Arrangement of the neglected site of the Harem of Kalin-hadži Alija Mosque

Chairman of the Municipal Council of Centar Nedžad Ajnadžić, together with Deputy Chairman of the Council Slaven Kovačević and councilors, representatives of the executive authority of the Municipality of Centar, members of the First Police Administration and the Waqf Directorate of the Islamic Community in BiH, visited the site of the Harem of Kalin-hadži Alija Mosque, the former Prešernov Park, located at the corner of Kulovića and Branilaca Sarajevo streets, reports the Bosnian news agency Patria.

- Today's visit marks the beginning of the implementation of decisions adopted at the thematic session of the Municipal Council of Centar, which relate to the arrangement of the neglected area, its fencing, and the completion of archaeological excavations, with the aim of turning this area into an archaeological park with protected remains of the mosque and harem, pending a final solution based on the request of the Waqf Directorate Sarajevo. It is very important here that both the legislative and executive authorities of the Municipality of Centar are united in their stance to arrange this area. Together with members of the Police Station Centar, we will remove illegally parked motor vehicles from this location, which is an archaeological site, said Ajnadžić.

Director of the Waqf Directorate Sarajevo Senaid Zajimović expressed gratitude to the Municipality of Centar for the efforts made to protect this site.

- As is known to the public, the Kalin-hadži Alija Mosque existed at this location, built in 1535 and demolished in 1947. In addition to the mosque, there was a cemetery and a mekteb. The intention of the Islamic Community is to protect this area and remove this blight in the strict city center. The final solution, in our view, is to rebuild the mosque, which of course does not have to be in its former dimensions, said Zajimović.

Mustafa Resić, advisor to the Mayor of the Municipality of Centar, stated on this occasion that Mayor Dževad Bećirević also holds the view that work must begin on resolving the issue of arranging this site, in order to make the area available for use by citizens.

- This location must receive adequate content in accordance with the project prepared by the Institute for the Protection of Cultural, Historical and Natural Heritage of the Sarajevo Canton, said Resić.

Chief of the First Police Administration Fahrudin Halač stated that the police will support this project in accordance with existing legal regulations and their competencies. The Municipal Council of Centar held a thematic session on December 11, 2014, on possible solutions for the arrangement of the site of the Harem of Kalin-hadži Alija Mosque (former Prešernov Park).