Bosnian capital shaken by radical Islam (moderate muslims under attack by Wahhabism)

AFP via Yahoo ^ | 6/16/2006 | Rusmir Smajilhodzic

[Dark Skies]

The people of Sarajevo, renowned for their pluralism, have been shaken after a series of incidents including the murder of a Muslim woman by her Islamic extremist son who questioned her faith.

Upholders of Bosnia's moderate version of Islam say the problem caused by an influx of hardline fighters during the country's 1992-1995 war has worsened in recent months, highlighted by the gruesome murder.

"Bosnia's tradition of Islam is tolerant, it promotes pluralism and we should not allow those representing a one-track ideology to teach us," says Jasmin Merdan.

The 26-year-old -- a practising Muslim who portrays himself as a "victim" of the Wahhabi ideology before abandoning it -- is one of the few courageous voices in Bosnia who dares to criticise extremism.

"They express their convictions with violence, introduce anarchy in mosques and preach intolerance," says Merdan, who recently founded an association in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo to fight against "those who deny basic teachings of Islam".

Supported by a handful of independent journalists, Merdan recently published a book condemning the harmful influence on Bosnian people of Wahhabism, a radical version of Islam.

Merdan says the book was "warmly welcomed by imams who do not dare to speak" but sparked death threats against him and pressure from members of the Wahhabi community.

Several incidents since the beginning of the year have shaken Sarajevo and confirmed Merdan's fears.

In February, a young man who recently converted to Wahhabism killed his mother reportedly because she refused to join him for morning prayers.

After the murder, the 23-year-old went to a "Wahhabi" mosque with blood on his hands and clothes, telling his fellow believers that he just made a "sacrifice to God".

In addition, several young couples have complained to the local media and police that they had been harassed by "bearded" men in parks while they were kissing and hugging.

According to Merdan, they were members of the so-called "Sharia militia" -- a group of self-styled religious police. However local police said they were not aware of the group's existence.

Wahhabism is a hardline version of Islam that originated in 18th century Saudi Arabia. It took its roots in Bosnia, whose Muslims are mostly followers of moderate Islam, in the country's 1992-1995 war.

During the conflict, hundreds of volunteers from Islamic countries -- known as "holy warriors" or mujahedin -- came to Bosnia to fight alongside its mainly Muslim army.

All of the foreign fighters were expected to leave the country following the war, but an unknown number of them remained and obtained Bosnian citizenship mostly by marrying local women.

"Since the war, the number of followers of Wahhabism has been growing," says Merdan, slamming the "passiveness" of Bosnia's laic and religious authorities.

Some 40 percent of Bosnia's 3.8 million inhabitants are Muslims. Orthodox Christian Serbs represent about 31 percent, while Roman Catholic Croats account for around 10 percent.

Merdan voiced regret that the Bosnian Muslim religious leader, Mustafa Ceric, has never publicly condemned the activities of the Wahhabists.

Meanwhile, the editor-in-chief of a Bosnian weekly, Vildana Selimbegovic, deplored the "isolation" of the few Muslim theologians who voice their dissatisfaction with the presence of Wahhabists.

"Politicians do no want to or are too afraid to talk. The majority of Muslims remain silent. It seems that they will remain silent until the devil claims his due," Selimbegovic wrote in the weekly Dani.

Sarajevo's imposing King Fahd Mosque, named after the late Saudi monarch who financed its construction, has in the past few years become the core of Bosnian followers of Wahhabism.

"Sometimes I ask myself whether I am really in Sarajevo. The number of bearded men and women dressed in chadors will soon be equal to other people," comments Adnan, a young Muslim who lives near the mosque.

Adnan says that the King Fahd Mosque has attracted a number of Wahhabi families from surrounding neighborhoods.

"They try the same recipe as in Sudan or other Arab countries," says Merdan.

"If we allow them, in 20 years, people like me will not be allowed to speak," he stresses.

[FormerLib]

Let the Muhammedan reap what they have sown.

[Gritty]

In February, a young man who recently converted to Wahhabism killed his mother reportedly because she refused to join him for morning prayers.

Incredible.

Can you just imagine murdering your own mother because she won't pray with you!!??

Of course, that's not much different than murdering your own daughter because she's dating an infidel.

