Islamic Community in Germany Marks 30th Anniversary: The Strength of Institutional Action

(Patria) - The Islamic Community of Bosniaks in Germany (IZBNJ) celebrated its 30th anniversary this evening with a special ceremony in the town of Dormagen near Cologne.

The ceremony was attended by the Reisul-ulema of the Islamic Community (IZ) in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Husein-ef. Kavazović, who, emphasizing the importance of institutional action, also reminded of the responsibility that comes with working in jamaats (congregations).

“Here in this country, we started establishing jamaats even before the aggression. We were aware of what it means to have our own institutions and to act through them. It turned out that these were the initial bricks of a large edifice, which would grow and expand its influence more and more.

This is today’s Islamic Community, united around its headquarters and connected to the center in Sarajevo. It continues to grow and organize itself today, in order to be even more effective,” said Reisul-ulema Kavazović.

Assessing that the challenges of modern society are growing, the Reisul-ulema pointed out the importance of preserving the morals and spiritual health of the people, as well as the awareness of belonging.

“This is our strict religious obligation – and we should care for each other, as well as for our brothers in other nations, as much as we can. A strong central institution watches, conducts research, analyzes, develops programs, and oversees the implementation of those programs.

In a word, it fulfills its role. In addition, it establishes contacts with others, represents its culture and values, and contributes to establishing good and friendly relations with other cultures and religious denominations,” said Reisul-ulema Kavazović.

During the ceremony, members of the Riyaset of the Islamic Community, Director of the Administration for Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Muhamed Jusić, and Director of the Administration for Education and Science Prof. Dr. Dževad Hodžić also spoke. The chief imam of IZBNJ, Aldin-ef.

Kusur, emphasized in his address that the ceremonies are an opportunity for a retrospective look into the past, but also for planning future actions.

“This is both my and your trust. A trust that we can only carry out together and only succeed together. It is not important that we ourselves have something, it is important that we act together, that we build and achieve together, and that we have a future,” said efendija Kusur.

He emphasized that individuals realize their value when they contribute to the functioning of the system.

“Successful societies, as we see from the examples of advanced countries, are those that build systems, not individuals. The institution must be above individuals and must remain after their time has passed. These are the foundations on which we must build our future and on which we can survive,” concluded efendija Kusur.

The president of IZBNJ, Zenahir Mraković, took this opportunity to reflect on the different periods of work and activity of Bosniaks within the Islamic Community in these areas.

“Back in 1994, with the appointment of the chief imam for the territory of the Federal Republic of Germany, the foundations of our organized activity in these areas were laid. Of course, our community is significantly older than these 30 years, and its roots go back to the seventies of the last century, when the first jamaats were formed in these areas. Therefore, in a few years, we will have 50 years of the Bosniak community’s existence in Germany,” reminded Mraković.

As he pointed out, since the formation of the first jamaats, the community has grown and developed, becoming increasingly numerous.

“This jubilee we are celebrating is an opportunity to look back at our past, with respect for those who were, worked, and built before us, but also to remind ourselves of the responsibility we have when it comes to building our community,” said the president of IZBNJ, Zenahir Mraković.

On this occasion, Chief Imam Aldin-ef. Kusur and President Zenahir Mraković presented the Director of the Administration for Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Muhamed Jusić, with a check worth 400,000 euros, which are funds collected from a fundraising campaign in the jamaats in Germany for those affected by the recent floods in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

As part of the program, a documentary film about the Islamic Community of Bosniaks in Germany, authored by Ernad Pandžić and produced by the Media Center of the Islamic Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina, was also shown this evening.

The ceremony was attended by the leaders and organizers of religious activities in IZBNJ, representatives of public life and the diplomatic corps, imams, muallimas (female religious teachers), and presidents and members of jamaat committees.