Every year, Al-Noor Primary School holds an assembly to commemorate the genocide that occurred in Srebrenica on July 11th 2023.

During this time, our children are educated about the meaning of genocide and its implications. We emphasise the ten stages of genocide, cautioning the students about the perils of allowing each stage to go unchallenged.

It is important to note that knowledge alone does not guarantee one's moral character. We share the story of the main political leader, Radovan Karadzic, who was a psychiatrist in Sarajevo before the war, highlighting that even knowledge alone does not make one a good person. Being a good person encompasses much more than having only knowledge and information.  A well-educated individual can be swayed to orchestrate the mass murder of innocent people, like the genocide convicted war criminal Radovan Karadzic did. This serves as a poignant reminder of the need for critical thinking and moral responsibility.

Moreover, we foster reflection upon the fact that Srebrenica is not an isolated incident in recent history. We discuss other genocides, such as the Holocaust, the Rwandan genocide, and the atrocities in Darfur. We also reflected on the importance of stopping current atrocities that are on the road to genocide in some parts of the world. By broadening their understanding, we encourage our students to grasp the gravity of these events and the importance of preventing their recurrence.

It is evident that those responsible for the deaths of 8,372 innocent people in Srebrenica cannot be adequately punished by serving multiple life sentences. Therefore, we believe that the ultimate justice lies with Allah SWT.

Lastly, we delve into the symbolism behind the flower emblem of Srebrenica. The eleven petals represent the day the genocide commenced, July 11th. The white petals symbolise innocence, while the green signifies hope. Additionally, the colours and shape of the flower embody the burials of the victims. At the Srebrenica burial ground, the caskets are draped in green, representing the central part of the flower. Surrounding it are women mourning, dressed in white, as depicted by the white petals.

We concluded our assembly with a prayer to Allah, beseeching for a world devoid of suffering and ensuring that such atrocities never afflict anyone again. May the world be a safe haven for all. Ameen!