Imamović: Authentic Bosniak history only spoken about publicly since '95!

Bosnia and Herzegovina has an exceptionally rich and valuable historical past, exceptional historical figures and important events. Unfortunately, they have been neglected and suppressed over all the past years due to the political circumstances in which BiH found itself, said Bosnian historian Enver Imamović for the news agency Patria (NAP).

Even today, when BiH is independent again, says Imamović, the history of Bosniaks is slowly being studied and published due to the difficult economic situation in the country, but all in all, it is much better than before.

These days, several important dates from the country's rich history are being marked in BiH. First and foremost, there are the anniversaries of the deaths of two important historical figures: the death of Husein-kapetan Gradaščević on August 17, 1834, and the death of Mula Mustafa Bašeskija, who died on August 18, 1809, writes NAP.

Gradaščević was the first captain who, more than anything, wanted autonomy for Bosnia in the 19th century, and the latter is a chronicler whose data on 18th-century Sarajevo in BiH is still used by many today as the most valid data of that time.

Respected historian Imamović believes that the importance of these and similar figures began to be pointed out in the true sense only after 1995, and until then, the true Bosniak history was marginalized.

- As each authority came, it imposed its politics and undermined the previous one. When there was the hegemony of Serbia, then exclusively Serbian history, Serbian battles, the Battle of Kosovo... were imposed, and Bosniak history was neglected. As if we were Turks, and Turks were a danger, and so on – explains Professor Imamović.

- The same happened during Pavelić's NDH. Everything was subordinate to Croatia. Then, after World War II, in order to neutralize nationalisms, the entire past of BiH was denied. The history of Serbia and Croatia was studied more in BiH schools than the history of Bosnia and Herzegovina – reminds Imamović. Fortunately, he adds, that time has passed, and the past of Bosniaks is now beginning to be studied and published with much better capacity, writes NAP.