STREET NAMES IN SARAJEVO OFFEND SERB AND JEWISH VICTIMS

SARAJEVO, MARCH 30 /SRNA/ – The names of certain streets in Sarajevo, which bear the names of individuals associated with the Nazi regime and antisemitism, represent a continuation of a controversial policy of historical rehabilitation and offend Serb and Jewish victims, the Committee protecting Serbs9 rights in the FBiH said.

The Committee pointed out that there are still streets in Sarajevo named after Husein Efendi Đozo, Muhamed Efendi Pandža and Osman Efendi Rastoder - individuals who during World War II were connected with the structures and policies of Nazi Germany and who were convicted after the war for collaboration with the occupiers. It added that Đozo served as a military imam in the 13th SS Handschar Division, Pandža was one of the key figures in recruiting for that unit, while Rastoder is linked to crimes against the Serb population in Montenegro. The Committee stated that it remains unclear on what grounds these figures were given streets in Sarajevo, considering that they were individuals whose ideologies were directed against Serbs and Jews. They also recalled that they had previously pointed out the existence of a street and a school named after Mustafa Busuladžić, described as an antisemite and promoter of Nazi ideology, noting that such a practice sends a negative message to both the local and international public.