YTB Organized Academy Programs and Marches in Bosnia as Part of the 30th Anniversary of the Srebrenica Genocide

The Human Rights Education Program (İHEP), organized annually by YTB for Turkish citizens or Blue Card holders studying abroad and young lawyers, and the Bağlar magazine's Writing Academy, designed to support Turkish literature and Turkish intellectual heritage in the Balkans, were held in Bosnia and Herzegovina this year.

The event also featured the launch of the 10th issue of Bağlar magazine. The event, held in Sarajevo, was attended by Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye Prof. Dr. Numan Kurtulmuş, YTB President Abdullah Eren, Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to Sarajevo Emin Akseki, and numerous other guests.

Before the event, YTB President Abdullah Eren, along with participants from the Bağlar Sarajevo Writing Academy and the Human Rights Training Program, visited the grave of Alija Izetbegović, the first President of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Kovaçi Martyrs' Cemetery.

Hale Keskin, a participant in the Human Rights Training Program, spoke at the event. Bağlar magazine writers also presented texts from the magazine's "Remembering Srebrenica on its 30th Anniversary" feature.

Speaking at the program, Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye (TBMM) Prof. Dr. Numan Kurtulmuş emphasized Türkiye's role in cultural diplomacy. Emphasizing Türkiye's approach that extends to its heartland, Kurtulmuş said, "Türkiye is not just comprised of 86 million people. Through institutions and organizations such as YTB, TİKA, and YEE, Türkiye conducts its cultural diplomacy abroad in the best possible way. Türkiye has recently overcome its long-standing introversion with extraordinary strength and is now successfully connecting with friends, acquaintances, and relatives, as well as those in its heartland, all over the world, especially in the Balkans. The conscience of humanity, activated today, will, God willing, recognize this genocide committed in Gaza as a genocide very soon and record it in world history."

YTB President Abdullah Eren noted that they, as YTB, were in Bosnia with 75 young people for the 30th anniversary of Srebrenica, saying: “We are here with 75 young people as YTB on the 30th anniversary of Srebrenica. I am pleased to witness that the knowledge gained through four days of meetings with the participation of 50 young writers and aspiring writers from 12 different Balkan countries has yielded beneficial and beneficial results that will contribute to the publishing life of Bağlar magazine and the literary, intellectual, cultural, and historical heritage of the Balkans.”

Eren, addressing the human rights aspect of the program, expressed the importance of the education the young people received: “I am deeply honored to be with our young people from the Turkish diaspora who, as part of the İHEP program organized for the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica Genocide and attended by 30 participants from seven countries, participated in seminars on human rights, racism, discrimination, Islamophobia, and crimes against humanity committed in Gaza, as well as lessons on the history of Sarajevo and Srebrenica. As we have always done, we will continue to stand with our Bosnian brothers and sisters.”

Today, the young people will attend the “Burial and Official Commemoration Ceremony for the Martyrs of Srebrenica” and visit the Memorial Center in Potocari.