Belgrade hits back at Bosnian IC

The Religion Ministry dismissed the remarks of the "subjective, irresponsible and politically biased Bosnian Islamic Community." The leadership, or Riyaset, of the Sarajevo-based Islamic organization was reacting to the latest unrest in Serbia's southwestern Sandzak region and the "situation of Muslims in Serbia". Belgrade hits back at Bosnian IC The ministry said in a statement issued in Belgrade late on Thursday the call made to international organizations "to react to flagrant human rights violations of Muslims" was "cynical, irresponsible and politically ill-intentioned". The statement, sent to Tanjug, also pointed out that police efforts, following developments in Tutin on March 7 and 9, to keep peace and order and to prevent clashes between Muslims are described and condemned by the Sarajevo Riyaset as "brutal attacks of Serbia's police on imams and worshippers at the mosque". The statement also said that "Muslims in Serbia were divided and are divided today precisely by the one who calls on the authorities in Belgrade not to do that," and added that the "Islamic Community Constitution in Bosnia-Herzegovina prescribes that Sandzak Islamic Community meshihats, the Islamic Community in Croatia and the Islamic Community in Slovenia are constituent parts of the Islamic Community in Bosnia-Herzegovina". "Therefore, the Islamic Community in Bosnia-Herzegovina incorporates meshihats from two states and a meshihat from one region in Serbia, even though Sarajevo Riyaset members must know that Muslims in Serbia do not live only in Sandzak but in the whole state territory," the statement said. The Ministry of Religion recognizes all Muslims in Serbia and protects their religious rights and freedom, it said, "unlike the Riyaset in Sarajevo, which seems to think that freedoms and rights belong only to those Muslims in Serbia who support Mufti [Muamer] Zukorlic and recognize Reis [Mustafa] Ceric as their supreme religious head". The ministry said that "the security, freedom and rights of Muslims in Serbia are violated precisely by Muslims who support Reis Ceric and Mufti Zukorlic". Reis-ul-Ulema Adem Zilkic of the Islamic Community of Serbia also Thursday criticized the interference of the Riyasat of the Islamic Community of Bosnia-Herzegovina and Reis-ul-Ulema Mustafa Ceric in the relations among Muslims in Serbia, pointing out that this could "further deepen the already deep divisions" that exist in Serbia's Sandzak region. In a statement for Tanjug, Zilkic appealed to Ceric "as a brother" and asked him to take this fact into consideration and to resolve all "misunderstandings and dilemmas" in a peaceful and civilized way, as believers who are leading religious followers and religious institutions, together with the Head Mufti of the Islamic Community in Serbia, Muamer Zukorlic. "The Islamic Community of Serbia is independent and it can communicate with the Islamic Community of Bosnia-Herzegovina strictly on a parity basis," Zilkic said. The meshihat of the Islamic Community of Serbia based in Sandzak, where the Bosniak population is predominant, has the absolute authority to realize spiritual, cultural, educational, economic, and any other ties with Bosnia-Herzegovina, he said. The split between the Zilkic-led Islamic Community of Serbia and Zukorilic's Islamic Community in Serbia was made official last October after years of simmering tension. Their followers have been involved in a number of clashes that included shooting incidents. Police intervene during the recent riots (Beta)

Belgrade hits back at Bosnian IC

The ministry said in a statement issued in Belgrade late on Thursday the call made to international organizations "to react to flagrant human rights violations of Muslims" was "cynical, irresponsible and politically ill-intentioned".

The statement, sent to Tanjug, also pointed out that police efforts, following developments in Tutin on March 7 and 9, to keep peace and order and to prevent clashes between Muslims are described and condemned by the Sarajevo Riyaset as "brutal attacks of Serbia's police on imams and worshippers at the mosque".

The statement also said that "Muslims in Serbia were divided and are divided today precisely by the one who calls on the authorities in Belgrade not to do that," and added that the "Islamic Community Constitution in Bosnia-Herzegovina prescribes that Sandžak Islamic Community meshihats, the Islamic Community in Croatia and the Islamic Community in Slovenia are constituent parts of the Islamic Community in Bosnia-Herzegovina".

"Therefore, the Islamic Community in Bosnia-Herzegovina incorporates meshihats from two states and a meshihat from one region in Serbia, even though Sarajevo Riyaset members must know that Muslims in Serbia do not live only in Sandžak but in the whole state territory," the statement said.

The Ministry of Religion recognizes all Muslims in Serbia and protects their religious rights and freedom, it said, "unlike the Riyaset in Sarajevo, which seems to think that freedoms and rights belong only to those Muslims in Serbia who support Mufti [Muamer] Zukorlić and recognize Reis [Mustafa] Cerić as their supreme religious head".

The ministry said that "the security, freedom and rights of Muslims in Serbia are violated precisely by Muslims who support Reis Cerić and Mufti Zukorlić".

Reis-ul-Ulema Adem Zilkić of the Islamic Community of Serbia also Thursday criticized the interference of the Riyasat of the Islamic Community of Bosnia-Herzegovina and Reis-ul-Ulema Mustafa Cerić in the relations among Muslims in Serbia, pointing out that this could "further deepen the already deep divisions" that exist in Serbia's Sandžak region.

In a statement for Tanjug, Zilkić appealed to Cerić "as a brother" and asked him to take this fact into consideration and to resolve all "misunderstandings and dilemmas" in a peaceful and civilized way, as believers who are leading religious followers and religious institutions, together with the Head Mufti of the Islamic Community in Serbia, Muamer Zukorlić.

"The Islamic Community of Serbia is independent and it can communicate with the Islamic Community of Bosnia-Herzegovina strictly on a parity basis," Zilkić said.

The meshihat of the Islamic Community of Serbia based in Sandžak, where the Bosniak population is predominant, has the absolute authority to realize spiritual, cultural, educational, economic, and any other ties with Bosnia-Herzegovina, he said.

The split between the Zilkić-led Islamic Community of Serbia and Zukorilić's Islamic Community in Serbia was made official last October after years of simmering tension. Their followers have been involved in a number of clashes that included shooting incidents.