Alija Izetbegović Foundation bids farewell to lawyer Rajko Danilović, condolences to the family

(Patria) - Renowned Serbian lawyer Rajko Danilović passed away on February 22, 2026, at the age of 88.

Lawyer Danilović represented several Bosniak defendants during the Sarajevo trial in 1983, and was also the chief defense attorney for Alija Izetbegović.

"The state of general witch-hunt and the atmosphere of fear and suspicion that prevailed in Bosnian-Herzegovinian society during the investigation and trial was best described in his book 'The Sarajevo Trial of 1983.'

The press and other media largely competed in creating an atmosphere of persecution and sowing fear. I had the impression that in those days, being a Muslim was in itself dangerous and risky. That degree of a priori hostility and hatred was not only the result of communist intolerance towards dissidents and pressure from the political police, but a deeper, irrational hatred was felt, which had a theological and ethnic background, and which, less than 10 years later, would turn into a ruthless war and extermination of Muslims," the statement from the Alija Izetbegović Foundation reads.

They add that during the 1990s, Danilović represented opposition figures and activists, and also represented the Đinđić family in the proceedings for the murder of Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Đinđić.

"The 'Alija Izetbegović' Foundation extends its sincere condolences to the family, friends, and associates of Rajko Danilović.