Hey,
nice to meet you.
I don't know.
[Music]
This is Bosnia, a place where masids,
churches, and synagogues
This is Bosnia, a place where masids, churches, and synagogues lived in
harmony. A land that embraced diversity
only
harmony. A land that embraced diversity only to see it torn apart by a storm of
hate that no one believed would come.
When the Jews were running away,
they were accepted here. You know, you
have you have a places
they were accepted here. You know, you have you have a places here, synagogues,
mosques. Look, there is a church just
behind us that was all bombed by the
same forces, you know. So amount of
history
same forces, you know. So amount of history here, amount of lesson, what we
have to survive and fight. But at the
end, we survived.
And so the storm came. What began as
whispers of conflict turned into an
unrelenting
whispers of conflict turned into an unrelenting wave of violence. These
streets that once echoed with laughter
were
streets that once echoed with laughter were now painted with the silence of
grief and the resilience of a people
fighting for their very
grief and the resilience of a people fighting for their very existence.
[Music]
I like to
I like to say they're now human beings,
you know, they're uh butchers
by and and this was a nickname of what
was the uh convicted
war criminal. His his nickname was
literally the butcher.
So Serb connect
So Serb connect themselves with Kosovo
like they cradle and so because of that
loss they took it
like they cradle and so because of that loss they took it very badly and from
then onwards uh they they just couldn't
tolerate
then onwards uh they they just couldn't tolerate Turks and so anybody who became
a Muslim they by default call them Turks
and then they would use the terms like
kebab. So for example, if you remember
New Zealand shooter,
kebab. So for example, if you remember New Zealand shooter, he would use the
Serb songs, he would his gun have Serbs
uh
Serb songs, he would his gun have Serbs uh nationalist and leaders and all of
these killers on the history, you know,
and so he would say when he's killing
Muslim, he's removing kebab. So it
became like a joke,
Muslim, he's removing kebab. So it became like a joke, remove kebab, it
became synonym, but it it's basically
hatred against
became synonym, but it it's basically hatred against the Muslims. So they
couldn't reconcile that how did these
people become
couldn't reconcile that how did these people become Muslims?
[Music]
Even though the genocide happened all
over Bosnia, Serebanita is
Even though the genocide happened all over Bosnia, Serebanita is a name the
world now knows, synonymous with
tragedy, pain, and unanswered
world now knows, synonymous with tragedy, pain, and unanswered cries for
help. But beyond these gravestones lies
a story larger than one place.
help. But beyond these gravestones lies a story larger than one place. An entire
nation marked by the shadows of war, yet
standing defiantly,
nation marked by the shadows of war, yet standing defiantly, refusing to be
forgotten.
SVO, a city cradled by the emerald hills
of Bosnia, where the echoes of history
can be seen through the cobblestone
streets and the present pulses with
vibrant energy.
streets and the present pulses with vibrant energy. Its beauty isn't just
seen, it's felt in every corner, woven
with stories of
seen, it's felt in every corner, woven with stories of resilience, unity that
transcend time.
[Music]
Bosnia's
Bosnia's charm isn't just in its sights.
It's in its people.
[Laughter]
We're in Beij the main. Look
[Laughter] We're in Beij the main. Look how I find
here. Look at this guy. What What's she
doing?
I'm I'm just like walking by
surprisingly.
We love Bosnia. Mashallah. It's a
beautiful place. May Allahel bless
everyone here. We always
beautiful place. May Allahel bless everyone here. We always visit because
it's amazing place. I was just telling
brother Eddie, you get a sense of peace
here. Perhaps
brother Eddie, you get a sense of peace here. Perhaps it's a lot of the
struggles that the Bosnian people have
gone through, but get a beautiful sense
of peace that you get here,
gone through, but get a beautiful sense of peace that you get here, you don't
get anywhere else. So just I love the
place.
Muhammad Ali and me in Bosnia, we've
taken
Muhammad Ali and me in Bosnia, we've taken over now.
Inshallah, that's the goal.
Savvo is
Inshallah, that's the goal. Savvo is more than just a city. It's a
mosaic of beliefs and traditions.
