HELSINKIBulletin
Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia Rige od Fere str. # 20 , 11000 Belgrade, Serbia tel./fax +381 11 30 32 408; e-mail: [email protected] ; www.helsinki.org.rs
No 40 ● September 2009
Sandzak: Inevitable Radicalization
For over two decades Sandzak – a part stands for an identity matrix for the of Serbia bordering both on Bosnia entire community. That is why the Herzegovina and Montenegro, and mo official Belgrade and Belgrade “services” stly populated by Bosniak minority – have assaulted it, intent to destabilize it has been exposed to the state orche fundamentally. This resulted in a schism strated, repressive policy aimed at mi and tensions within the Bosniak nimizing this minority community. community – all of which, if necessary, The attitude towards Islam and Mus can be easily turned into a crisis point. lims in ex Yugoslavia became harsh Due to the so called conflict within and hostile back in 1980s when the the Islamic Community, as well as the ri Serb elite launched the campaign aga valry between two local parties, i.e. their inst Muslims, along with the thesis leaders – Sulejman Ugljanin and Rasim about “Islamic fundamentalism thre Ljajic, the Bosniak national minority in atening to destroy Yugoslavia.” The Sandzak has been in the focus of public terrain was so prepared for the ensu attention for some time now. That also ing genocide in Bosnia the effects of implied a conflict between the Ministry of which haven’t bypassed Sandzak Bos Religions and the Islamic Religious niaks either. The attitude towards Mu Community lead by Muamer Zukorlic. slims has not basically changed since. However, under the pressure from Eu ropean organizations such as Council of Europe, OSCE and EU, the state has been refraining from overt repres sion but not from other methods like criminalization of individuals or grou ps (Vehabits) and, above all, from con stant undermining of the Islamic Reli gious Community as the only Bosniak institution, crucial for their identity. For Bosniaks, the Islamic Moamer Zukorlic and Adem Zilkic Community manifests their need for After the schism in 2007 (the facti the religion that enhances their ons of Zukorlic and Zilkic) 1 and acts of identity and contributes to their social violence involving the two leading Bosni integration. Their need for a stronger ak parties – Party of Democratic Action identity is understandable as a /SDA/ and Sandzak Democratic Party response to years long discrimination and marginalization, police terror, abductions and murders during the 1 Zukorilic looks upon Sarajevo and recognizes it as a spiritual center of Muslims in the Bosnian war. In the absence of other territory of ex Yugoslavia, whereas Zilkic advocates institutions, the Islamic Community the Islamic Community’s independence from Sarajevo. 1
/SDP/ the situation in the region believers.” 2 The government of the beca me highly inflammable and Republic of Serbia promptly followed in unpredicta ble. The Meshihat of the the letter’s footsteps: Minister of Islamic Religi ous Community in Religions Bogoljub Sijakovic gave a Serbia, headed by Muamer Zukorlic, statement along the same lines, whereas sided with Rasim Ljajic. local authorities in Tutin banned the After the turmoil in May and planned meeting in downtown square. June 2009, the two party leaders – In Sandzak, the leader of the both members of the incumbent Islamic Community in Bosnia cabinet – made peace on July 24 with Herzegovina, Mustafa Ceric, pointed out mediation of Serb and Turkish Foreign that “Sarajevo is a spiritual center of all Ministers, Vuk Jeremic and Ahmet Bosniaks.” 3 He also said that Muslims’ Davutoglu. human rights were being violated, a statement the Ministry of Religions called Visit by Reis-Ul-Ulema Musafa Ceric “unjustified and brazen.” For his part, Zukorlic spoke about alarming facts The developments preceding the indicative of discrimination against reconciliation between the two leaders Bosniaks – i.e. about 80 percent of Serbs laid bare the problems plaguing work for local police forces in the towns Sandzak. The authorities banned a with over 85 percent of Bosniak meeting in Tutin where Reis ul Ulema population. The situation is about the of Bosnia Herzegovina Mustafa Ceric same in the domain of judiciary and was supposed to address citizens and other public services. believers during his visit to Sandzak, whereas the Ministry of Religions and Declaration on Human and Religious the Islamic Religious Community in Rights of Bosniaks in Serbia Serbia exchanged strong accusations. In line with the information about brea ches of Bosniaks’ human and religious rights, the Islamic Community in San dzak on July 4, 2009, adopted the Decla- ration on Human and Religious Rights of Bosniaks in Serbia . SDP and SDA alike denied supporting the declaration, which, among other things, appeals to Bosniak representatives in Serbia’s par liament and government “to oppose fur ther administrative disintegration of the Sandzak region.” The issue itself is most important for development of the San Reis ul Ulema Mustafa Ceric dzak being divided into two administra Prompted by Mustafa Ceric’s tive wholes both of which belonging to announced visit, the head of the two different regions. The idea behind Islamic Community of Serbia, mufti such division was to prevent Bosniaks Adem Zilkic – enjoying support from from turning into an ethnic majority in the official Belgrade though not Sandzak. Bosniaks are, therefore, much exactly in Sandzak – strongly concerned with the announced process condemned the upcoming visit in a of Serbia’s regionalization – actually, letter to the Ryaset of the Islamic whether or not, once ended, the process Community in Bosnia Herzegovina. will round off the six towns in Serbia’s “/This visit/ further contributes to the part of Sandzak into a single regional divisions in the Islamic Community, whole. Branko Ruzic, president of the and notably among Sandzak Bosniaks,” he quotes in the letter. 2 http://www.danas.rs/vesti/drustvo/ Further, as mufti Zilkic put it, the visit mustafa_ceric_nepozeljan_u_sandzaku.55.html?ne “is not welcome in Sandzak” for “not ws_id=160856 being in the interest of peace among Zilkic also requested the state authorities to arrest Zukorlic and ban „any public meeting in the open during Ceric’s visit.“ 3 Danas , May 19, 2009. 2
