[Interview with Dr. Mustafa Ceric, Reis-ul-Ulema of the Islamic Community in Bosnia-Herzegovina (IZBiH), by Faruk Vele; place and date not given: "This State Is Controlled by a Mysterious Black Hand" pp4,5]
In his traditional Id al-Adha interview with Dnevni Avaz, Dr Mustafa ef. Ceric, the Reis-ul-Ulema of the Islamic Community in B-H [IZBiH], contends that Europe has consigned Bosniaks to a sort of ghetto, and he warns that "the pestilences of Islamophobia and anti-Semitism are ravaging the world"!
Symbols of Worship
The supreme leader of the IZBiH and top religious authority for Bosniaks also warns of the selfishness and greed that are on the rise in our reality and discusses the major witch hunt against the IZBiH and the consequences of that campaign, the manifestations of Islamophobia in our country, the operations of Federal Television (FTV), and the isolation of Bosniaks through the blockade on the visa-free regime for our country, Bosniak politics, and other matters.
"I wish all readers of Dnevni Avaz in B-H and in the diaspora a happy Id al-Adha. May your holy Id al-Adha holiday be blessed!" the Reis-ul-Ulema said at the beginning of the interview.
[passage omitted on the 2009 hajj and Id al-Adha, the spiritual state of Bosniaks, and Ceric's role as leader]
[Vele] What is the atmosphere for Bosniaks at this Id al-Adha? Much has happened since Ramadan, starting with the famous OHR [Office of the High Representative] schemes imputing terrorism to Bosniaks, the unprecedented witch hunts by some of the media against you personally and against the IZBiH, and including the accusations by the B-H Federation ombudsman about "radicalism and clericalism" in the top ranks of the IZBiH.. Are we living, as you have said, in Guantanamo? Where does that lead?
[Ceric] The witch hunt that is being conducted against the IZBiH is a challenge, and it only strengthens the unity of the IZBiH. Those who thought that they would weaken us with this witch hunt were mistaken. They have definitely strengthened the IZBiH. This generation, our muftis, imams, and teachers, but also all Muslims, have been through the torture of disrespect, disparagement, denial of the sovereignty, authenticity, and freedom of the Islamic Community, and in particular persecution within the IZBiH.
Do you know the story about the axe handle? The trees in the forest rebelled against a lumberjack who came to cut them down. But one tree spoke up and said that they should not blame the axe blade that does the cutting, but rather the axe handle, which is made of wood, with which the blade cuts us.
The Islamic Community is not and will not be the handle that chops off heads. It is the honour of the IZBiH that it will survive all of these attacks. We observe that those attacks are also coming from certain political and media circles that have ideological prejudices about Islam and Muslims. They cannot stand the idea of the IZBiH being free, sovereign, and authentic and protecting the human rights of Muslims or their right to life, property, honor, faith, homeland...
I wish to tell Muslims to fear no one but God. Rest assured that the IZBiH leadership is more united than ever. We are determined to protect the rights of Muslims. Look at who is attacking us and you will see that we are on the right course. On the other hand, there is the Bosnian proverb that says that one should throw stones not at a wild fruit tree, but rather at a better, true apple tree.
[Vele] The media witch hunt being conducted by FTV is especially inexorable. Many believers are so angry about the monstrosity of the accusations levelled against the IZBiH that lately voices have been raised about refusing to pay the radio and television tax in protest. Edhem Bicakcic has said that FTV is paving the way for something more serious. What is the actual goal of the attacks by that broadcaster?
[Ceric] FTV is a public service that belongs to all citizens. They pay for that service and they should decide what sort of service it is to be. The citizens should participate in shaping the policy of that service; it should not be a service of a specific interest group that promotes a timeworn ideological model and mistreats everyone else because they have been given the opportunity to hold a microphone. However, that is not a matter that should be addressed by the IZBiH. The B-H Federation Parliament exists, and it should say what sort of public service there should be and whom the public service should serve: an interest group or the general interest of the nation and state.
We will not allow FTV to interfere with the affairs of the IZBiH, because that very thing has been observable in recent times - the FTV wants to dictate what the IZBiH can and cannot do, like the former Central Committee of the Communist Party.
It is insinuated that we want editorial control over the programming of that entity broadcaster, but in fact they want to decide who is "right" in the IZBiH, who represents the IZBiH, who is saying what they want to hear... As a sign of the IZBiH's enduring support for political constructivism, we signed a special protocol with BHT [Bosnia-Herzegovina Television] for this Id al-Adha. This year they will broadcast the Id al-Adha prayers, and that will happen in the future too. The entity services are not state-based, but rather entity-based. But they want to arrogate the right to be state-based, but also to assume the role of one who is all-knowing and all-powerful and all-judging.
[Vele] You have spoken a lot about Islamophobia. You are criticized as being imprecise and actually using the term Islamophobia to settle scores with those whom you consider unsound. Still, it is ever more obvious that Islamophobia does exist, as evidenced by Bosniaks constantly being accused of terrorism, by the fact that the state prosecutor treats Islamic law, beards, hijabs, and so on as incriminating. Do you agree with the assessment that Islam is literally being chased out of the public life of Sarajevo and B-H?
[Ceric] Islamophobia is a worldwide phenomenon. It is recognized as a disease of this age. It is on a par with the disease of anti-Semitism. We had a joint statement with Jews in the territory of the former Yugoslavia, in which we declared that Islamophobia and anti-Semitism are pestilences that are ravaging the world. Many of the world's human rights organizations identify Islamophobia as a disease like any other disease, including the H1N1 virus.
