Sandžak

On Sunday, February 12, a Sandžak delegation visited with Muhamed bin-Nasser al-Hussein in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, so as to talk about the situation of Bosniak Muslims in Sandžak. The hosts to the Sandžak delegation indicated their knowledge of the situation on the ground in Serbia adding that an on sight visit will determine what kind of aid Sandžak will receive. Al-Hussein praised the Islamic Community of Sandžak as being one of the most organized and attentive regarding the observance of religious rules. During the visit, the delegation visited the Islamic Bank in Jeddah so as to discuss future projects. The visit to the bank was followed by prayers at the Ka’aba were the senior delegation of Sandžak pleaded for the help in their fight for truth and freedom.

The following letter was written by a student of Novi Sad University, Serbia, and published by Dnevni List Danas

History has left an indelible mark on Priboj, Sandžak. The area has been ruled by many differing states and rules and is located in a unique geographical location. As a result, Priboj has been and still is a multiethnic area. All citizens of Proboj, including Bosnaiks and Serbs, whether they are Christians or Muslims, experienced the same conflicts, including the most recent war years, and fate has not separated them – yet, fate has also not spared them. Immediately following WWII, Serbia as well as Bosnia experienced skyrocketing development all the while Bosnians and Serbs boasted about their shopping trips to Trieste and Poland and their vacations in Pula. Then, after the exhilarating 60’s, 70’s and 80’s came the gloomy 90’s and the 21^st century during which Serbs and Bosnians waited in the same line to receive a slap in the face from fate, or anybody else for that matter. Good neighborly relations came to be seriously questionable as men in distress change for the worse. Yet, even under these difficult circumstances, neighbors proved resilient and showed that they could get along as they used to during the more carefree times. Unfortunately, I cannot tell you any of those stories out of personal experience, as I was not born during these happy times. My peers and I meanwhile, be they Serb or Bosnian, only waited in line for a slap in the face instead of visiting Triest, Poland or Pula. The war filled our harts with deep fear that we might get “contaminated” by the vile war relations that ensued across the boarder. Prior to the war, relations among differing ethnicities where similar in Priboj and BiH while the mixture became flammable in BiH – in Priboj, we sought to maintain tolerance. Later, we were together in shelters during the bombing, the madness, the power cuts and during the protests, though we did not know why, or for whom we protested. Today, the level of interethnic interaction is very high. For instance, friendships develop among peers of mixed backgrounds; my circle of friends is neither the rule nor the exception. Our stomachs ache from eating too much baklava for Eid, and hard-boiled eggs for Easter. We are all critical of the 1990’s. In Proboj, restaurants and other places of social gatherings are not ethnically segregated as is so often the case in other multiethnic places. Employees hire Bosnians as well as Serbs and classes in schools are mixed. Young Bosnians and Serbs together seek to enrich the lives of Priboj residents, despite the chronic shortage of funds. Handball team coach Alem Toskić represents all of Priboj, regardless of nationality and these days, everybody tries to shovel Proboj out of the snow – together. To be sure, there are disagreements and not all is wonderful. Yet, it is not so important so as to jeopardize existing relationships and centuries of establishing good relations among the people of Priboj.

It is increasingly becoming clear that Mufti Muamer Zukorlić will partake in the upcoming elections of Serbia. Whether he will participate in the elections officially or will play an important role behind the scenes, however, is not clear as of yet. It appears that the Bosniak Democratic Union (BDZ) will play a key role in Zukorlić’s politicking. The BDZ enjoys the Mufti’s full support and is headed by Zukorlić’s brother in law Emir Elfić. In Novi Pazar, there is overall little doubt about the Mufti’s involvement during the upcoming elections. Head of the local NGO UrbanIn Aida Ćorović explained “power and money are no longer satisfactory for Zukorlić” while Rasim Ljajić, head of the Social Democratic Party (SDPS), stated “Zukorlić will experience a debacle should he enter the race. Zukorlić’s entry into the field of politics will cause tension and exacerbate hatred”.

“I Zukorlić na izborima”. Novosti.rs. Accessed February 17, 2012. http://www.novosti.rs/vesti/naslovna/aktuelno.289.html:399775-I-Zukorlic-na-izborima

“Suživot u Priboju”. Dnevni List Danas. Accessed February 16, 2012. http://www.danas.rs/dodaci/sandzak/suzivot_u_priboju.42.html?news_id234117

“Saudijska Arabija Će Pomoći Bošnjacima Sandžaka”. Bosnjaci.net. Accessed February 12, 2012. http://bosnjaci.net/prilog.php?pid=45007

Bosnia i Herzegovnia (BiH)

BiH’s head of the Islamic Community (IZ) Mustafa Cerić has as of yet not proven willing to condemn the growing Wahhabi movement as Europe’s Parliamentarian Doris Pack had requested the previous week. The EU is in the process of drafting a new resolution for BiH that will repeat the same request leveled at Cerić last week. Cerić, instead of condemning the growing Wahhabi movement in BiH, criticized the EU delegates of leading psychological warfare against BiH’s Muslim community. In their fight, so Cerić, “they” are responsible for crimes committed against Bosniak Muslims and even genocide.

