Battling the Eighth Stage: Incrimination of Genocide Denial in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Abstract

Denial is considered to be the eighth and the final stage of genocide. Facing this issue, many European Union countries have opted to incriminate genocide denial. Furthermore, with the aim of harmonising national legislations, Framework Decision No. 2008/913/JHA was adopted in 2008, obliging the Member States to incriminate “publicly condoning, denying or grossly trivialising crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes”. Genocide and other crimes denial is still present in Bosnia and Herzegovina, even though the rulings of the International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, and the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, have shown that genocide was committed over Bosnian Muslims, in July 1995 in Srebrenica and its surrounding areas, as well as other numerous crimes against humanity and war crimes across entire Bosnia and Herzegovina. From 2007 there have been a number of attempts to incriminate genocide denial at the state level in Bosnia, but all of them were unsuccessful due to the opposition by representatives of Republika Srpska. Finally, in 2014, the genocide denial was incriminated in the Criminal Code of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina as an act of encouraging “national, racial and religious hatred, rift and intolerance”.

Notes

1. Framework Decision of 28 November 2008 on combating certain forms and expressions of racism and xenophobia by means of criminal law, Official Journal of the European Union L 328/55, 6. 12. 2008. Accessed January 24, 2015. http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=CELEX:32008F0913

2. Bosnia and Herzegovina v. Serbia and Montenegro: Case Concerning the Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, Judgment of 26 February 2007. International Court of Justice. Accessed July 11, 2015. http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/files/91/13685.pdf; Prosecutor v. Radislav Krstic—Appeals Chamber—Judgment—en IT-98-33 [2004] ICTY 7 (19 April 2004). International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. Accessed July 11, 2015. http://www.icty.org/x/cases/krstic/acjug/en/krs-aj040419e.pdf; Prosecutor v. Vujadin Popović, Ljubiša Beara, Drago Nikolić, Radivoje Miletić, Vinko Pandurević, 30 January 2015. International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. Accessed July 11, 2015. http://icty.org/x/cases/popovic/acjug/en/150130_judgement.pdf

3. Marko A. Hoare, “A Case Study in Underachievement: The International Courts and Genocide in Bosnia and Herzegovina”, Genocide Studies and Prevention, Vol. 6, No. 1, April 2011, pp. 81–97 (82).

4. Jorgic v. Germany Judgement, July 12, 2007. European Court of Human Rights. Accessed July 11, 2015. http://hudoc.echr.coe.int/sites/eng/pages/search.aspx?i=001-81608#

5. M. Hoare, “A Case Study in Underachievement”, op. cit. p. 82.

6. Ibid.

7. Apart from these judicially established truths, it is necessary to take into the consideration the historical truths, since wider truth is sometimes lost when focus on the importance of supporting documents is overshadowed by a final verdict. Namely, even if individual criminal responsibility for genocide, committed during certain periods of time in particular territories, is not established, it is not inherently true that genocide did not take place. It has been conclusively proven by renowned scholars such as Samantha Power in her Pulitzer Prize-winning, A Problem from Hell: America and the Age of Genocide, New York: Basic Books, 2002, that genocide was committed in Bosnia during 1992–1995.

8. David Scheffer, “The World Court's Fractured Ruling on Genocide”, Genocide Studies and Prevention, Vol. 2, No. 2, 2007, pp. 123–136; Antonio Cassese, “A Judicial Massacre”, Guardian, February 27, 2007. Accessed April 20, 2015. http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2007/feb/27/thejudicialmassacreofsrebr; Martin Shaw, “The International Court of Justice: Serbia, Bosnia, and Genocide”, February 28, 2007. Accessed April 20, 2015. https://www.opendemocracy.net/globalization-institutions_government/icj_bosnia_serbia_4392.jsp; M. Hoare, “ A Case Study in Underachievement”, op. cit. p. 92.

9. M. Shaw, “The International Court”, op. cit.

10. M. Hoare, “ A Case Study in Underachievement”, op. cit. p. 91.

11. Edina Bećirević, “The Issue of Genocidal Intent and Denial of Genocide: A Case Study of Bosnia and Herzegovina”, East European Politics and Societies, Vol. 24, No. 4, 2010, pp. 480–502 (483).

12. M. Hoare, “A Case Study in Underachievement”, op. cit. p. 82.

13. Stenli Koen, Stanje poricanja: znati za zlodela i patnje, Beograd: Samizdat B92, 2003. (Translation of Stanley Cohen, States of Denial. Knowing About Atrocities and Suffering, 2001), p. 129.

