BOROUGH mayor Cllr James Halden raised a commemorative flag outside Thurrock Council's civic offices in Grays today (Monday, 4 July) and was joined by residents and speakers representing the Bosnian community.

The event marked the anniversary of the slaying of more than 7,000 Bosniak (Bosnian Muslim) boys and men, perpetrated by Bosnian Serb forces in Srebrenica, a town in eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina, in July 1995.

Following the event, a commemorative tree was blessed by Muhammad Ohidur Rahman, the Imam at Grays Mosque and a memorial plaque was presented by communities portfolio holder Cllr Qaisar Abbas in Grays Town Park. Information from the Remembering Srebrenica charity, along with details of local training opportunities were also shared at the event.

Cllr Halden said: "I am very proud that Thurrock Council has made an official commitment to Remember Srebrenica each year and, in doing so, bringing together our community to remember victims and survivors. Lessons learned from Srebrenica demonstrate how hatred and intolerance can flourish if left unchallenged – even in a country such as Bosnia and Herzegovina where people of different faiths had lived peacefully together for many years.

"Today we send a strong message as we demonstrate our solidarity in the face of hatred and show our respect for those who lost their lives." 

The tree planting in Grays Town Park.

Cllr Abbas added: "I have seen first-hand in our community how the peoples from different backgrounds, ethnicities and faiths have come together to support one another in recent times, which makes me feel incredibly proud of our borough.

"We honour the victims along with the survivors of the Srebrenica genocide, including those who came to Thurrock to escape the hatred and violence they had witnessed or experienced. Today, we pledge ourselves to creating a stronger and more cohesive society for all."