We, the Association of Srebrenica Genocide Survivors in St. Louis, have written to Gene C. Crume Jr., President of Judson University, to express our deep concern and opposition to the planned appearance of Milorad Dodik at the university’s upcoming World Leaders Forum.
Remembering Srebrenica
Thirty years ago, in the United Nations-declared “safe area” of Srebrenica, more than 8,000 Bosniak men and boys were systematically executed. Women and children were forcibly expelled—left behind as widows and orphans.
We remember Srebrenica not as an isolated tragedy, but as the culmination of years of violence across Bosnia and Herzegovina. This period was marked by mass killings, organized rape, imprisonment in concentration camps, and the deliberate destruction of cultural, educational, and religious institutions. Millions were displaced from homes where communities had lived together for generations.
The crimes committed during this time—including genocide and extermination—were among the most severe atrocities seen in Europe since World War II.
Denial and Glorification of War Crimes
We are deeply troubled that Mr. Dodik continues to deny the Srebrenica Genocide, referring to it as a “fabricated myth.” At the same time, he has publicly praised individuals such as Radovan Karadžić and Ratko Mladić—both convicted of genocide and crimes against humanity—as “heroes.”
We cannot accept the normalization of such statements. Denial and glorification of these crimes not only distort the truth but also inflict continued pain on survivors and the families of victims.
Our Appeal
We believe that providing a platform for Mr. Dodik risks legitimizing these views and undermines the values of truth, accountability, and human dignity. It also dishonors the memory of those we lost.
In the name of our shared humanity, we respectfully but firmly urge Judson University to withdraw this invitation.
