THE MORAL JUDGMENT OF THOSE WHO SURVIVED
A Proclamation by the Bosnia and Herzegovina Community Advice Centre (BHCAC)
London, United Kingdom – 27 August 2026
Issued following the confirmed death of a person convicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), under the residual authority of the United Nations International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT), of crimes including genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes.
“They tried to break us. They did not know we were the stone.”
Today, the world records the biological end of a shadow. A man has passed who once executed the failed vision of an architect. Together, they believed that through the silence of mass graves, the wire of concentration camps, the hunger of siege, and the darkness of genocide, they could erase our name from the book of life.
We refuse to speak their names. We will not offer convicted war criminals the refuge of our memory.
We do not look back with the eyes of victims; we look back with the authority of the Witness. Ours is a lived truth—a truth lived in the flesh, carried in the bone, and proven by the very fact of our breath. We know the weight of the night because we outlasted it. We know the cost of our values because we held them tight when the world turned away.
Our presence is the ultimate judgment of history.
Every British Bosnian born into the diversity of this great city stands as testimony. Every life built in the heart of London, and every hand we extend in peace, is a final and crushing defeat for the ideology of hate. We have not merely survived; we have thrived. We have taken the shards of a broken past and forged them into a vision for a new world.
The future we are building together is not a shelter for the bitter, but a sanctuary for the hopeful. It is a future that is stronger, fairer, and more inclusive for all. We carry the memory of the silenced not as a burden, but as a sacred trust. We stand as a shield for the persecuted of every faith, every race, and every nation—ensuring that the shadow of the camp never falls upon a human soul again.
Let history record this truth: the destroyers are a footnote. The People are the story.
The darkness has spent itself.
The light is ours to lead.
We are here.
We remember.
We prevail.
In the name of justice, remembrance, and resilience,
Bosnia and Herzegovina Community Advice Centre (BHCAC)
London, United Kingdom
MORALNI SUD ONIH KOJI SU PREŽIVJELI
Proglas Bosnia and Herzegovina Community Advice Centre (BHCAC)
London, Ujedinjeno Kraljevstvo – 27. august 2026. godine
Izdato povodom potvrđene smrti osobe osuđene pred Međunarodnim krivičnim tribunalom za bivšu Jugoslaviju (MKTJ), pod rezidualnom nadležnošću Međunarodnog rezidualnog mehanizma Ujedinjenih nacija za krivične tribunale (IRMCT), za zločine uključujući genocid, zločine protiv čovječnosti i ratne zločine.
„Pokušali su nas slomiti. Nisu znali da smo mi kamen.“
Danas svijet bilježi biološki kraj jedne sjenke. Preminuo je čovjek koji je nekada provodio neuspjelu viziju jednog arhitekte. Zajedno su vjerovali da će, kroz tišinu masovnih grobnica, žicu koncentracionih logora, glad opsade i tamu genocida, moći izbrisati naše ime iz knjige života.
Odbijamo izgovarati njihova imena. Nećemo osuđenim ratnim zločincima ponuditi utočište u našem sjećanju.
Na prošlost se ne osvrćemo očima žrtava; osvrćemo se autoritetom Svjedoka. Naša istina je proživljena istina — istina proživljena u mesu, nošena u kostima i potvrđena samom činjenicom našeg daha. Znamo težinu noći jer smo je nadživjeli. Znamo cijenu naših vrijednosti jer smo ih čvrsto čuvali onda kada se svijet okrenuo od nas.
Naše prisustvo predstavlja konačni sud historije.
Svaki Britanski Bosanac rođen u raznolikosti ovog veličanstvenog grada stoji kao svjedočanstvo. Svaki život izgrađen u srcu Londona i svaka ruka koju pružamo u miru, predstavlja konačan i težak poraz ideologije mržnje. Nismo samo preživjeli; uspijevali smo i napredovali. Od krhotina slomljene prošlosti iskovali smo viziju novog svijeta.