"If you want to understand the nature of Islam, visualize a tapestry of snakes" - Brigitte Gabriel

[Dark Skies]

Can you just imagine murdering your own mother because she won't pray with you!!??

I was thinking the same thing. Wahhabism has the power to motivate an adherent to override one of the most powerful human taboos (matricide)...and then brag it. And this reportedly from a recent convert.

This sounds more like demonic possession than psychopathy.

[F-117A]

Where's Waldo?

Hoplite appears to be silent on this.

No comments Hoppy?

[Hoplite]

If the Serbs didn't want wahabbis in Bosnia, they shouldn't have gotten all stupid in 1992.

But in typical Serb fashion, they not only screwed themselves, but jacked up the neighborhood in the process of getting their asses beat.

Way to go.

[oilfieldtrash]

No wonder the Bosnian Serbs want out.

I went to Sarajevo in 1985 and I didnt see one veiled woman. I wonder what it is like now?

[F-117A]

If the Serbs didn't want wahabbis in Bosnia, they shouldn't have gotten all stupid in 1992.

Typical Hoplite. Just attack Serbs!

Please take the time to read the article. It's some of the Bosnian Muslim that don't want Wahabbis in Bosnia.

"Bosnia's tradition of Islam is tolerant, it promotes pluralism and we should not allow those representing a one-track ideology to teach us," says Jasmin Merdan.

The 26-year-old -- a practising Muslim who portrays himself as a "victim" of the Wahhabi ideology before abandoning it -- is one of the few courageous voices in Bosnia who dares to criticise extremism.

Merdan voiced regret that the Bosnian Muslim religious leader, Mustafa Ceric, has never publicly condemned the activities of the Wahhabists.

Has Hoppy ever condemned the activities of the Wahhabists?

[Bokababe]

"If the Serbs didn't want wahabbis in Bosnia, they shouldn't have gotten all stupid in 1992"

Oh bull, Hopless. Alija Izetbegovic got exactly what HE asked for -- a Mulim fundamentalist Bosnia! Serbs didn't invite these animals in -- Bosnian Muslims did -- and now the Devil wants what is due him for his services! Too bad about these "moderate Muslims", but at least they aren't bitching about Belgrade this time!

[Hoplite]

It's some of the Bosnian Muslim that don't want Wahabbis in Bosnia.

Well set the WABAC machine to April of '92 and see how far that factoid goes with any of the paramilitaries from Serbia proper or any of the Bosnian Serb leadership, Sherman.

Good luck in unscrewing that pooch.

[joan]

Izetbegovic and several other Muslims were seeking Islamic countries' help for an independent Bosnia back in the early '80s.

They were jailed for anti-Yugoslav activities.

As soon as they got out in the late 1980's, they attained leadership positions and again began their quest.

Bosnian Muslims were participating training in Croatia during that war.

[the anti-liberal]

"telling his fellow believers that he just made a "sacrifice to God"."

Yes, and I'm sure God - all-powerful, omni-potent and present, all-knowing, etc, noticed this one certain individual member of a certain group of individuals on a certain small planet within a certain group of planets circling a certain star in a particular corner of the a certain galaxy within a certain Local Group in a tiny speck of a galaxy cluster in a dinky bit of a Supercluster in a... and said to Himself - thank you, son, for killing that doubtful woman for me!

I'm sure of it, I believe!

[joan]

http://www.hvk.org/articles/0802/0.html:

With a group of Muslim activists, Izetbegovic was arrested in 1983 for activities against the state. As the chief defendant, he was sentenced to fourteen years. In 1988, he was released after less than six years of prison.

After the fall of Communism in Yugoslavia, Izetbegovic became one of the leaders in the creation of the SDA party (1990), as a Muslim political party. He was elected President with the support of his old fellows from the ranks of the "YM" and the support of the young radicals. Izetbegovic gave his new, nominally national and civilian political party, a deeply-set religious connotation. As the first president of the collective Presidency of this young state, and by far the most influential Muslim politician on the soil of former Yugoslavia (having ousted his more popular rival Fikret Abdic), the strength of his position allows him to pursue his youthful (pan)Islamic dreams.

…

This fanatical conviction of Izetbegovic - namely that the highest motive justifies every move, every decision, (including that of disposing of his predecessors), has definitely helped plunge Bosnia into the midst of an ethnic and religious war.

