Islam, Memory, and Denial: Preserving Bosniak Identity After the Srebrenica Genocide

Authors

Alek Barović, University of PadovaFollow

Author ORCID Identifier

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6901-5927

Abstract

The role of the Bosniak Islamic Community in preserving identity and collective memory of the Srebrenica genocide remains a subject of ongoing debate among Bosniaks in Bosnia, the wider Balkan region, and the diaspora. This paper explores how Bosniaks perceive the Islamic Community’s efforts in shaping and sustaining post-genocide identity through religious, cultural, and educational initiatives. By analyzing narratives from survivors, religious leaders, and community members, this study investigates whether the Islamic Community is seen as a central institution in the preservation of historical memory or as one actor among many in the broader struggle against denial and historical revisionism.

The paper examines the ways in which mosques, sermons, commemorations, and religious teachings contribute to the transmission of collective memory and the reinforcement of Bosniak identity. It further explores variations in perception across different contexts, particularly in Bosnia, neighboring Balkan countries, and Bosniak diaspora communities in Europe and North America. Special attention is given to how political, generational, and geographic factors influence these perceptions.

By drawing on qualitative interviews, media analysis, and existing scholarship, this study provides insight into the evolving relationship between Islam, memory, and identity in post-genocide Bosniak society. Ultimately, it seeks to understand the extent to which the Islamic Community is regarded as a guardian of Srebrenica’s memory and whether its role is perceived as indispensable or contested in the broader struggle for historical truth and identity preservation.

Recommended Citation

Barović, Alek (2025) "Islam, Memory, and Denial: Preserving Bosniak Identity After the Srebrenica Genocide," Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe: Vol. 45 : Iss. 4 , Article 7.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.55221/2693-2229.2621
Available at: https://digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/ree/vol45/iss4/7