View
215
Download
0
Category
Preview:
Citation preview
8/11/2019 The Destruction of Churches and Mosques in Bosnia-Herzegovina: Seeking a Rights Based Aprroach to the Protection of Religoius Cultural Property
1/18
THE BUFFALO
JOT]RNAL
OF
INTERNATIONAL
LAW
voLUME3 snMMrnl996 Nu[Dml
Sad6
Asseid.'t
ArrRErAcvEDo
,a,csD'ANz
M^mslvll^\rxDrs
XETYBYTD GLG^Rcr
CEusrEMmPfiY
A&iottu
E{dott
MTLDCAIIEPiE
.
Tt cEBol.ttr
cct DEsHnaBoraruE
SucnECorE
KEryflzcERr\t-D
IIEr.c GI"AD (
RrDitx^IyER
JorLJavA BRD.'rKr\Rr
x
K,$NKEsry Eal$,srl,E
RoBERTIaIIAI.G
JuLGMor.nRots JrDrflNoJ
ckrsrDEPorosN^x
sl{ RoNPersE MrRTnrR^rs
JEiFRyREsE
TIIE
BUFFALO JOURNAL
OF
INTERNATIONALLAW
VoLrJItG 3 SUMMER 1996 NIJMBER
I
FAcuLTy
&
PRoFEssroNAL ADvrsoRy BoARD
Guyora
Binder
PrcIessor
oJlavl
Alan
S.
Carrel
Vice Dean,
S.hool
oJ Law
Nina
Cascio
lntcmaliona
I
late
Li brari an
David B.
Filvarofr
Prolessor
oJ Ltttt
Thomas
Headrick
(htivctsity
al htflalo Provosl
Virginia
A.
Leary
Prolcstor Enerilus
of
La$/
Laura S. Mangao
A&tittait Directo\
Baldy CcnlerJor Lav' and
Social
Polic
Managit8 Edilor,
Law
&
Policy
Isabel
Marcus
Ptolcssor
of Lav)
John M. Thomas
Ass@,
Dea,
for
Intemat
ional Pr.Erdns,
School
of
Marsgement
8/11/2019 The Destruction of Churches and Mosques in Bosnia-Herzegovina: Seeking a Rights Based Aprroach to the Protection of Religoius Cultural Property
2/18
THE BUF'FALO JOIJRNAL OF'
INTERNATIONALLAW
VoLUME 3
Sr,'t tGR
1996
NTIT,IBER
1
Ihe
Bullalo
Jownat
of
Intemor'orai ,alr
is
F$lishd
tlro
tirn
s
a
l3r
by
tbe
stldnts
ofthe taw
school at thc State Uni rsity ot
Ncw
Yoik aa
Butralo.
Editodd
and
g.Dral
offices
rle
localrd rl
603
Jobn
Lord
O'Briar
Hall,
St NY
ar
Bud:ilq
ArDhcrd
Cs[tps, Blfalo,
Ncw
Yo*
14260.
(716)
645-
6206.
Sut6criFioE:
Domslic aftcriFion
raic:
135.00
per ycar:
$47.50
-
Dewly
bound Forcien sihcc.il*ion
r,l.:
J24.00
per
year,
lE.0O
per
is$e.
Founh
Clars
pogtaSe
is
laid
at Bufralq
Ncw
Yorlq
ard additioral Elailing
ofrcls. Sub6criFions
will be adonatically renewd ur ess notic
of
catcellatiotr
is
rcc.iltd Cha4e ofaddrEss
rotice
shodd
incide old
,rd
nw addr.sses ,nd tp
co.hs.
Back
issues: Ba.k issres
and
bound and uDbomd rolunes
ar.
3vailable
frod Willian S. ILin
& Co.,
Inc.,
U85
Mam
Sr, BuBlq NY
14209-1987.
(716)
EE2-2600
or
Gm)
828-7571. hiblicaEon
nusbel
ISSN 1074-4835.
MalluJallis:
The Btfalo
Joumat
oflnteman@at
L@
rE,k/Jmcs
lnsolicilcd
qunuscriFs
o t@ics of
coDtnFffy
lerl signifcaG.
Tcd
shouldb.
doubl-sFc.d
o[
triple-qccd
Foourot6
should cooform to
thc
srandard
scl
fonh tu llre
no61
r.en
.dition 6
Th.
Alwbook. ManulcriFrs
caruot
be
retuncd
udcrs accomp6nid
by
a
selfd&esse4
po6uge-paid
nvloF-
Copldeht Unl.ss olherwis. [d4 aI
anicles
arE copyrig}l. l9c)6v
The
BulIolo Jounal
oflnrenariodllry.
Copies
nay
bc nad
for
class.roorn
usc.
proyidtdth^
0)
me Bullalo
Jownal
of
l\temanonal
Itu
is
a
8/11/2019 The Destruction of Churches and Mosques in Bosnia-Herzegovina: Seeking a Rights Based Aprroach to the Protection of Religoius Cultural Property
3/18
THEBUFFALOJOURNALOF
INTERNATIONALLAW
voLnME
3 sm,Il, f,R
1996
Nul,BER
I
"rhe
Bunob
Jotmat
of
lntemhonal
1
1995-t
E,it id Boadmuld
like
b
thark
thc
fotlowing:
The
Uni\rsity
al
Bufialo
School
of t^aw
Student
Bar
Association
ard
The
Baldy Cder for
hw &
Social
Policr
Spciar
Th3rk to
the
Adminisativc
Advisory
Bord.
ne Bufalo
Joumal of
lntemdnonal
Law
is
a
pu,bli3,,,tum
prod$.d
b
students
of tbe Uniirsity
at Bdalo
S'.hool of
l,aw of
lhe
9.te Uriversily ofNe {
York
The
J@u dl is &dicaLd to tre
legl
alrbsis
of
sFcitrc
issues i.D intenutionrl
law.
Tbc arnual
focus of
the
-/oumrl
is
dsigDed
o
rcllecl
ctrent
issues
dterEincd
b
fie
Editonal
Board of the
Jormal
to
be
of inrponancc
in
the
The
views
cpressd
in
Frbricatioru
ol The Batab
Joumal
oflnt
national
Irv do not
ncc6sarily rflect
lho6e of
lhc Ediorial
Boand, the Universiry
al
Bufrlo
School of
kw
or
their agnt
or
rpresdali\s.
THE
BUT'FALO
JOT]RNAL OF
INTERNATIONALLAW
VOLIIME
3
Sur,s,cR
1996
NDTBER
I
htaori;arior
tfr
Conirtbutod
,
The
Editoial
Board of
rr.
aufato Joumal of Int.mationol
t
e
nelcones
i
erdd aulhols ro submit
original
[latrllscriFs lo:
Th
Butralo Jowal oflnlernadon
l Law
John
Inrd O'Bdan
Hall
Box
60l l0O
Buftlo,
New
York
14260-l
lm
For
additional
idomallor
dease
conta.t
(716)
6456206
c-mail:
BIIRI-R@jlno.coln
TABLf,
oF
CoNTENIS
OBSERVNG AND
ENroRcDtc Il(rMAN
RrcIIrs
UNDR
nE corJNcIL
oF
EuRopE
THECREATTON OF A
hRMANENT
EUROPEAN
COTJRT
OF HUM,CI fuG|.TS
Jonathai L.
Black-Brcnch......................-.-..-..-...........
......
.1
GATS ND
FDraNcr
L
SERvrcEs:
REDETTNNC BoRDERS
Jefrey sNe,..............'.-..................................................tJ
THE
U-N,
CoMMssIoN oN HuM,AN
RIGFTS AND CAMBoDIA 1975.1980
Janie Frcdenc
Mer.l-----------......-......................--
-.............-67
Trs
REASoN
BLD
SusucroN TEST
oF NoRTHERN IREI-AND'S
EMERcENcy
LECIST,ATION: A
VIOI"\ION
OFTHE EUROPEAN CON\NTION
OF
HT, I'AN
RrcFTS
Elizabeth
Kondonuokos......................................................99
FoRUM
NoN
CoNVENTENS rN mE
UNIED
STATES
AND CANADA
Donald
J.
Caney...-.................----.....................................
t 17
ForErGN
IlrwsTMlN"T
IssuEs FoR
IN$RNAT|oNAL NoN-GoVERNMImAL
ORGANT?aTroNs:
IIITERNATToNA IIEALTH
FRoJEcrs
rN
CIINA
AND
Tl{E
FoRrt@R
Sovgr
UMoN
ntu,y
C.
Ewred..--............---.,-..-------------..-......JiJ
THE DESTRUCTION OF CHUTCHTS AXD MO6qUES N BO6NLA.HERZEGOIINA]
SEEXnrc
A
RIGHN-BASED
ArpRolcH
To
THE
PRoTEcTIoN oF RELIcrcus
CfJLTURAL
holERTy
Gt
spty
M Mose.--.............-
-
--
---
-
--------.............
I
80
Col,tr,tENraRy:
RE-Po6mor. ,rc HT MAN RIGIITS
DIs@uRsEs oN
'ASIAN"
ERsPEcnvEs
$arcr
K
E@.......-----------...-..
----
-.....
-.........-...----............
209
8/11/2019 The Destruction of Churches and Mosques in Bosnia-Herzegovina: Seeking a Rights Based Aprroach to the Protection of Religoius Cultural Property
4/18
TEE DISTRUCIION OF
CEI]RCEES AND
MOSQTIES IN
BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA: SEEKINGA
RGETSBASED
AXPROA(g ro IEE
PROTECIION
OF
RELIGIOUS
C-T'LTT'RAL PROPRTT
GqqrMMd
T .
Pcsils
osq.d
tTat lb.
jil
d,rr .srbd
6.
Ac.rpolis,
rdrkn
k
[d ft.
ArlAdgB
by
rh.
AOai-+
rd
b.sr
6.
itc
dtr.plE . . .
