CELEBRATING A GRAND JUBILEE Monograph and documentary film on the occasion of "Merhamet's" 110th anniversary

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - The Muslim charitable society "Merhamet" will celebrate its grand jubilee next week in Sarajevo - 110 years since its founding. On this occasion, a Festive Academy of "Merhamet" will be held at the Sarajevo City Hall on February 2nd.

As part of this event, a documentary film about the 110-year work of this humanitarian organization, one of the oldest in the Balkans, will be premiered.

On the occasion of the grand jubilee, the monograph "Merhamet 110 Years - Born from the Soul of the People" has also been published. The author of the monograph is journalist, publicist, and writer Ruždija Adžović, who is also the spokesperson and editor-in-chief of "Merhamet's" publications.

At the Festive Academy, the annual "Merhamet" award from the "Muradif Ćato" Foundation will also be presented. This year's laureate is the renowned Bosnian actor and writer Josip Pejaković.

The Muslim charitable society "Merhamet" was founded back in 1913 in Sarajevo. Its founders were affluent Sarajevans whose goal was to preserve the dignity of their poor fellow citizens. The respected Sarajevo merchant Avdaga Kulović was officially declared the founder of this society, and prominent Bosniaks of that era, including Dr. Mehmed Spaho and reis Džemaludin ef. Čaušević, served as its presidents.

"Merhamet" holds particular significance in the historical context of Bosnia and Herzegovina due to the socio-ideological, cultural, political, and economic changes that followed World War I.

The need for "Merhamet's" activities was also evident in the post-war period. Its activities continued until its prohibition in 1946, when socialist Yugoslavia severed this form of human solidarity and socio-humanitarian work.

In the new social circumstances, after the free elections in 1990, "Merhamet" renewed its activities by holding a Founding Assembly in Sarajevo on February 2, 1991.

- "Merhamet" today represents a modernly organized charitable society that, with the rich and comprehensive content and structure of its activities, encompasses many essential components of the lives of Bosniaks, as well as citizens of other nationalities who are in a state of social need - said the president of "Merhamet", Kenan Vrbanjac.