Eviction of Islamic faculty postponed

The building that is now housing the Faculty of Islamic Studies in Novi Pazar was to be evicted by authorities today in this southwestern region of Serbia. But court officials did not show up at the premises, and members of the Islamic Community in Serbia, who had gathered at the premises, have now left, said reports. Eviction of Islamic faculty postponed After proceedings that took five years, a local court ruled that a private company, which said the premises were taken over illegally, has the right of ownership. The faculty is led by Muamer Zukorlic's Islamic Community in Serbia, one of rival Islamic organizations in the country, the other being the Islamic Community of Serbia. Zukorlic's organization has rejected the ruling of the court. The tense situation is further stressed by the timing of the eviction which comes ahead of Muslim holidays, said reports. Police said that they would not intervene during the eviction, while Zukorlic said worshipers would defend what the property he referred to as the waqf. "The latest messages are that police will not intervene. That's a good sign. Well, if it turns out that way, we'll say, 'thank you, you're doing better', if not, we'll defend," Zukorlic was quoted as saying. "We will behave adequately, like before, and show that the Islamic Community (Of Serbia) is not a source of instability but stability, and that we react strongly only when we're being attacked, when we're not being attacked, we're very nice," said the mufti. In September, unrest broke out in Novi Pazar over another piece of property whose ownership was contested by Zukorlic's organization. A view of Novi Pazar in southwestern Serbia (FoNet, file)

Eviction of Islamic faculty postponed

After proceedings that took five years, a local court ruled that a private company, which said the premises were taken over illegally, has the right of ownership.

The faculty is led by Muamer Zukorlić's Islamic Community in Serbia, one of rival Islamic organizations in the country, the other being the Islamic Community of Serbia.

Zukorlić's organization has rejected the ruling of the court.

The tense situation is further stressed by the timing of the eviction which comes ahead of Muslim holidays, said reports.

Police said that they would not intervene during the eviction, while Zukorlić said worshipers would defend what the property he referred to as the waqf.

"The latest messages are that police will not intervene. That's a good sign. Well, if it turns out that way, we'll say, 'thank you, you're doing better', if not, we'll defend," Zukorlić was quoted as saying.

"We will behave adequately, like before, and show that the Islamic Community (Of Serbia) is not a source of instability but stability, and that we react strongly only when we're being attacked, when we're not being attacked, we're very nice," said the mufti.

In September, unrest broke out in Novi Pazar over another piece of property whose ownership was contested by Zukorlić's organization.