Aisr
atEA{EilE
3.wthn
l+ql
dr
3.rl ni
m
ear
O.rEi.h,.s hcandu ftrn
dE
rlrd,
&d
soFrd 4u,ttilc.dEli.dftrnfrgc10t
ilErpotofilELtr[,le.
TIlc P.rsi{a rustEd to
l}c gd.
sdqcrd lb
\
sn r}bid lb.y
rn
&ss d
&
a+pliets.
rrhar
d
\', rc
slria
lt
y
plurd.tid
6.
ldeb
ed
fnd 6,Ey
par
dt
cildd
- Itarddr3,
Bod(
Vn
62-3)
(a80
B.c-)
h
ltott
S.lo,
, vlhr
rr.r ZWDL
s.rb
t cD6
nutd.d
lp
l5o
\lrqD4 d:ilttq
&d
old
p..plc,
d fc .d
tErr
rt
gu'poirl
itrto
lh lo.d
D.qt
, h
fc
offi.
c4tivca,
tEy cldkngd thc
bc.l
ccmrdty lad.r,
I'Dsn
l"tanic
$B\
ro
d.s..n
.
lb.
n6$.
....
ft.,
bld ltirD
rod.
th.ifndU..l 6s,
e..lqk
edft"ly
to htlrc sdd ier(lr .
wilh
. L.,rge
girl
.
.
.
SulF
n&s d Cl
th.s.
'Lod
.d ws
b.e d o{
wih
kil, .
Hs k is
ud@'*[.
.
Asic Alim
zluDi*
polic..annrdd
G"D.
l9t2)
r
llnrEd
Collcg.,
/ 8.,
MdsE
C@
Iad., 1992, D*. Utriltrlity
School of
kw,
lD,
19
.
t
RsJ tu\
Lt@
Vd;
grt
T@gd
Cohle
H.;,.gt
of 8&da"
Mdirs,
NEE
y
Nsr
&d
$firkEd'rir),Sc (
2,1992,d3.
8/11/2019 The Destruction of Churches and Mosques in Bosnia-Herzegovina: Seeking a Rights Based Aprroach to the Protection of Religoius Cultural Property
5/18
t8t
BItpp,qto
tOUmUL
OF
INIERNAnONAL LAW
lvot.3
I. IN'IRODLCIION
The
savagc
conflicl
takioS
placc
in
Bo$ia-Herzegovina
has
geftrated
an
enormous
volume
ofcofimst ry.
Whilerhe
*tr
can
b
s..n
as an
ur$vonble
inaugurarion
ofposl
Cold War
ra
etlnic strifq
it
ssns more
productive
to
view lhe
conoict as
a
crucible
for
facing
similar
problrns
in th ffrture.
The
west may
ha\
fiiled
dl former
Yugoslavir,
as sornc coruncntalors
have
srgeeste4
bul unlss we
are
prpared
to endu.
tuture failurq
wE
mult
l3m
lhe
lssons
that this
lragedy
can
provide.
Cultural
p.opny
h
Bo$ia-Hrzegovim
hrs
bn
destrq'd
on
a staggsing scale
during dle rcnt
conflid. In
panio.tlar,
&e
to the
ethnic
overtones
of thc
conflict
and
lhe
inscapable Unks between
ethnicity
and
religion
in the Balkans. religious buildings
have
been
consistently targeted
since
the beginning of the war. fu ttle
abov
quorations
demonsrate, rhe pmblern is nehher new nor
unique
Howelr,
the exi$nce
ofintemational
legnl instrumenls
i"tendd
to
addrea
dle deeruction of orltural
proprty
is
quite
recrt. While
a
number of conmcdalots
hlve
poined
out
the hilure of
lhes
irlsturxds
to
protect
orltural
proprty,
none have rlna*d on fi hcr
thal a large
prcaniage
of
fte
churches
and
Fosques
destroyed in
Bo$ia-Herzegovira would rceive no rnore
protecljon
under
tte
releva
intemational law
conceming crltural
propny
than any
other
civilian building Tbeir
special
p.otecled
status as
culhral
property
depends
upon thir
value
to
the
world
comrn'rnity
a
cultural
monuments.
There is no spcial
protcrion
hvisagd under the
law
of
protclion
oforltural
proprty
during
anned connid lor local
religious
buildirgs and lhe
c.ucial
role
dley
play
in contmrity
life
?dt
[(A)
ofths
paper
wil
explair
the hislory
and
derdopment
ofthe
legal
protection
ofdrltura
proprty
during
armed
conflict,
and
Part I(B)
'iI
review
the
noms
wfiich
are
applicable
to
rhe
confict in
Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Pad
m w
xplore
qFent
theoretical
justifications
forthe
proteclion
ofoitural
property.
Part IV will focus
upon
the
situation
on
thc
ground
in
Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Pan
W(A)
will provide
an
oltfviw
of
the dstruction
of
religious property
in
Bosnia-Herzegovin4
and
Pan IV@) wil
r{amine
case
study
in
order
19%]
BOSN]A-HERZEGOWNA
182
to
iluiinate
a
B?icai
patern
ofds&nclion.
Part IV(C)
wi[
diso'lss
rlte
phenonenod
of
ithnic
claisirg.
and irs
r.btion
ro
dre
dstrucrion
of
orltual
pmpriy.
Ftrl.lly,
Fan V
wil
gla8$
a new
thoftrical
approach
ro
dle dGtruction
ofrdigid$
proFty.
Part V(A)
outtins
orrreft
international law thar
Secifcaly
addresss
the right
to
practice
one
s
rd;gioq
ard
Pan
V(B) disorsss
rhis riSlr
as a basis
for
pmrecling
churches ard
mosqus
which
nonnaly
*ould
not
b
provided
spcial
prote.rion
by
orltural
properry
treat
provisiols.
tr. LTT
T{AIoNAL LEGAL PR@cnoN
oF
oJLIURAL
PRoPERTY
DLrRI.rc
ARr,@
Cotllcr
A. Te
Ikwlqt
ptd
of
lhtentiotwl
Law Retated
to le Destltction
of
Cutwal
Prqvtr
h ng Amed
Cottllicl
The
Hague
Conventions
of
1899
and
t907
repres'r
the first
genuine bindins codifcalions
of
inte.nalional
law
rs
wel
as rhe
frst
srb$adial
idernational
protction
ofqrltural
propcrty_
A
oumbr
of
anicts
in
dle
Hague
Colllttnior
addrss
lhe
is.{re
of
d.iruction
of
proprty gttraly
and ofoitural
Foprry
spcifclly.
The Annex
ro
Hague
Convation IV
(1904
prohibirs
/",ecs$o,
dsrruction
of
propfty
in
Anicle
23
G),
and more
speciEc:ly protecls
ontu"I
propeny
("buildings
ddicated
to rdigioq
an, s.iarce
. . . historic
rmnumnts
. .
provided
they are not
bing
usd
a the
tine
for military
purposs")
in Article
27.'
Finalty, Articl
5
ofHague Conir'tion
Ix
provides
thar
'tiln
bombffdmrri
by
naval
forces
all the necessary
rdssurs
nusr
bc ukcn
by dle
cnmrtrander
to
spare as
far
as
possible
sa..ed
edifics, buildings
used
for
artisiq
scienlifc,
prrposs,
hisloric.l
monumerts
. .
.
. r
It
is sipifca
rlEr
rhe language
ofrhse
provisiors
is
compulsory.
Ther rmains,
howeltr,
rhe
qualifierion
of
nitiirry
n cssity,
so that ojtural
propeny
nd only
be spared
insofar
as
mifiiary
:
DF
rcFDEEls. Co|urrcF
TIE PesN
C([r
WAi:IDr^
Rmrro
Corcrus
G9
l'ftina&r
FN& RFoRr]
I
$ sar A
Wulrq
TlE INrsN r]M.tsN^Tlowhmdd6l/tovlM
Cll1tnrh(,afl:
A
Cor@rr^m
Smy
t80978)
8/11/2019 The Destruction of Churches and Mosques in Bosnia-Herzegovina: Seeking a Rights Based Aprroach to the Protection of Religoius Cultural Property
6/18
183
BUFFALO
JOURNAL OF
INTERNATIONAL
I-4w
lvol.3
whil this lcv.l
ofprotedior
may
sern scarn
(lhe
ernire $bjci
nEils
only dua
anicl6),
lhsc
ruls ne rlhdss rcmin in
forcc
todry
ad
played
an
irnporl.nt
role in
protding
Iraqi
qrlnl$l
propny
dwing
dE
Gulf
w'r.'
Aftr
th
Scond
wortd
War, howir, it
bcme
cle3r
that
the
standards fomulated in thse conwntions
nded
to
be
reinforced
in a
new convention
that
* uld
address
lhe
reahent
of
cultural
proprty
during
amed connid. The resrhing 1954 Hrguc
Convendon for
the
Proteclion of
CultuIal
Property in the Evfft
of
Antd
Conflici
has bn
ratifed
by levity-five
countriq
irrludirg dre
forner
Yugoslavia' Thc 1954
ll.gue
Convcition opands
upon dtc
norms
of
dle 1907 Hague Convartions,
but
,lso
adds
s ral
llev
fealurs ro
thc
iaw of
qrltural
propery.
Anicl.I ofth CoNrtion
defines
crrltunl
property
rs
'molable
or
irnmo "ble
property
ofgrat
imponanc
to the cultural
heritage of every
people"
ard offers
an
illustrative
but
non-xclusive
list
ofexamples.6
White rh
rferene to
monumerts
"of
gre3l importance'
brings
up a
numbei
of
obvious
dificufties,
this
defnition
is naenhelss
morc
dtailed
than any
prvioldy
otrred.
