Representatives of the academic, political, cultural, social and religious life of Bosniaks signed today at the Gazi Husrev-beg Library in Sarajevo the “Statement on the condemnation of hate speech, Islamophobia and false narratives about Bosniaks and Bosnia and Herzegovina”.
The signing of the joint statement, which expresses the position on, as it was emphasized, the malicious campaign being waged against Bosniaks and Bosnia and Herzegovina and condemns the attempt to impose the narrative of the “clash of civilizations”, was initiated by the Islamic Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Bosniak Community of Culture, the Muslim Charity Association Merhamet and the Council of the Congress of Bosniak Intellectuals.
The statement was signed by the current Bosniak member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Denis Bećirović, former members of the Presidency of BiH, representatives of the legislative and executive authorities at the state and federal levels, as well as representatives of political parties, and academic, cultural, charitable and religious institutions of Bosniaks.
Reisul-ulema of the Islamic Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina Husein-ef. Kavazović, on behalf of the initiator, thanked the signatories for responding and pointed to two messages that the signatories of the statement are sending today.
“First of all, this is an extremely important message to Bosniaks, as the most numerous nation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, that their political, academic, religious, cultural and social representatives have gathered around an important social topic and that they have an undivided opinion on it. Secondly, today’s message is equally important to our fellow citizens from the other two constituent nations, as well as to other citizens of this country, that there are no responsible representatives of the Bosniak people who accept the narrative of the division of society and the country, nor the public space in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The narrative about the ‘clash of civilizations’ and religious intolerance has no interlocutors among the Bosniak representatives,” the reisul-ulema said.
He added that this message is equally important for friends outside Bosnia and Herzegovina, both in the east and in the west.
“Our historical experience of living together with others and tolerance among nations and religions can be an example to everyone, and we will resolutely preserve this value of ours. I would like to congratulate you on your courageous and responsible act. I hope that in the future we will continue to gather around important national and state issues and confirm our unified positions on what are our proven and enduring values,” said the reisul-ulema.
The Statement signed today categorically rejects the claims about the alleged threat to Christians and widespread anti-Semitism in Bosnia and Herzegovina, assessing them as part of a broader campaign to demonize Bosniaks and justify secessionist policies. It warns that similar narratives have historical continuity and that they preceded war crimes and genocide against Bosniaks, and require a response from judicial institutions to hate speech.
At the same time, the signatories emphasize their commitment to preserving peace and mutual respect, and condemn any form of intolerance towards any nation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The statement also highlights historical examples of Bosniak resolutions from World War II and later initiatives against extremism, confirming the continuity of anti-fascist and pluralistic action.
It is particularly emphasized that Bosnia and Herzegovina is not a space for a “clash of civilizations”, but a society of encounters between different traditions and identities.
The signatories emphasize that Islam played a constructive role in shaping Bosniak identity, the same as Christianity played in the formation of other European peoples, including the peoples living with Bosniaks in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in neighboring countries, and that this identity is not in contradiction with the democratic and secular organization of the state.
It is clearly emphasized that Bosniaks, as a European people, have the right to full political subjectivity, like all other peoples, and that claims that they cannot be a free political people, with all their peculiarities, represent a continuation of the genocidal project.
It is also warned that historical revisionism, Islamophobia and political manipulation pose a threat to the stability of the state.
The signatories of the Statement also confirmed a clear commitment to the European path of Bosnia and Herzegovina, preserving peace and strengthening interreligious dialogue, with the expectation that international actors will also remain consistent with these principles, Fena writes.
