Bećirović: Jews in BiH are an integral part of the multicultural being of our homeland

(Patria) - Member of the Presidency of BiH Denis Bećirović spoke with the President of the Jewish Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina Jakob Finci, the President of the Jewish Municipality of Sarajevo Boris Kožemjakin, and the President of "La Benevolencija" Vladimir Andrle about the current status of Jews in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and their centuries-old contribution to Bosnia and Herzegovina's multicultural society.

In the most difficult times for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Jews firmly stood by the idea of Bosnia as a land of unity in diversity. Today, Bosnian Jews, together with other citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, face the consequences of migration and a significant exodus of young people.

During his visit to the headquarters of the Jewish Community in Sarajevo, Bećirović stated that Jews have been an integral part of Bosnian society for the last 450 years. The arrival of Sephardic Jews in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the second half of the 16th century significantly contributed to the multicultural character of BiH society. By accepting Jews expelled from Spain, Bosnia and Herzegovina demonstrated that it was one of the most open countries in Europe at that time.

"We are doing everything to ensure that modern Bosnian society develops on the foundations of multiculturalism, full freedoms and equality, where no individual and no group should feel threatened," concluded Bećirović.

Strengthening state institutions and consistent implementation of domestic and international court rulings will ensure the rule of law and equal rights for all citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Thanking him for the visit, Jakob Finci emphasized that the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina has provided Jews with full security, and that members of the Jewish community have, for centuries, together with others, built and preserved their homeland, Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, there are still strong undemocratic forces preventing the democratization of the country and its progress towards European and Euro-Atlantic integrations. It is precisely on December 22, 2023, that 14 years will have passed since the adoption and non-implementation of the "Sejdić-Finci" ruling, which guarantees the right of every citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina to vote and be elected in democratic elections. The decision made by the European Court of Human Rights has still not been implemented, which directly affects the rights of citizens who do not belong to the constituent peoples of the Dayton Peace Agreement.

The interlocutors agreed that it is necessary to dynamize and strengthen the work of the Interreligious Council in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as to more strongly promote dialogue and tolerance in Bosnian society.