The High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Christian Schmidt, addressed the issues of the construction of the Croatian National Theatre building and the construction of the Mevlana Center in the report he will submit to the United Nations (UN) Security Council.
Schmidt stated that the Council for Religious Affairs and the Council for Administrative Affairs gave their support to the construction of the Mevlana center, calling on the city administration to respect the legal requirements of the Islamic Community and called for international intervention to prevent the marginalization of Bosniaks.
As noted by the High Representative in BiH, the Muftiate of Mostar launched a fund in January for the construction of the Mevlana Center, which sparked legal and statutory controversies – specifically, HDZ and HRS stressed the need to adopt the required plans while securing a sufficient majority in the City Council (24 out of 35 votes).
Financial support from Croatia
“In the meantime, the construction of the Croatian National Theatre within the Central Zone in Mostar continues with strong financial support from the Republic of Croatia. The Mostar Muftiate rejected its claims, accusing the city authorities of deliberately obstructing the projects of the Islamic Community,” the report states, adding that Mayor Mario Kordic cites legal barriers as an obstacle to the construction of the Mevlana center.
The report also states that the citizens’ association Mostarski krug held a public debate on April 3rd, 2025, on the legality of the construction of the Croatian National Theatre in the central zone of Mostar.
The report also states that their experts presented documentation and correspondence with city authorities and the Office of the High Representative (OHR), claiming that the project does not have the appropriate permits and that it bypassed procedures.
“Symbol of domination”
It is also stated that the discussion emphasized the Croatian National Theatre as a symbol of domination by the HDZ BiH in contrast to the lack of support for Bosniak and Serb initiatives.
“Mostarski krug requested my participation in assessing the legality of the construction and ensuring equal rights for the construction of a Jewish cultural center with a synagogue, an intercultural center at the request of the Islamic Community, and the restoration of the buildings of the Serb Municipality, which was also subject to obstruction,” it is stated, with an emphasis that this concerns the Central Zone.
