Bosniaks marked the Martyrs' Day on the second day of Eid-al-Fitr across the country and the central ceremony was held at the Kovaci Martyrs' cemetery where Bosniak leader Bakir Izetbegovic, Bosniak Presidency member Sefik Dzaferovic and other top Bosniak officials gathered to say their prayers.
The Bosniak delegation consisting mostly of officials from the main ethnic-oriented Democratic Action Party (SDA) also laid flowers at the grave of the first president of the then Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Alija Izetbegovic, the founder of the SDA.
Nesib Hadzic, Chief Imam of Bosnia's Armed Forces, recalled that they gathered on Monday, adhering to the measures against the spread of the coronavirus so that the tradition of marking the Martyrs Day would not be interrupted.
“This year, just like every previous year, we want to say that we will not and must not forget the best Bosnian sons and all the Muslims, Orthodox and Catholics, and all those who were kind and honest citizens of this country, who gave their lives or body parts or contributed to the defence against the aggression on Bosnia in any other way,” said Hadzic.
He said that “we thus gained the freedom which we will protect at all costs.”
On January 23, 1995, the Islamic Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina decided that the second day of Eid al-Fitr will be marked as the Day of Martyrs – the day of remembrance for all those who gave their lives for Bosnia and Herzegovina during the 1992-1995 war for independence from Yugoslavia.
This day is marked by visiting martyrdom graves, visiting martyrs’ families, praying for all the martyrs and recalling of their sacrifice.