Th Convention .quirs rhd
paltis prpfe
during
time of
pacc
to
siGguard
onnral
propqty
in
dl cvnt
ofan
armd
c.niid.' Signifcantly, tno$
of
tll
Convrnion
applis
to
norFide.narional as weu as interDationsl
coIiicts, and
thus Noids
many
of
the
problems
inherent
in applyirg
the ceneva
CoNntions.t It also
establishB
a
univers.l
sig4
a blue
and
white
shicld,
to
indicate orltural
property.t
Furthermore, the Convention
creales a register
on which
moduhents
ofparticular
importanc
dlat
qualry
for
spcial
protedion
can be
lisled.'o Th. 1977
Protocols
to
the
l9a9
Geava
Corvedions
l9%l
BOSMA-HERZEGOWNA
184
add svf,al importsnt
providoos
reld;ng
ro tlE
protrion
of ojrural
propcrty.lt
Artic.lc
52 of
Protocol
I sas
out.
geisrl
sdrn
of
protedion
for
civilian
objeds. Paragnph
I
fo6i{ls tffge.ing
civitan
objct
ftr
d'e
Frpos.
ofanack
or
repdsal. Par.gnph
2 de6rEs
civilart
versus
military objcctn maling
any
objecr which
rnakes
an
declilr
contribution
to nilitary
obj.lives
a
nilit
ry
object.
paragraph
3
not.s
lh wlEn
doubt
xjsts
as
to
"{Ether
an objeq
is bing usd
for
mitirary
purposes
or
is striclly
civilan in
narure,
it sh [
b
pre$med
to b
a
civilian objer.
Article
53
dirc{y
rddre$s
o
turrl
propeny,
and
providca:
[w]ithout
pre.tudjc
lo tlE
provisions
of
rh
Hrgue
Conva*ion
for
the holdjon ofcultural
Property
in
the
Evrt ofAmed
Conf;c.r
of 14 May 1954,
and ofother
rele\,"nt intemational inslrumentq
ir is
prohjbitd:
(a)
to
crmmit
any acts ofhostility
dircred agaiist
the hisloric
monumals
works
of
art
or
places
of
worship
v,tdch
conrh$e rhc
ott-0'al
or sptibd hriragc
ofpoples; (b)
1o us
glci
obj.ls in $lpport
ofihe
mft.ry
etrorq
(c)
ro nrke
$lch objcc.ts
tfie
objecrs
ofRpdsals-"
These provisions
ar basic, reflecring
the
norms
of the 190?
Hague
Corvenlion and
the
1954
Hague
Cultural Proprty
Convrdo4
and
are
considered
by
somc to
have anaind
rhe
status of clsloftery
international
law.'r
There
is, howe\,r,
one
very
signmcant
addition
t;
the
protction
ofcultural
proprty
which
appcan in
bolh
proto.ols
is
tnirry
absan fton
the
1954 Hague
Conve
ion
and srns
to represnt
t1h@l,AdXi
tl
to
tk GM Ci'iljtuCMion,
dd
R.btin,
to
tk
ptuctio,
4tknB
oJlnlemdonalAnn d
CorJti.4
(L,reto.ot
,,119111t9'1u
N. Jtid.y.B
9s.
Ep,tt
d,,16lL.M l39l
[Rir
*@
Prct@o|4. Pntod
Ad rotul b
th. aE@
Corcdio
oJ 12
Augatt
1949,
ad
R.t6iaq
lo dE
Prckcdon ol
Vicntu
oJ
Non-tntemtiond )|m.zl
Cdr4nB
fror@l//.o''?l
l9??
U.N
Julll
y.B
r35,
rtpnn@d
i,l6lLM
1442l E.a6&q
Ptubcol 14
'
Ptut
LstbDd.ll,it
5l,
16I .Nl
ar t4l/t
D
Metc, rqfu m{c 5,.r 362
I &.lB$tREoRr,
npDrclc
2,
l
09.
'
DNinllll,cta,Tk 1954Eague Cultotul
Ptup.ttcMtuid
on
l
tb
EnerE M
into
Cwtma'y
Id.
diotul
Ltu,
I I
B.
U.
Iln
LLl 349, 352
(l9Sl)
'
CdlmlimIdUEPror..ridof Cdnrdln?qlynr th.Ewt of^med Coii. Msy
14,
1954, dt l,
249 U.NT S. 240,
242
8sinand
1954
ttrg*
Con$timl.
8/11/2019 The Destruction of Churches and Mosques in Bosnia-Herzegovina: Seeking a Rights Based Aprroach to the Protection of Religoius Cultural Property
7/18
185 BUFFAI0JOURNALOF
INTERNAnONAL
Uw
lvot
3
some
evolution
in
the
law
regarding
religioirs
cultutd
propent
Paragnph
(a)
ofAnicle
53 fobids
acts ofhostility
diredd at
proprtis
which con*itute
th
"culturri
or
.9,:,?inul
hdt 8' of
poPles
Thc
sigrifcaEe ofrtis
addition
vtil b disorssd
bdow,
but
h
drculd be
notd
llcre
thrt it
aguably
|)dends
pro&crion
to
a
nllnbf ofchurclEs
and
mosqucs
wlich
would not
b
covercd
by
pftt
ious law
on the
protedio;
oforltunl
property
dudng atmed
connica
l'
Protocol
tr to tllc Gneva
CoNq{ions'
cowdng
sinratioDs ol
DoGi 'tdnational
adnd
c.nnict,
also codaits a
drtr
fimhd
provision
on ille
prorccrion
ofoinfal
property.
Aiicle
16 msEly
srat6
that
it is
prohibitcd
to
'comnit
any act
of
hoslility direcled
asaitsl
historic
monuments
work
of an or
placs
of
worship which
constitute the
ontu'dl
or spiritual
lEdtagc of
peoples,
and
to use
thm
in
$ppon
ofthe
rnilitary
etrort."
While
ille
provisions
ofth
t*o Protocols
moslv fal
shon of
rhe
protetrion
otrered
by
d'e
1954 Collvernioq
rney
ate
impon
nt
6s
reassenions
of
the
gelleral principles
involveq
and ss
conffmations
oftheir
status
as
orstomary intemational law.
B. Adicable
LlM
d the Pftiectic
of C,ltltuat PToPrty
Du.i,A
A,f,ed
Conlict
in
tlp Fon Er
vugoslzeia
The
l9o7 HaSue Conventions
have
bcome
pan
of
cudomary
irfernational
'an,
and
as
such tley
aPply to a .ombatarts
in
Bosnia-Herzegovin4
at
last
to tle
extflt
that the
conflict
there
i3
considered an
intsmrional afned
conficr.t6
Ac.ording ro
fie
\rred'a
convention
on
Succession
of
States
in Respect
ofTratieq srccssor
t
Iair6a\ b M@
tLt Bi.N
Cuttodb.la8
ks
CsJlix
Adit
IMiM:
Cdh
Jun
liq .
a
lfrtitotiwl,
iiz
SruDGs
N
Es
s
oN
h'tr'Mraa
Ftl,rMlrlAJtleNR@q.6hl1r(: I6N
HoJlot*
G JN Ecrr 559,564i5
(clrdoplF
Swin 6kicd,
1984).
':
Prot@ol ll,
supmtutr I l.
ul. 16,l61L.M.
tt
1441
"
nll: .{u
MEnoN,
tlt,A Rolns N NrNr
srtur :
TlcR
IMrxNArol'4L
rRqEnc.r4
(198'^
Th.tnlqndeal
crimiMl Tribu,i
fn0EIffi YugGl,vians
ddqni..d
0r'tr c.dile
in
6. fffi YleGlavit h.Ebolb
idqral
d
inldaliod
aspdG.
.9.Dsisid6dED.foele{oIi6
fd
Inldlmloy ApF.l
(2
OctotEr,
1995), Thc E@rtorv
Dr*o
Tadic
alda
*DuL,"
ce No.
f-94.1-AR?2,
ar
43
19961
BOSNIA.HERZEGOWNA
186
stats
$ch as
Bosrja-Hrzegovina
renain
bound
by the inemational
treaty
obligaaions
of
the
prd.essor
siate
until thc
sroocssor stale
dcclares
tbal
it
dos
nol
int.ad to
be boud by a
parriqia
lr.aty.I?
Bostja-HerzoviB
I'as
d&rEd irsdfro
b
boud
by this
trcaty,
and
has
not
daEunccd
tlle
1907
Hrguc
Cotwtnriois,
dle
1954
Hlgue
Convanion
or
the
197? Protocols to
thc c.nelr CoNsnion.rr
Moreorc.,
the Oenela
Conv$tions and dle 1977
Protocols $ipulare
lhat
a
counfy,
ard
thus
a $ccessor
$alg \rhch wisks
to
d'roulrce
thse trearis
cannot do
so
while
iivohd in an
nmed
cordi.r-t'
The Fedral Rp$lic
of
Yusoslavia has
also decln d d'at
ir
considrs
ibeFbound
by the
tr*ty obligrdois ofthe former
Socialist
Federal Republic
ofYugoslavia,
so
that
any
violstions comnjtted
by
Yugoslav Narional
Arhy
(Jusoslovrska
Na'ldia Amija
(JNA))
forces
inBosia
are
covcrd?
Bolh
Yugoslavia
and
CroarA
have
turvokd le
1954
Coflernion
srd
dus i'nplicitly stard fia
try
mnsider lhrnslves
bound by
it.
Thercfore,
ary derlruclion
ofoftur.i
property
comnittd
hy turcs
udr
dle
ontrol ofcroatian
or
Yugoslav
a$hodties
would
be
a violation undr
the Converdion
"
III. THEJT'SIINCANONFOR'IIIEPROIEC'IIONOFCIJLIURATPR@ERTY
The very
phrase
"cultural
p.oprry"
rais.s a
number
of issues,
sJch a dle rDaning and
imponance
ofculture,
the concption ofculture
as
property,
and
the ownershjp
ofsrch
propdy.
Such
is$es
trke on
grcat
sigifcarre
wl|an
afternpdng
to determiic
u/hat
leld
ofprotectioD
monuments
should
b strorded during
armed
confict,
ard
what
measures rnigt'l be
appropriate ro
ensure
thejr
protection.