Budućnost koju zajedno gradimo nije sklonište za ogorčene, već utočište za one koji se nadaju. To je budućnost koja je snažnija, pravednija i inkluzivnija za sve. Sjećanje na one čiji su glasovi utišani ne nosimo kao teret, već kao sveti amanet. Stojimo kao štit za progonjene svih vjera, rasa i naroda — osiguravajući da sjenka logora nikada više ne padne ni na jednu ljudsku dušu.
Neka historija zabilježi ovu istinu: razarači su fusnota. Narod je priča.
Tama se istrošila.
Svjetlost je na nama da je vodimo.
Mi smo ovdje.
Mi pamtimo.
Mi pobjeđujemo.
U ime pravde, sjećanja i otpornosti,
Bosnia and Herzegovina Community Advice Centre (BHCAC)
London, Ujedinjeno Kraljevstvo
London, UK – 10 May 2026
Bosnia and Herzegovina Community Advice Centre (BHCAC) was pleased to host a special poetry evening on 9 May 2026 at its premises in Willesden Green, London, bringing together members of the community for an evening dedicated to literature, culture and shared identity.
The evening was organised to honour Semira and Meho Jakupović, recipients of the Udruženje za kulturu – Nova svjetlost (KNS) Golden Plaque for Poetry 2025, in recognition of their continued contribution to poetry and cultural life within the British Bosnian community.
The programme featured poetry readings by the award recipients, alongside contributions from Zaim Pašić, Chair of BHCAC, and Chief Imam Sedin ef. Šahman, whose reflections added depth and meaning to the evening. A notable highlight was the presentation of poems from the collection Bosnoljublje, which includes works by three members of the Jakupović family, reflecting a rich intergenerational literary expression.
The evening was further enriched by the contribution of Sandra Saldanha, a poet and member of BHCAC, whose participation reflected the Centre’s inclusive spirit and openness to diverse voices within a shared community space.
Throughout the programme, themes of belonging, identity, memory, peace, and human connection resonated strongly with those in attendance, reaffirming the role of poetry as a powerful medium for dialogue and collective reflection.
The event concluded with expressions of appreciation on behalf of BHCAC, recognising all contributors for their participation and continued engagement in community cultural life. Informal conversation continued in a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
BHCAC remains proud to provide a space where cultural activity can flourish and where members of the British Bosnian community, alongside the wider Brent community, come together to share creativity, experiences, and dialogue. Events such as this reflect BHCAC’s ongoing commitment to cultural heritage, community cohesion, and mutual understanding.
For general enquiries: info@bhcac.org.uk
BBYL One Year Programme Launched
BHCAC launches a year‑long, youth‑led programme promoting Bosnian culture, wellbeing, and leadership
The BBYL One Year Programme is a youth‑led initiative designed to strengthen engagement with Bosnian culture and heritage while supporting wellbeing, leadership, volunteering, and community connection. Shaped by young people’s voices and community needs, the programme offers a structured year of cultural, educational, social, and wellbeing‑focused activities.
Programme highlights include:
- Monthly Bosnian folklore sessions
- A six‑session history, culture, and heritage series
- Outdoor and summer wellbeing activities
- Youth volunteering and leadership opportunities
- Community and social engagement events
Young people are at the centre of the programme’s delivery, with BBYL members actively involved as participants, volunteers, organisers, and programme leads, building confidence, responsibility, and long‑term community connection.
Acknowledgments
BHCAC recognises the contributions of those who supported a successful programme launch:
- Anela Majdanac, Communications, BBYL Action Group
- Amar Duratović, Secretary, BBYL Action Group
- All BBYL members who attended, whose engagement contributed to a strong and meaningful launch event
Looking Ahead
The BBYL One Year Programme reflects a shared commitment to helping young people learn, connect, and celebrate Bosnian heritage while developing leadership skills and a strong sense of belonging within the community.
BHCAC is proud to support BBYL as the programme enters its delivery phase and looks forward to its positive impact on young people and the wider community.
For general enquiries: info@bhcac.org.uk