MORE than 100 people packed in to Redditch’s Ecumenical Centre last Saturday (January 28) as the borough once again marked Holocaust Memorial Day.
As the years pass and breaking with tradition, for 2017 the guest speaker was the survivor of another genocide, this time from the break up of the former Yugoslavia, rather than the slaughter of six million Jews by the Nazis.
Mirsad Solakovic from Bosnia was a schoolboy when his country was enveloped in war in the 1990s.
In 1995 his school was turned into what is now known as Trnopolje concentration camp, where he was tortured.
However he managed to survive and now works as an author and actor and lives with his wife Lejla and daughter Jasmina in Birmingham.
“It was a very poignant occasion but the day went really well and we had great support from the public and it was standing room only at the Ecumenical Centre,” said Council leader Councillor Bill Hartnett.
“Mirsad spoke of his experiences as a Bosnian survivor and the tragic events of 1995 when he was just 14, a truly horrific and tragic story,
“The community gospel choir, Astwood Bank School , the Keralan Cultural Association and the Polish Saturday morning school all gave great performances – a real demonstration of the diverse culture of Redditch.
“I truly believe it is really important that we hold this event every year and that we involve our diverse communities in Redditch.”
Mr Solakovic’s speech was well received and he also signed copies of his book, ‘The Boy Who Said Nothing’.
Borough Mayor Coun Joe Baker added: “It was a honour to take part in this year’s Holocaust Memorial Day and to pay respects to all those who throughout the years have been victims of murder and genocide.”
