Muftiship of Mostar: Stop the segregation of the arrogant Stolac authorities, we cannot even get a plot for the deceased!

(Patria) - The Muftiship of Mostar today issued a press release stating that in recent days, the public in our country learned through the media that the Mayor of Stolac, Stjepan Bošković, annulled his decision from last year allocating a plot for the cemetery (harem) for Bosniak Muslims of Stolac, thereby continuing decades-long discrimination and segregation against Muslims who no longer have a place to bury their dead in the Stolac town center.

"Violation of basic human and religious rights and freedoms, when it comes to the authorities in Stolac, is not a novelty, but a well-established approach for decades," the Muftiship of Mostar stated.

The statement recalls that the Medžlis of the Islamic Community of Stolac has been waging an administrative and legal battle for more than ten years to resolve the urgently needed location for a cemetery, and that this burning issue for the Muslim population reflects the shameful policy of the HDZ-led authorities, headed by Mayor Bošković, with all elements of discrimination and segregation against the Muslims of Stolac.

As explained, religious discrimination is systematically and continuously carried out, which is prohibited by the Law on Freedom of Religion and the Legal Status of Churches and Religious Communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Article 5(1): "Any discrimination based on religion or belief is prohibited."

"The dominant Croatian authorities even sold the access road to the Old Town of Stolac, a national monument of the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina, to the Catholic Church five years ago for the construction of the Stations of the Cross, while, on the other hand, Muslims in the wider city center cannot even get a plot for the deceased. This shameful and discriminatory treatment of nearly half of Stolac's population has gone beyond all bounds, which is why we expect swift and concrete steps from institutions and international friends to stop the arrogant Stolac authorities who are carrying out segregation against one people and one traditional, large religious community!" the Muftiship's statement adds.