Zajimović: It is the duty of Bosniaks to protect their property in the smaller BiH entity

The Waqf Directorate of the Riyasat of the Islamic Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina has prepared a khutbah to inform and warn Muslims about the importance of regulating property relations, especially in the area of the RS entity in the context of the application of property laws, reports the Patria news agency.

Thus, Senaid ef. Zajimović, director of the Waqf Directorate, delivered a khutbah in the mosque in Doboj where he warned that the application of these laws could have far-reaching harmful consequences for the status of Bosniaks and the ownership structure of land, because through indifference and neglect, Bosniaks in the RS area could lose their real estate.

During the khutbah, ef. Zajimović said that every possession is important because it enables a stable and normal life for a person, but without a doubt the most important and most lasting possession is the land itself, which is simultaneously the place from which we are fed and the place on which we build.

- According to Islamic teachings, neglect and carelessness towards the land we own is impermissible. As great a sin as it is to abandon and not use arable land, an even greater and more ruinous sin is to sell the land that is our property for a pittance and, due to various political pressures and tricks, to agree to the permanent and illegal usurpation of our land. Unfortunately, this is exactly what has often happened in our turbulent history. By taking away Bosniak land through various forms of agrarian reform and nationalization, an attempt was made to completely socially and economically destroy Muslim landowners, because in this way Bosniaks were also nationally and politically subjugated and marginalized – said Zajimović.

He further stated that we are witnesses that in the last war of aggression against BiH, a large number of inhabitants of Bosniak nationality were expelled from their homes. The expulsions were accompanied by killings and captivity.

- Annex 7 of the Dayton Agreement provided for the implementation of the return process, i.e., the return of everyone to their pre-war residence. However, in practice this did not happen, and in a completely different way, returnees who returned or who had the intention to return to their pre-war homes were left to fend for themselves. They were left to secure the conditions for life and existence there on their own. We are also witnesses that a large number of Bosniaks, out of fear, economic or some other reasons, did not return and cannot return to their pre-war residence. The entity authorities of the Republika Srpska have tried in various ways and are still trying to create all the preconditions for the areas from which Bosniaks were expelled to remain ethnically pure. They were prevented from doing so by the property of Bosniaks, because regardless of whether Bosniaks returned or not, they are the owners of property in those areas, i.e., the owners of the land – explained Zajimović.

Because of this, the RS authorities resorted to another method of ethnic cleansing, added Zajimović, explaining that in the last few years the authorities have adopted a set of legal regulations that treat property in that entity.

- Looking at and analyzing the entire course of implementation of these laws, it can be concluded that Bosniaks are in an extremely unfavorable position when it comes to protecting their property. This is especially pronounced if only two legal regulations are taken: the Law on Survey and Cadastre and the Law on Real Estate Tax. These days, the National Assembly of the RS adopted amendments to the Tax Law which further complicated the position of Bosniak property in the Republika Srpska. Namely, it is known that in 2012 the Law on Real Estate Tax came into force, according to which everyone is obliged to pay tax on real estate. With the amendments to the said Law, the tax account was given the force of an enforcement document, which means that due to non-payment of real estate tax, the Tax Administration of the RS can immediately initiate the issue of forced collection of tax or placing a mortgage on the property. It is incomprehensible that the Tax Administration would place a mortgage on a property or initiate a forced collection procedure due to non-payment of a few tens of marks in tax. But, behold, even that seems possible – said Zajimović.

At the khutbah, it was concluded that it is extremely important for every Bosniak who has property in the RS to monitor the activities of the local administrations via the internet or directly, and to inform themselves about the date of the exhibition of their real estate.

- If he is prevented, let him authorize a friend, relative or neighbor who will perform these tasks on his behalf. Before the exhibition itself, it is necessary to inform oneself about the status of one's property, obtain land documentation from the cadastre and land registry, possibly visit all of one's property, determine if someone has perhaps usurped one's property, so that during the exhibition one can raise possible objections. This is especially important for urban areas where a large number of Bosniak properties have been occupied and usurped by other persons – added Zajimović, emphasizing that whoever possesses the land exists as a people, everything else is fiction.