Across Bosnia and Herzegovina, people working in religious communities, education, and civil society often come from different backgrounds, traditions, and life paths. Yet when they speak about the societies they want to build, their words reflect shared values: responsibility, dignity, and the need to actively stand up to hatred rather than simply hope it will disappear. Above all, they speak of something both simple and demanding- the daily effort to treat others with respect, especially when it is not easy.

Their experiences show that interreligious dialogue is not just an idea or policy. It is lived through everyday actions- co-operation instead of suspicion, education instead of prejudice, and the conscious choice to answer hostility with humanity.

Recognising duty and potential

For Danilo and Pavla, religious communities carry both potential and responsibility in shaping dialogue. Danilo Pavlović, iguman Manastira Žitomislić, explains that faith communities should strive to promote peace, reconciliation, and unity, while acknowledging past crimes and ensuring daily life returns to normal relations. Pavla from Trebinje monastery adds that their monastery has been engaged in dialogue since 1998, and their positive experiences show that differences in belief are a reason for respect, not hate.

The power of words

Language matters. Dragan Nedić, pastor at the Evangelical Church in Koševo Brdo, emphasizes that words can harm society as a whole. Reflecting on a verse by Serbian poet Branko Miljković- "A word too strong has killed me" - he stresses that religious officials should model genuine co-existence, recognising everyone as equally created in God’s image.

Dialogue in practice

Practical impact is evident in Zenica, where interreligious dialogue has helped reduce tensions. Kenan Hodžić, peace activist, stresses that dialogue should be a response to God’s call to live together across faiths and backgrounds. Catholic priest Marko Maleš notes that cooperation through the Interreligious Council has significantly reduced attacks on religious buildings. He emphasises the importance of taking dialogue beyond institutions into everyday life, removing politics from the equation.

Sumedin ef. Koblica, chief imam of the Zenica Islamic Community, highlights the city’s multireligious, multiethnic character. He points out that multicultural coexistence is a richness, visible in Zenica’s churches, synagogue, and mosque in close proximity. Davor Topić, parish priest at St. Joseph’s in Zenica, recalls Pope Francis’s words during his Sarajevo visit, noting that hate speech diminishes the dignity that God grants each person.

Changing narratives

Muhamed Jusić, director of the Office for External Affairs and Diaspora at the Islamic Community of BiH, reflects on history: while humanity’s darkest moments are well-known, bright examples of cooperation and care also exist. Through the Interreligious Council, the Islamic Community works with Jewish, Catholic, and Orthodox communities to highlight this shared past. Igor Bencion Kožemjakin, hazan of the Sarajevo Jewish community, notes the rise of antisemitism, Islamophobia, and xenophobia in BiH, emphasizing the importance of faith communities collaborating with civil society and international partners to counter these trends.

Responsibility in communication

Everyday communication carries weight. Pavle Miljović, professor at the Catholic Theological Faculty in Sarajevo, urges calm, respectful, and reasoned speech online and offline, even when discussions are conflictual. Alica Arnaut, dean at the University of Zenica, adds that religious and academic communities should educate citizens to take responsibility for their words in all public spaces.

Branislav Rajković, Orthodox priest in Trebinje, emphasises that the remedy for hate speech is love—sometimes institutional, sometimes informal- but already present in society. By listening and attuning to it, love can be given a voice alongside hate.

Engaging young people

Education offers one of the strongest tools to prevent prejudice. Milja Tupanjanin, Orthodox religion teacher in Trebinje, sees youth as both demanding and receptive. Iva Klarić, Franciscan school sister, teaches young people to meet others without fear, practicing Jesus’ commandment of love. Elvedina Kazazić, Islamic religious teacher in Mostar, encourages children to visit different religious sites, fostering understanding. Rahela Džidić of the Sarajevo Jewish community emphasizes equality of values across Abrahamic religions and the importance of passing these lessons to future generations.

Initiative and human dignity

Sometimes dialogue begins with a simple initiative. Šejla Mujić Kevrić, from the Medžlis of the Islamic Community in Livno, and Blanka Jeličić, a Sister of Mercy of St. Vincent de Paul in Livno describe their shared motivation to help everyone, regardless of faith or background. For them, community at the level of human dignity and acting with a good heart is the key to dispelling hatred and darkness.

Taken together, these experiences show that dialogue rarely grows through grand gestures. It is built through small, consistent choices- choosing respect over prejudice, conversation over silence, and empathy over division.

Their message is clear: hatred does not disappear on its own. It must be actively challenged. And sometimes the most powerful response is the most human one: to block the hatred, and share the love.

This activity was part of the action “Towards an Equal, Inclusive and Tolerant Bosnia and Herzegovina”, implemented under the joint programme of the Council of Europe and the European Union, “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye”, as well as the Council of Europe project “Combating Discrimination, Hatred and Racism in Bosnia and Herzegovina”, funded through voluntary contributions.