"Mufti never asked for protection"

Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said that Mufti Adem Zilkic never asked for protection from the police, nor for a license to carry a weapon. Dacic said that Serbian police (MUP) will talk to the head of the Islamic Community of Serbia, after police officers in Belgrade yesterday found two pistols in his car during a routine search. "Mufti never asked for protection" “We will discuss whether there are threats towards Zilkic and see with him and his guards if they will receive licenses to carry weapons, or offer police protection to him, if there is a need for that,” Dacic told reporters. He said that during a routine police check of Zilkic’s car, police found a weapon, which Zilkic said that he had a license to own, but not to carry. Dacic revealed it that it was Zilkic himself who told the officers that he had weapons in his car. The pistols are legally in his possession, but Zilkic had no license to carry them. Dacic said that Zilkic did not object to the search, "since everyone regardless of their position must go through these checks”. The Muslim dignitary claims that he carries his gun for personal protection, and admits he is aware it is illegal. “I was consciously carrying my 40 year old pistol, which I inherited from my father, and which will be with me until the state provides me with adequate protection,” Zilkic said at a press conference regarding the incident. He said that 14 months ago in Tutin, a municipality in the Sandzak region, he applied for receiving a license to carrying the weapon, stating that he is a religious leader who travels every day and that he may needed it for self-defense. He also conceded that his application was never submitted to state-level MUP in Belgrade. However, he said that since the local MUP officials that issue licenses were associated with his rival, Islamic Community in Serbia leader Muamer Zukorlic, he never obtained the document there, or in Novi Pazar. The two Islamic communities are involved in a long-standing dispute. Zilkic also stated today in Belgrade that "if the state does not offer protection, he would organize it himself". He said that he is constantly threatened by phone and text messages spent to his family and him personally, but that he must protect his dignity and was not ready to "play sitting duck". Zilkic added that he informed police and the prosecution in Novi Pazar of every threat he received in the last two years, but that no one has responded. Reports earlier in the day said that the guns were confiscated, and that the case was under the authority of the prosecution. The chief of his cabinet Jakub Lekovic told the Tanjug news agency earlier that Zilkic has been receiving many threats, almost daily, and that his safety is constantly in danger. Lekovic added that Zilkic has informed the authorities of these threats many time, but that they have yet to do anything about it.

"Mufti never asked for protection"

“We will discuss whether there are threats towards Zilkić and see with him and his guards if they will receive licenses to carry weapons, or offer police protection to him, if there is a need for that,” Dačić told reporters.

He said that during a routine police check of Zilkić’s car, police found a weapon, which Zilkić said that he had a license to own, but not to carry.

Dačić revealed it that it was Zilkić himself who told the officers that he had weapons in his car. The pistols are legally in his possession, but Zilkić had no license to carry them.

Dačić said that Zilkić did not object to the search, "since everyone regardless of their position must go through these checks”.

The Muslim dignitary claims that he carries his gun for personal protection, and admits he is aware it is illegal.

“I was consciously carrying my 40 year old pistol, which I inherited from my father, and which will be with me until the state provides me with adequate protection,” Zilkić said at a press conference regarding the incident.

He said that 14 months ago in Tutin, a municipality in the Sandžak region, he applied for receiving a license to carrying the weapon, stating that he is a religious leader who travels every day and that he may needed it for self-defense. He also conceded that his application was never submitted to state-level MUP in Belgrade.

However, he said that since the local MUP officials that issue licenses were associated with his rival, Islamic Community in Serbia leader Muamer Zukorlić, he never obtained the document there, or in Novi Pazar.

The two Islamic communities are involved in a long-standing dispute.

Zilkić also stated today in Belgrade that "if the state does not offer protection, he would organize it himself".

He said that he is constantly threatened by phone and text messages spent to his family and him personally, but that he must protect his dignity and was not ready to "play sitting duck".

Zilkić added that he informed police and the prosecution in Novi Pazar of every threat he received in the last two years, but that no one has responded.

Reports earlier in the day said that the guns were confiscated, and that the case was under the authority of the prosecution.

The chief of his cabinet Jakub Leković told the Tanjug news agency earlier that Zilkić has been receiving many threats, almost daily, and that his safety is constantly in danger.

Leković added that Zilkić has informed the authorities of these threats many time, but that they have yet to do anything about it.