Sandžak dispute over property could escalate

Representatives of Muamer Zukorlic's Islamic Community in Serbia have warned that they will "protect with their lives" a building in Novi Pazar. This Islamic organization's official Sead Sacirovic said today they would not allow a court decision to be executed concerning the disputed building in this southwestern Serbian town. Sandzak dispute over property could escalate A part of the Faculty for Islamic Studies is currently located there, but a court ruled that it should be reinstated as the property of the Uniprom company, with the order set to be implemented on October 28. But Sacirovic said the building was "waqf property" and that it would be "defended with our lives if need be". He accused fellow Bosniak (Muslim) Rasim Ljajic of having the support of the regime in "snatching the building in revenge for his loss in the Bosniak National Council elections". Sacirovic is editor-in-chief of the Voice of Islam (Glas Islama) publication. The announced execution of the court order has the goal of continuously causing incidents and demonizing this Islamic community and its leader, Zukorlic, said Sacirovic. He also accused the judges who made the decision of doing so "on orders of politicians and tycoons". He said that recent incidents over another piece of property that the city had set aside for a kindergarten, but which this Islamic community claimed as its own, were "a lesson for everyone", and that the state organs will be "careful in their further attempts to snatch the waqf property that we will defend, if need be, with our lives". Meanwhile, Uniprom Director Basri Pljakic told journalists that he had faith in Serbia's justice system and that he expected his company to regain its property after five years of litigation. "It has been five years since the Islamic Community in Serbia usurped the building in downtown Novi Pazar, and now an executive court decision has ordered them to stop trespassing," said he. Uniprom, he explained, suffered serious damages, including providing for the past five years for 40 workers who used to be employed at the department store, and paying dues to the state, including bills for electricity that the company did not consume. He refused to comment on Sacirovic's threats that they would "defend the building with their lives".

Sandžak dispute over property could escalate

A part of the Faculty for Islamic Studies is currently located there, but a court ruled that it should be reinstated as the property of the Uniprom company, with the order set to be implemented on October 28.

But Šaćirović said the building was "waqf property" and that it would be "defended with our lives if need be".

He accused fellow Bosniak (Muslim) Rasim Ljajić of having the support of the regime in "snatching the building in revenge for his loss in the Bosniak National Council elections".

Šaćirović is editor-in-chief of the Voice of Islam (Glas Islama) publication.

The announced execution of the court order has the goal of continuously causing incidents and demonizing this Islamic community and its leader, Zukorlić, said Šaćirović.

He also accused the judges who made the decision of doing so "on orders of politicians and tycoons".

He said that recent incidents over another piece of property that the city had set aside for a kindergarten, but which this Islamic community claimed as its own, were "a lesson for everyone", and that the state organs will be "careful in their further attempts to snatch the waqf property that we will defend, if need be, with our lives".

Meanwhile, Uniprom Director Basri Pljakić told journalists that he had faith in Serbia's justice system and that he expected his company to regain its property after five years of litigation.

"It has been five years since the Islamic Community in Serbia usurped the building in downtown Novi Pazar, and now an executive court decision has ordered them to stop trespassing," said he.

Uniprom, he explained, suffered serious damages, including providing for the past five years for 40 workers who used to be employed at the department store, and paying dues to the state, including bills for electricity that the company did not consume.

He refused to comment on Šaćirović's threats that they would "defend the building with their lives".