CAIRO,
October 20 (IslamOnline.net) - "But for night, we would have been
unable to see the starry sky. Light deprives us of some vision, while
darkness gives us some insight," said former Bosnian President
Alija Izetbegovic in his "My Escape To Freedom" book,
written while imprisoned in former Yugoslavia.
The
words are an accurate representation of the character of Izetbegovic
and the republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina. The Bosnian catastrophe led
Muslims to see him as a shining and guiding star, as he rediscovered
the Bosnian identity and linked it to Islam and freedom, after being
sunk into oblivion.
Unique
Upbringing
Born
in Bosanski Samac town, northeast of Bosnia, in 1925, Izetbegovic
descended from a well-off Muslim family. It is worth noting that the
Balkan region knew Islam in 1389 following Kosovo battle, in which the
Ottomans defeated the Serbs.
Bosnians
adopted Islam in 1463 under the Ottoman rule, following which Bosnian
Muslims suffered religious and ethnic persecution that led great
numbers of them to move to Turkey.
For
long decades, Muslims were not allowed to manage their own affairs and
were exposed to terrible massacres and violations along the years to
eliminate their Muslim identity.
Izetbegovic
was brought up in an anti-Muslim atmosphere. He received his education
in a German school in Sarajevo. During that period, his talents
flourished and he founded at the age of 16 - along with some
colleagues - a school club for religious debates.
The
Muslim Youth Society, which he established, started to promote
education and charity, opened a section for Muslim young women and
provided services and assistance during the Second World War to the
needy.
Establishment
of Muslim Youth Society
Although
the society was newly founded, it sought to build a Muslim character
that can keep pace with the European reality. The society was
influenced by the ideas of the Bosnian students who had their
education at Cairo-based Al-Azhar.
The
society concluded that Islam is an ideology, according to which life
should be lived. It is not a mere religion that is confined only to
individuals and religious rituals.
The
society sought to have a balanced view of Islam and its movements that
flourished during that era in the Arab world. It was influenced by
such movements and by both experiences of Indonesia and Pakistan.
Openness
to Western Culture followed as the society planned to teach its
members European languages to be able to read the European minds.
Izetbegovic managed to learn German, English and French.
The
society attracted the educated Muslim youths in Sarajevo University,
as it thought it would teach them Islam in a different way.
At
that time, Yugoslavia fell under the German rule in April 1941, as
Nazi thoughts found a room in the youths' minds. The Muslim Youth took
a decisive position towards such ideas and banned the participation of
Muslims in the pro-Nazi movement.
Sufferings
Under Communism
Following
World War II, the European map was re-drawn, as the Yugoslavia Union
was set in 1945, as per Afnoi agreement, to include six independent
republics, comprising of Bosnia, Herzegovina and two other autonomous
regions namely, Kosovo and Vojvodina. The constitution provided for
equality among followers of all religions, ethnic groups and cultures.
The
total area of Yugoslavia was 288.000 square kilometers. Such a huge
area made it the greatest ethnic and cultural bloc, as it included
around 20 ethnic groups speaking 14 languages.
At
that time, Izetbegovic was a student at law school in Sarajevo
University. Communist ideas at that period were fascinating.
Izetbegovic was detained more than once until he obtained his law
certificate in commercial law.
When
Josip Broz Tito took over in 1953, it was a terrible period for all
religions, particularly Islam due to the communist view of all
religions. Izetbegovic's sufferings increased as he hated atheism.
It
is worth noting that former Egyptian President Nasser asked his friend
Tito about Izetbegovic and the former replied that Izetbegovic was
more dangerous than Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt.
Izetbegovic
realized how tight the margin of freedom is, yet his love for freedom
and Islam motivated him to strengthen his relationship with Sheikh
Hussein Duzu, head of Scholar Society, appointed by the government to
supervise Muslim affairs.
Izetbegovic
thawed the ice between Muslim intellectuals and official religious
scholars in order to work together for the sake of Islam away from the
pressures of communist atheism.
Prison,
Isolation, Fame
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Izetbegovic, in his youth
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Tito
died in 1980 and the Yugoslav Constitution provided in its amendments
for annulling his post that would be succeeded by a Presidential
Council including a representative of each republic and region and for
the presidency of the Union to become rotating among the different
republics for a one-year term.