TIle diftqtty
ofdEs
quenions was vividly
demonstntd
by
one
"
Vi.@
Ccffidd
6 Sll6id
of
Sd6
b
R.+.d
ofl,eIir
otd ft. sigling
Aog. 21,
1978,
&ll
34
dd
15, UN
D@ Arc6f 80,31
0
9?8),
Ep,t
td
i,
l7
I LM
r488098)
B
rqd^PdlgAppliebility
of
hktuhotut
C;nitul
ln
to
Etutt
in th. Fodd
lussr2vb, 9 AM
U J
bd'I.
L
&
Por'Y
a9,
501 tr8
(WinG.
l99a)
:r
Met6,rrpro norc5,. 384n.188.
8/11/2019 The Destruction of Churches and Mosques in Bosnia-Herzegovina: Seeking a Rights Based Aprroach to the Protection of Religoius Cultural Property
8/18
B7
AWFAID
JOURNAL OF IMERNAnONAL
L4W
lvol
3
critical
evrt
at tl|e
begiDning ofthc
c$flicl
in
the
fonnr
Yugoslavia:
th
si.gp
ofDubrovnik.
N{any ofth
hjstoric.l
snd oitural
monumcnts
ofdis
medievrl
irId city
wt'e de$royd by
artilery
6re
|en dte JNA
tried
to
take
ihe ciE
in
its
bid
to
hold to8ther d crumbling
ftderal
slai.
of
Yugoslavia. An
isarc
of
gr.t
irbponance was
what
should
be
considnEd a orftural .no lmeot in a city
whos cnter
co8isls
mo$ly
of
cennrdes-old buildirgs.
Aiolhr
is$e
was how
heavily
fie $witEl
of
.hesc hildings
slb'nd wich againr tl|c arguabb
olltural
goal
of
kccping
inta.l
a
nalion. h
lhis
respct it can
be
difrcult to
separ|ac
politicsl
attd
cdtural
goals,
since
owicrship
plays
an important role in
protc(riry
oitu"l
proprty.
Thus
arosc
the
questior
of*fiose
proprty
was
beirE deslroye4
a.d
ifit
blonged to
ftd.al
Yugoslavi4 whther
riley hsd
dE delt
to
destroy
it
w+tilc GghtinS for the
slrvi "l olthe state.
Moreo\q,
how
saiousb
could the
armjes
involvd
wony
about
the fate
of
buildings
when
$ch
importait political interest
and so
'rary
lives
hung in the
balance?
The
public
racrion to the siege
pas
ilumitaling.
Th.re
$'"s
a
grd
olltcry around lhe
world
again$ the
denndioa ofthjs
historic tourist atEaclion. The
response of
otherg
howvr, wns
indignatioo
at
thos
wlq
wlile
rsmining silent
ovf
ille
hunan
ca$aftis
ofihe
war,
rvtlE
s;rrcd to ouicry by the
de{truclion ofphysical
property.
Joumalist
Arny Schwaiz
phnsd
bsl
d|e
qu$ion
in
evrronds
mitrd:
'Is
it
r,,rong
to
$/eep
for buildings?""
The
qustion
*as answsd wel by a Cmatianjournai4
Ksnija
Draftulic,
who wrore in
respons
to the destruction
ofMostr Bridgp:
Why do
we
feel more pain lookhg at the imagp ofthe
dedro'd
bridge than the
image
of the
ntassacrd
people?
Pe.tBps b..use
w
s
our
own monality in
the co
apse oflhe
bddge.
We expect
pople
to
die;we
colrnt
on
our own livs to
sd.
The deslruction
ofa
nlonurlrf to civifizalion is somdhing dse
The
bddgg
in
al ils
balty
and
grac.
was
buil
ro
outlive
us.
h
was
2
lntE
*nvsiz
h L l/rc
g
b Weep.lot
BuilAnE
?,\NrsP-Pa$,Ma 10,
1994,
at
l9%l
BoSMA-HERZEAOWNA
188
an attenl io
grasp
c{rnity. It
transcsded
our
individual
dsiny.
In
the elegant
simpliciry oflatiq vt
a ,rvir os
,orr8a, liG
is slrcR an
endures.
Yet
if
oinral
nronumnts
ffe
to
outlast
u
a[
if
rlEy
somchow
lnrlc{d
inonality,
rhcr
h
thar
a
ftd to
e(srninc
rnor.
closdy lhe
ida
ofculture
as
propcny.
Ca'l
one lruly
own
sontrhin8
imnorirl uirh
al
tlE
prcp.'ry
nghs tha. llmbridSd
owffrshjp
t
rin$?
In determiring
wlo
can own olrurdl
propeny,
and by
what
theory
of
ownership,
ir sesns mlural
to
look
fir$ to
rh
obiecl's
crcation.
Ifth Grd
8/11/2019 The Destruction of Churches and Mosques in Bosnia-Herzegovina: Seeking a Rights Based Aprroach to the Protection of Religoius Cultural Property
9/18
lae BWFALOJOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL
LAw
lvot.3
monwnent
is to
attack the idntity
of
the
people
whose
oitrre it
represnti
and thus the
country which
represafs
those
people
should
ha
property
dghts
o\r $ch lronurnl'ts.a
This
view
is
partiqiarly
important with rgard to mo\able
qrtnlral
property,
and
is uel
exerplifed
by
Grcecds
rcquest
for
the retum
ofthe
Elgin
Matbles.
As
the 1970
UNESCO
Convention
on
th
Mans of
Prohibiring
and
Prevding
the
icir Irnport, Export
and
Trdlsfer
of
O$ieNhip of
Cultllral
Property
stateg
"cultural
property
constituts
one
ofthe basic
dernrts
ofdviffzarion
and
nationa]
orlture and .
-
. its
true
value
c.n
be
apprciared or
y
in
relarion
to
tbe ftIest
possible
information
rgarding
its
origiq
history
and
tnditional
stting.'z
In contrast, cxltural
intemationalsm
begins
with
the
assenion that
clrlurrai
p'operty,
while
cenainly importart
to the
count
y
in
which
is
it found,
is more
importantly
part
ofthe cultural
heritage
ofnsrkind as
a
whole.t
At
last
one
writer has surirised
thar
the Brussls
Conva*ion
of
1874, an
early
attempt
at codirying the
law
ofwar wlich was never
radfed,
6'st
expressd the
doctrine
ofcultur.l
inte@tionali$n.u
Yt
both
Grotius
and
Vanel
semd
to
ha\
had a
similar
approach
in
mind.
Grotius
nots
in
passing
that the
desrruction
of scred objects,
thoueh
legal,
slbws
"some
contempt
for hurnanjty."
Vattel is
clea.s
on
the
loint.
He
makes
an
argurnst for sparing
wofts ofart
which
"do
honour
to
hurnan
socidy," and mndenns
their
destuclion as
"decbring
onesdf
an
rtemy
to ma*in4
dus
wantonly
to
deprive
than
ofthse wonders
ofan. . ."
19%]
BOSNIA.HEI?ZEGOWNA
I9O
Prsrrnably
"ther"
rcfels
to
nankind,
thrs implying rhat we
are
aI
adversly
atrcted
by
the
dsrrucrion
ofarr,
regrrdless
ofits narional
or
cultural
origin.
He
go3
on
to
give
the
exarnple
ofrhe balbariars
who
sacked
Rome
in
4lO
AD., noting
ihat ercn
roday
w
deEl
them
for
desoying
slch
a Rtonuntenl
to
human
creativity.
Uniike
the
1970
UNESCO
Conventioq
rle 1954 Hasue
Cultural Proprty
Con@aion
einbodies
a
qrltual
inremariooali$
appoadr
The
pranble
ro
th
1954
Convention
'o.es
rhlt
'dsnuge
to
cultural properry
blongine
to
any
pople
wharsover
nel'
damrge
to
the
cultuni
heritage
ofal mankind
,' t
fius
courrries
srve
mretv ss
cuslodians
ofcxltural
property
found
wirhin
fteir
borders and
lhqrare
under
a
duty
not
ollly
to
presn
it
bur
also to
nake it
a\,"itable
ro the
rest
oftlE
wo
d.e The
t972
World
Heritage
Conntior as
is
irnpfid
by its
iidg
also tal(es
rhe
intemationalisr
approac\ foclrssing
on
monuments
of
"exceptional
interest'
and
,'univer$l
\due'a
Even
th
1970
UNESCO Convotion
refecrs
cultural intemarionalisr
ide.s
i, tbat
itjustifes
itlelfon
the
pretexl
ofthe
need
to
apprciate
ontulai
pmperry
in
conlexl, rhu
foorsing
on
the
consmptjon
of
$ch
properry
by
outsiders
Tlur
thes
coNotions
take an
iDtemationalst
approach dos
not
m34
however,
thar
thry adhere
enrirely
to
the orlrurst inrernalionalist
perspeclive.
The
cusrodial ideal
upon which
qrltural
irtmationalism
is
based isjust
dut: an iderl.
State sovereignry
renains paramou4
and
none
offte
discussed
coNentions
sanclion the
irterfdence
in
a sratds
sovereignty.
To
rer.un
ro
the
er(?.mple
of
the
parrheno4
th
crk
govtrnnaf
might dedde
to tear it
do\rn to
inake
room
for
parking
and
uhil
other
countries
wo'rld
certairJy
comptai4
there
woutd
be no
legal
basis
for
another sate
to interfere
j
The &nstuction
oftlp
As*"n tlgh
Daq
with
th
subsquenr
destruclion
or
displacemnt
oflna'ly
arcient
'
l9t{ Hag*cdvqllm
rpDnole6.p{bbt
2 9UNTS r
l, /
'wlll-lM,ypromle3,d52
rr
Co
ir
C(rElio
tr
Proiecrio
oftF
Wond
Cuhral
Dd Nahnal
HEil,Ce,
De.
17, 1975.27 U.S.T.
37, l]
I
LM.
1358.
"
lr0TDJESCOCd
or.r,ptunore20
9ILM
d
tol8.AJM
Il
'
WIrLM,
rlrd D.te
],
d
5{-55
t
Y@rjf,'tryEbntd sjbE:
Th. Destuctid
oJcultotut Ptup.dy k ftg
ttuid,l1
NtD.