14. Gregory H. Stanton, “The Eight Stages of Genocide”. Accessed January 25, 2015. http://www.genocidewatch.org/aboutgenocide/8stagesofgenocide.html

15. Israel W. Charny, “The Psychology of Denial of Known Genocides”, in Genocide: A Critical Bibliographic Review, Vol. 2, ed. I. W. Charny, London: Mansell Publishing, New York: Facts on File, 1991, pp. 3–37 (23).

16. Israel W. Charny,”A Classification of Denials of the Holocaust and Other Genocides”, in: The Genocide Studies Reader, ed. by Samuel Totten, Paul Robert Bartrop, Routledge: New York, 2009, pp. 517–537.

17. Deborah E. Lipstadt, Denying the Holocaust: The Growing Assault on Truth and Memory, New York: Plume, 1994, p. 30.

18. I. W. Charny, “A Classification of Denials”, op. cit.

19. E. Markusen and I. Charny, “The Psychology of Denial of Genocide”, in The Encyclopedia of Genocide, Vol. 1. ed. by I. W. Charny, Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO, 1999, pp. 159–161.

20. S. Koen, Stanje poricanja, op. cit. pp. 127–159.

21. S. Koen, Stanje poricanja, op. cit. pp. 201–202; Israel W. Charny, “Templates for Gross Denial of a Known Genocide: A Manual,” in The Encyclopedia of Genocide, ed. by I. W. Charny, Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO, 1999, p. 168; I. W. Charny,”A Classification of Denials”, op. cit.

22. “Nikolić negira genocid u Srebrenici”, (“Nikolić denies genocide in Srebrenica”), June 01, 2012. Accessed February 22, 2015. http://www.dw.de/nikoli%C4%87-negira-genocid-u-srebrenici/a-15993945.

23. This type of denial was used during genocide in Srebrenica. Namely, according to the reports of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in East Bosnia, every “ethnic cleansing” was preceded by claims by Serb nationalists about “genocide”, “ethnic cleansing”, “mass rapes” and “cultural destruction” against Serbs in a certain region. Michael Sells, “Vjera, historija i genocid u Bosni i Hercegovini”, in Muslimi Balkana: “Istočno pitanje” u xx. vijeku, ed. F. Karčić, Sarajevo: Centar za napredne studije, 2014, pp. 127–149 (Translation of Michael Sells, “Religion, History and Genocide in Bosnia-Herzegovina”, in Religion and Justice in the War over Bosnia, ed. G. Scott Davis, New York and London: Routledge, 1996, pp. 23–43).

24. “Dodik: 'U Srebrenici nije bilo genocida, neću se odreći Mladića i Karadžića'”(“Dodik: 'There was no genocide in Srebrenica, I will not give up on Mladić and Karadžić'”), Jutarnji list, July 09, 2014. Accessed January 31, 2015. http://www.jutarnji.hr/skandalozni-dodik--u-srebrenici-nije-bilo-genocida--necu-se-odreci-mladica-i-karadzica--bih-je-neodrziva--/1205088/

25. “Dodik: ‘Srebrenica je najveći udarac srpstvu i kukavičluk'”, (“Dodik: ‘Crimes in Srebrenica as cowardice and the biggest blow to Serbdom”), March 25, 2015. Accessed March 27, 2015. http://www.vesti-online.com/Vesti/Ex-YU/480916/Srebrenica-je-najveci-udarac-srpstvu-i-kukavicluk

26. E. Markusen and I. Charny, “The Psychology of Denial of Genocide”, op. cit. p. 159.

27. D. E. Lipstadt, Denying the Holocaust, op cit. p. 214.

28. I. W. Charny, “A Classification of Denials”, op. cit. p. 534.

29. Fikret Karčić, “Krivično-pravna zabrana poricanja genocida: komparativna perspektiva”, (“The Criminalization of Genocide Denial: A Comparative Perspective”) Godišnjak Pravnog fakulteta u Sarajevu, L, 2007, pp. 289–299.

30. Michael Whine, “Expanding Holocaust Denial and Legislation Against It”, in Extreme Speech and Democracy, ed. I. Hare, J. Weinstein, New York: Oxford University Press, 2009, pp. 538–556.

31. Olivier De Schutter, International Human Rights Law: Cases, Materials, Commentary, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2014.

32. F. Karčić, “Krivično-pravna zabrana”, op. cit. p. 296.

33. Proposal for a Council Framework Decision on Combating Racism and Xenophobia, COM(2001)664, Official Journal C 75 E, 26 March 2002, p. 269.

