President Milanović: The relationship between Christians and Muslims in Croatia is better than ever before
“The relationship between Christians and Muslims in this part of the world has been complex, and today it is much better than it has ever been, especially in Croatia. A lot has happened; the histories of our peoples are so intertwined – through origins, migration routes, and everything that has taken place over the past several hundred years – that this is, in a way, an unexpectedly happy outcome. We live normal lives, both private and public,” said the President of the Republic Zoran Milanović today at the marking of the 110th anniversary of the recognition of Islam as equal to other religions in Croatia.
“I will not say in what roles I see you; you choose them yourselves, and you choose them well,” President Milanović told the President of the Meshihat of the Islamic Community in Croatia, Mufti Academician Aziz ef. Hasanović, thanking him “for his moderation, for his tone, and for his prudence in every public appearance when communicating the views of the community.” “For leaders of religious communities, this is a very important matter; it is always a sensitive role, and in the times unfolding around us, even more so,” he added.
“You have already done and achieved a great deal, and I commend you precisely for that. In some tense moments, which there have been and may still be, in relations with certain neighboring countries – because some issues must be resolved fairly – for my part, I will take care to choose my words in the way that you do. Mufti, congratulations and thank you,” concluded President Milanović.
The marking of the 110th anniversary of the recognition of Islam as equal to other religions was organized by the Meshihat of the Islamic Community in Croatia to commemorate the day in 1916 when the Parliament of the Kingdom of Dalmatia, Croatia and Slavonia adopted the “Law on the Recognition of Islam as an Equal Religion.” By this Law, Islam was granted the same legal status as other recognized religions in the territory of the Kingdom of Dalmatia, Croatia and Slavonia. In addition to recognizing Islam as an equal religion, the key elements of this recognition include guaranteeing freedom of religion to Muslim believers and enabling the organized activity of the Islamic community in Croatia.
Thus, Croatia (within the then state framework) became one of the first European countries to legally recognize Islam in this way. As early as 1912, the Austrian part of the monarchy recognized Hanafi Islam (Hanafi madhhab) as an equal religion. In January 1916, the Hungarian parliament did the same, but this decision did not apply to Croatia because, under the provisions of the Croatian-Hungarian Settlement, it was autonomous in religious affairs.
In addition to President Milanović, remarks at the ceremony were delivered by the President of the Meshihat of the Islamic Community in Croatia, Mufti Academician Aziz ef. Hasanović; Member of the Croatian Parliament and delegate of the Mayor of the City of Zagreb, Damir Bakić; Deputy Speaker of the Croatian Parliament, Academician Željko Reiner; and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia, Andrej Plenković. President Milanović was accompanied by the Head of the Office of the President, Orsat Miljenić, and the Adviser to the President of the Republic for Education, Jadranka Žarkov
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Ana Marija Katić