A place where the call to prayer can be
here from the masids.
Christians can hear their church bells
where the legacy of coexistence
Christians can hear their church bells where the legacy of coexistence stands
tall even in the face of history's
trials.
Su Bosnia called the Jerusalem of
Europe.
Yeah. uh Jeru Jerusalem of Europe um
it's been uh pluralistic
since the day
it's been uh pluralistic since the day one since it was
established actually like the whole
Bosnia for the last thousand years it
was always
Bosnia for the last thousand years it was always u pluralistic um it
it was
was always u pluralistic um it it was religiously diverse and
ethnically diverse um pluralistic in the
sense that
ethnically diverse um pluralistic in the sense that everyone
embraced that diversity unfortunately
isn't
embraced that diversity unfortunately isn't the
But um and
many other
But um and many other Bosnian towns are actually
witnesses to this longstanding
diversity. It's not just SU where you
find churches and synagogues and mosques
next to
find churches and synagogues and mosques next to each other within 100 meters of
each other. You go to town like
next to each other within 100 meters of each other. You go to town like Krupa,
like any of these, you find the same
phenomenon which means that despite
like any of these, you find the same phenomenon which means that despite four
and a half centuries of Ottoman rule and
then Austrian and you
and a half centuries of Ottoman rule and then Austrian and you know Bostonian
society remained
to truly understand Sereo's
society remained to truly understand Sereo's unique blend
of cultures, we must journey back to
when it became
of cultures, we must journey back to when it became a beacon of refuge, a
city where those seeking
when it became a beacon of refuge, a city where those seeking safety found
shelter.
In 1492,
Christian
In 1492, Christian Catholics expelled the Jewish
population from Spain. They journeyied
across Europe and the Mediterranean. The
Muslim Ottoman Empire known
across Europe and the Mediterranean. The Muslim Ottoman Empire known for his
acceptance and protection welcomed them
because of Islam and many
acceptance and protection welcomed them because of Islam and many found a new
life in SVO.
Refuge in Bosnia actually from
Inquisition from
Refuge in Bosnia actually from Inquisition from in the 16th century
during the Ottoman. That's when the
Jewish community arrived. Yes.
Yeah. and they are part of this Bosnian
mosaic.
SO became a living mosaic
mosaic. SO became a living mosaic of different
faiths,
Jews, Muslims,
Christians, and others weaving their
stories into the city's
Christians, and others weaving their stories into the city's fabric. Indeed,
they could be gone, but they are still
here because
they could be gone, but they are still here because of Islam,
a force that preserve not just religion,
but
a force that preserve not just religion, but the very essence of community.
This coexistence
nurtured under the wings of Islamic
principles of protection and respect
laid the foundation for SVO to become
the Jerusalem of Europe.
Actually,
Actually, no one, not a single people
were aware or
Actually, no one, not a single people were aware or and trustful that
something is going to happen like that
because we're all mixed here
something is going to happen like that because we're all mixed here basically.
I mean this part of the town you can say
this is all 100% Muslims people you know
all this
this is all 100% Muslims people you know all this part from the boy by the Tesla
this is all Muslim
all this part from the boy by the Tesla this is all Muslim but we're in a school
we were all mixed we were all playing
soccer we were all you
we were all mixed we were all playing soccer we were all you know playing
together and you you never knew that
that someone in in
together and you you never knew that that someone in in a village that I just
mentioned to you not too long ago where
I was actually born and raised you know
that was my village was on this side of
the road all Muslims on the other side
of
the road all Muslims on the other side of the road. They're all Orthodox, you
know, and they were coming to us. We
were going to them
know, and they were coming to us. We were going to them play soccer. We were
actually having a soccer team, you know,
we were all mixed
actually having a soccer team, you know, we were all mixed and we were sitting in
in a school together. So, we never
we were all mixed and we were sitting in in a school together. So, we never we
never trust that something could happen
to us that that someone could come
across
to us that that someone could come across the street and tell you, "Hey,
this is not your country. You're Muslim.
You got to go out. You got to go to
Turkey or
You got to go out. You got to go to Turkey or whatever." Bosnia's
independence was met with a wave of
violence beginning
independence was met with a wave of violence beginning in April 1992.
