See the list: Ten well-known officials who moved from the religious sphere into politics!

Dozens of current and former state, entity and local officials in BiH are former religious officials or persons with religious education from the Islamic Community in BiH and, therefore, the candidacy of Mustafa Cerić, an independent candidate for the BiH Presidency, is not a precedent, research by the Bosnian news agency Patria (NAP) has shown.

At the same time, there have also been cases where religious officials moved into political waters and then returned to their positions in the Islamic Community. Such is the case with Enes ef. Karić, former dean of the Faculty of Islamic Studies, imam and respected religious expert. Ef. Karić was Minister of Education, Culture and Sports of the Federation of BiH from 1994 to 1996.

Then, a few years ago, Karić, although a former politician, was a legitimate candidate for the position of reis-l-ulema of the Islamic Community in BiH, and his involvement in politics was not an obstacle. However, he was defeated in the elections by Cerić.  

According to the rules and practice of the Islamic Community in BiH, all graduates of medresas, religious secondary schools in BiH, can be religious officials and imams. During their education in these schools, students acquire knowledge and qualifications for performing the duties of an imam.

According to Bosniak tradition, all medresa graduates receive the title of efendija or hodža. And there are not a few politicians in BiH who have graduated from medresas in BiH, especially the Gazi Husrev-beg Medresa in Sarajevo, the oldest educational institution in the Balkans and one of the most respected schools, not only in BiH but also much wider.

Among the most famous politicians who are also religiously educated are former member of the BiH Presidency, Prime Minister and Minister Haris Silajdžić, then former President of FBiH and state minister Safet Halilović, current Minister of Refugees and Displaced Persons of FBiH Adil Osmanović.

A large number of such persons who successfully perform their work are also in BiH diplomacy, i.e. the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of BiH.

The Bosnian news agency Patria presents a list of 10 well-known politicians who entered this sphere with religious education, experience and function and acquired the title of efendija. They are certainly not the only ones, but their careers are proof that religious education and function have never been an obstacle to political engagement in BiH democracy.

1. Haris ef. Silajdžić, former Chairman of the BiH Presidency, Prime Minister and Head of Diplomacy

2. Safet ef. Halilović, Minister in the Council of Ministers of BiH in multiple terms and President of FBiH

3. Hasan ef. Čengić, former Minister of Defence and State Representative

4. Adil ef. Osmanović, current Minister in the Government of FBiH and former Vice President of RS 

5. Safet ef. Softić, Chairman of the House of Representatives of FBiH and the Assembly of the Islamic Community in BiH

6. Salmir ef. Kaplan, current Minister in the Government of FBiH, graduated from Medresa in Mostar

7. Enes ef. Karić, former Minister of Education of FBiH

8. Senahid ef. Bristić, multiple ambassador of BiH

9. Ahmed ef. Halilović, multiple ambassador of BiH

10. Remzija ef. Kadrić, representative in the NSRS, now advisor in the Ministry of Security of BiH