Hudhaifa
23-10-03, 13:24
A tribute to the former President of Bosnia who helped his people through the holocaust against them. Features an exclusive extract from his magnum opus 'Islam Between East and West'.
Alija Ali Izetbegovic (1925 -2003 ) is a former legal adviser. He has been a lifelong opponent of communism and was imprisoned for 'pan-Islamic activity' in 1946–48 and 1983–88 by the totalitarian regime in Yugoslavia. In 1990 his political party, the Muslim Party of Democratic Action, ousted the communists in the multiparty elections that year. He became President of Bosnia.
During the holocaust of the Muslims in Bosnia-Herzegovina in the mid-1990s, Izetbegovic stayed with his people and rallied them from his sandbagged office and apartment.
He sought an honourable peace for his country in the face of ruthless demands from Serb and Croat political leaders, and signed the Dayton peace accord November 1995. He was re-elected president of a three-member collective presidency September 1996.
In June 1990, he announced his decision to step down as President of Bosnia. One of the reasons he gave for leaving office was the international community's determination to dilute the Islamic essence of Bosnia: "The international community is pushing things forward in Bosnia... but it is doing it at the expense of the Muslim people. I feel it as an injustice," he said. "These are things that I cannot live with." .....
Alija Ali Izetbegovic (1925 -2003 ) is a former legal adviser. He has been a lifelong opponent of communism and was imprisoned for 'pan-Islamic activity' in 1946–48 and 1983–88 by the totalitarian regime in Yugoslavia. In 1990 his political party, the Muslim Party of Democratic Action, ousted the communists in the multiparty elections that year. He became President of Bosnia.
During the holocaust of the Muslims in Bosnia-Herzegovina in the mid-1990s, Izetbegovic stayed with his people and rallied them from his sandbagged office and apartment.
He sought an honourable peace for his country in the face of ruthless demands from Serb and Croat political leaders, and signed the Dayton peace accord November 1995. He was re-elected president of a three-member collective presidency September 1996.
In June 1990, he announced his decision to step down as President of Bosnia. One of the reasons he gave for leaving office was the international community's determination to dilute the Islamic essence of Bosnia: "The international community is pushing things forward in Bosnia... but it is doing it at the expense of the Muslim people. I feel it as an injustice," he said. "These are things that I cannot live with." .....