The book “Voices from Srebrenica: Survivor Narratives of the Bosnian Genocide" by Ann Petril and Hasan Hasanović promoted
The promotion of the book “Voices from Srebrenica: Survivor Narratives of the Bosnian Genocide,” by Ann Petril and Hasan Hasanović, was held on 23 June 2022 at the Faculty of Criminalistics, Criminology and Security Studies, University of Sarajevo.
The book Voices from Srebrenica: Survivor Narratives of the Bosnian Genocide brings together the testimonies of Srebrenica survivors of genocide, so through these events we want to point out the need to preserve the stories of survivors, facts about genocide and pay tribute to those killed, and to mark the 27th anniversary.
The author of the book, Professor Petrila, brings a new group of American students to Bosnia and Herzegovina every year to participate in the Peace March, and together with Hasan Hasanović, a Srebrenica genocide survivor, today curator of the Memorial Center in Potočari, she wrote this book.
The promoters of the book were: Prof. Dr. Edina Bećirević, UNSA Faculty of Criminalistics, Criminology and Security Studies and Prof. Dr. Sanela Šadić, UNSA Faculty of Political Sciences.
University of Sarajevo Rector, Prof. Dr. Rifat Škrijelj emphasized that the promotion of the publication, which unites the testimonies and stories of the survivors, is a form of resistance and opposition to the denial of genocide and irresponsible attempts at revisionism.
“The University of Sarajevo is an unwavering opponent of such tendencies, and, with that in mind, I want to emphasize that it is encouraging that the other author of this important publication, colleague Hasanović, is an alumnus and a second-cycle student at the Faculty of Criminology, Criminology and Security Studies. Sarajevo, which makes it part of a significant and numerous community of alumni and staff of the University of Sarajevo who have dedicated their research to the research of the genocide in Srebrenica,” said Rector Škrijelj.
Faculty of Criminalistics, Criminology and Security Studies Dean, Prof. Dr. Jasmin Ahić stated that it is a privilege that the promotion of this book is held at the Faculty of which he is the dean. as he pointed out, the promotion was organized with the aim of contributing to the memory of the genocide in Srebrenica and marking the 27th anniversary of the genocide.
Srebrenica Memorial Center Director, Dr. Emir Suljagić paid tribute to the authors, especially Hasanović, emphasizing his devotion to work that lasted more than three years, all in order to successfully write the book, and which he said he still has not stopped when it comes to his commitment to Srebrenica.
Prof. Dr. Edina Bećirević pointed out that with the book “Voices from Srebrenica: Survivor Narratives of the Bosnian Genocide” the authors managed to turn the unthinkable into the conceivable. “The image will stay in your mind forever, and in addition, all readers will be more than aware of what happened in Bosnia and Herzegovina,” said Professor Bećirević.
“The text of this book is emotionally risky and will really touch your heart," said Prof. Dr. Sanela Šadić.
Professor Petrila, the author of the book, thanked all those who made nice comments about the book, and then shared with the audience her experiences gained through writing a book about the difficult past of Srebrenica: “When Hasan and I first talked about writing book, I really wondered if I should be involved in this project, because despite the fact that Bosnia and Herzegovina has more than half of my heart and is almost like my second home, these are not my stories, my voice is not he must hear as much as the voices of the people who survived the Srebrenica genocide need.”
Nedžad Avdić, one of the survivors, about whom the authors wrote in the book, also spoke at the promotion. “I am honored to be part of the presentation of a book written by my friends today.” He especially pointed out that everyone who survived the genocide in Srebrenica has his own story, and that each of them is similar at first glance, but they are all specific. “At that time I was a boy, I was only 17 years old. Since the beginning of the war, I have survived several horrors: running away from the enemy, shooting from a gun, crying, screaming, torturing when I was captured. Now I am happy to have survived it, but in those moments I did not, because I was injured, hit by several bullets in the stomach, arm and foot.”
Hasan Hasanović, the author of the book, thanked everyone who took the time to listen to the stories of the greatest suffering in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and then recalling his story, he shared those experiences from Srebrenica that accompany him to this day “My father was killed, my twin brother was killed, as were many other victims who were exhausted to death so much that they did not even pray for their lives. I know that they were thirsty, hungry and what bothers me even today is the knowledge that my brother was probably buried alive.” With this book, as he stated, they wanted to achieve and to the farthest audience - international.
At the end of the promotion, all those present, especially students, had the opportunity to ask questions to the authors, and numerous congratulations and thanks were sent.
