Muslim Abu Safiyyah Bosnia and Herzegovina - Part 1

19/11/2011

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA Part 1

Bosnia and Herzegovina is situated between Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro on the Balkan Peninsula. It benefits from 26 kilometres of coastline on the Adriatic Sea surrounding the town of Neum. Official languages are Bosnian and Croatian which have Slavic origins but German is also widespread due to the many Bosnians that fled to Austria and Germany during the 1992 Balkan war. Arabic and Turkish are usually spoken by the students of Islamic knowledge. Most young people are now learning English as a means to find work. Its population in 2011 is estimated to 4.6 Million people from which 40 % are Muslims, 30% Orthodox, 15% Roman Catholic and 15% others. The country is divided into two autonomous entities that emerged from the former Yugoslavia during the Balkan Wars of the 1990s; The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (In which most Muslims and Roman Catholics live) and the Republika Srpska (In which most Orthodox live). Its capital city is Sarajevo which many locals refer to as the Jerusalem of Europe due to its mixture of religious groups living together. It is however said that Islam is the predominant Religion, especially in Sarajevo where the Muslims make up to 80% of the population. Bosnia and Herzegovina is not part of the European Union but is seen as a potential candidate for membership. Its currency is the KM (Konvertible Mark) although the Euro is also welcome in most shops in the cities.

Muslim Abu Safiyyah Bosnia and Herzegovina - Part 1

19/11/2011

The region of Bosnia became Muslim territory in the year 1463, when the Ottoman army entered the region and Herzegovina followed a few years later.
Map of Europe, 1560

The Muslims of that region developed their own culture and identity during that time and many remained Muslims even after the departure of the Ottomans. Bosnia went through many wars and conflicts and was strongly influenced by its AustroHungarian rulers during the period of 1878 and 1918.

After World War 1 (1918), Bosnia and Herzegovina became part of the Kindom of Yugoslavia which lasted up to World War 2, where is was invaded by Germany in 1941. At the end World War 2, the affairs of the Muslims were at worst. The socialist period of Yugoslavia began, which lasted almost 50 years (19451992). It is said that the Adhan was not called anymore and that Mosques became museums and social centres where alcohol and cigarettes were consumed. The Muslims at that time only knew they were Muslims because of their names. Islam was not a religious affair anymore but rather an affair of ethnicity, i.e. I am Muslim meant I am a Bosniak.