Islamic leaders offer different views

Heads of two the Islamic communities in Serbia have differently informed Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) about the position of Muslim in Serbia. Chief Mufti of the Islamic Community in Serbia Muamer Zukorlic complained about religious, ethnic discrimination and discrimination in education. Islamic leaders offer different views On the other hand, Reis-ul-Ulema of the Islamic Community of Serbia Adem Zilkic said that aside from sporadic cases, there was no violation of religious rights in Serbia. He criticized Belgrade for not being able to provide land for construction of a Muslim cemetery in the capital and over media blockade of activities of the Islamic Community of Serbia in both local and regional media. During a one-hour meeting with PACE co-rapporteurs, who afterward went to Novi Pazar, Zilkic said that 72 Islamic religious buildings had been built during the last three years which was a proof that there was no violation of religious rights in Serbia, the Riyaset of the Islamic Community of Serbia announced. “There are cases that could be considered shameful for Serbia and Belgrade. It’s unacceptable that a city such as Belgrade cannot provide a location for a Muslim cemetery for years,” he pointed out. The reis-ul-ulema, however, told the PACE rapporteurs that the Riyaset had launched an initiative which was going very slowly though. However, the Islamic Community of Serbia is hoping that this, as well as all other Muslim issues, will be solved through agreement and mutual cooperation with representatives of the city and state authorities, he stressed. The Meshihat of the Islamic Community in Serbia has announced that Zukorlic informed the PACE rapporteurs about the most significant forms of discrimination, attempt to tear up the Islamic community, stealing of waqf property, expulsion of representatives of the Islamic Community in Serbia from the government Commission for Religious Education. The chief mufti pointed out numerous malfeasances of the Human and Minority Rights Ministry regarding electoral roll, election procedure and activities regarding forming of the Bosniak National Council. He stressed that each attack on three pillars of stability in that part of Serbia – the Islamic Community, Bosniak National Council and International University was an attack on the region’s stability. When asked about autonomy of Sandzak, Zukorlic said that “Bosniaks’ request for establishment of Sandzak’s autonomy is a direct consequence of constitutional definition of the state of Serbia as a state of the Serbian people.” “This means that in the case the state was defined as a civil state, the Bosniaks probably wouldn’t have the need for autonomy,” the chief mufti pointed out.

Islamic leaders offer different views

On the other hand, Reis-ul-Ulema of the Islamic Community of Serbia Adem Zilkić said that aside from sporadic cases, there was no violation of religious rights in Serbia.

He criticized Belgrade for not being able to provide land for construction of a Muslim cemetery in the capital and over media blockade of activities of the Islamic Community of Serbia in both local and regional media.

During a one-hour meeting with PACE co-rapporteurs, who afterward went to Novi Pazar, Zilkić said that 72 Islamic religious buildings had been built during the last three years which was a proof that there was no violation of religious rights in Serbia, the Riyaset of the Islamic Community of Serbia announced.

“There are cases that could be considered shameful for Serbia and Belgrade. It’s unacceptable that a city such as Belgrade cannot provide a location for a Muslim cemetery for years,” he pointed out.

The reis-ul-ulema, however, told the PACE rapporteurs that the Riyaset had launched an initiative which was going very slowly though.

However, the Islamic Community of Serbia is hoping that this, as well as all other Muslim issues, will be solved through agreement and mutual cooperation with representatives of the city and state authorities, he stressed.

The Meshihat of the Islamic Community in Serbia has announced that Zukorlić informed the PACE rapporteurs about the most significant forms of discrimination, attempt to tear up the Islamic community, stealing of waqf property, expulsion of representatives of the Islamic Community in Serbia from the government Commission for Religious Education.

The chief mufti pointed out numerous malfeasances of the Human and Minority Rights Ministry regarding electoral roll, election procedure and activities regarding forming of the Bosniak National Council.

He stressed that each attack on three pillars of stability in that part of Serbia – the Islamic Community, Bosniak National Council and International University was an attack on the region’s stability.

When asked about autonomy of Sandžak, Zukorlić said that “Bosniaks’ request for establishment of Sandžak’s autonomy is a direct consequence of constitutional definition of the state of Serbia as a state of the Serbian people.”

“This means that in the case the state was defined as a civil state, the Bosniaks probably wouldn’t have the need for autonomy,” the chief mufti pointed out.