J. t{r'LL.
&
T@E 41, 50
(1993).
'i
Sre WuuM, epro rbte , al
9.
t rd
Elgin
la.&
nMy
of rhe sratEi6 of
6e
ld{ffi
ioEngi&rdwhnevhoristwCl@w6sdluidOttdEDle
IFc'r.&
soffitb6
si@
Iobbi.d
vigoost
for
llentim
"
UNESCO
C6tio
mlbe
Mm of Prcl
biting
ed Pffitin8 th
Oicn
Lnpor
Er9cl dd
TE
dqoforj6li
of
CdlJdl
ProFry,
Nd.
14,
I
t0, 823 U.N T.S. 23 l.
232,9 LL.N4 1038, 1040,
publ.
[h@in
nd I970 ttr.lESCO Cmlalid}
'
Deding,srnnoE24, al 5l.
z
wDM,
spro
nole
3, t I?.
"
Huc,o Gidnr/s, T L\woF
wN
N?rc 364
(IruieR
l/Mn ed,
walert
El{l 1949)
0625)
r'
EmrcDE V,ffi"
Tif
L{wor
NarroN 36?
(Chi0yed,1844)
8/11/2019 The Destruction of Churches and Mosques in Bosnia-Herzegovina: Seeking a Rights Based Aprroach to the Protection of Religoius Cultural Property
10/18
191 BUFFALOJOURNAL
OF INTERNATIONAL
LAW
lvot.3
EgtDtian arc.haological
sits,
ofels a
nal
life exmple
of
such
a
situarion.
As Wliams
nots,
"[t]he
codnon
culnrfal hdta8e musl be
seen in terns of
prsnlion
ard
proterion.
fiis
view,
although
adhering
to the
i&a
ofa
stards
posirion
a custodia4
dos
not in
Act
chalenge its property
rights.6
Thus cultural
internaiionali$q though
lhe
dominant
theory
bhind
the
internationrl
protection
of orltral
prope.ty,
must be sd
as
a fle
8/11/2019 The Destruction of Churches and Mosques in Bosnia-Herzegovina: Seeking a Rights Based Aprroach to the Protection of Religoius Cultural Property
11/18
ls3
BUFF4LO
JOURNTL
OF
INTERNAnONAL
I'|W
lvot.3
ha\
lhe
sld.L ofoilur.l
monumenb"
had ben destroyed'r
The
repon
mentions
oltly
the Huscnija
Mosque
Ouift
1827),
but
the June
1994
Coffil
ofEurop
R.port
rsnarks
otly
lhat h
had
btn
"tdt twic
in
dl
minard
(rhc
chrefr
is brokn
in
on
plaae),
probabty
by
tattk emoL'
and
thar
a
smal
lftrary
and building
for
ablutions
had
also
beei
dalnaged.a
RefBy
Gndas.vic
Mosque
(lqh
cntury)
is
ako
rcponed ro
be
drmasd
by two
hiB
on the
nrof.
Svit".
Mosque
sutrged
onc
shdl impad
on
ils
porch
ald
Bukwa
Mosque
wrs
hn
in
the
facade
by
a
la'ge
projeclile-s
The
Council
of Fxrope Rcpon
points to
sewral
mosqus
in
ne3tby
vilages on tlte anem Gndacac
Fom
as
clear
cxamples
of
d.Sttrale
tlrating
ofntosques.
In
Monica
I, a slEl
broke
ihe
minafti
ofihe local mosqlte
above the
cher da. and
anolher
lank
sheu
pierced
dte
ourer
aDd
unmor *"lls
offie
mosque."
In
Monica
2.
anothr
hosque
also ststaind
a
brok6
minard and
lark
inPa(ls
on
fu
wals.
The
ftosqu in KrcviM
was svqely dannged
etn
its minarei
wds
destrcyed
and
fel
duough
rhe
roofofthe
moque
6
This mosque
also
$&rcd anumbrofhils
on
the
faclde and outrwal
Vilage
mosques
on
lh
southwst tont
of
Crrada.ac
have also
$trdd
danage,
in
padiorlar
thc
mosque at Ze$nja Srednja
whicn
uas I'it oD
the
roof
lhe
bas
ofthe minaret,
and
in the
yard."
Th
Catholic Church
of St. Maft
(1888)
suffered
damage by
grsEdes,
and
uas
looted
(tlthough
the tepon
dos
not
make clat
who
was responsibl
for
ttis).{
The
Onhodox
Churci
ofst.
Elijah
08E2)
19961
BOSMA-HEkZEGOWNA
194
was hit by shels,
sriously
danuging
its roofand
steeple. This
ssme
church wls also ltndalize4
apparntly in
rctalialion
for slEling
by
rhe
BSA. Two
6rs *tfe
ser
in lhe c.lturct\
frescos
wer
paidd
ovcr,
icons
$,re vandalizo4
ard
liturSicl
itrns
wtre thrown
abola
Thjs
appa$
to
be
a fairly
tpical
panern
of
dBtruclion
of
religious
propny
in
Bosria-Herzegovine
Much
of tlc
danage is
Fobably
colderal
da,nage
ton
Se$ sltdling
ofitE town. As horh
dr
lrdit,ie
ftpon
snd the Councn ofElropc (June
l99a)
rtport
point
olrt,
the eitire
town of
Gradacac
has been severely
dfina8ed.,
The
historic
castle hrs
ben i.ar8td
o
8/11/2019 The Destruction of Churches and Mosques in Bosnia-Herzegovina: Seeking a Rights Based Aprroach to the Protection of Religoius Cultural Property
12/18
lss
BUFFALO
JOURNAL
OF
INTERNAnONAL
LAW
lvol
3
rtfluin
Who looaedde
durd?
Wrs it
spontattous
or
pttformd
udr
odcs?
Was
the
lclion
timed
ar
Catho[cisq
or
was
tlle
looting
canied
out
in
satch
ofmoney
or
\aluable
objct?
Wilho
t
mor'
infonnnioq
it
is imDos$ab
io
answ.r thes
qucsions
The loodns
ofth
Onlrcdox church
ofst
Elijah
seems a
clenr
case of
rtprisal
by the
local
poPulation Th
looting
w"s
purdy
de{ntctiw
in
Erlna
and focused
"Don
relisiou
svnbols
tnd helru
r*d
in O.thodox sflics.
It
is unclelr,
howc r,
whcther
fte
action
was
spontaneous
or
sancdond
by
authority
srbian
anlbrilis
lin
d|e
church
as
d61ro)d.T
C.
"Blnic
Cleastug'
drd
tlc
Destuction
oJc'nltual
PrcFnv
A ihorougb
exltniDtion
of
the
pheiolrlnon
itl
ltre fonnef
Yugoslavia
that
has
corlc
to
be
ls|own
,s
'ethnic
cleansing"
$/ould be
terond
Ot
scopc
ofrhis
paper'
A
general
undsstanding
of$e
meaning
ofdrtciu
in
dati.x
to reliSio4
howver.
is
mpona
in
ord' lo
plae
in contxt
the
praclic
oftsrgeting
fo. d6rruction
retigious
propcrty
in
Bosria-Hrzgovinn
YuSoslavia
$?as the
nlosr herogtEous
coontry
in
Eurooe.
including
six
'narions.'
(Sabr
Musli6
Croars
Macedonians,
Montef,cgrins.
and
sloven6)
rar
diferent
nationalitis
(s"aler
erhnic
sroups,
$ch
as Albd;aDs
aid
BulgsriN)'
and a
wietv
of
o$er
ahnic
groups." Th6c
'nations' ate
nol ncialy
distind.
bul
raths
are
dislinguislled
by
a number of
culturat
faclors,
among
which
retision
is
DredomitBnl.
For
hislorical rcasorLt
that
ned mt dcrain
us
t'eri ttrc
ie'ts a'e
onhodox
Cluisiians
and the
croals
are Roman
Catholic
Tlt
"Muslin\"
r.ognized
as
a
"nadon'
sinc 1971,
wcre
the
indisnous
Bosnjans
who
coo\rtd
to Islan
dudng
ottonan tularj
Th;
were
neither Croals
nor Seds
hjeoriczllv
bul a separate
Slav
people
who
had
ar$nced
a Clristian
hetesv
know)
as aogomilism
unlil
"
sooDA\Mnllrsq
sPlvrurc @D
l0l
(194)
ll@Po'rroN,TlEBaI.Ns,
l','lNoRTG
aD SraTrl
NCoNFLId
s
(I{ildiry
BOSN]A-HERZEGONNA
196
996l
corwerting
to Islam.'
None
of ths
three
groups
constituts
a
majority
in
Bosnir.
I'ldins
nEke up dre la'8e$
8mD,
cor4'rbing
a3.6%
ofdF
poplatioq
dE r$b.ing 19.4%
Setb,17.3%
Croa rnd
?.8%
orhr.'
Wl
e Sdts
c{n
look
to
Se6ia
as
ar
ethnic
hornelaid, and Croats can
look
ro
Croal4
the Bosrian Muslins
h.ve no sdflrd souce of
edmic
idcntifcntion.
Dcclarcd a
c.nstitunt
national
goup
in 1971, Bosnisn
Musfitns c.nnot colr'idr dEmsdves th
olErfovr
ofsorE ottE natiord
group
into Bos{a ftey
arc a
s?aiare
8roup
by virbe ofrdigio4
not
national origin.
Since the
othr two
elhnic
groups
have
distinct
religious
alHiations
ofthcir
owr rcligion in
Bo$ia has
come
ro
b
iffepanble
from dhnic a.d
oihral idernity.
