Reaction of the Mostar Mufti Office: What kind of Mostar does Mario Kordić want?

(Patria) - Mayor of Mostar Mario Kordić yesterday at the session of the Mostar City Council once again demonstrated his vision and method of totalitarian rule over the city of Mostar, stating that the initiative submitted by the president of the Councilors' Club of the Coalition for Mostar, Mirza Drežnjak, will not be considered because it is "not welcome."

"He did not clarify the criteria for something to be 'welcome,' but instead, in a highly inappropriate manner, as he knows how, 'communicated' the initiative in which he is asked to finally start doing his job and to enable the Islamic Community to obtain a permit for the Intercultural Center 'Mevlana' within the legally prescribed deadline and according to legally prescribed procedures," the Mostar Mufti Office announced on this occasion.

The statement notes that, aside from the excessive arrogance in the mayor's statements, the Islamic Community and the public expect the mayor to show seriousness and respect this legal and legitimate request, because if he advocates for a city of European values, then he urgently needs the Intercultural Center 'Mevlana,' which will be a bridge between East and West in the heart of Europe.

That the Intercultural Center 'Mevlana' is needed in Mostar has also been understood by international friends, and this issue was specifically addressed in the latest report of the High Representative to the UN Security Council.

"This is not about, as Kordić says, 'some kind of' intercultural center, which he would most like to ignore, minimize, and belittle, but about a concept that was transparently presented to the public at the Mostar City Culture Center on March 6 this year. If he truly advocates for a multi-ethnic Mostar, he will do everything to ensure that, as soon as possible, on the site of Lakišića harem, an inclusive edifice of culture and dialogue named 'Mevlana' rises, which represents a symbol of love and respect, based on the centuries-old tradition of studying the Mesnevi in Mostar, dating back to the time of the famous Derviš-paša Bajezidagić," the Mostar Mufti Office stated.

The statement clearly conveys that rights will not be denied, nor will legal and legitimate requests of the Islamic Community in Mostar be left unresolved and kept away from the public eye, because "that is a Sisyphean task."

"It is completely unacceptable for Mario Kordić to return the city of Mostar to the time when strictly divided national municipalities with the prefix 'Croatian' were in place, and where there was no room for anything else or different. We assume that the idea of the infamous 'square' at Lakišića harem also comes from that time, as well as the Croatian National Theater, which is being built illegally. These are projects that are 'welcome' to the mayor and the HDZ, regarding which we are initiating proceedings before the Court in Strasbourg and the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina," the statement says.

The Mostar Mufti Office states that their "civilizational struggle will not cease."

"We are fighting for a European Mostar, without discrimination, where there are no barriers and walls, because what is the future and perspective of Mostar without respect for the dignity and rights of others and those who are different? Ill-intentioned and hypocritical strategies of procrastination, manipulation, and politicization will not bear fruit. We will neither tire nor give up, because the unjustly taken sacred space of the waqf site of Lakišića harem, based on history, tradition, civilization, culture, morality, and law, must be returned to the Islamic Community," the statement of the Mostar Mufti Office emphasizes.