On this day, Alija Izetbegović was buried, "the sky was crying" just like today

The first President of the Presidency of BiH, long-time member of the Presidency of BiH and honorary president of the Party of Democratic Action Alija Izetbegović was buried on this day, October 22, 2003, according to his wish, at the Kovači Martyrs' Cemetery in Sarajevo, with the highest state and military honors, writes the BiH news agency Patria (NAP).

On that day, just like today, it was raining heavily in BiH.

With the lowering of the body of the late Izetbegović into the grave, accompanied by the firing of a volley by the honor guard of the Army of FBiH and cannon fire, the "earthly life" of one of the greatest statesmen from this region ended.

The body of Alija Izetbegović was transported early in the morning of October 22, 2003, from "Bakija" to the Presidency of BiH building, where it was displayed in the ceremonial hall until 1:30 PM.

The first and last honor guard was kept by the then member of the Presidency of BiH Sulejman Tihić, the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of BiH Adnan Terzić, the Commander of the Joint Command of the Army of FBiH Lieutenant General Atif Dudaković, and the Reis-ul-ulema of the Islamic Community in BiH, Dr. Mustafa ef. Cerić.

At 1:30 PM, they carried the coffin with the deceased out of the Presidency of BiH building and placed it on a gun carriage, from where the procession with the deceased proceeded towards the BiH institutions building in Marindvor. A military orchestra marched in front of the gun carriage, followed by officers carrying the decorations that Alija Izetbegović received in Bosnia and Herzegovina and around the world.

The funeral prayer was held on BiH Square in front of the BiH institutions building, led by the then Reis-ul-ulema of the Islamic Community in BiH, Mustafa ef. Cerić.

Among others, the then High Representative of the international community in BiH, Paddy Ashdown, addressed the attendees on BiH Square.

- Today it seems fitting that the sky is also crying over BiH - Ashdown said on October 22, 2003, in his speech, emphasizing that Izetbegović was a figure who did more than anyone else to ensure the survival of the modern state of BiH.

More than 100,000 people attended the final farewell of Alija Izetbegović, as well as a large number of Bosnian-Herzegovinian and international officials. It is estimated that this was the largest number of people who ever attended a funeral prayer in Sarajevo, reports NAP.