Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has issued a strong message commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide, firmly rejecting any attempts to deny or diminish the gravity of the massacre, which remains one of the darkest chapters in modern European history.

In a video message shared Friday, President Erdoğan paid tribute to the over 8,000 Bosniak men and boys who were brutally murdered in July 1995 by Bosnian Serb forces in the UN-designated "safe area" of Srebrenica, under the watch of international peacekeepers.

Erdoğan denounced all statements and efforts that seek to deny the genocide or glorify war criminals, emphasizing that such acts run counter to international court rulings and moral conscience.

“We reject all statements and remarks that seek to deny the Srebrenica genocide or glorify war criminals in defiance of international court rulings,” Erdoğan said. “This genocide is a wound not only in the hearts of the Bosniaks but in the conscience of all humanity.”

He reaffirmed Türkiye’s unwavering support for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s territorial integrity, sovereignty, and constitutional structure, pledging continued solidarity with the people of the Balkans.

Drawing a poignant comparison to current global crises, Erdoğan criticized the international community’s inaction in the face of ongoing atrocities in Gaza, likening the silence over Srebrenica in 1995 to the indifference shown today to Israel’s continued assaults on the Palestinian people.

“Just as the world remained silent during the Srebrenica massacre, today it turns a blind eye to the oppression and genocide being carried out in Palestine,” he said. “Sooner or later, the Israeli government will be held accountable before history and law for the killing of nearly 58,000 Palestinians.”

The Srebrenica genocide, officially recognized by both the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ), remains a stark reminder of the consequences of hate, impunity, and international indifference.

Turkey has been a vocal advocate for justice and remembrance, standing alongside Bosnia and Herzegovina in demanding recognition, accountability, and reconciliation. (ILKHA)