Massacres erupted in towns like Bina
violence beginning in April 1992. Massacres erupted in towns like Bina and
Pedor,
marking the start of a systematic
campaign.
Families were torn from their homes,
entire neighborhoods destroyed,
Families were torn from their homes, entire neighborhoods destroyed, and fear
took hold.
So this position where we are at now was
one of the first
So this position where we are at now was one of the first uh uh uh fighting
points uh in the war. So this position
was
points uh in the war. So this position was uh from the Bosnjaks and just 20 30
mters down there was the position of the
Serbs.
mters down there was the position of the Serbs. So basically within 50 m they
were uh uh trenched
Serbs. So basically within 50 m they were uh uh trenched uh between each
other.
The strategy was clear to seize control
of key positions
The strategy was clear to seize control of key positions by capturing strategic
points like hilltops,
bridges,
points like hilltops, bridges, and supply routes. Serve forces
could isolate and
bridges, and supply routes. Serve forces could isolate and dominate Bosnian
cities.
This was not only a military
cities. This was not only a military tactic, but
a psychological one, turning once safe
cities
a psychological one, turning once safe cities into prisons under constant
threat. The strategy allowed Serb
cities into prisons under constant threat. The strategy allowed Serb forces
to hold Bosnian cities in a vice grip.
SVO,
to hold Bosnian cities in a vice grip. SVO, Mustar, and other towns became
symbols of resistance,
but they were also symbols of suffering.
trapped by an
but they were also symbols of suffering. trapped by an enemy determined to erase
their spirit.
In uh in order to
their spirit. In uh in order to get to Wazucha, they
had to take to conquer this uh hill and
then uh
had to take to conquer this uh hill and then uh uh position after possession
they would get closer to this uh place
which was
they would get closer to this uh place which was uh the connection between two
or three major Bosnjak cities.
which was uh the connection between two or three major Bosnjak cities. So
basically they worked very hard to
surround the city. We wanted to capture
the city. One of the goal was to uh take
part of Bosnia.
the city. One of the goal was to uh take part of Bosnia. There was a plan to
separate Bosnia and one part go to
Serbia, another one go to Croatia.
separate Bosnia and one part go to Serbia, another one go to Croatia. And
even though they were highly unlikely to
take entire Sar, they
even though they were highly unlikely to take entire Sar, they wanted to keep
strategic places and divided it. So for
example, central
strategic places and divided it. So for example, central prison they tried to
attack to capture it to have some
barriers,
attack to capture it to have some barriers, natural barriers so that they
can separate city.
This strategy
can separate city. This strategy was more than just a
military conquest. It was a method of
control
military conquest. It was a method of control fueled by hate. By capturing
strategic points,
control fueled by hate. By capturing strategic points, the Serb forces
effectively divided SVO, isolating
neighborhoods and cutting off vital
institutions.
The city
institutions. The city was fragmented. Its people
forced to live under constant threat,
knowing their every move was being
watched.
As the Serb forces tightened
As the Serb forces tightened their grip
on SVO,
a new terror emerged.
Known chillingly as safari hunting.
Snipers targeted
Known chillingly as safari hunting. Snipers targeted civilians as if it were
sport.
For the people of SVO,
sport. For the people of SVO, simple tasks like
finding food or water became deadly
risks. And every step outside became a
test of survival.
Right now we are in a
Right now we are in a place where was
lines between us and Chattnik.
Right now we are in a place where was lines between us and Chattnik. And this
is uh we call place uh Malakula
lines between us and Chattnik. And this is uh we call place uh Malakula little
castle like this. This was a
right here was
uh ser
was uh like down.
Okay.
was uh like down. Okay. Right here.
So this was really hard to took from
them
So this was really hard to took from them because behind they has like clear
space they has tanks
them because behind they has like clear space they has tanks tops and
everything.
So they had they had all connect between
this
So they had they had all connect between this and all these um other bunkers.
They they were they were connected
this and all these um other bunkers. They they were they were connected by
trench and I going to show you later in
a one place they call