We in B-H thought that that would pass us by in B-H. But the virus of Islamophobia has not passed us by. It is spreading institutionally. Even in state structures. I hear many complaints by Bosniaks who have been discriminated against in state institutions. What is especially devastating is that we have many cases in which certain Bosniaks are committing torture against their compatriots so as to achieve a position with someone else who is not a Bosniak. That phenomenon worries me.
It seems to me that there is a desire to making working for the state unpopular among Bosniaks, to expel them from state institutions, to make them despise everything associated with the state and thus alienate them from state institutions. In addition, many Bosniaks complain to me that they are simply unable to advance further in state institutions, that they cannot get schooling, that they are suddenly stopped from advancing further. I have the feeling that this state is controlled by a mysterious black hand.
Based on what happened in the "schemes" affair, we can see that there are certain things being done behind our backs. All of this shows that we as Bosniaks must re-examine things and look at where this is leading us. I have the feeling that many are distancing themselves from the Bosniak question and are renouncing the Bosniak cause in order to show that they are multicultural and multiethnic. Well, how can you be multiethnic and multicultural if there are no Bosniaks here and if Bosniaks are being discriminated against?
In the coming period, we must all open our souls to each other and begin talking about which people can bear the burden of our Bosniak destiny in the Balkans as well. We, the Bosniaks, a nation that has survived genocide. We do not have the right to entrust our future and destiny, our children's destiny, to anyone, just as the Jews have not entrusted their destiny to anyone since the Holocaust. Surely everyone realizes that!
But that is not yet the case, and if that awareness does not exist among Bosniaks themselves, that does not mean that it should not be developed. We in B-H and in the Balkans must recognize and clearly articulate our interests, we must be unified when it comes to the fundamental issues of our survival, and we must rid ourselves of the ideological prejudices that have proved to be utopian. They have placed us in a very difficult position, the result being the waging of genocide against us.
[Vele] What is the attitude of Europe and the international community toward Bosniaks? The nation has the sense that they constantly want to regard Bosniaks as a problem, and even isolate them?
[Ceric] We are in a sort of ghetto. Europe is keeping us in a sort of reservation by virtue of the fact that only the Bosniaks have been excluded from the visa-free regime. We in B-H feel suffocated, a feeling that is being generated externally. In such a situation, we too make mistakes. Our interpersonal relations are thus very complex. Our patience and our staying power in putting up with injustice are constantly being tested. The world has admitted its mistakes in B-H.
We thought that those mistakes would be remedied after Dayton. However, we can see that we have policy continuity in relation to us as someone who must be constantly observed separately, analysed, asked time and again to say what we are, what we believe, what our view of the world is, and so on. We are confronted with a logic whereby whoever is good must be punished because he could be better, and whoever is bad should be rewarded so that he does not become worse.
Sofas in Sarajevo
I am not terribly worried, but I am indeed surprised. Because I believe that Europe is founded on democracy and human rights. Why are Europe and the world stalling so much in resolving the Bosnian question? They think that that alone will fix things. And then they level accusations at us in order to justify their own inaction and improper attitude. This time too, we will obviously have to pay a steep price in order for them to recognize that they made a mistake.
I believe that there are good people in the world, political and moral persons who have lately been warning the political establishment in Brussels that what is being done is discrimination against our people on the basis of their religion and ethnicity. There are people in Europe who are willing to exhibit that democratic spirit and fight for human rights. That is also evidenced by the European Parliament's declaration of 11 July as the Day of Commemoration of the Srebrenica Genocide.
That also opens up another dimension. If something is done, if we are present in Europe, if we explain our case, people will listen. But if we sit here on our sofas in Sarajevo and yell, "this cannot go on any longer," but then do anything, then we are to blame, both to ourselves and to others. In that situation, we also have a need to accuse each other of things that have nothing to do with intellect.
[Box, p 4] Building Unity
[Ceric] We are often a victim of our own ignorance, disunity, disorientation, and unfamiliarity. As a result, others make mistakes toward us as well. We must avoid having to again pay for our freedom with bloodshed. In order to avoid that, we must assemble our intellect, build unity, and thus protect our rights and our freedom. Are our leaders aware of that? I think that the people will answer that question in the next elections.
[Box, p 5] About Turkey's Commitment in the Balkans: Why Should We in Sarajevo Not Talk About Values That Connect Us
[Vele] Are you encouraged by Turkey's greater commitment in B-H and the Balkans? Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmet Davutoglu has held out the prospect of Turkey making a strong return to this region, which has provoked major reactions by Serbs and Croats.
[Ceric] I think that Turkey is 100 years late in letting us hear what Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said. But better late than never, as the saying goes. I think that it is time for Turkey to strengthen its commitment in the Balkans. Turkey has experience that can benefit everyone concerned with the Balkans. They managed to keep the Balkans stable for 500 years. That is not insignificant.
Moreover, Turkey has shown in its modern history that it has sacrificed much in order to move closer to Europe and the West. Turkey did a lot to become a member of NATO and a factor of stability.
Turkey carried out reforms that made it one of the greatest democracies in the Muslim world. It has shown that Muslims can practice authentic democracy. Turkey's role in the East has strengthened as well. It is an intermediary between Palestine and Israel, in Iraq, Afghanistan. ..
That is why the West has changed its opinion about Turkey and now sees it as a factor of stability and a partner in the Balkans and in B-H. If Belgrade talks about Turkey, about the Ottoman Empire, then why should we in Sarajevo not talk about the values that connect us historically, culturally, and civilizationally with Turkey?
We are not obsessed with the Ottoman Empire's past, because we want to look to the future, as does Turkey. Davutoglu is a minister who will mark the era of a different Turkish foreign policy. The trio comprising Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President Abdullah Gul, and Minister Ahmet Davutoglu is a boon for world peace and stability.
Source: Dnevni avaz, Sarajevo, in Bosnian/Croatian/ Serbian 26 Nov 09
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