Targeting cultural
propert,
which
the Council
ofEumpe
has
rcferred
o
as "o)lturai cleansing' has
played
a
signifcnnt role
in dre
gcneral practice
of etiric cleansing
in
Bosnia.s
The
de$rucrion
ofthe
old
Mostd Bridge
snd
the Na.ional
Libnry in
Sanjvo has
dnwn
worldwide
mdia
ananion
as examples
of
delibente
deslrucrion
of
sinlml
proprty
whih
was
perceived
as
reprerntin8 the herilage
ofan
opposing
groop.
At
rihst
Ue confutuds hAl
bctl extrernely
ndid
about
thir
policy
of.argding cuhural p.opcrty.
L t992, for
example,
BBcjomslist Ikte
Adie asked a
Serbian ofrcr wlty Srb
gunneN
hd
bo sheling dle
Holiday
llll\ which hot)s.d
most
forisr
joornalies
in
Sanje\o.
Tlre
otrcer
repfid
apologeticdly
that they wre not
iargeting
the hot4 but
mdl.r
were siming
at
the
Nadonal
Muselm
just
bhind
the
hotel.'
Silnilady, a
soldi.r
srving under
Bosian
Croar
militia
lada
Mate
Boban
e),?lained
their
reasons for
laeting the
Mosrar Bridge,
whjcn they evntudly
brought down
in
Novembr
1993:
'[i]t
is
nor
enough
to
clers Mostar
of
the
Mudims, lhe reUcs nust
also
be
g
FFDNTID
So$ar,
A tireoRy c
r
BdlN Fioi{ E E$LF
T[,Gs ro
ns
PRFSDAY 16354
(l99l)
t'
S&dris
tm
6.
O6cirl
r99t
Ytrg6lsv Poptn.rid C6B ofB@ir-tkusdirt
rp,red t Wn BdM 216
Erbia
Ali & Lr\rfu
lifsndE
eds
,
193)
t3
IBntok
R.pd. suptu
tr,r
4r,
^
t6.
"
Ar&6
R.idlD,yq,
Cftsr
Fon
dotiu
$dp.M,
OJlzy
2,1994),
8/11/2019 The Destruction of Churches and Mosques in Bosnia-Herzegovina: Seeking a Rights Based Aprroach to the Protection of Religoius Cultural Property
13/18
197 BWFAII
JOURNAL
OF
INTERNATONAL
LAV
lvol.3
desroyed.'e
Armies are,
in
lhe
words
of
one
journali$,
"ensing
'Cultuml
cleansing'
was
iniiated ty the
BSA an4
since
thc
failure
of
the Vaftce-Own
pale
plan
in the
spring
of 1993,
Bosrian
sov..nm"t
forcs
@[4
ad
Bosnian
Croat
forcs
(HvO)
I'ave
lakr
up the
praciic
as wdl.@
l-ocatiz.d
reprisals
ha
rtso
bcomc
a
slandard faturc
of
cultunl
clernsing;
th typicnl s.rnario
being
ihe
lddali$n ofa Stbian
Onlrcdox
clurch
in
respons
to
ddling
by BSA
forces.
Srbian
o
tural clallsing
h
ofrar accomplishcd by sldling;
although
a
grcat
dd ofmining
is
reponed to
have
ocornd
in
arc.s
under Se6 c.ntrol.
Thc
HVO and
Bfi
forcs
typiclly
must resort
to
tnining
a
buming,
ho$rErrr, due
io dlir tdadve
lac* of
anjJery.
Damage by
e-'.1 melns terds to
be
more dlorough lhan
that
acromplished by shening.d
Migious
proprty
has been
paniorlarly
atrecred
for
a mEb.r of
reisons
Firs
rdigio$
proFty
mu$ inevitably srtrer
fi'otn any
gara-alzed
ath.k
on
oftrEl
propny,
as
religjon
is
gpnemly
an
i
gral
part
ofqiture.
Second, religion
in
the
furmer
Yugoslavia
tetds
to b
&rermined
along .hniclirles.
The
Se't';an
&hodox
Church
is
a
major
componenr
of
the aitural heritage
and
idntity of Seds,
ju*
as thc
Catholic
Church
is integraly
a
pan
ofcroatian
orlture ard
Islam
r
part
ofBosian
Muslim
crrltur..
Religion
is
th
frst
and
esist
identificr
of
thse
ditrrent orltues,
and
rdigous monuments
bnce
arc
the
Ino$
easily
identifable
targets
ofetlnc altacks
and
reprisals.
Churches
and
mosques are
large,
cntral,
unmi$lkable irrgels,
and thir ry vidbility
aid
presnce
render ihm not only
e3sy targei , but ertuandy dsir.ble
ones
as well.
A
minarct
is
a constart
reminder
of thc
PIesdlce
of
Muslims, hence
a natural taet
for
those
with
a
hatred
oftlus
reliSious
goup.
As
Ardds
Rieddmeyer explained during
a
tmposium
hosted
by
th
Carngie
Foundarior\
'a
poples
identiry
is
in'(t'icably linkd
with
dE visble slrnbols ofits culture.
Once thos
anchors
are
gone,
the
pas
at
E6ing Bqnia\
Medoty.
\N^et-Po6r,
Ocr 16, 1 992,
at
A.24
(.dirori,r)
z1
lBtituleRepon,tupniot
4l,at
16
l9%l
BOSMA-HERZEGOMNA
I98
lik
the f&rq can
be
rccreated
by tl'e victors.d
Dnroying
the ftigby
visible
dsn
ds
ofcultrrc
has an idolo8ic.i
a$d as
wdl:
"Th vrry
facl ofthes
moruments
sdsting
in
close
proxinity
is
an aFont
to
dr
historical
myth that
underlies fascist
ideolos/. Th
ideologt
procl.iBrs
that
poplg in
fid,
c.nDot live
togdhr.
Iflou
havc rlEse
prsarcs
n 'd
to ach
olher,
it
is a
daily rt'roa.i to $at
ideolos/.d
Finally,
churchs and rnosques
are e'drInly intimate and
thus
efecliw targeB.
Bosdan
Prsidnt
Alija
lzelbegoric has
accuscd
dle
Serb
forces
of
seeking
'the
dcsudioo
of
rdigion
as
a
basis
of tlE
idfltity
ard
as
spintual
$pport
for
the
Bosnian
pople
'd
Since
the war
bqr4 relgious irsibtio$ ha
playd
a cenhl rol
in the U s
ofmany
,s
both sotlr6 ofspiriNel comfon
ard
cotnpanioNlip
ad
as clla itable
h*itutions.d
Targling srch
sources
ofcomfon
to
the locsl
populalion
is a loeical ekension
ofthe tnor
bombing
states/
which
has
bn
e.nploFd fl'ainly
by Bo$ian Se6s
ftouShout the war.
Moreover, it is
a logical
exrcnsion
ofthe
policy
ofdllllic
c-:earsirg Since
dlhicity
in
Bosnia
is
dirc.lv
linkd
with
reljgioq ahnic
clearuing
is
neces$rily
related
to
rligious
cle?nsine
or,
as Slobodan l/filelsnic h,s
calcd it,
'spiritual
gnocide'd
By dstuoying
d|e
rdigious hrirage ofa
Acific
goup
ir a
rgioq
one
not only
scve$ their historil
link
to the
reSior
but one makes religious life in that region
next
to
inposribl.
That
religious
praclice
itsaf is bing targetd in
Bosnia
is
evidr'cd
by
a number ofpraqics
shich
are r.poned
to
b occ .ring.
SheUing
clMches
and mosques rnay
or may
not larget the religion
pff
se,
.s there
is alwals
th
possibility
that the building
ha only rceivd
colda.al d.nEge.
Moreolt.,
it
is likdy
that
rnany rdigious
buildings
are
iargded
simply
due
to
their vi$al
presefte
as a
rymbol
of
"tle
nemy.
"
Vandalisr4
however,
sefts
more clerrly
aimed
at
inhibiting re[gious
g
Ridln
yq,&r'rumr
59.
a
R.enCdFr
A6,u D.6dr.:,{ nttr 6
&I.net olhl@
or
Mulddltutdts ?,Nl.
dP
l\slltietM\ttMan: btMtS.nB.
the
l^tsacnlte:"
trtBtihgs
Baettu
Beltto
Church.t
Lik
anAp@orp.
N^r'Lcarfl R }.,Je29, 1993,a17.
8/11/2019 The Destruction of Churches and Mosques in Bosnia-Herzegovina: Seeking a Rights Based Aprroach to the Protection of Religoius Cultural Property
14/18
199 BWFALO JOURNAL
OF
INIERNATIONAL LAW
lVo[3
worship, as desoying
the
inside
ofa
hilding
can be
neilhr accidenlal
nor irtended to liminatc dE
vi$rl
prorcation
ofdt
building
itsn
Th
vandrlism
ofth Chlmfi of St. E;jah in Gnda.sc
oftrs a
good
o
8/11/2019 The Destruction of Churches and Mosques in Bosnia-Herzegovina: Seeking a Rights Based Aprroach to the Protection of Religoius Cultural Property
15/18
201
BUFn4In
JOURNAL
OF
INIERNAftONAL
I-4v
wot.3
dd
rnairtain places
for
rlEse
purpos6..t
tt is
rrguabl dta tlte
rigln
to
"mrinlain'
erci
pla.s
rulst
includc
tlte
riClr
nor
to hrw
srch
placca
denro)d.
Aniclc
Vt(C)
is
intcrded
to
cor,r
tlle
cor&nts
ofrdigious
buildings,
asscrting rhc
dgltt
'lo
ruke, to
rcquire
and
to
us
to
an
adquale
e'ded
fu
rEcBsary articles
and
trurrials related
to
the rites
or
o$toins
to
a retgion
or
blif'n
Finaly,
tll Dclamtion provides
for a
riglrt
to
tea.rr rdjeion
"in
pLces
$it:bie for
ths
puQoss ,'
\trjh
refers
lo
and
bolners
rhe
dglr
to
rflai
ain
$ch
Dlacs
and
not
b
harc
rhem
dertmycd.D
Human
rights
law,
ho*l\,lr,
even
whn binding
is to a
crtain
nent
drogsble
durirg
periods
of
public
emergmcy.
inctuding
armed
connid.-
Anicle
4(2)
ofihe ICCPR
includes
a lisr
ofnghs
which
a'e
non-derogable
even
durirg
rned conflic
ard
tlis
inctuds
the Anjcte
18
righl to
tedom
ofrhoughr,
conscince
and
reliAion.
