Formation 1882 Official language Bosnian | Type Religious organization Reis Husein Kavazović | |
Headquarters Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina Region served Bosnia and Herzegovina
Sandžak
Serbia
Croatia
Slovenia
Bosniak diaspora
Hungary | ||
The Islamic Community of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Bosnian: Islamska zajednica Bosne i Hercegovina, IZ BiH) is a religious organisation of Muslims in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It's also recognised as the highest representative body of Muslims in the region, especially in Serbia (Sandžak), Croatia, Slovenia, Montenegro and Hungary.
Contents
The current leader is Husein Kavazović.
History
The Islamic Community was established in 1882 during the Austrian-Hungarian rule over Bosnia and Herzegovina. After creation of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, the seat of the Islamic Community was moved from Sarajevo to Belgrade. The Islamic Community of Bosnia and Herzegovina broke away from Belgrade in 1993, soon after Bosnia and Herzegovina become independent.
The Islamic Community of Bosnia and Herzegovina was initially weak, but with the help from Alija Izetbegović, Bosnia and Herzegovina's president, as well as key military leaders, it become a pillar of the Bosniak national identity. Under tenure of the Grand Mufti Mustafa Cerić, who held this office from April 1993 until November 2012, the Islamic Community promoted Bosniak culture, politics and identity, with its influence extending beyond the faithful and attracting many who were not practicing Muslims during the socialist period, as well as Bosniaks living in the Serbian region of Sandžak and elsewhere.
Grand Muftis of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Grand Muftis of Yugoslavia
Grand Muftis of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Jurisdiction
The Islamic Community of Bosnia and Herzegovina and head of the community, Grand Mufti of Bosnia and Herzegovina, are highest religious authorities for approximately 4 million Muslims in the world. The Islamic Community of Bosnia and Herzegovina has jurisdiction over the entire Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as Croatia through muftiluk of Zagreb, headed by Aziz Hasanović, Slovenia and Bosniak religious communities and mosques around the world. However, there is a dispute in Serbia over what Islamic Community has jurisdiction over the country, Bosnian or Serbian. Sandžak Mufti Muamer Zukorlić, who is supported by the ex-Grand Mufti Mustafa Cerić, wants that they remain under the jurisdiction of the Islamic Community of Bosnia and Herzegovina, while Grand Mufti Adem Zilkić wants to expand the jurisdiction of the Islamic Community of Serbia to the entire country. He was supported by the deceased Grand Mufti of Yugoslavia Hamdija Jusufspahić, and later by Hamdija's son Muhamed.
Islamic Community of Montenegro, although not formally under jurisdiction of Islamic Community of Bosnia and Herzegovina, recognizes Grand Mufti of Bosnia and Herzegovina as a highest moral authority of Muslims in the region.
The highest body of Muslims in Hungary, Hungarian Islamic Council, have expressed willingness to become part of Islamic Community of Bosnia and Herzegovina and for Grand Mufti of Bosnia and Herzegovina to act as supreme religious authority for Hungarian Muslims.