34. JPR/Report N. 3/2000, Combating Holocaust Denial Through Law in the United Kingdom. Accessed February 10, 2015. http://www.bjpa.org/Publications/details.cfm?PublicationID=4331

35. L. Pech, “The Law of Holocaust Denial in Europe”, in Genocide Denials and the Law, ed. L. Hennebel, T. Hochmann, New York: Oxford University Press, 2011, pp. 185–234 (192).

36. Ibid.

37. German Criminal Code, Article 130, 4. Accessed February 10, 2015. http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/index.html.

38. L. Pech, “The Law of Holocaust”, op. cit. p. 199.

39. Martin Imbleau, “Denial of the Holocaust, Genocide, and Crimes Against Humanity: A Comparative Overview of Ad Hoc Statutes” in Genocide Denials and the Law, ed. L. Hennebel, T. Hochmann, New York: Oxford University Press, 2011, pp. 235–279

40. M. Whine, “Expanding Holocaust Denial”, op. cit. p. 544.

41. F. Karčić, “Krivično-pravna zabrana”, op. cit. p. 292.

42. M. Imbleau, “Denial of the Holocaust”, op. cit. p. 261; M. Whine, “Expanding Holocaust Denial”, op. cit. p. 544.

43. Combating Hate Crimes in the OSCE Region: An Overview of Statistics, Legislation, and National Initiatives, Warsaw: ODIHR, 2005, p. 138. http://www.osce.org/odihr/16405?download=true

44. M. Whine, “Expanding Holocaust Denial”, op. cit. p. 545.

45. The Act on the Institute of National Remembrance—Commission for the Prosecution of Crimes against the Polish Nation dated 18 December 1998. Accessed February 10, 2015. http://ipn.gov.pl/en/about-the-institute/documents/institute-documents/the-act-on-the-institute-of-national-remembrance

46. M. Whine, “Expanding Holocaust Denial”, op. cit. p. 544.

47. Combating Hate Crimes, op. cit. p. 149.

48. Carlos C. Montero, “Contract No JLS/2008/C4/006, Study on how the memory of crimes committed by totalitarian regimes in Europe is dealt with in the Member States”. Accessed February 25, 2015. http://ec.europa.eu/justice/fundamental-rights/files/totalitarian_regimes_final_study_en.pdf, p. 68.

49. M. Whine, “Expanding Holocaust Denial”, op. cit. p. 546.

50. Combating Hate Crimes, op. cit. p. 136.

51. M. Whine, “Expanding Holocaust Denial”, op. cit. p. 546.

52. Combating Hate Crimes, op. cit. pp. 144–145.

53. M. Imbleau, “Denial of the Holocaust”, op. cit. p. 261.

54. F. Karčić, “Krivično-pravna zabrana”, op. cit. p. 293.

55. Pablo S. Coderch and Antoni R. Puig, “Genocide Denial and Freedom of Speech. Comments on the Spanish Constitutional Court's Judgment 235/2007, November 7th”. Accessed March 13, 2015. http://www.indret.com/pdf/591_en.pdf, p. 13.

56. Ibid.

57. Spanish Constitutional Court's Judgment 235/2007, November 7^th. Accessed March 13, 2015. http://www.tribunalconstitucional.es/en/jurisprudencia/restrad/Pages/JCC2352007en.aspx; L. Pech, “The Law of Holocaust”, op. cit. p. 208; P. S. Coderch and A. R. Puig, “Genocide Denial”, op. cit. pp. 12–23.

58. L. Pech, “The Law of Holocaust”, op. cit. p. 209.

59. P. S. Coderch and A. R. Puig, “Genocide Denial”, op. cit. p. 23.

60. L. Pech, “The Law of Holocaust”, op. cit. p. 201.

61. M. Whine, “Expanding Holocaust Denial”, op. cit. p. 545.

62. L. Pech, “The Law of Holocaust”, op. cit. p. 224.

63. Ibid.

64. Joint Action of 15 July 1996 adopted by the Council on the basis of Article K.3 of the Treaty on European Union, concerning action to combat racism and xenophobia (96/443/JHA), Official Journal L 185, 24/07/1996 P. 0005–0007.

65. Framework Decision on Combating Racism and Xenophobia, proposal, COM (2001), 664, Official journal C 75 E of 26 (March 2002).

66. M. Whine, “Expanding Holocaust Denial”, op. cit. p. 547.

67. Framework Decision on Racism and Xenophobia, Press Release 8665/07 (Presse 84), Council of the European Union, Luxembourg, 19 April 2007.

