Edvin Kanka Cudic

Edvin Kanka Ćudić (Cyrillic: Едвин Канка Ћудић; born Edvin Ćudić; December 31, 1988), is a Bosnian human rights activist, martial artist, journalist and political analyst who is best known as the leader of the UDIK, an organisation campaigning for human rights and reconciliation in the former Yugoslavia.[1]

Edvin Kanka Ćudić
Edvin Kanka Ćudić in 2017
Bosnia and Herzegovina Representative in the Regional Council of the Coalition for RECOM
Assumed office
December 16, 2019
Preceded byDženana Karup Druško
1st Coordinator of the UDIK
Assumed office
October 30, 2013
Preceded byPosition created
Personal details
Born
Edvin Ćudić

(1988-12-31) 31 December 1988
Brčko, Yugoslavia
ResidenceSarajevo
EducationUniversity of Sarajevo
Ankara University
Occupation
  • Human rights activist
  • martial artist
  • journalist
  • political analyst
Height1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
StyleJūjutsu, Jūdō
Rank     2nd Dan in Jūjutsu
     1st Dan in Jūdō
Years active2003 - present

He works in subjects including human rights, cultural memory, transitional justice and democracy.

Early life

Born into a Bosniak family in Brčko, Yugoslavia (now Bosnia and Herzegovina). He grew up in Gračanica and Brčko, studied in Sarajevo and Istanbul, lives in Sarajevo. He graduated in 2012 from the University of Sarajevo with a degree in journalism. In 2018 in the same university he earned a master's degree in political science.[2] He identifies as Yugoslav.

Career

2003–present: Martial Arts

At the age of 14, Ćudić joined the Academy of Martial Arts of the Bosnia and Herzegovina,[3] (a member of the International Martial Arts Federation - IMAF Europe), led by Boško Vidović in Brčko. In the Academy, Ćudić trained for 8 years and earned a black belt in Jūjutsu. In 2017 in the same Academy he earned a black belt in Jūdō.[4]

From 2006 to 2008 he was a Jūjutsu instructor at the martial arts schools belonging to the Academy of Martial Arts of the Bosnia and Herzegovina, in Donji Žabar and in Gornji Zovik near Brčko.[5]

2008–present: Journalism
Edvin Kanka Ćudić with French journalist Florence Hartmann, 2012

As a journalist, he has collaborated with many regional media outlets, including Monitor, Peščanik, Danas, Preporod, Sabah, e-novine, Republika, Slobodna Bosna, Dnevni avaz and Behar.[6][7] In addition to these media, he has worked in various radio and television stations.[8] He wrote more than 150 reports from proceedings of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. In order to advance peace and reconciliation processes in the former Yugoslavia, Ćudić has collaborated with local and foreign experts, artists, politicians, journalists, as well as professors around the world. Some of them are: Roy Gutman, Ron Haviv, Stjepan Mesić, Florence Hartmann, Robert King, Rémy Ourdan etc.[9]

In 2015 in cooperation with Jusuf Hafizović, he published two books including his newspaper interviews: Novinari o ratu u BiH and Političari o ratu u BiH, on testimonies of war journalists and politicians about Bosnian war.[10]

In 2017, Ćudić has signed the Declaration on the Common Language of the Bosniaks, Croats, Serbs and Montenegrins.[11]

2013–present: Human rights
See also: UDIK
Edvin Kanka Ćudić with Argentinian human rights activist Nora Morales de Cortiñas, 2015

In 2013, Edvin Kanka Ćudić founded and become coordinator of the UDIK.[12][13] It aimed to gather facts, documents, and data on genocide, war crimes, and human rights violations in Bosnia and Herzegovina and former Yugoslavia.[14] UDIK works across national boundaries to assist post-conflict societies within the region reestablish the rule of law and deal with past human rights abuses. As a coordinator of the UDIK, he publishes and presents to the public documents on war crimes in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but also works on mapping monuments to victims of wars in the countries of the former Yugoslavia.[15][16][17]

Ćudić began his activism in UDIK with public commemorations dedicated to the victims of past war in the former Yugoslavia (1991-2001). At that time, some war crimes were marked for the first time in Sarajevo, as well as in other cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia. These commemorations traced Ćudić to one of the most famous human rights activists in Bosnia and Herzegovina.[18][19]

In 2015 he created the concept of the Central register of memorials of the Yugoslav wars (1991-2001) with the aim of stopping manipulation and autovictimization of the victims of war crimes in the countries of the former Yugoslavia, as well as preventing the possibility of revising of the past wars in that area. The Central register of memorials contains a collection of over 3.500 monuments dedicated to soldiers and civilians who died in wars from 1991 to 2001; in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia. Register also includes examples of the controversial memorials that were built after 1991 in the countries of the former Yugoslavia, and which glorify fascism and hatred among the people of the former Yugoslavia.[20][21] The Central register of memorials of the Yugoslav wars (1991-2001) is still the only register of memorials to victims of the Yugoslav wars on the territory of the countries of the former Yugoslavia.[22]

In 2019, Ćudić was elected in Regional Council of the Coalition for RECOM. The Coalition for RECOM is a network of civil society organizations from post-Yugoslav countries which advocate for the establishment of RECOM – the Regional Commission tasked with establishing the facts about all Victims of war Crimes and other serious human rights violations committed on the territory of the former Yugoslavia from 1 January 1991 to 31 December 2001.