Executive Committee of the Socialist Darko Tanaskovic, Belgrade’s well Party of Serbia /SPS/ messaged there known Islamologist and member of the would be no ethnic regions. “Those lo former Truth Commission established by oking forward to it will be badly disap Vojislav Kostunica, interprets the pointed. All citizens of Serbia enjoy statements about violations of Serbia equal status and no one should hope Muslims’ human rights as “scheming for the right to establish an ethnically campaigning against alleged violation of homogenous region on the grounds of Serbia Muslims’ human rights.” “This being an ethnic minority,” he said. /campaigning/ will not crucially According to Dejan Jovanovic, influence policies of Muslim states but state secretary at the Ministry of will certainly produce some adverse Economy, stressed that a governmen effects. It’s hardly imaginable that this tal decree would precisely define the could serve real life interests of the municipalities to be included in each Muslims, who live in Serbia, but region. “Guided by expert criteria, the domestic protagonists of radicalization Bureau of Statistics will make a draft. and internationalization of the ‘Muslim The said criteria will be quantitative, question’ are evidently reasoning along relating to numbers of residents, and the lines ‘the worse, the better,” he said. qualitative, relating to each municipa lity’s degree of development. Be it as it may, such criteria are applied in the European Union as well.” 4 UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief Asma Jahangir 5 assessed that Serbia still had to improve the situation in the domain of religious freedoms. Wrap ping up her six day visit to Serbia where she toured several multiethnic and multi religious municipalities, she Darko Tanaskovic told reporters in Belgrade that she took back with her “both positive and Reactions to Ceric’s Visit negative impressions that are backed by first hand information.” “I am awa Adem Zilkic interpreted the visit by re of the painful history of this region the Reis ul Ulema of Bosnia Herzegovina and fully understand that the Serbian in the context of Ceric’s ambition to people – and indeed others in the regi become the Mufti of Europe with on – have deeply suffered on account Zukorlic’s support, which would of violence, atrocities and wars. Fortu simultaneously promote Zukorlic the nately, it seems that Serbia has taken Mufti of the Balkans. He also said that a new turn towards a democratic the Islamic Community in Serbia was not process in which I believe freedom of autonomous but a branch of Bosnia religion or belief should play a central Herzegovina’s community. “Albanians in role,” said Ms. Jahangir. 6 Serbia and other Muslims /other than Bosniaks/ are, therefore, forced to look upon Sarajevo by national principles,” he explained. 7 The Ministry of Religions of the Republic of Serbia gave its contribution to those allegations. In a release, it accused Ceric of “supporting the secession of Kosovo and Metohija.” Hence the public “with good reason wonders whether or not Reis Ceric threatens the Republic of Serbia with a Asma Jahangir war by Bosnian or Kosovo scenario,”
4 Vecernje Novosti, July 16, 2009. 5 At the government’s invitation, Ms. Jahangir paid a visit to Serbia in April 2009. 6 Borba , May 5, 2009. 7 7 May 2009 www.novosti.rs 3 quotes the release. 8 Opposition parties among Muslims,” 12 “Tutin on Powder and nationalistic circles reacted as Keg,” 13 “Warmongers,” 14 “Ceric Spreads well – their mouthpiece was mostly Religious Hatred, 15 and the like. Darko Tanaskovic. In its issue of May 27, Kurir daily According to Tanaskovic, Mufti run a story headlined “Power Keg,” Muamer Zukorlic needed Ceric’s visit dealing with assessments by security to pass on “eminently political and experts and the Security Information notably less tactful messages than Agency /BIA/. “According to security Reis’s” to Belgrade but also to the experts, a threat of the members of Muslims in Serbia, who recognized not radical Islamic movement recruiting his leadership. 9 He takes that, unlike young Muslims for suicidal actions, who Christianity, Islam is an are specifically stationed in Sandzak, uncompromising religion and that a hovers over us. In his annual report, BIA genuine dialogue between Christians Director Sasa Vukadinovic noted the and Muslims is practically impossible close cooperation between Islamic because, throughout the history, one movements in Sandzak.” 