Black house
Kruščica bb, 72250 Vitez1993
In 1993, several Croats were detained and physically and mentally abused in the “Crna kuća” (Black house), located in the settlement of Kruščica in the municipality of Vitez. Detainees were also taken to dig trenches on the front lines of the conflict.
Court facts
Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina
From the beginning of July to the end of September 1993, Croats in Kruščica were held captive in the black house, where the military police were located. The detainees were physically and mentally abused. (paras. 347-348., 353. Minet Akeljić et al., pp. 5, 75-76.)
The detainees were taken to dig trenches on the front lines between the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (ARBiH) and the Croatian Defence Council (HVO) in the area of Zabrđe, Bobaši, Pintra, and Stara Rijeka. They were subjected to crossfire and some of them wore explosives around their bodies. (para. 383-387., 617-618. Minet Akeljić et al., pp. 5, 81-82, 116.)
While in the black house, the detainees were forced to fight each other with fists and clubs, and were often beaten by the guards afterwards. (paras. 398., 411., 508-516., 542-546., 607-613. Minet Akeljić et al., pp. 5, 10, 84, 86, 101-102, 105-106, 114-115.)
The detainees were beaten and tortured in various ways, usually after they were taken out of the basement, and some were forced to have sexual intercourse. (para. 420-571., 575-589., 593-601. Minet Akeljić et al., pp. 88-112, 113-114.)
Finka’s story is about friends whom war turned into tormentors. Together with her underage son and mother-in-law, she was detained in a wooden cabin. She recalls trying to save her wounded son at the site of the “Black House”, where even today there is no sign explaining what detainees endured there.
Finka Bobaš — “Black House”, Vitez
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Black house
Kruščica bb, 72250 Vitez