School patron saint day subject of dispute

Schools and Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) are marking St. Sava’s Day today, honoring St. Sava who was the founder of education and church in these parts. Schools mark the holiday as a feast day and students attend the traditional school celebration. School patron saint day subject of dispute However, while schools across the country have been making last preparations for celebrations, St. Sava’s day has become a political issue in Sandzak. The Islamic Community in Serbia and its Chief Mufti Muamer Zukorlic have several times called for a boycott of the school patron saint day, claiming that it represents an attempt to assimilate Muslim children and that imposes Christianity on them. Representatives of other religious communities do not agree with them and Islamic Community of Serbia Mufti Muhamed Jusufspahic said that it was sad that the holiday was marked by attempts to raise tensions and intolerance. He made an announcement regarding the school patron saint day and called upon Muslims to be sober-minded and wise when they judge and reasonable when they speak and act as befitting members of Islam. Jusufspahic congratulated St. Sava’s Day to Education Minister Zarko Obradovic. Some schools in Sandzak will respond to Zukorlic’s call for boycott and will not mark the traditional school holiday today. Minister: Attendance optional Minister without Portfolio Sulejman Ugljanin says, however, that attendance of minorities at St. Sava’s Day celebrations is optional, adding that this goes not only for Bosniaks but also for all other minorities in Serbia. He repeated that he used to tell his fellow citizens that “St. Sava is a foundation of Serbian, religious and national identity” while he was a mayor of Novi Pazar. “We as the government will not allow anybody’s assimilation. Attendance to celebrations is optional. It would be regular if parents attended, not children. Why not children? Because they are children, children are underage, they do not even know their own will, let alone other people’s and there is a possibility of assimilation, that’s why we as the government said it was optional. Those who want to go can come, those who don’t want to, do not have to. It isn’t only about Bosniaks, it’s the same with Ruthenians,” Ugljanin pointed out.

School patron saint day subject of dispute

However, while schools across the country have been making last preparations for celebrations, St. Sava’s day has become a political issue in Sandžak.

The Islamic Community in Serbia and its Chief Mufti Muamer Zukorlić have several times called for a boycott of the school patron saint day, claiming that it represents an attempt to assimilate Muslim children and that imposes Christianity on them.

Representatives of other religious communities do not agree with them and Islamic Community of Serbia Mufti Muhamed Jusufspahić said that it was sad that the holiday was marked by attempts to raise tensions and intolerance.

He made an announcement regarding the school patron saint day and called upon Muslims to be sober-minded and wise when they judge and reasonable when they speak and act as befitting members of Islam.

Jusufspahić congratulated St. Sava’s Day to Education Minister Žarko Obradović.

Some schools in Sandžak will respond to Zukorlić’s call for boycott and will not mark the traditional school holiday today.

Minister: Attendance optional

Minister without Portfolio Sulejman Ugljanin says, however, that attendance of minorities at St. Sava’s Day celebrations is optional, adding that this goes not only for Bosniaks but also for all other minorities in Serbia.

He repeated that he used to tell his fellow citizens that “St. Sava is a foundation of Serbian, religious and national identity” while he was a mayor of Novi Pazar.

“We as the government will not allow anybody’s assimilation. Attendance to celebrations is optional. It would be regular if parents attended, not children. Why not children? Because they are children, children are underage, they do not even know their own will, let alone other people’s and there is a possibility of assimilation, that’s why we as the government said it was optional. Those who want to go can come, those who don’t want to, do not have to. It isn’t only about Bosniaks, it’s the same with Ruthenians,” Ugljanin pointed out.