Sandžak

Muamer Zukorlić, mufti of the Islamic Community (IS) of Sandžak, Serbia, pronounced late January the coming of the month of unity and amnesty for those that have split form the IZ. Zukorlić asked for his invitation to be understood as sincere and sent in god faith so as to remedy the damage brought on to the Islamic community of Serbia and all Muslims resident in the greater area. Zukorlić appealed to those willing to accept the invitation stating there will be no additional administrative, nor any other conditions levied against those willing to accept the amnesty. However, Zukorlić made sure to clarify that extending amnesty for the service of reconciliation of the IZ in Serbia does not mean abstention from creating a parallel Islamic Community in Serbia. The mufti added that negotiations that were initiated by Turkey brought to light interesting and important facts while not having specified said information. At any rate, Zukorlić explained that the rancor between the two IZ’s in Serbia cannot be resolved at once while the final results regarding negotiations between Ankara, Novi Pazar and Belgrade are as of yet pending. Zukorlić further expressed his relieve that Turkey and Serbia cannot ignore and demonize Sandžak any longer adding that recognizing said fact is a great step forward. Zukorlić also reaffirmed his view by which Serbia’s government was/is involved in separating the IZ as was proven by the involvement of Serbian top officials during the negotiations. This, so Zukorlić, is contrary to previous statements as the government likened its regret regarding the Muslim community’s division, having had nothing to do with the matters of Sandžak. Now, said Zukorlić, ‘they’ are suddenly sorry. The problem, said Zukorlić, is created politically and it must be solved by way of political avenues. The coming elections, added Zukorlić, will be telling and open the eyes of Ankara and Belgrade.

In response to the above-mentioned amnesty offered by Zukorlić, regional analysts do not consider the proposal appropriate, as it constitutes more of an ultimatum than amnesty. Živica Tucić, analyst for questions pertaining to religious matters, stated that extending amnesty to somebody does imply a dialogue and rapprochement between the two Islamic Communities that have been divided since 2007. To be sure, Tucić deems it right for Zukorlić to wish for peace within the Islamic Community, however, says Tucić, such harmony cannot be achieved by posing ultimatums. Mirko Đorđević, conversely, believes that problems faced by the Islamic Community of Serbia are a creation of political origin and should thus be resolved by way of political avenues. Tucić pointed to the possible failure of the dialogue though nobody had made an official statement regarding the success or failure thereof. At any rate, says Tucić, somebody in the Turkish foreign ministry could have made an announcement as Turkey proposed to mediate in the matters of the IZ simply on the basis of goodwill. Tucić believes that, should the mediation process have failed, Turkey should by no means be encouraged to repeat its efforts. Meanwhile the mufti too appears tight-lipped regarding the outcome of the meeting. Tucić thus recalled Zukorlić’s statement by which history will be the judge regarding the matters of the Islamic Community of Serbia, adding, however, that history will judge Zukorlić, as well as his opponents too. He further believes that seeking to solve the conundrum by way of political involvement is unwise as politics and religion ought to remain separated. Tucić thus advises the Serbian government to remain on the sidelines while offering “good services” so that the question can be resolved successfully. Đorđević meanwhile believes that the problems faced by the IZ ought to be resolved by way of political involvement while he does share Tucić’s sentiment about the failed dialogue that has been mediated by Turkey. Đurđević, however, finds the reason for the failed mediation in the states differing values as Turkeys constitution divides religion and state. Also, Đurđević does not believe that Zukorlić’s extension of amnesty was appropriate as the mufti does not posses the right to pardon anybody. The only way for the IZ to find common ground, says Đurđević, is through dialogue between Muamer Zukorlić and Adem Zilkić, as well as their respective successors. Đorđević further pointed toward the differing nature of the two IZ’s by which Zilkić’s community recognizes Serbia as her home state while Zukorlić’s does not. Zukorlić instead follows the spiritual guidance of Mustafa Cerić, the Reis ul Ulama of BiH. Adem Zilkić has as of yet, and is likely not to embrace the amnesty.

Rasim Ljajić, minister for labour and social affairs, in response to Esad Džudžević’s Bošnjačko Nacionalno Vijeće (BNV) draft, stated that the rights of Bosniaks resident in Serbia are not compromised. Ljajić stated that the problems Bosniak citizens face are the same ones Serbian citizens face. These problems relate to poverty and generally low socioeconomic statuses while rights of identity are respected in accordance with international laws. The problems listed by the BNV, so Ljaić, ought to be resolved by systemic changes while internationalizing them will not relieve any of the issues.

