The body of Ratko Mladic, a Bosnian Serb commander convicted of genocide and war crimes, was laid in state in Belgrade, Serbia, despite European Union warnings against honoring him. Thousands gathered at the Serbian Orthodox Church of St. Luke to pay their respects, viewing Mladic as a hero. Mladic, who died at 84 while serving a life sentence, was responsible for the 1995 Srebrenica massacre and other atrocities during the Bosnian War. His funeral, attended by notable figures, sparked controversy, with the Mothers of Srebrenica condemning the event as a glorification of genocide. The EU criticized the celebration of war criminals, emphasizing solidarity with victims. The Serbian government facilitated Mladic’s return for the funeral, which some see as a reaction to Western pressure.
QUESTION: Why do you think some people continue to honor controversial historical figures despite their actions being condemned internationally?
Body of war criminal Mladic lies in state in Serbian capital ahead of funeral
