Thirty years after the Srebrenica massacre, St Paul’s Cathedral hosted a deeply moving memorial service that brought together the British and Bosnian communities to reflect on the horrors of what took place.

For those unfamiliar, over 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys were murdered over several days in July 1995.

📚 Read Also: The Story Behind the Srebrenica Massacre

The UN described it as “the worst crime on European soil since World War II,” and it has been legally recognised as genocide by both the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.

From Remembrance to Reflection

Speaking at the service, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner acknowledged, “The West took too long to act in the 1990s. We should have acted sooner.”

As she spoke, I couldn’t help but think of Gaza, and how the repeated promise of “never again” rings hollow as another atrocity unfolds before our eyes.

Among the attendees were dignitaries from across British society: Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, dozens of MPs and Lords, ambassadors, activists, and community leaders. The atmosphere was one of reverence, solidarity, and solemn remembrance.

The service began with hauntingly beautiful organ music, followed by a choral performance whose harmonies filled the sacred space of the cathedral.

The processional hymn—“O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come”—evoked personal memories of school chapel services and stirred a comforting sense of familiarity.

Voices of Pain and Hope

The program included powerful speeches by the Dean of St Paul’s and deeply moving survivor testimonies.

A highlight was the address by Reis Husein Kavazović, the Grand Mufti of Bosnia and Herzegovina. He recited verses from the Qur’an (81:1–14 and 3:8–9) in Arabic, while English translations were provided for the largely non-Arabic-speaking audience—an act of spiritual sharing and inclusion.

An unexpected and poignant moment came with a performance by opera singer Lejla Jusić, who sang White Flower, a tribute to the victims and a symbol of peace.

Organised by Remembering Srebrenica, the event gathered people of all backgrounds to reflect on one of Europe’s darkest chapters. It was a reminder of what humanity is capable of—and a plea for what humanity must strive to become.

Our strength lies in our diversity, and our future depends on mutual respect. Until we adopt the simple principle of wanting for others what we want for ourselves, injustice will persist.

But by remembering—and learning—we move one step closer to a world where justice and dignity are not selective. And perhaps that, in itself, gives us hope.