Islamic Religious Community of Macedonia

History

There has been organized Islamic religious life in Macedonia since the time when Ottoman Empire started administering this region. All Muslims who lived in the Ottoman Empire were part of the Muslim community headed by the sultan, who replaced the role of the caliph. During the reign of the Sultan Murad II the competences of the caliph were transferred to the grand mufti. Since then, the grand mufti was titled Sheykhul-Islam and was considered the highest religious authority within the Ottoman Empire. However, every region inhabited by Muslims had its own mufti, who was in lower position than the Sheykhul-Islam. After the First World War, Macedonia was under the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. The Islamic community of the Kingdom was headed by Reis-ul-ulama, whose office was in Sarajevo. The Reis-ul-ulama responsibility was to organize the Islamic Religious life in Bosnia and Hezegovina, Croatia and Slovenia, whereas in Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia and Kosovo the Islamic Religious life was organized by the Supreme Mufti (that was in a lower position than the Reis-ul-ulama), whose office was in Belgrade.After the creation of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, the competences of the Supreme Mufti were transferred to the Ulama Majlis in Skopje and the competences of the Reis-ul-ulama were transferred to the Ulama Majlis in Sarajevo. The newly formed Ulama Majlises formed the Rijaset of Islamic Community with its head office in Sarajevo. After the Second World War the Islamic Community of Macedonia became part of the Islamic Community of Yugoslav Federation (Rijaset), with its office in Sarajevo. After the Breakup of Yugoslavia and the independence of Macedonia, this community continues to act as an independent religious community in Macedonia, based in Skopje.

Arabati Baba controversy

In 2002, a group of armed members of the Islamic Community of Macedonia (ICM), the legally recognized organization which claims to represent all Muslims in Macedonia, invaded the Arabati Baba Tekke in an attempt to reclaim the tekke as a mosque, although the facility has never functioned as such. Subsequently the Bektashi community of Macedonia has sued the Macedonian government for failing to restore the tekke to the Bektashi community, pursuant to a law passed in the early 1990s returning property previously nationalized under the Yugoslav government. The law, however, deals with restitution to private citizens, rather than religious communities. The ICM claim to the tekke is based upon their contention to represent all Muslims in Macedonia; and indeed, they are one of two Muslim organizations recognized by the government, both Sunni. The (Shi'i) Bektashi community filed for recognition as a separate religious community with the Macedonian government in 1993, but the Macedonian government has refused to recognize them.

In March 2008, there were reports that the ICM members squatting on the facility grounds have taken control of additional buildings, have been intimidating visitors to the tekke, and have discharged their weapons on the grounds.

2015 Fights

In April Reis-ul-ulema participated in a fist fight with the leader of Skopje Muftiship Ibrahim Shabani in the Macedonian Opera and Ballet parking lot in Skopje. The verbal fight about the upcoming holiday preparation escalated in a physical one with minor injuries. Skopje mufti wanted to fight with the Secretary of the IRC Afrim Tahiri but the attendances of the meeting didn't allow it. Both were reassigned by the Reis-ul-ulema.

On May 4th the recently dismissed Skopje Mufti Ibrahim Shabani with 50 supporters entered by force in the headquarters of IRC. The security fired a gun shot in the air and used a tazergun, but unsuccessfully. Reis Sulejmani was not in the building at the time and was advised not to show up. Incident was reported to the police. The Dismissed Skopje Mufti said they will hold elections for a new Reis-ul-ulema soon and the old Reis is no longer accepted as their leader. The Reis called for immediate action of the Macedonian authorities.

Structure

Islamic Religious Community of Macedonia is dived into 13 muftiships: