During the Bosnian genocide, the Bosniak people suffered greatly. Bosnian Serb forces specifically targeted them, leading to horrific violence, including mass killings, sexual assaults, and people being forced from their homes. One of the worst incidents was the Srebrenica massacre, where over 8,000 Bosniak men and boys were killed in just a few days. Those who survived often faced a lack of food, shelter, and safety after being displaced.
The Bosniaks experienced severe human rights abuses, including torture and humiliation, with women often facing sexual violence used as a weapon. These violent acts aimed to instill fear and demonstrate power, driven by deep ethnic hatred.
Propaganda also dehumanized Bosniaks, portraying them as threats to Serbian identity, which spread hatred and justified the violence for many. This shows how harmful false narratives can be. The slow response from the international community highlighted the importance of quick action in situations of mass violence, reminding us that staying silent can allow injustice to occur.