RESPECTS have been made by Hyndburn Council to honour the victims of the Srebrenica Genocide.

It has been 22 years yesterday since more than 8000 Bosnian Muslim men were rounded up and shot in and around the fields of Srebrenica, based on their religious beliefs.

To mark the tragedy Cllr Noordad Aziz presented the Mayor of Hyndburn, Cllr Peter Britcliffe, with the Flower of Srebrenica.

He also requested it be worn as part of the Mayoral attire for the month of July to commemorate the victim and to highlight the incident to people in Hyndburn.

Cllr Aziz said: “I think it’s the small first, but powerful step in presenting the first citizen of the Borough with the flower as it shows solidarity with the victims and the survivors.

“I also believe it encourages residents to question the meanings behind the flower, and will help to educate and create awareness of what went on 22 year ago.”

Cllr Aziz is a current board member of the Remembering Srebrenica Charity and acted as the president from 2014 to 2015.