Parliament hosts Bairam reception

Serbia’s Islamic community is today marking Ramadan Bairam in the National Parliament building. The reception ceremony due to take place today in the parliament building, met with disapproval from Labor and Social Policy Minister Rasim Ljajic’s Sandzak Democratic Party. Parliament hosts Bairam reception SDP deputy Mujo Mukovic believes that the reception should be cancelled as “it could appear that the parliament has taken the side of the self-proclaimed new Islamic community which lacks the support of Sandzak Muslims.” However, Parliamentary Speaker Oliver Dulic said it was not possible to cancel the ceremony. “Three days ago I received a request to have the reception cancelled owing to differences of opinion within the Islamic community. I wish to stay out of their conflict and in no way interfere in their affairs. But I have to say that I opened parliament’s doors to the Islamic community for this ceremony before the rift in the community had begun,” said Dulic. “One cannot cancel what has been organized in advance, with 600 invitations already sent out,” added the speaker. Opposition parties contend that Belgrade has no right to interfere in what they say “are conflicts between two factions within the Islamic community.” Even though MPs disagree over the reasons behind the conflict, they all believe that ongoing tensions will abate. Yesterday, ahead of Ramadan Bairam, the newly-appointed Reis-ul-ulema of Serbia’s Islamic community, Adem Zilkic, attended the official community rally in Novi Pazar’s central square. A group of supporters of mufti Muamer Zukorlic jeered Zukoric as Zilkic addressed the crowd. Several hundred people chanted “Traitors, go to Belgrade”, and “Out with thieves”. There was a heavy police presence at the gathering, but the event passed off peacefully and without incidents. Zukorlic, the chief mufti of the Islamic community based in Novi Pazar, met with a delegation of EU observers and said “the problems in Sandzak will be solved as soon as the state begins to adhere to the Law on churches and religious communities.”

Parliament hosts Bairam reception

SDP deputy Mujo Muković believes that the reception should be cancelled as “it could appear that the parliament has taken the side of the self-proclaimed new Islamic community which lacks the support of Sandžak Muslims.”

However, Parliamentary Speaker Oliver Dulić said it was not possible to cancel the ceremony.

“Three days ago I received a request to have the reception cancelled owing to differences of opinion within the Islamic community. I wish to stay out of their conflict and in no way interfere in their affairs. But I have to say that I opened parliament’s doors to the Islamic community for this ceremony before the rift in the community had begun,” said Dulić.

“One cannot cancel what has been organized in advance, with 600 invitations already sent out,” added the speaker.

Opposition parties contend that Belgrade has no right to interfere in what they say “are conflicts between two factions within the Islamic community.” Even though MPs disagree over the reasons behind the conflict, they all believe that ongoing tensions will abate.

Yesterday, ahead of Ramadan Bairam, the newly-appointed Reis-ul-ulema of Serbia’s Islamic community, Adem Zilkić, attended the official community rally in Novi Pazar’s central square.

A group of supporters of mufti Muamer Zukorlić jeered Zukorić as Zilkić addressed the crowd. Several hundred people chanted “Traitors, go to Belgrade”, and “Out with thieves”. There was a heavy police presence at the gathering, but the event passed off peacefully and without incidents.

Zukorlić, the chief mufti of the Islamic community based in Novi Pazar, met with a delegation of EU observers and said “the problems in Sandžak will be solved as soon as the state begins to adhere to the Law on churches and religious communities.”