The
communist dominance lessened and the Yugoslav Muslims started to take
action. Izetbegovic's son, Bakr, compiled his father's articles in a
book entitled "The Islamic Statement", which caused great
fuss.
Izetbegovic
was accused of seeking to set up an Islamic fundamentalist republic in
the heart of Europe. He was arrested and tried for conspiracy against
the state and for attempting to turn Bosnia into an Islamic state. He
was imprisoned for 14 years.
The
period he stayed in prison had great influence upon his life and
character. It was a period of contemplation. His book was secretly
circulated among Muslims all over the Islamic world.
During
imprisonment, he wrote his valuable book "Islam Between East
& West" that attempted successfully to present the true story
of Islam to the new generations. A friend of his smuggled his book
into the U.S. and the first edition was published in 1984.
The
book revealed Izetbegovic's deep Islamic culture and knowledge of the
western intellect with its points of strength and weakness.
In
his book, Izetbegovic dealt with both concepts of civilization and
culture in depth. He said that the culture is of a religious origin,
as it means the influence of the religion on man and of man on his
fellow humans. It needs contemplation as it is an expression of human
freedom.
On
the other hand, he deemed civilization as the influence of mind on the
nature. It is an art related to the occupation, dominance, industry
and technical progress.
Fall
Of Communism, Emergence of Ethnic Groups
On
releasing Izetbegovic, the Communist Bloc in Europe were undergoing
comprehensive changes; chief among which is the collapse of communism
and inability of dictatorships to suppress the peoples. That was
represented in the approval to set up an multiparty system in
Yugoslavia.
Izetbegovic
formed the Democratic Labor Party and free democratic elections were
held, based on a multiparty system. Communists were defeated in four
Yugoslav republics, including Bosnia and Herzegovina. Izetbegovic took
over the presidency of Bosnia in November 19, 1990.
Meanwhile,
Some fanatic national feelings came to the surface, fed by some
extreme leaders like Slobodan Milosevic, whose slogan was "A Serb
Unity in One Serb Nation."
More
than a year later, the Yugoslav Union started to collapse. Croatia and
Slovenia declared independence. An ethnic civil war started to appear
in the horizon. Izetbegovic feared that Bosnia would be a scapegoat
for both Serbs and Croats.
In
February 1991, he proposed to establish federal republics, each
including two of the six republics under unified Yugoslavia, provided
that all republics enjoy sovereignty and independence.
Izetbegovic's
project was the only way out to save Yugoslavia and prevent civil
wars. The proposal was supported by the European Community but the
Serbs and Croats opposed it.
Bosnia
Plight, "Ethnic Cleansing"
Croatia
and Slovenia declared their independence unilaterally in June 1991.
The Serb-led Yugoslav army launched an attack against both republics
and a bloody war started. Europeans tried to cease the fire and
threatened Serbia with sanctions.
Izetbegovic
thought of investing the situation to obtain the independence of
Bosnia. He prepared for a public referendum and called upon people to
vote fearlessly.
In
March 1, 1992, Izetbegovic took to the street to vote and thousands of
Muslims followed suit in order to decide the future of Bosnia. The
referendum results were 62.8%.
Western
media launched a campaign against Muslims in Bosnia. Serbs waged a
bloody ethnic and annihilation war against the Bosnians, in which
thousands of European volunteers joined the Serbs. UN resolutions were
very weak. International mediators played suspicious roles during the
war.
When
the balance of power started to be slightly in favor of Muslims, the
Americans interfered and imposed Dayton agreement in 1995, which gave
Muslims and Croats 51% of the land, depriving them of nearly two
thirds of the total area of Bosnia and of their right to be
independent.
The
Bosnian war was a shame on humanity as a whole. A western historian
said that it took Europe back to the 19th
century. Muslims lost some 350.000 people and tens of thousands of
women were raped.
Izetbegovic
was adamant during this catastrophe and he did not relinquish his
people but remained with them under siege in Sarajevo.
Following
the end of the war, he resigned from office and hence, from the
leadership of his political party under the pretext of his health
condition. Yet, his soul and mind were stronger than the constraints
of power.
Izetbegovic
obtained King Faisal Award in 1994 and the Figure of the Year in the
Islamic World in 2001.
