A MAN who fled war-torn Bosnia in the 1990s and settled in Bradford hopes a new film project can educate future generations on the conflict.

Riad Terzic is featured in 'From Bosnia to Bradford', a series of short films where members of Bradford's Bosnian community give their accounts of the Balkan conflict of the early 1990s.

A series of six short films have been created featuring people who were displaced by the Balkans conflict and have now settled in Bradford and surrounding areas. The films explored what it was like for the people who found themselves making a new life in the UK after fleeing genocide.

Mr Terzic was 17 when he left war-torn Bosnia and came to the UK.

He initially lived in Barnsley when he came to the UK and also Sheffield, but lived in Bradford from 1997 until he moved to Dewsbury last year. He still works for Bradford Council's housing department.

In his film, Mr Terzic, now 47, recalls being rounded up at gunpoint and loaded up into cattle wagons, buses and trucks to flee from the conflict.

He says the recent scenes in Ukraine of people fleeing during the current conflict has reminded him of his own experiences 30 years ago.

Mr Terzic said: "I have always felt welcome in Bradford.

"I feel more at home here and not an outsider.

"The short films are there forever, when we are no longer able to or around as a record for future generations to see.

"We go back to Bosnia once or twice a year and show our kids what happened."

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: From left, Councillor Sabiya Khan; Cllr Bev Mullaney; Riad Terzic, Samir Dizdarevic, both survivors their stories featured in the films; Dr Waqar Azmi, chair of Remembering Srebrenica and Cllr Ralph Berry at the From Bosnia to Bradford launch event From left, Councillor Sabiya Khan; Cllr Bev Mullaney; Riad Terzic, Samir Dizdarevic, both survivors their stories featured in the films; Dr Waqar Azmi, chair of Remembering Srebrenica and Cllr Ralph Berry at the From Bosnia to Bradford launch event

The films were made as part of the 25th Anniversary of Remembering Srebrenica and were first shown during last year’s annual event in Bradford where Civic leaders, faith representatives, community groups and schools from across West Yorkshire came together to mark the anniversary and to make a pledge to renew our efforts to tackle hatred and prejudice.

Samir Dizdarevic and Asima Terzic also give their accounts of the war on short films, which can all the viewed at bosniatobradford.org

They will also be shown as educational tools in schools across the Bradford district.

 

The films were premiered at an event held at the National Science and Media Museum, Bradford, earlier this week.

Councillor Sabiya Khan (Lab, Wibsey) said: “The films show Bradford in a good light.

"We will have to be united in tackling hate and division that's around.

"The films are incredibly insightful and highlight what people go through when fleeing their home to find sanctuary in Bradford. They will be powerful tools for use in schools and communities.”