Threats and physical attacks

He was often the subject of threats from homophobic people and nationalists of all ethnic groups in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In February 2014 he came to the public during the unrest in Bosnia and Herzegovina. As a coordinator of the protests in the Brčko District, he received over 100 threats of death. In July he was threatened by Dino Šimunjak, a volunteer in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict who publicly told him: "You will not get out of this, Ćudić".[23][24][25]

In February 2015, in front of the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Sarajevo, while UDIK commemorated the anniversary of the Štrpci massacre, the group of hooligans attacked Edvin Kanka Ćudić. On that occasion, they said that activists must go to commemorate crimes in Banja Luka, alluding to the UDIK's marking of crimes in Kravica in January 2015.[26] In May, near the UDIK's office in Sarajevo, he was attacked with another UDIK activist. Just a few days later, a similar attack took place on the same site. Ambassador of the United States of America to B&H, Maureen Cormack, reacted and said that it was unacceptable to attack stones a human rights activist in Bosnia and Herzegovina.[27] In October, in front of the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Sarajevo in Sarajevo, while UDIK commemorated the anniversary of the crimes in Kazani, one hooligan try to physically attack Edvin Kanka Ćudić. A police reacted, but did not prosecute.[28]

In February 2017 Ćudić was attacked again in Sarajevo, along with two other UDIK activists. The attack took place near the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina building. On that occasion, young men attacked him with stones and called him Chetnik (right-wing nationalist Serb).[29] In March, unknown persons vandalized his car parked near the UDIK's office in Sarajevo.

In April 2019 Ćudić supported Bosnia and Herzegovina’s first LGBT Pride parade in interview for internet portal Source.ba. Due to the misinterpretation of the interview, and especially in the part relating to the women rights in the Arab world, he received a large number of threats (including death treats) from the Islamic foundamentalists from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Sandžak. Fundamentalists also claimed that he is one of the organizers of the Parade. A few days later, UDIK denied that it is organizer of the Bosnia and Herzegovina’s first LGBT pride, but UDIK supports it and shows solidarity to all whose human rights are evidently deprived.[30] In July, Ćudić and other UDIK's activist were attacked by hooligans near the UDIK's office in Sarajevo. On that occasion, the attackers called him as The Fags' leader. Ćudić made photos of the attackers and the case was reported to Novo Sarajevo Police Department. Police did not take the photos into consideration during the investigation.[31]

The Federal Ministry of Interior of the Bosnia and Herzegovina have never prosecuted the attackers.

Published works
  • Taj maj '92., Brčko, 2012
  • Ne u naše ime: s one strane srbijanskog režima, Sarajevo, 2019

Honours and awards

In 2012, the Bosnian poet Adem Garić dedicated him a poem I ne treba da šutiš (And you do not need to be silent).[32] In 2014 and 2018, in the biographical lexicon Ko je ko u BiH (Who is Who in B&H), Edvin Kanka Ćudić is listed among the most significant people in Bosnia and Herzegovina today, which through their works and actions contribute to a better B&H and who make this country a happier place.[33][34][35] In 2019, the French sculptor Mirza Morić created a memorial dedicated to the killed civilians in Brčko (1992-1995). On that occasion, Morić engraved the story Možda bi trebalo da ih mrzim (Maybe I should hate them) on the memorial, written by Edvin Kanke Ćudić. The monument was installed in Paris.[36]

Awards and nominations
Year Association Category Nominee / work Result Ref.
2017 Network for Building Peace Peace Award Edvin Kanka Ćudić Nominated [37]
2019 Emerging Europe Awards Young Influencer of the Year Edvin Kanka Ćudić Won [38]

