A crocheted flower as a reminder of the genocide in Srebrenica and a symbol for a better future
“There are personal stories, sadness and memories in every flower. But through our handiwork we express love. Everyone who wears this flower shares this feeling and expresses their solidarity and hope that a crime like the one that took place in Bosnia-Herzegovina will never happen again,” explains Azemina Ahmedbegovic, President of the Association for Handicrafts in Gracanica. This is an old tradition in Bosnia-Herzegovina that has almost been forgotten, the so-called “keranje” – a crochet technique using a needle and silk thread.
In 2011, the idea of designing a flower of remembrance was born. The women of this association wanted to create a symbol using old handicraft techniques to commemorate the greatest human crime committed on European soil after the Second World War, so that it would not be forgotten. The flower is also a symbol of the fight against genocide and the suffering of people worldwide. This flower is a gift and is not for sale because it is a message for a better future.
Every detail has a meaning. The flower consists of eleven white petals and a green pistil. The white color symbolizes innocence and stands for the innocent victims of the genocide in Srebrenica. The green color stands for hope and awakening. It is intended as a message to all the people of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Europe and the world, regardless of their origin and faith. The eleven white petals are a reminder of the date July 11, 1995.
The women hope for future peace. They are not only making this flower for Srebrenica. “We don’t ask anyone who wears the flower about their nation, their name, their faith. The mere fact that the person is wearing it has made a statement to the public.”
The “Srebrenica” flower is a symbol of a better world. So beautiful that this little flower, which is made in the old Bosnian-Herzegovinian tradition, is a symbol of peace and love for the whole world.
The women who made the flower of Srebrenica teach us that it is not hate that guarantees peace and tolerance, but love and wisdom.
On July 11, Serbian militias stormed the UN protection zone of Srebrenica. In the presence of Dutch UN blue helmets, more than 8,000 Muslims, including minors, were killed by the Serbs and buried in mass graves. Women were taken to rape camps. To this day, 20 years later, not all victims have been found and identified. The Srebrenica genocide is considered one of the worst war crimes in Europe’s history after the Second World War.
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