Bosnia-Herzegovina: Hasan Hadzic, Director Tuzla Prison Camp (Engl)
Bosnia-Herzegovina: Hasan Hadzic, Tuzla Prison Camp (Bosnian)
Jasminka Berbić, inspector of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (in a letter she composed and read to the prisoners the last day of the course):
“I wanted with all my heart that the Bosnian Art of Living enters the KPZ Tuzla, so that the ones who were ready could take this unforgettable journey. The first day of the course you were scared, sad-faced, lifeless, absent-minded, distrustful, closed in your own shells that supposedly protected you from the outside world.
They say when the student is ready the teacher “appears on his own”. As the days were going by you had more self-confidence, smiled more, you were more ready to work on yourselves and for yourselves.
The day we were taking our picture together you were all wearing make-up, dressed tidy and smelled nicely with big smiles on your faces. Just looking at you made me feel a sweetness I have not tasted for long time.
In my heart I knew you felt how much we cared about you and you accepted our extended hand. Do not live in the past, it is here only to be able to learn from. Live in the present moment because that is all we have. Do not judge yourselves for the things you have done in the past, you are not the same people anymore. Your soul has suffered enough and is now ready to exit the darkness and go into the light. Do not spend your energy on judging past actions – use them to turn mud into gold. Know that you will also be a good teacher to someone else, that you yourselves will extend the hand of salvation. Be grateful to the prison personnel for helping us, even when our requests and demands were seemingly impossible.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to assist this beautiful and unforgettable course. Trust me, I have learned a lot with you, you were my teachers…”