Džudžević’s efforts where also rejected by Muamer Zukorlić who stated his rejection of the BNV headed by Džudžević. Zukorlić explained that he does not recognize the technical mandate by the BNV that has been elected during the last elections and has been recognized by the government. By recognizing the BNV, the government simply seeks to obstruct and overshadow the BNV’s efforts, said Zukorlić. This comes after the BNV’s drafting of a document that requested for the rights of Bosniaks to be accepted. However, Zukorlić expressed satisfaction that Džudžević, who according to Zukorlić is Ugljanin’s mouthpiece, adjusted his rhetoric to what sounds like Zukorlić’s own he employed two years ago. Then, as Zukorlić explained, he was deemed to disturb the peace. Zukorlić thus said that the declaration was “not bad” while pointing toward the yet missing status of the Sandžak area in addition to the Bosniaks status in the Serb constitution.

In the upcoming elections, according to Muamer Zukorlić, citizens will have two political options: One is voting for the Sandžak while the other option is Belgrade. Zukorlić, however, is sure that Bosniaks will choose Sandžak and predicts a win of 70%. It came as no surprise, so Zukorlić, that the Social Democratic Party of Serbia (SDPS) and the founder of Sandžak’s Democratic Party Rasim (SDP) Ljajić joined forces with Sulejman Ugljanin’s Democratic Action Party of Sandžak (SDA). Zukorlić suggested that Ljajić’s and Ugljanin’s collaboration came by Belgrade’s command in the face of Zukorlić who, according to himself, poses a threat to the establishment. Zukorlić then called on all individuals in support for the right of Sandžaklias to join the Sandžak Democratic Community (SDZ) that has formed in 2010. Asked about possible fraud during the upcoming election, Zukorlić answered that votes have been rigged before while, at any rate, no more than 10% of the votes can be stolen. Thus, so Zukorlić, the SDZ will still be left with 60% of the overall votes. Zukorlić again asserted that he is not interested in secession but simply in “speaking the truth”. Zukorlić concluded his interview by reprimanding the analysts who suggested his amnesty to be an ultimatum.

“Zukorlić odbacuje Džudževićevu deklaraciju”. Politika Online. Accessed January 30, 2012. http://www.politika.rs/rubrike/Politika/Zukorlic-odbacuje-Dzudzevicevu-deklaraciju.lt.html

“Zukorlić: Pobede Sandžačka opcija”. B92. Accessed January 31, 2012.

http://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2012&mm=01&dd=31&nav_category=11&nav_id=578562

“Rasim Ljajic: Prava Bošnjaka nisu ugrožena”. Sandžačke Novine. Accessed January 29, 2012. http://www.sandzacke.rs/info/politika/rasim-ljajic-prava-bosnjaka-nisu-ugrozena/

“Analitičari: Zukorlićev poziv je ultimatum”. Mondo. Accessed January 29, 2012. http://www.mondo.rs/s232272/Info/Hronika_i_Drsustvo/Analiticari-_Zukorlicev_poziv_je_ultimatum.html

“Zukorlić: Bratski pružimo ruku pomirenja”. Blic. Accessed January 28, 2012. http://www.blic.rs/Besti/Politika/304053/Zukorlic-Bratski-pruzimo-ruku-pomirenja

Bosna i Herzegovina (BiH)

Darko Trifunović, head of the anti terrorism and organized crime team of Southeast Europe issued a statement announcing that training of radical Islamists was a daily occurrence in Bosnia. Likeminded individuals, says Trifunović, meet under the guise of friendship and recreation in gym halls across the city of which the greatest number – about ten – are located within the city herself. There are allegedly three more “training camps” located in the municipalities of Zenica and Tuzla. Trifunović contends there is a network of 30 such camps in the Federation of BiH. Trifunović pointed toward the existence of recordings that illustrate the training of young men for combat in urban areas adding that one year prior to the attack on the school in Beslan, the team was in possession of recordings exposing young men training for terroristic actions in a school. Trifunović considers BiH a dangerous territory for the training of radical individuals adding that plots to carry out terrorist attacks haven been planned and performed in BiH. However, laments Trifunović, the U.S. government understands these occurrences to be isolated cases rather than regular activity. In extrapolating on the possible gravity of the situation, Trifunović points toward Sulejman Talanović, a citizen from BiH, who in Salt Lake City attacked U.S. citizens. This incident too, says Trifunović, was understood to be an isolated incident by the U.S. administration while in Trifunović’s assessment, the group is well organized and criminal. Trifunović ruminates the group may be supported by the state department and officials who work ‘there’, adding that these people’s career’s depend on the crisis in BiH.

“U BiH obučavaju islamiste u salama za fizičko”. Vesti Online. accessed January 28, 2012. http://www.vesti-online.com/Vesti/Ex-YU/198013/U-BiH-obucavaju-islamiste-u-salama-za-fizicko