References
  1. "Edvin Kanka Ćudić - Biografija". biografija.org. 5 August 2017. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  2. "Drugi ciklus studija - Fakultet političkih nauka Sarajevo, No. 40, 2018" (PDF). fpn.unsa.ba. 5 August 2017. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  3. "Martial Arts Academy of Bosnia and Herzegovina - judoforall". judoforall.org. 5 August 2017. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  4. "Edvin Kanka Ćudić - Biografija". biografija.org. 5 August 2017. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  5. "Founder". udik.org. 5 August 2017. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  6. "Edvin Kanka Ćudić - Peščanik". pescanik.net. 5 August 2017. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  7. "Zločinci među nama by Edvin Kanka Ćudić - e-novine". e-novine.com. 5 August 2017. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  8. "Zločin bez kazne: Živa spaljena - TV Alfa Sarajevo". youtube.com. 27 June 2012. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  9. "Edvin Kanka Ćudić - Infobiro". infobiro.ba. 5 August 2017. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  10. "Predstavljena knjiga 20 godina poslije: Novinari o ratu u BiH". ebrcko.netdate=2016-08-22. Retrieved 11 November 2018.
  11. Signatories of the Declaration on the Common Language, official website, retrieved on 2018-08-16.
  12. "FOUNDER – UDIK". Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  13. "Edvin Kanka Ćudić o UDIK-u: Kako smo nastali, kome smetano i kako nam prijete". znamo.ba. Archived from the original on 17 January 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  14. "Da li je Srbija slobodna zemlja za ratne zločince". radioslobodnaevropa.org. 18 June 2017. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
  15. "Ćudić:U RS ima 50 posto manje spomen obilježja nego u FBiH". fokus.ba. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
  16. "UDIK o spomeničkoj kulturi: Najveći broj spomenika izgrađen je na području TK i bijeljinske regije". Novi.ba. 22 August 2016. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
  17. "Predstavljena knjiga Ratni zločin na Kazanima – presude". glassrpske.com. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
  18. "UDIK obilježio 23. godišnjicu stradanja civila u selu Trusina". klix.ba. 15 April 2016. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  19. "U Sarajevu odata počast žrtvama Vukovara". klix.ba. 17 November 2013. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  20. "Ćudić:U RS ima 50 posto manje spomen obilježja nego u FBiH". fokus.ba. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
  21. "Spomenici uglavnom ukazuju na patnju i stradanje samo jednog naroda". klix.ba. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
  22. "U BiH nakon rata podignuto 2500 spomenika – Al-Jazeera Balkans". balkans.aljazeera.net. 22 August 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  23. "Preko interneta pozivaju na linč mirovnog aktiviste iz Brčkog - Bljesak.info". bljesak.info. 10 February 2014. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  24. "Public reaction regarding the threats to activist of UDIK – Edvin Kanka Ćudić – Ženska mreža BiH". zenskamreza.ba. 12 February 2014. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  25. "Brčak iz Izraela prijet članovima UDIK-a: Nećeš se izvući iz ovoga Ćudiću – Klix". klix.ba. 24 July 2014. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  26. "Saopštenje Mreže za izgradnju mira povodom napada na aktiviste/kinje UDIK-a". mreza-mira.net. 24 July 2014. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  27. "Američka ambasada u duginim bojama". Vijesti.ba. 24 July 2014. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  28. "Sjećanje na žrtve stradanja na Kazanima". youtube.com. 25 October 2015. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  29. "U Sarajevu napadnuti aktivisti UDIK-a". faktor.ba. 11 February 2017. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  30. "Iz UDIK-a poručili: Edvin Kanka Ćudić dobio veliki broj prijetnji i pozivanja na linč, nismo organizatori "povorke ponosa"". source.ba. 7 April 2019. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
  31. "U Sarajevu napali Edvina Kanku Ćudića i vikali 'vođo pedera': Zašto policija nije zatražila fotografiju napadača?!". depo.ba. 16 July 2019. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  32. "I ne treba da šutiš - Adem Garić". Adem Garić. 5 August 2017. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  33. "Ko je ko u BiH - knjiga o najznačajnijim ličnostima u BiH - Novo Vrijeme". novovrijeme.ba. 5 August 2017. Archived from the original on 30 October 2014. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  34. "Sadržaj biografskog leksikona Ko je ko u BiH – izdanje 2014–2018 – Ko je ko u BiH". kojekoubih.ba. 5 August 2017. Archived from the original on 17 March 2017. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  35. "Sadržaj biografskog leksikona Ko je ko u BiH – izdanje 2018–2022 – Ko je ko u BiH" (PDF). kojekoubih.ba. 5 August 2017. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  36. "Kipar Mirza Morić napravio skulpturu u čast ubijenim Brčacima - Klix". klix.ba. 30 March 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
  37. "Mirovna nagrada Mreže za izgradnju mira za 2017. godinu". mreza-mira.org. 5 August 2017. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  38. "Emerging Europe recognises its champions". emerging-europe.com. 5 August 2017. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
Preceded by
Position created		 Coordinator of UDIK
2013–		 Incumbent
Preceded by
Dženana Karup Druško		 Bosnia and Herzegovina Representative in the Regional Council of the Coalition for RECOM
2019–		 Incumbent
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