IZS chief: Threats still regular occurrence

The Novi Pazar police have identified and detained one person, who two members of the Islamic Community of Serbia (IZS) claim sent them death threats. In a statement, the IZS said that the Community’s leader, reis Adem Zilkic, and the secretary of the IZS’s Tutin branch, Nusret Gusinac, received threatening phone calls on September 6. IZS chief: Threats still regular occurrence The statement added that one suspect had been arrested and that the matter was now in the hands of the competent prosecutor. Zilkic has commended the police’s reaction. Although he still does not feel safe as this was just one of a series of threats, he told B92 that he himself no longer carried a weapon and called on young Muslims to eschew violence and turn to computers. “Sadly, I don’t feel safer. I’m happy with the reaction of the police, especially yesterday, who identified the individual who sent the latest in the series of threats,” the reis said. Police confiscated Zilkic’s pistol about 10 days ago, as he only had a permit to own a firearm, not to carry one. The reis said at the time that he had to protect himself as he received no protection from the Novi Pazar police, which, he said, was staffed by Muamer Zukorlic’s people, the head of the rival Islamic Community in Serbia. Although the two sides are still at loggerheads, Zilkic does expect to receive better police protection. “Sadly, the conditions don't exist, and I don’t carry a weapon as my weapon was confiscated. Even if I had it, I wouldn’t carry it. We’re in the process of seeking out the best solution that will guarantee me some kind of protection, and, in so doing, there’s no longer any need for me to carry a weapon,” he explained. Regarding the sentences handed out yesterday at the Special Court to four Wahhabi found guilty of criminal association with a view to committing terrorism, and in whose possession a large stash of weapons and ammunition was found, Zilkic urged Muslims to consign weapons to the past. “Young men shouldn’t be thinking about weapons. They should be thinking about computers, thinking about positive things, things that make a man happy, things that will give them a better future. Weapons should be left in the past, and they must no longer be found in the hands of anyone in this region,” said the reis. The antagonism between the two rival Islamic Communities has been cited as a key catalyst for the emergence of radical forms of Islam in Serbia, such as Wahhabism. Prior to the four-man group arrested yesterday, a 12-man group of extremist Wahhabi was sentenced to lengthy prison terms in July. They too were found in possession of a large cache of weaponry. Adem Zilkic (FoNet, archive)

IZS chief: Threats still regular occurrence

The statement added that one suspect had been arrested and that the matter was now in the hands of the competent prosecutor.

Zilkić has commended the police’s reaction. Although he still does not feel safe as this was just one of a series of threats, he told B92 that he himself no longer carried a weapon and called on young Muslims to eschew violence and turn to computers.

“Sadly, I don’t feel safer. I’m happy with the reaction of the police, especially yesterday, who identified the individual who sent the latest in the series of threats,” the reis said.

Police confiscated Zilkić’s pistol about 10 days ago, as he only had a permit to own a firearm, not to carry one.

The reis said at the time that he had to protect himself as he received no protection from the Novi Pazar police, which, he said, was staffed by Muamer Zukorlić’s people, the head of the rival Islamic Community in Serbia. Although the two sides are still at loggerheads, Zilkić does expect to receive better police protection.

“Sadly, the conditions don't exist, and I don’t carry a weapon as my weapon was confiscated. Even if I had it, I wouldn’t carry it. We’re in the process of seeking out the best solution that will guarantee me some kind of protection, and, in so doing, there’s no longer any need for me to carry a weapon,” he explained.

Regarding the sentences handed out yesterday at the Special Court to four Wahhabi found guilty of criminal association with a view to committing terrorism, and in whose possession a large stash of weapons and ammunition was found, Zilkić urged Muslims to consign weapons to the past.

“Young men shouldn’t be thinking about weapons. They should be thinking about computers, thinking about positive things, things that make a man happy, things that will give them a better future. Weapons should be left in the past, and they must no longer be found in the hands of anyone in this region,” said the reis.

The antagonism between the two rival Islamic Communities has been cited as a key catalyst for the emergence of radical forms of Islam in Serbia, such as Wahhabism.

Prior to the four-man group arrested yesterday, a 12-man group of extremist Wahhabi was sentenced to lengthy prison terms in July. They too were found in possession of a large cache of weaponry.