Round table in Banja Luka on the protection of Bosniak property in the RS

The Islamic Community in BiH - Vakuf Directorate Sarajevo, in cooperation with the Mufti of Banja Luka, will hold a round table on January 28, 2015, in Banja Luka on the topic of Realization and protection of property rights, in the context of the application of the Law on Surveying and Cadastre and the Law on Immovable Property Tax in the RS, reports the BiH news agency Patria.

The meeting will be held at Hotel Bosna, Banja Luka, with the presence of representatives of domestic and international organizations, institutions, and individuals, and under the high patronage of the Rais al-ulama of the Islamic Community in BiH, Mr. Husein ef. Kavazović, and the Vice-President of the Bosnian entity RS, Ramiz Salkić.

The idea for holding the Round Table arose as part of the overall process of the Vakuf Directorate's struggle for the protection of the property of the Islamic Community and the property of Bosniaks in the RS, and it aims to strengthen the awareness of Bosniaks about the necessity of participating in all procedures related to their property, as well as the involvement of all relevant factors in this process, in order to avoid potential negative consequences of the Law's application.

- Given that the Law on Surveying and Cadastre entered into force in 2013, and the Law on Immovable Property Tax has been applied since January 1, 2012, and it is evident that there is not enough information about these Laws in the public and among Bosniaks, organizing this round table has become a necessity. Furthermore, experiences from the field indicate that in some cases, the Law has been or may be implemented unprincipledly, and that Bosniaks are indirectly in a disadvantaged position.

The Vakuf Directorate of the Islamic Community in BiH has launched a wide range of activities to protect the rights of Bosniaks and the property of the Islamic Community in the BH entity RS. Since more intensive application of the Law on Surveying and Cadastre is expected in the coming period, this institution is convinced that it is necessary to take steps to point out to Bosniaks the possible negative consequences for their property if they are not active, and to provide instructions on how to protect their property in the RS. They are convinced that all relevant institutions and individuals must be involved in this process.

Lawyers and attorneys, representatives of the Islamic Community in BiH, numerous international organizations operating in BiH, representatives of the legislative and executive authorities, representatives of the RS Administration for Geodetic and Property-Legal Affairs, newly elected Bosniak representatives in the RS bodies, and other individuals who could contribute to this issue have already confirmed their participation in the round table.