Sixteen years ago, Gornja Maoča, the most notorious para-state structure in the post-war history of Bosnia and Herzegovina, became the scene of the largest police operation ever carried out in the country.
In the early hours of the night between 1 and 2 February 2010, just after midnight, more than 600 police officers from several law enforcement agencies entered the village, an area that authorities had previously avoided entirely.
Not only police officers stayed away from Gornja Maoča, but medical workers, hunters, and even animals reportedly avoided the area.
Radical members of the Salafi movement had established what effectively functioned as a parallel system, where the laws of Bosnia and Herzegovina did not apply, but instead those imposed by the local imam, Nusret Imamović.
The extent of radicalization is best illustrated by reports describing daily life in the settlement.
During the operation, more than 30 facilities were searched, and not a single television set was found. While the group’s leader apparently believed television was unnecessary, he did consider computers essential. Police seized 40 computers and laptops. Authorities also confiscated nearly 1,500 CDs and more than 400 VHS tapes.
Although there were no televisions, there was no shortage of weapons. Police seized 18 pistols, seven rifles, 30 pistol magazines, eight hand grenades, 936 rounds of ammunition of various calibers, and 20 military uniforms.
Institutions and laws of Bosnia and Herzegovina had no authority in the village. According to reports, children were educated under a Jordanian curriculum, with boys and girls attending classes separately. Subjects such as art, music, and physical education were not part of the program.
Residents reportedly did not pay for electricity or water for years, or for television licenses. In an interview with 60 Minutesmagazine, a postal worker stated that villagers told him: “We do not accept court mail.”
The strict control over access to the settlement was illustrated by an incident in which a member reportedly killed a dog that crossed an invisible boundary and entered what they considered “their” territory.
The Police Operation
Security services in Bosnia and Herzegovina had monitored the village for years. Acting on an order from the Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the operation began on the night of 1 February 2010. By the time police forces reached the village, midnight had already passed.
The operation was launched amid suspicions that certain individuals and activities were linked to endangering the constitutional order of Bosnia and Herzegovina, threatening territorial integrity, inciting religious and ethnic hatred, and illegal possession of weapons and explosives.
Seven individuals were arrested: Nusret Imamović, Safet Barčić, Dževad Hodžić, Hajrudin Ribić, Senad Midžić, Mensud Čekić, and Edis Bosnić.
Despite the scale and visibility of the operation, its legal outcome was minimal. The Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina initially ordered one-month detention for all suspects, but they were released to house arrest before the detention period expired. No indictment was ever filed.
Jašarević Brought Maoča Back into Focus
Following the operation, Gornja Maoča largely faded from public attention. However, it returned to the spotlight after Mevlid Jašarević’s attack on the U.S. Embassy in Sarajevo in October 2011.
Investigators later established that Jašarević had stayed in Gornja Maoča on several occasions. In January 2012, SIPA again arrested Nusret Imamović, along with his brother Eldin Imamović.
After these arrests, Imamović left Bosnia and Herzegovina and continued his activities abroad. According to available information, he illegally departed the country in 2013, traveled through Istanbul, and eventually ended up in Syria.
Gornja Maoča Today
Gornja Maoča remains one of the greatest mysteries in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Media visits are rare, and journalists are generally not welcomed.
The community’s continued isolation is illustrated by the fact that none of its residents with voting rights participated in the 2022 general elections. In earlier years, they were often encouraged to vote by their former leader, Imamović.
Many aspects of life in Gornja Maoča remain unknown, including the current educational system, Klix.ba writes.