_________________________

The following are excerpts from the book "The Islamic Declaration" ("Islamska deklaracija"), written by Mr. Alija Izetbegovic, current President of Bosnia-Herzegovina. The book was reprinted by "BOSNA", Sarajevo, 1990, 127 pages.

p. 37

"... the Islamic movement should and must start taking over the power as soon as it is morally and numerically strong enough to not only overthrow the existing non-Islamic, but also to build up a new Islamic authority. ..."

p. 27

"... The upbringing of the nation, and especially the mass media - the press, TV and film - should be in the hands of people whose Islamic moral and intellectual authority is undisputed. ...

... Islamic renewal cannot be initiated without a religious, and cannot be successfully continued and concluded without a political revolution."

p. 17

"... In perspective, there is but one way out in sight: creation and gathering of a new intelligence which thinks and feels along Islamic lines. This intelligence would then raise the flag of the Islamic order and together with the Muslim masses embark into action to implement this order. ..."

p. 18

"... The shortest definition of the Islamic order defines it as a unity of faith and law, upbringing and force, ideals and interests, spiritual community and state, free will and force. As a synthesis of these components, the Islamic order has two fundamental premises: an Islamic society and Islamic authority. The former is the essence, and the latter the form of an Islamic order. An Islamic society without Islamic power is incomplete and weak; Islamic power without an Islamic society is either a utopia or violence.

[Hoplite]

Alija Izetbegovic got exactly what HE asked for

In April of '92 Izetbegovic was asking for the JNA to protect Bosnian citizens from the depredations of Serbian paramilitaries.

Instead, the JNA openly sided with, and then ceded parts of itself into Mladic's military machine which was responsible for so much bloodshed in Bosnia.

So no, Izetbegovic didn't get what he asked for, and had to take whatever help he could get, from whomever was offering.

The alternative was a Serbian bullet in the back of the head.

Goran Jelisic, doing his part to eviscerate your argument, Brcko, 1992.

[joan]

Izetbegovic and his Muslims massacred the JNA in 1992 as they left their barracks on their way out of Bosnia, after brokering a deal to allow them to leave without incident.

The Muslims did the same in Tuzla.

[joan]

That looks like a posed photo.

Where is a photo after the alleged shooting, showing the man dead? Or where is a photo of the shooters face?

[joan]

Here is Muslims butchery of Serbian POWs - mutilated and bloody. Now where is the proof that your photo wasn't posed?

[Hoplite]

That looks like a posed photo.

To you, yeah.

It's a manifestation of your psychological inability to accept evidence of any Serbian wrongdoing.

Remember the picture from Bijeljina?

Same deal.

The problem is with you, not the pictures.

[oilfieldtrash]

terible pictures Joan. I read 'The bridge over the river Drina' by Ivo Andric and it was terrible. Especially the details about impalement of infidels under Turkish rule.

Bosniaks were Serbs,Croats that converted to escape taxes under the Ottoman Turks. Those that denied conversion were subject to what that poor guy who experienced in Ivo Andric's nobel prize winning works.

Those guys were a sell out and they are getting what they deserve. If Kosovo goes, I hope the Bosnian Serbs insist on it too.

[Bokababe]

All I see is a guy with a gun pointed at the back of someone's head. We don't know if the guy lived or died. For all anyone knows, this photo could have been a couple of Italians or Greeks -- or a scene from a movie.

Or you could be right and it could be a Serb pointing a gun at someone. It was a war. Where's the surprise? People pointed guns at one another and killed each other --that's how a war works.

No one here, including you, has any idea what happened before this photo was taken or what happened after.

Interesting how this came from a German site. They just love those "juicy death scenes", don't they?

[Hoplite]

We don't know if the guy lived or died.

Actually, we do.

The film is from a series (See Brcko 1, 2, & 3) taken by a Serb photographer, and show the self proclaimed "Serbian Adolph", Goran Jelisic, taking care of business, with a silenced Skorpion machine pistol. The victims were simply non-Serb residents of Brcko who didn't get out of the area before the Serbs took over in '92.

At any rate, Jelisic was charged and tried for crimes committed in the Brcko area by the ICTY. He admitted he was the executioner in the series of photographs, so you've got no wriggle room on this one, Boka.

Further, that you view this as an example of how war works, goes a long way towards explaining Serbia's present diminished state.