Attacks on Muslims Reported in East Bosnia

Attacks on Muslims in the eastern Bosnian town of Zvornik have become more frequent, with many reports of verbal and physical abuses, the Islamic Community in Tuzla said on Wednesday.

“In the urban area of Zvornik in recent times several incidents were reported, which have disturbed Muslims in the town,” the organisation said in a press release.

Some recent incidents reportedly took place in front of the main Rijecanka Mosque in Zvornik where a young Bosniak [Muslim] was allegedly beaten up.

Another recent case involved a murder, when a Serb named Nikola Josic apparently killed 81-year-old Ahmed Hasanovic with an axe following an earlier quarrel in public.

Josic and Hasanovic allegedly argued after the latter refused to receive Easter eggs - a Serb Orthodox greeting - from Josic. The following morning, Hasanovic was found dead in front of his home in Kozluk, near Zvornik.

The Islamic Community in Tuzla also noted other attacks on Muslims in Zvornik recently.

“On May 6, in front of the Rijecanska Mosque, an unknown young man verbally attacked and harassed students of the Behram-bey Madrassa [Islamic high school] from Tuzla who were performong a religious-cultural programme in the Home of Culture,” it said.

The same report said the Muslim cemetery in Zvornik's main mosque was recently damaged after eggs were thrown at tombstones.

The statement said that the Islamic Community “condemns these incidents which create unrest among Muslims in Zvornik... about their security in their town”.

Last year, 73-year-old Nezir Dardagan was among four Muslims attacked by young Serbs in Zvornik while they were on their way to a mosque to pray on the Eid religious holiday.

The...