68. Framework Decision of 28 November 2008 on combating certain forms and expressions of racism and xenophobia by means of criminal law, Official Journal of the European Union L 328/55, 6. 12. 2008. Accessed January 24, 2015. http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=CELEX:32008F0913

69. L. Pech, “The Law of Holocaust”, op. cit. p. 230.

70. Ibid.

71. Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on the implementation of Council Framework Decision 2008/913/JHA on combating certain forms and expressions of racism and xenophobia by means of criminal law, COM(2014) 27 of 27. 01. 2014. Accessed January 20, 2015. http://ec.europa.eu/justice/fundamental-rights/files/com_2014_27_en.pdf, p. 3.

72. L. Pech, “The Law of Holocaust”, op. cit. p. 234.

73. Ibid. p. 231.

74. Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Luxembourg, Lithuania, Malta, Slovenia and Slovakia.

75. Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on the implementation of Council Framework Decision 2008/913/JHA, p. 5.

76. Ibid.

77. Ibid.

78. The proposed Law on Prohibiting the Denial, Minimization, Justification or Approval the Holocaust, Genocide and Crimes against Humanity from 24. May 2007. Accessed January 23, 2015. https://www.parlament.ba.

79. Ibid.

80. Minutes of the 22nd session of the Constitutional Commission held on October 4, 2007. Accessed January 30, 2015. https://www.parlament.ba.

81. Transcript of 42. session of the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina held on December 17, 2008, p. 83. Accessed January 30, 2015. https://www.parlament.ba.

82. The Proposed Law on Amendments to the Criminal Code of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Accessed January 24, 2015. https://www.parlament.ba.

83. Ibid.

84. The proposed Law on Prohibiting the Denial, Minimization, Justification or Approval the Holocaust, Genocide and Crimes against Humanity from 2011. Act no: 01–02-1-16/11). Accessed January 24, 2015. https://www.parlament.ba.

85. Opinion on the proposed Law on Prohibiting the Denial, Minimization, Justification or Approval the Holocaust, Genocide and Crimes against Humanity no. 01/1-50-3-1 -1 0/1 1 from October 21, 2011 and no. 02/1-50-8-22-7/11 from November 3, 2011. Accessed January 24, 2015. https://www.parlament.ba.

86. Announcement no. 01.02-50-12-18-4,4/11 from 30.09. 2011. Accessed January 24, 2015. https://www.parlament.ba.

87. Opinion on the principles of the proposed Law on Prohibiting the Denial, Minimization, Justification or Approval the Holocaust, Genocide and Crimes against Humanity, no. 03/6-50-1-12-7/11 from December 7, 2011. Accessed January 24, 2015. https://www.parlament.ba.

88. Minutes of the 7th session of the Joint Commission for Human Rights, Rights of the Children, Youth, Immigration, Refugees, Asylum and Ethics, held on December 7, 2011. Accessed January 24, 2015. https://www.parlament.ba.

89. Transcript of the 15th Session of the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina held on December 8, 2011, p. 33. Accessed January 24, 2015. https://www.parlament.ba.

90. Ibid.

91. Ibid. p. 35.

92. Ibid. pp. 36, 40.

93. Ibid. p. 34.

94. Ibid. pp. 31, 39.

95. Ibid. p. 55.

96. Minutes of the 10th session of the Joint Commission for Human Rights, Rights of the Children, Youth, Immigration, Refugees, Asylum and Ethics, held on March 14, 2012. Accessed January 24, 2015. https://www.parlament.ba.

97. Ibid.

98. Minutes of the 11th session of the Joint Commission for Human Rights, Rights of the Children, Youth, Immigration, Refugees, Asylum and Ethics, held on April, 18, 2012. Accessed January 24, 2015. https://www.parlament.ba

99. Transcript of the 26th Session of the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina held on April 19, 2012, p. 55. Accessed January 24, 2015. https://www.parlament.ba.

100. Ibid. p. 116.

101. 21 representatives voted for the conclusion, 13 were “against” and no one was abstinent. Transcript of the 27th session of the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina held on 10 May 2012, p. 117. Accessed January 24, 2015. https://www.parlament.ba.

102. F. Karčić, “Krivično-pravna zabrana”, op. cit. p. 298.

103. Ibid.

104. Criminal Code of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovine, Official Gazette of the FBiH, No. 36/03, 37/03, 21/04, 69/04, 18/05, 42/10, 42/11, 59/14 i 76/14.

105. “Dodik: U Srebrenici se nije dogodio genocid” (“Dodik: There was no genocide in Srebrenica”), Nezavisne novine, July 12, 2014. Accessed February 22, 2015. http://www.nezavisne.com/novosti/bih/Dodik-U-Srebrenici-se-nije-dogodio-genocid-253258.html