Duraković: Sanctioning illegal congregations requires help from security bodies

Academician Esad Duraković assessed the decision of the Riyasat of the Islamic Community (IC) in BiH to abolish the so-called parallel congregations as excellent in a statement for TV1, but warns that the Islamic Community itself, however, is not in an enviable position because it cannot sanction illegal congregations, reports the Patria news agency.

- State bodies, security bodies should act on the ground, because they are the ones who have the competence, so they should act on the ground in accordance with this decision of the Islamic Community. To act without coercion and to close this down, if possible, in a peaceful manner. The Riyasat cannot do that - Duraković points out.

According to data held by the Islamic Community, there are 64 illegal congregations in BiH. The founders of parallel congregations circumvent the law by registering as citizens' associations.

- These parallel congregations are very exclusive and they do not have that culture of dialogue, that culture of living together, they are prone to an incident-prone interpretation of Islam - Duraković warns in a statement for TV1.

However, the Islamic Community in BiH also needs to educate its staff on how to recognize and behave when they notice deviations from the practice of religion. The Islamic Community did this in the case of a radical Salafist, who was excommunicated from the Islamic Community.

"The other direction is the direction of action of the Islamic Community, to take a very critical stance towards its own staff, and there is a lot of room for action there," Duraković states.