Funhmore,
Aiicle 4(
l)
stipulares thar
a
dcrogarion
Inult
not invoh
disciimination
basd solely
on
religion.
Human righrs
csn stso
be
limjted by
'tiEitation
daxc"
uiich pmit pmaffnt
limita.ions
on huna.
rights which
are
necssary
to
Foict
national
sollity,
public
safiy,
healr\
ordr, 6nd
rnorals.r
While
idom
ofthouSht,
collscience,
ard
rdigion
dos
not
frI into rhis
catgory
oflimirabb
nehs,
the
dgl't
to rnanifd
rtigion
cjn
be
limired
so as
not
to
inrerfer.
v?ilh
tl|e lurtan right
ofothrs.r
It
could
hardly
b
,rgued,
ho*vs,
thar rhe
de*rucrion
of chMhes
and
mosques
in Bosnia-HeEegovina
was
rccssary for
the
protecrion
of
rarion
l
scurity
or
the
human
nghs
ofothers
Humanitarian
law
sewes
an imponant
role h
the
protecrion
of
11
Unkd
Ndi^
D..hmtion on
the
Elinihahd
ofall Fom ofrtutew
.roJ
Diwtnivnon
Bd.d
q
R.ligioh
o/Blirl
an
\4
G),
C.A.
R6.
55,
U.N CAOR
l6tl)
Ss,Supp.No
51, at
l7l.UN
Da
41615r
(
l93r
'
r
//..
al
alr
\4 (c)
'
,9r,
.A.,
ICCPR
r,?tu
nolc ?4, at
4.
'r
RcsF,rB.lrlc1j.
beN^roNrHrr,,r^NRrcm:
pRdLE\,s
qtrw,
pdlcy,N
n
Dma J. sulliv&\.,tdra,a
nU
Ffte.bd
of Rexsto,
q
Betj.f rtush
tE
w
Dadatun
d
tk
EIi ttudonofR.liga6
nb\.@
and
Dxdi itu,a2A[t.
G L\Tt
L
48?, 493 (19B8)
1n-an
"rl^
^Tr.,'tnq
conticr.
Elm
wgc
$e rcc?R
rishrs
or
r.eedom
orDoFhip
derogabtc
in
d,c
cono(l
of0,e wa
in
Boe,ja
dle
prolisbns
ofthCrocva
Convedion
and
$e
I
qr/ p.otocots
address
l;
1ry
*1.q
9s*"
rishts
wridr
u|c
dd.u6.tion
of rdisbus
prop'ty
wouh
notare.
Th.
Foudh Ccncya
CoNeition
ofj949
prouds
rn Articl.
27-rhrt
.protcrcd
pcrsons
arc
ntirld,
in
aJ
cruEn$ances\
to
rcA.d
for
. .
rlEir
rEligiou
convjctions
ahd
pracricg
ano
tntr
marners
ard
olstonls.{
Moreo}tf.
Anicle
58
of'fie
sarle
uoJlqlton
rEquircs
ftar
rhe
,,Occupying
poww
shall
permlt
ninjsrers
oi
rsrgon
ro
grve
sF
rtusl
assisance
ro
the
mrnbers
of their
religjous
com'nuniries,'
Erd
rhar
ficy
'acccpt consigrunens
ofb@ts
ana
a.iaes
requred.tor
rctigto.us
needs
ard
shdl
frcilitare
their
disdiburion
in
occlprd
lerritory."-
protocol
I
o
the
C$eva
Convrlions
addrs s
rn
ngn
ot
worship
ofrhos
in
fie
power
ofa
party
ro
tlle
conflici
who
oo
nol quaxry
lor
speciat
trearneot
undcr
arorher
sction
of rhe
ceneva
r-oNsrrons
or
the
prolocot
psrrglrph
I
ofAaic.le
75,
rqunes
rhar
as
]-ifllm
reuuancnr
.I
prson'
b
accorded
rcsp;
tor
o,n
conucfotrs
and retiaious
pnctjcs
Th
word
'prad,cs,
is
agin
hporl4
a
n
spccifcaly
addrsrs
rhe
act
of
worship
nd,r
;an
:'*1q
.
tT.:
bref.
rr
wourd
be
dificulr
ro
arsue
rhar
ihe
oesni(lon
orchurchs
ard
mosques
oulside
ft zone
ofconbal
wo,jd
De arc*td
wdq
rhne
[rovision
To
$e
edit
thal
rhe confl;c_t
in
Bosia
may
te
conddercd
a
non-inremadoMl
connid.
identical
lrnguage
in
Anicle4
ofPmrocotI
ro
$e
Gaevz
Comentions
wornd
apply
-
^
*
Aaicle
53
of
prorocot
I ard
the
identicnt
tanguage
in
Anict
16
:1,1.::11,1, -'TTr
.urrurar
objeos
and praces
ofworship.
we,e
unL
ft.en
y
the
only
irstincs
in
which
rhe ngh
to sorship
ard
the
prooprrrcn
on
largamg
oltural
propeny
$ere
Unked
as do;y
retated
fl1:..1P f
*l"d
in Pan
tr
rbove
Ardcle
s]
fodids
'a..ts
of
no^srury
drected
agatns
historic
monumenrs.
wo*s
ofafl
or
ptaces
of
worsrup
wruch
conslituie
the
cultural
or
spiritual
heriuge
ofpeoples
19961
BO'NlA-HEMEGOWN/
202
;,*.
ff
ffi
f+';l.;S,?frTorcjvilie3pdqs
in
rim
orwe.
A.g
8/11/2019 The Destruction of Churches and Mosques in Bosnia-Herzegovina: Seeking a Rights Based Aprroach to the Protection of Religoius Cultural Property
16/18
m3 BUFFAIO JOURNAL
OF
INTERNAnONAL
LAW
Nol3
.
5
As$mnB thal
"historic'is
mernt to
modi& only
the word
'monumentsr"
it
folows
dlat artworks
and
plac.s
ofworship
which
are
pan
ofdrc
pintu
l
h.iilagp
ofpopls
ar.
prot
dcd
regadless
ofthen
cultural or
historic.l "lue.6
This
provd
to
bc
a divisi\
icare
in
the
dmftina
ofthe
Protocols,
as
did
inilialy
the
inclus'on
ofihe
anicls
at
dl."
Sone
del.EFrions argucd that
ro includ. a[
placls
ofwonhiP
rgardlss ofcxltural
value
would
deprivc
orlturaly
sigriffcant
property
oftu
sp.cial $atus,
spcialy si"ce local
religiotis buildings
ir so
often
usd for military
purposs.
The draft ariicle
refgred
qccitrcatly
to
placs
ofworship, but only to
ctrltural
and
not
s?iritual
hritage.
As
tll6e
wrs
dil disagrffsf as
to
*heiher
dy plac
ofworship
was
part
of
the cultural
heritage
of
popls"
dl
cornrnittee delid
refqnce
to
pla.es
ofwoFhip
fiom
Anjcle
53 and
placd
it in Anicle
3
rs
an
exsnple
of
property
normaly
comrnitted
to
civilian
use.
Ircal
churchs would
thddo receive
drc
nornal
prolclion
ofotlE
civilian
proFty,
and
an
undersianding
wrs
rca(nd
that
orhr.ly
irnportant
places
ofwoEhjp
would not
be deprived
prordion
under the language covering
clllnlral
rprumnts
ard
buildings.
At the insistenc ofa large
numb6
of$a.eg
however,
'placs
ofworship'
w?s
renrnrd ard
erpplerEted
vrith
the
oFst language
on
'cl
tural
or
spirituai
heritagp.
"s
It has
ben
&gucd,
however, that this larguag
gos
no fanher than the
comp.omis
aiBngenen
and thus
that
locrl churchs
receive
no
more
protec;tion
thar
other
civilan
propeny.e
The
Idemational
Comrnitte ofthe Red
Cross
(ICRC)
took
this
vieq
noting
that
"spiritual
heritage
ofpoples"
was
neant
orly to cover objecls
'wh6c
wlue
tnnscrds
gcogrrphical
bounduies,
and
$,iidr
.re
unique in chrracler and are intinatly
a
Ml,sprdfr.ll,st16
'
T@,A&p/arct 14,.1564-65
"\,lro
EBo[Ea^L,llewRtrrsFcRvcmrsoFAnIf,CoNFLrcrs
Colo Nrary
oN
E Trc l9?7
tisrrs
ADmdrro@
C6v^ Collrnj]@N s 1949, t
33r
0982)
'
1a
at
312. Ii
pdlidle,
a n@bd
ofM6Un ndes, aldgwiLh lhe
Holy
Se ad llaly,
iEi .dd
[\is sbdifioliod,Id
r9961
BOSN]A-EERZEGOWNA
2U
associated
with
lhe history
and
siture ofr
people.''t
The
ICRC
nored
tlur
spiritual
importanc
rrl.y odsa cvtfr in th
abscnce of
oitu"l
imponsncc, srd
f'at
'spintual'
was *rit o
irto $ Irrotocol
to covr.
such
situatjons,
but
not
to
cxtend
protection
to local
churches
or
Th.
Blgjan
ddegarc ddcribd
ttri
'?icw
wdl saying
that rhe
anicle refftd
to
'places
of
worfip
so
intimardy
asrociated
with dlose
fajths t'at,
mor
than al
dte odEr rdigioos
bondings alrady
protcctd
undef
Anicle
47
lAnicle
52
ofthe
final veBion
ofProtocot
I],
they
semed
to be
th.ir
true
embodinnt on eaih.'q
The Saudi
Arabian
dclegaae, howevr, sind
to fe.l
that
the
phras
'or
spiritual'
extended
Aecial
proteciion
to aI
placs
ofwonlip,
presumably
under
the theory
that
any
place
ofworsbp
mu$
b
pan
ofthc spiritud
hritage ofthat
partiqrlar
hith.r
8.
