Muslim People's Council: Montenegro has not faced its past

Montenegro has not faced the past, and as a society we must build a culture of remembrance based on justice, truth and reconciliation, says the statement of the Council of the Muslim People of Montenegro, signed by the Council's PR Emina Skenderović.

Montenegro will mark 32 years since the abduction of civilians in Štrpci today.

"Today we pay tribute to the victims of the crimes in Štrpci, one of the darkest events in our recent history. Today, more than three decades later, the pain is no less, and the void that those who perished left behind is still present. Their only 'guilt' was their name and surname. Nothing more. And nothing less. Montenegro, unfortunately, has not faced its past. The concept of confronting war crimes, which is crucial for the healing of society, has still not taken root here. It is even harder to accept the fact that today's political elites are more inclined to ignore these topics than ever before. We increasingly hear messages that these are 'divisive topics', as if sweeping them under the carpet could erase the pain and injustice. Some do it intentionally, consciously and calculatedly, while others may do so out of ignorance," she said.

He says the consequence is the same - crimes remain unprocessed, and victims are tried to be forgotten.

"That is why today, in front of the Council of the Muslim People in Montenegro, we want to emphasize that it is most important that we remember the victims as citizens who suffered innocently, as our neighbors, friends, godparents, relatives. Our society often faces the temptation to view events from the past through the prism of nationality and identity. And while it is important to acknowledge and understand the historical and identity context, it is even more important that we do not allow these determinants to divide us and distance us from the essence - from humanity. The crime in Štrpci was not just an attack on individuals, but also on the idea of ​​unity, peace and coexistence. Their suffering was not a question of nationality, but a question of humanity," said Skenderović.

As he adds, the victims of the crimes in Štrpci are not just a number, they are not just a name on a list, nor did they belong to just one nation.

"They belong to all of us – to our shared memory, our collective responsibility and our humanity. Our responsibility is to ensure that their suffering does not become a tool for political wrangling, but rather remains a permanent warning of how great the evil can be when hatred overcomes reason. As a society, we must build a culture of remembrance based on justice, truth and reconciliation. This means that we must not allow the victims to be appropriated, nor for their suffering to be used for political or nationalistic purposes. We must remember them as people who suffered innocently, as symbols of what must never happen again," the statement reads.