Fresh trouble among rival Islamic factions

Several people have been injured today as those loyal to two rival Islamic organizations clashed in Prijepolje, in southwestern Serbia. The Islamic Community of Serbia said today that several persons have suffered "fractured noses and jaws" in a fight that broke out after its Prijepolje premises (Medzlis) were "broken into". Fresh trouble among rival Islamic factions "Unknown perpetrators forced their way in at approximately 02:00 CET last night, with several illegitimate imams and lawyer Sabahudin Hajdarevic entering along with them," a statement from this organization said. Worshipers who happened to be inside tried to protect the premises, the statement adds, after which the fighting broke out. "Police quickly arrived at the scene and separated citizens from burglars who were holding out inside the building. After unsuccessful attempts to persuade them to leave, they verbally attacked the officers, so the [police] chief ordered them taken outside and arrested, while the building was returned to the Islamic Community of Prijepolje," the Islamic Community of Serbia said today. The trouble came on the day the Islamic Community in Serbia was organizing its internal elections. The Assembly of the Islamic Community in Serbia has chosen Hajro Tutic as its presidents, while the Meshihat president, who is at the same time the chief mufti, will be selected on July 12. This faction's leader, Mufti Muamer Zukorlic, said today that their "legally elected representatives entered the Medzlisa, but police used brutal force to throw them out, take them downtown and hold them for several hours". Zukorlic accused the officers of "continuing with brutal treatment" of this Islamic organization's officials and authorities, a practice he said he believed "was left in the past". Zukoric was elected to the position he holds today at the Unifying Assembly on March 27, 2007, when the Novi Pazar based Meshihat was renamed to the Meshihat of the Islamic Community in Serbia. But the Islamic Community of Serbia, led by Reis-ul-ulema Adem Zilkic, does not recognize this faction. Official reasons for the split are given in Zukorlic's tendency to see Sarajevo as the spiritual center of Serbia's Muslims, while Zilkic and his followers believe this center is "where Muslims live".

Fresh trouble among rival Islamic factions

"Unknown perpetrators forced their way in at approximately 02:00 CET last night, with several illegitimate imams and lawyer Sabahudin Hajdarević entering along with them," a statement from this organization said.

Worshipers who happened to be inside tried to protect the premises, the statement adds, after which the fighting broke out.

"Police quickly arrived at the scene and separated citizens from burglars who were holding out inside the building. After unsuccessful attempts to persuade them to leave, they verbally attacked the officers, so the [police] chief ordered them taken outside and arrested, while the building was returned to the Islamic Community of Prijepolje," the Islamic Community of Serbia said today.

The trouble came on the day the Islamic Community in Serbia was organizing its internal elections.

The Assembly of the Islamic Community in Serbia has chosen Hajro Tutić as its presidents, while the Meshihat president, who is at the same time the chief mufti, will be selected on July 12.

This faction's leader, Mufti Muamer Zukorlić, said today that their "legally elected representatives entered the Medžlisa, but police used brutal force to throw them out, take them downtown and hold them for several hours".

Zukorlić accused the officers of "continuing with brutal treatment" of this Islamic organization's officials and authorities, a practice he said he believed "was left in the past".

Zukorić was elected to the position he holds today at the Unifying Assembly on March 27, 2007, when the Novi Pazar based Meshihat was renamed to the Meshihat of the Islamic Community in Serbia.

But the Islamic Community of Serbia, led by Reis-ul-ulema Adem Zilkić, does not recognize this faction.

Official reasons for the split are given in Zukorlić's tendency to see Sarajevo as the spiritual center of Serbia's Muslims, while Zilkić and his followers believe this center is "where Muslims live".