A
Ne\9 Aryuch to Religiols
Proryrty
The
connid
in Bosnia-Herzegovina
has
draftaticntly
demonstratd
lhe wlnembility of religjous properry
in
waninte.
Moreoltr,
it has
offctrd
an ide3l cise
study daDonstraring
the
ydlue
of
lhe
qtribal
lEritage
provision
ofthe 1977
Protocols,
and srpporring
the
position
ofthose
dlegations
who
wished
to rdend
protertion
to all
rdigioos
proprty.
Hoptuly, ifth world
corununity hds
the
lessons
ofthis
connicr,
it wil
slimulale
furthei rcwlMtion
ofhow
w
lhhk
about the
protectjon
ofcultural
property
during
arned
conflicr.
Cultural
property,
whther religious
in mture
or
no
dri s
its
i
I 'rN
ndrcomoFrrER[DcRoss.Co
NrARyoNmAlomoNe
PR@cots
oF
8
JLl
197? ro
n
GE
v
CoNaEMNs 12AL@sr
t9.19,.t6.46
0940.
'r
HowArD S.
LEVE, 3 PRoEcDoN oF WR
VrrM:
PRorocoL
I ro m
1949
GEMV^CoNaTmoNs221
(1980).
8/11/2019 The Destruction of Churches and Mosques in Bosnia-Herzegovina: Seeking a Rights Based Aprroach to the Protection of Religoius Cultural Property
17/18
2o5
BWFALO
JOURNAL OF
INIERNAflONAL IIW
lvol3
need
for
protcrion
fiom
a
csiain bundle
of rights irnplicared
in
its
conridxd odsrcr.
fic
qrhral
irtqDrdonali$s ar. concd
$lterl they
$gg$
dd
al ofhmankird has .n irnsEs in the
contimed
exigence of
the Mosar
Bridg, in
prscrving
that
"atternpt
to
grasp
elernity." Sucfi
w .ks
ofan
belp
give
mcaning
to
humaniry,
snd
it
ssns appropriare
to
rlfEr
to
our
colleclive
irtrest
in
c'eating
maning
through
art as a
nght.
Similarlt
rhe orlturrl
nationlli$s
lre
aho
correcl in
obsNing that
the
Mosrar
Bridge may b a
strongr vficle
for
giving
rhcaning
to the
lives
ofBosiars dlan
to dE
rsr ofus.
Thir
intsests
in
the
Bridge's
srvi "I
n8ybeslrlgerrhan
otirs,
sinc. it
isin
some senle
their bridge
Ilis
not
only a
monlme't
to
hun'anity, hn
also
a
parr
of $e
hiltory
of a
paniorlar pople,
and
threforc
rnaintains
additionai
ihponece
to
dE
popl.
The
war
in Bosnia
h 3
demofftratd
that this very imponance
renders such
property
vduable as a
mililary
targt
to thos
who wish to
dri
popleiom
theirhomer.
The attack
on the Mostar
B.id8e
E?s
an
afront lo
lnlliar)lin4 but
it
was
also
an Essault on
the
orlture
wfiich
built
L
Ir was
a
spiritual
attlck
on
a
pople,
ard
a
delibent
anmpt
to
drive
d|m ofby tunililating
that
i/hich
helps
give
manirg
to
thet livs.
Cultural dd rdiSious
property,lheq
dsftcs
spcial
protclion
not
only
kuse
hs
ddrudion
huts ltrlI.ankind
as
a
wlFle,
hft
additioialy
because $ch dstruction con$r'nnes
an
attack
on the
objcis
through vhich
a
people
dcfin
s
irsr
Culbrral
property
law,
is
i' this
way
a sralemnr
to
th
efct that anacks
dir.led
at
the
human
spirir
will
not be
tolerated.
In
this light,
one crn
se that a
strict adherence
to
the
cultural intemational;st
approach
is
clearly inadequate
with re5?cr to
bolh
rdjgious
and sanlar
o.rhunl
property.
By
foclsirg on the herirage
of
all mankin4 it becoms too ary to disreCard
the
needs
of tlle
cor
nunitjs
\I'hich d}e
proprty
in
que$ion
*"s
originaly
designed to
serve
The Arc de Triomphe \r"s o$viously not
built
a a service ro
fi
$rrotindjng
neiglbodDods
ofParis.
The
Husnjja Mosque in Gradacac,
howevr,
*Es
built
with
a spe.ifc
place
and
conmunity
in
mind.
Wile
the architcts crtainly
attempted
to
make
the
nosque beeutiftL
and
while
the
residents
ofthe
towrl
may
feel
a certain
pride
in showing
the
mosque
to
outsidri
its
value
to the oituml
hritage
of mankird is
minimal at
besl.
It is
simpty
one of
hudreds
of
sl'Itrlar
mosques
scanred
thmughour
the Balkans Evat
to
the
Islamjc
worl4
$ch
a
19961
BOSMA.HERZEGONNA
206
moGque
is uninponad
Eom 0E
poi
ofview
ofirnfrational
orttu"t
or
spntiat
lEitag.
At
talr
t*D
books
devotd
ro
mosque
editectrrE
of
the
worid
have
dccrncd
yugostavian
m
8/11/2019 The Destruction of Churches and Mosques in Bosnia-Herzegovina: Seeking a Rights Based Aprroach to the Protection of Religoius Cultural Property
18/18
207
BWFAIA
JOURNAL
OF
INTERNAnONAL
LIW
IVol3
Tlrus,
dE
sy*rnati:dsudionofrdiSious
propertywhich
has occ
fred
h
Bo$ria-Hcrzgovina
nust
be sen as
more than
the
de$ruclion of
property.
It
is
dle synma.ic
denial
ofthe
dght ofrligioos
fedon
through
dr dsirirdion ofthe
pb'sical
necssitiB
ofworsdp
and
the
physical reprsdarions
offrilh
so
importrnt
to
a
conrnunjty
snse
of
identity.
In
thjs
wax
the
ne.d
to
prote.l
elg|
locrl religious
propefty
Bos
hand
in
hind
with
lhe
nd lo
prot.i
cultural
proprty
grlraly.
fie
world community
is
afre.ted
in
lhe
srs
thrl
srch desudion
coostinnes
a hurnan righs
viohrioq
,nd
play
an impo@nt
role in
th
procss
ofethric cl$rsing
wbich
\l aI
have
an
interest
in
pre ndD8
Moreovet,
on the
local
le1,1,
the dstruclion
ofreliSious
propeny
plays
the
same
role
as
the destruclion
ofoiturai
property generaly.
Whethr
or
nol
tne Husnija Mosque
is
oforltu..l
inponance,
its
deslruclion
corsdns a
delfte'de
dack on
the
spiriluality
ofa
people
in
rn attempt
to lake rncaDing
from
their lives
ard
dnw them
fiom
their
homes.
It
is
an attack
on spiritualty
its8
just
as was
the dstruction
of
the Mostar
Bridge.
Why,
theq
cxclude
retgious
property
fiom
the spcial
protedjon
otrred
lrlturrl
propdty
sirnply b.ruse it is
not of"cultural"
\alue?
Suct
property
slla s
wift
onturai
propqty
$e mo$ siliett
attntutes
which rBke
i
padulady
\olnerablq
and
its
dcstruction
panjotuly painfll.
\4hether
a
people
atmpt to bring spiritual
meani.g
to
their
lives tkough
an or tluough
relgioq then
nglt
to do
so needs
intrnaional
p@tedion
Odrwise, oitural and
religious
propeny
offers
too tempting a
larget
for
anlone undenaki.g a carnpaign of ethnic
cleansing.
Thjs is th ca regardless
of
the
abstncr
questions
of
ownership
posired
by th
fals
opposhion
ofcultural
narionalism and
oitural intemationslis.
Cultural
pmprty
law has
ad "nced
well
beyond
lhe
geltqal
F@crbrls
of'ed
civilian
propsty
by
the tlague Convntiors
of
l9O7
It llas rEcognizd
tlu cnain objects desFf,v odra
protecrion
baDs of
their
irnpori.nce to dE
qrltur.l
he.itage ofma*ind.
In the Proro.ols
of
the Gseva
Convrtions, we se
the international @mrnunity
tunblins
toward the nxt s1p in srch
protctionihe
recognjtion
ftar
placs
of
worship nd
similar spcial
protcrioN
for
similar
reasons.
The
refrence
ao
rhe
"s?fitua|
heritage"
of
peoples
in
the Protocols
is an
l9e6l BOSMA-HEMECOMNA
2OE
important
stp
towards
lhe redization
that
specirl
protciion
ofcertain
proprty
is
mcritcd
not
for rer$ns
relating
to
property,
but
rather
bcruse
imptc{td
in
lhe
conrinud exfurdEe
of
crrtlin
obi..is
is
hrrl,nity's qu6r
for bauty
and
neaning. By
addr.sling
ilEse rightr
it
sms
cle3r tha
any plac
ofwo$lrip
is
nec.ssarily
pan
ofihe
spiribat
hriuge ofpeopls,
and tlEt
dE reslrictive
viw
ofrhis
pbras
as adoptd
by
inaiy nations
is
profoundly
wrong-hesded.
RetiSious
properry
.nd
orhrdl
proprty
s.nc sirnilar
purpos6.
Thy
are
both
rianiesrations
of
hrrsnity's
righ io anrnpt
to
grasp
drnity.
Onc
w
hd
tttc
lcssons
ofBosnia and
bcgin to fools
on
this
righl
rartEr
than on the rheoretical
pmpedy
intersts
ofthe
intemarioral
cornnunjty,
rhe tegal
prote.tion
of
both cultur.i
and
religious
property
durjng
anned
codii $,i
attain
a
logical
consistency
which
heretofore ir
has
lackd.
Recommended