JUST DO SOMETHING!

In my third year of high school, we learned about the #Srebrenica genocide, which aimed to "incorporate the enclave into Bosnian Serb territory and cleanse the area of its Muslim population." We delved into the depths of this so-called "war"—as some referred to it—and memorized dates, names, and battles. We studied the UN peacekeeping troops, who were portrayed as key figures in the conflict, but were they truly saviors?

This past August, I had the opportunity to visit #BosniaAndHerzegovina for several conferences for European Youth Imams. During my stay, I deepened my understanding of the Srebrenica genocide, visiting key locations where the atrocities occurred. I also gained insight into the harsh reality of living through a genocide, often referred to as the "first televised genocide." I met with survivors—everyone from soldiers to children, officers to teachers, fathers, and more—each with their own haunting memories of that time.

Now, imagine yourself as a mother trying to escape from house A to house B, seeking safety as house A is under attack. You're carrying your 4-year-old daughter when suddenly, BAM! A bullet pierces your daughter’s head, killing her instantly, but the shooter lets you live. This was the horrific reality for many mothers during the war. Soldiers on the mountains surrounding #Sarajevo turned it into a grotesque game, competing to kill children in their mothers' arms without harming the women. To them, these were not human beings, just moving targets in a perverse challenge for points.

Now, let’s talk about #Sarajevo—a city besieged by Serbian forces, with 13,000 soldiers positioned on the hills surrounding it. The city was cut off from the rest of the world. In response, the Bosnians built the ‘Tunnel of Hope,’ an 800-meter-long, 1-meter-wide tunnel, constructed in just four months and four days. This tunnel became a lifeline, supplying both Bosnian military units and civilians after the Army of Republika Srpska cut off two Bosnian-held territories.

The stories of suffering are endless. This genocide, which spanned over 1,400 days, was broadcast live on TV, a horrifying spectacle that no one acted upon. According to a former Bosnian soldier, the so-called United Nations peacekeepers were "one of the main reasons behind the battles and miscommunications."

Yet, despite everything that happened, history seems to be repeating itself. What happened in Sarajevo is now happening in Gaza, and again, the world remains silent. Children are starving, terrified, tortured, and slaughtered daily. Since October 7th, over 50,000 people have been killed, more than 100,000 injured, over 10,000 are missing or trapped under rubble, and now 640,000 children under the age of 10 in Gaza are at risk of contracting polio—a third of Gaza's population. These children have no food, no water, no medicine, no electricity, and still, no one cares.

Not to mention, many global brands are complicit in supporting this genocide. So whether it's boycotting, protesting, spreading awareness, or donating—do something.

JUST DO SOMETHING!