In the village of Scipe, near Prozor in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), priest Branko Juric organized an iftar for his Bosniak neighbors.
This uncommon example of interfaith solidarity, held in the birthplace of Juric’s mother, brought together many locals in a warm atmosphere of togetherness.
Juric, who is the director of the Catholic School Center St. Francis in Tuzla and a former rector of the Pontifical Teutonic College Campo Santo Teutonico in the Vatican, said in an interview that he has always gladly visited Scipe, a place to which he has deep family and friendship ties.
Juric arrived at the iftar, which was held in the local elementary school, accompanied by his parents, father Slavko and mother Anica, where they were warmly welcomed by the locals.
Speaking about the significance of the shared iftar, Juric emphasized that such events are an opportunity to share joy and strengthen mutual closeness, especially this year when Lent (the Catholic 40-day fasting period before Easter) and Ramadan coincided.
“So, a shared iftar is an opportunity for us to share joy with one another, and this year, both Lent and Ramadan happened at the same time, meaning a time of fasting. It is a time of spiritual renewal, and spiritual renewal is also a chance to become better people, to try to become better people – so this is a shared opportunity and a sharing of joy.”
“The time of fasting is also a time of spiritual renewal, an opportunity to become better people. A shared iftar carries precisely that symbolism – the joy of togetherness and mutual respect,” said Juric.
He particularly stressed the importance of the role of religious leaders in building bridges among people, especially in places like Scipe, which, not so long ago, unfortunately, were affected by war.
“This is an opportunity to show that we can and should live together and that we need to heal our wounds from the past,” Juric added, emphasizing that true religious commitment implies brotherhood among people, regardless of religious differences.
Amel Imamovic, president of the Citizens’ Association “Klub Scipljaka” and a longtime president of the local community, expressed gratitude for this event, highlighting its symbolic value.
“For us, this is not just another iftar but a strong message of togetherness. It is especially significant because it comes from people who belong to a different religious community. But it is not just a formality – you can feel their sincerity and good intentions,” said Imamovic.
He added that he remembers stories from his father about how Catholics in this area have always shown respect for Muslims during Ramadan, a tradition that has endured to this day.
“My father told me that Catholics here used to hide when eating, drinking, or smoking during Ramadan so as not to disturb those who were fasting. That kind of respect still exists today, and it is something that connects us,” Imamovic emphasized.
The iftar was symbolically concluded with a joint prayer, and attendees were delighted with gifts – products made from organically produced flour from a mill owned by Juric’s family.
At a time when BiH, a country that not so long ago went through a very difficult period of war and destruction, is once again facing serious social and political challenges, the shared iftar in Scipe serves as a reminder of the importance of mutual respect and unity. It serves, as was stated, as a very clear message that good neighborly relations, solidarity, interfaith tolerance, and respect are not just part of tradition but key elements – the essence and core identity of this country, AA writes.