16 side has never been ready for a compromise, whereas the other would not give up its rigid stance. For him, the visit by the Turkish Foreign Minister is not a positive development since Turkey’s interests in the Balkans do not exactly correspond to our interests. “We can remind ourselves that Turkey was among the first countries to acknowledge Kosovo,” adds Tanaskovic. As for Sasa Vukadinovic Muslims’ rights, he says, not only are President of the Parliamentary they not violated but Muslims or Security Committee Dragan Todorovic Bosniaks in Serbia “enjoy positive (MP of the Serb Radical Party/ said that, discrimination in line with the highest judging by the BIA report, “they are well standards for minority rights.” 10 aware of the developments down there.” Speaking of Ceric’s activism, “Some developments I dread are beyond Tanaskovic says, “It would be rather BIA’s control because we have no strange should a politically skillful services to protect the state any longer. manipulator such as Ceric allow As of 2001 those services have been himself the luxury of overtly totally destroyed. The Raska region can supporting Vehabits in Bosnia easily turn into a battlefield, which I fear Herzegovina at the moment he tries to would happen under the baton of US and tie his boat strongly to the American EU,” said Todorovic. The Democratic ship. What response he would get Party of Serbia /DSS/ released that the from, say, Jewish and American situation in Sandzak could radicalize as participants of the recent meeting in a consequence of Muamer Zukorlic’s Paris, dedicated to the memory of statements. “Obviously, they are more Holocaust, which he attended as a concerned with politics than with special guest just to capitalize on the religion. The state much react resolutely Srebrenica misfortune for the at any sign of upcoming conflict,” quoted umpteenth time and for propaganda the release. 17 purposes?” 11 At the time, hate mongering messages and headlines dominated in daily papers – “The
Guest from Bosnia Incites Quarrel
8 ”The Ministry of the Religions’ Stance on Mustafa Ceric’s Statements,“ May 22, 2009. 12 Glas Javnosti , May 12, 2009. 9 24 September 2009 13 Glas Javnosti , May 17, 2009. www.sandzaknews. com 14 Kurir , May 21, 2009. 10 http://www.nspm.rs/crkva i politika/ 15 Glas Javnosti , May 21, 2009. ceric dijeli muslimane.html 16 Kurir , May 27, 2009. 11 Ibid. 17 Borko Ilić, Kurir, 27. maj 2009. 4
Inevitable Radicalization of Sandzak Muamer Zukorlic, leader of the Islamic The exchange of strong accusations Community in Serbia, underlined, between political and religious “There is no doubt about radicalizati leaders, as well as deliberate on of the situation in Sandzak.” 18 Glas marginalization of the region by the Islama /Voice of Islam/ magazine also incumbent regime resulted in referred to a “special war” with the Mi internationalization of the Bosniak nistry of Religions and to the need for issue in Sandzak. Besides, “national resistance” in Sandzak. Peo radicalization of the situation in ple from the Meshihat of the Islamic Bosnia-Herzegovina will unavoidably Community in Serbia say, “In the situ influence the developments in ation when the authorities do not res Sandzak and the state’s attitudes pect the Constitution of their own sta towards Bosniaks in Serbia. The te, which guarantees us equality, do presence of and the interest in the not respect the Law on Churches and problematic displayed by Religious Communities or implement international actors (OSCE, Council it selectively at the moment when tho of Europe, EU, international NGOs, usands of Bosniak young men and embassies, etc.) clearly indicate that women are jobless, when the culprits the international community is fully for the crimes in Strpci and Sjeverin aware of a possible escalation of still go unpunished, when yet another violence and further radicalization. division of Sandzak awaits us under In today’s world that is the pretext of the so called regionali strongly interconnected and divided zation, while incumbent Bosniak poli at the same time, the role of religion ticians couldn’t care less, we cannot is most important – above all, its but establish a political council of the communicational dimension that Main Mufti as an advisory and should imply readiness for dialogue. logistic lobbyist body to assist our This dialogue could be based on struggle against discrimination universal human rights, respect for against Bosniaks, but also for human dignity of each and every internationalization of the issue.” 19 individual, tolerance and respect for Many interpreted the establish diversity, compassion and human ment of the political council as a proof solidarity – all of which are major of Mufti’s political ambitions and tenets of every religion. Such a adding fuel to the fire. Belgrade Mufti dialogue has not been launched yet Muhamed Jusufspahic said, “Muslims in Serbia – though it has not made in Serbia are unified by Islam and much progress in other countries in Serbia. Muslims should not go against the region either. Serbia.” 20 As for Esad Dzudzevic of Persistence on the Greater Serbia Bosniak Democratic Party of Sandzak, project has postponed the process of it is not appropriate for a religious Serbia’s consolidation as a state. leader to engage in politics. Serbia’s nation-building is still in process. Even in the post-October 2000 stage the Serb elite has been focused on the establishment of an ethnic state, excluding all minorities – Bosniaks as well. Therefore, continuation of the process of the state’s consolidation and opening of the public debate that would include all ethnic groups without exception should be insisted on imperatively. Belgrade Mufti Muhamed Jusufspahic
18 Politika , 25. maj 2009. 19 http://www.islamskazajednica.org 20 Pravda , „Izdali nas Ugljanin i Ljajić“, 9 septembar 2009 5