Islamic Community in BiH: Campaigns against Bosniaks and Islam, hate speech and relativization of crimes are threats to peace

(Patria) - The Islamic Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina, aware of the sanctity of freedom and peace, today called on all responsible actors with political, institutional and social mechanisms to stop in time the policies, institutions and individuals whose actions represent a threat to peace.

In a khutbah, which was read today in mosques across Bosnia and Herzegovina, it warns of increasingly frequent and coordinated campaigns against Bosniaks due to their adherence to Islam, with a message that the normalization of hate speech and the relativization of crimes must not become an acceptable social pattern.

– We, who were victims of aggression and genocide, rightly value peace and understand the messages of the holy month of Rajab. Therefore, we are rightly concerned about the obvious campaign we have witnessed in recent days, in which Bosniaks are slandered in world centers of power and media because of their adherence to Islam – it was stated in the khutbah.

It is assessed that insults to Islam and the identity of Bosniaks, as well as sowing distrust towards them and their homeland, cannot become the "new normal" and something that everyone will get used to.

– Glorifying and celebrating war criminals and their policies, invoking some new Srebrenicas and paid hunts for our children from the hills of Sarajevo, as well as denying Bosniaks as a sovereign political European people and their right to live freely, safe from new crimes in their homeland of Bosnia and Herzegovina, are not the path to stability and a better future for these areas. This is an obvious threat to peace. Therefore, we must not tire of searching for allies and friends in the homeland, the region, and the world who understand that these ideologies of evil are not just our problem, but a challenge that we must confront together – the khutbah states.

It is clearly stated that Bosniaks, if they value peace and are willing to defend it, cannot indifferently watch the worst forms of hate speech against Islam and Muslims spread with impunity.

– Every crime is preceded by the creation of an image of the other as a danger, as someone who does not belong to "our" space, "our" faith, culture, or civilization. Insults, belittling, underestimation, and discrimination aim to normalize such an attitude and accustom the public, as well as the victims, to accepting such an attitude that humiliates them and turns them into targets. This is followed by dehumanization as the last step before justifying any form of violence and aggression. It is up to us to recognize this evil as it arises and grows, to warn about it, and to oppose it in every way – it was stated.

It is added that it is unacceptable that Bosniaks are being denied the right to vote in elections, to buy apartments, and to use their language in a large part of the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

– We paid a high price for the freedom and peace we enjoy to stand by silently as new seeds of discord and conflict are sown here. Therefore, as the Islamic Community and as people of faith – aware of the sanctity of freedom and peace, we call on all those who are responsible and who have the instruments to stop these policies, institutions, and individuals who threaten peace with their actions in time. Responsible politicians, media, the academic community, as well as our diaspora and friends in the world have an obligation to oppose these narratives and do everything to ensure that the truth about us and our homeland is heard – it was stated, among other things, in today's khutbah.