Upon member of BiH’s presidency Bakir Izetbegović’s visit with Turkish president Abdullah Gül, Izetbegović foresees an even stronger relationship between Turkey and BiH. Izetbegović stated his content regarding Turkeys growing economic clout and hopes that Turkey will invest “significantly” into BiH’s economy. The president in turn reiterated Turkey’s support to BiH and its path toward a Euro-Atlantic future. Gül also expressed his satisfaction regarding intensified meetings with other Western Balkan heads of state adding that he expects to see results regarding outstanding issues among those states. All participants agreed that the continued trilateral meetings are necessary as good results emanated from these encounters. Among the results of the meeting was that BiH reintroduce agricultural production as there is need and interest among the population to bring back production thereof. Izetbegović is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Recep Tayyp Ergogan who is currently recuperating from a successful surgery.

Following Angelina Jolie’s film debut “Land of Blood and Honey” in Sarajevo, Mustafa Cerić explained that this was the most fortunate event for BiH since the Dayton Agreement was signed in the 1990’s. The film, so Cerić, is significant for BiH as well as for the greater region as it illustrates the aggression and genocide carried out against the people of BiH. Cerić said he was initially nervous “that the movie would only illustrate half the people’s plight and that he would suffer in his hart should there be nobody honest enough to show the cold truth after all the lies that have been told thus far”. Cerić is now sure that Jolie is that person as she is not afraid to tell the truth. Cerić thanked Jolie for openly demonstrating her fondness for BiH and for showing to the world that there is talent in BiH. The Mufti suggested that the movie be shown in Belgrade and Banja Luka because “shock therapy serves as the best medicine against some diseases”.

Should BiH not follow suit regarding the economic framework between 2012 and 2014, the EU will block financial aid to BiH, said head of EU delegation Peter Sorenson. This includes assistance in microfinance from the EU commission worth €100 million. Sorenson assured the EU’s support of the newly formed council while also reminding the ministers about the need to produce tangible results soon. Sorenson explained that it is important the council of ministers find a way to finance institutions on the national level while BiH needs to meet its external debt obligations.

German MP and rapporteur of BiH for the EU Doris Pack expressed distress regarding Mustafa Cerić’s statement upon having drafted a resolution that called for Cerić’s and Izetbegović’s denouncing of the growing Wahhabi movement in BiH. Pack stated that Cerić had raised serious allegations against her person including her alleged conducting of psychological and propaganda warfare against BiH’s Muslims while being on somebody’s payroll to do so. Pack stated that somebody who holds a religious office should “really not speak this way” adding that Cerić’s allegations are especially astonishing to her as she initially received compliments from Cerić’s office.

Miorad Živanović, professor of philosophy at the University of Banja Luka stated that the people of BiH no longer live “next to each other”. Instead, explained Živanović, people are against one another and everything is based on anti-Serb, anti-Bosniak and anti-Croatian sentiments. Živanović stated that published books, movies and songs resonate sentiments of political separation proclamation of “disorders” of the other. Such sentiments have been resonating in Serbia and Croatia for a whole century while in BiH it has lasted 25 years. As a result, according to Živanović, people are reduces to lives their lives along ethnic patterns. As an example, Živanović cited the discourse around the publication of the movie In the Land of Blood and Honey.

“Živanović: Ljudi u BiH žive jedni protiv drugih”. Radio Televizija Vojvodine. Accessed February 19, 12. http://www.rtv/sr_lat/region/zivanovic:-ljudi-u-bih-zive-jedni-protiv-drugih_301172.html

“Mustafa Cerić jedno piše, drugo izjavljuje”. Vesti Online. accessed February 16, 2012. http:/www.vesti-online.com/Vesti/Ex-Yu/203118/Mustafa-Ceric-jedno-pise-drugo-izjavljuje

“EU će blokirati pomoć BiH”. B92. Accessed February 16, 2012. http://www.b92.net/biz/vesti/region.php?yyy=2012&mm=02&dd=dd=16&nav_id=583090

“Mustafa Cerić: Andželinin film je dokaz genocida”. Blic Online. Accessed February 16, 2012. http://www.blic.rs/Vesti/Politika/307375/Mustafa-Ceric-Andzelinin-film-je-dokaz-genocida

“Izetbegović: Turska i BiH bratske I prijateljske zemlje”. Vesti Online. Accessed February 15, 2012. https://www.vesti-online.com/Vesti?Ex-YU/203065?Izetbegovic-Turska-i-BiH-bratske-i-prijateljske-zemlje

“Cerić neće da osudi vehabije”. Novosti.rs. Accessed February 13, 2012. http://www.novosti.rs/vesti/planeta.300.html:366301-Ceric-nece-da-osudi-vehabije