Islam in Bosnia After Communism: The Saudi Connection

Berkley Center
Berkley Center
10,210
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Published 2021-05-13
With the collapse of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s and the resulting ethno-religious conflict in Bosnia, the international community turned its attention to the tragedy playing out in the Balkans. For Bosnia’s Muslims one of the most important sources of external support came in the form of humanitarian relief and assistance from Saudi Arabia. Alongside its charitable contributions, Saudi Arabia also promoted in Bosnia the austere form of Salafi Islam—commonly known as Wahhabism—associated with the desert kingdom. Thirty years after the war, how should we regard the legacy of these transnational religious influences? To what extent have they reshaped the religious landscape of Bosnia? Are younger Bosnians turning to Salafism today because of the Saudi connection, or because of reasons closer to home? In this short documentary film, Islam in Bosnia After Communism: The Saudi Connection, journalist and scholar Harun Karčić explores these questions in conversation with Bosnian experts against the backdrop of Sarajevo’s evolving religious life.

To learn more about Islam in Bosnia after communism, check out these related resources:

"Salafism vs. Moderate Islam: A Rhetorical Fight for the Hearts and Minds of Bosnian Muslims"
Edina Bećirević
Atlantic Initiative, Sarajevo, 2016
bit.ly/2NjNLB0

"Left Behind: Survivors of Violent Extremism"
Mirnes Kovač, Kimberly Storr, Edina Bečirević, and Vlado Azinović
Atlantic Initiative, Sarajevo, 2019
bit.ly/3rUyoxW

"Community Perspectives on the Prevention of Violent Extremism in Bosnia and Herzegovina"
Sead Turčalo
Berghof Foundation, Berlin, 2018
bit.ly/3toHIKQ

Watch other documentaries on religious soft power in Bosnia and Herzegovina:

Iranian Soft Power and Religion in Bosnia: A Diplomacy of Shared Oppression
   • Iranian Soft Power and Religion in Bo...  

Turkey’s Influence on Bosnian Islam: Neo-Ottomanism Meets Post-Communism
   • Turkey’s Influence on Bosnian Islam: ...  

To learn more about the activities of the Geopolitics of Religious Soft Power project, visit
bit.ly/ReligiousSoftPower

This video is made possible by the Carnegie Corporation of New York. The statements made and views expressed in this video are solely the responsibility of the authors and interviewees.
All Comments (21)
  • @holdshiftt2run308
    May Allah accept Alija Izetbegovich and bless KSA, Bosnia and Turkey .
  • @mahirzuko
    Every one should practice his religion as he prefers. Wahabism is something I do not have a problem with I see them as people that practice Islam and they do not want to cross ways with you if you are not in their path ( religious as them or they respect you as just being a good human ). The media puts out such lies and fake facts about them that sometimes it is even funny for me. I have neighbors that practice salafi and they are so kind people I never have problems with them and they always come over when going past my house they stop and have a nice talk with me. Bosnia had a harsh history and we do not want it to repeat so please leave our faith and us alone.
  • @hakshaksabanivic
    As a Bosnian i can say that in Bosnia is very few true muslims who practice Islam and go to mosque because of communism.
  • @Andrew-qs6ml
    welp my dad remembers the war wery wery well because he was in it one day he almost got killed sombody throwed bomb at him but it wasnt good throw soo that 1 single rock saved him
  • @owannn
    Alhamdulillah, Islam is one islam.. simple ,,, and hanafis arent that much different from hanbalis
  • @icysaracen3054
    Reminds me of the Analusian Muslims who called on the Berbers of the Sahara for help during the Spanish Christian Reconquista. The berbers who arrived in the Spanish penisula said that they would only assist the moors, if they adopted their interpretation of Islam. This is the price to pay to be part of the "Ummah".
  • @charliechan8063
    He speaks English very well it helped me to learn about this asalam malakum to my Bosnian brothers!!!
  • @mdnaquib6030
    I am Indian🇮🇳. May Allah protect all Bosnian muslim☪️️
  • @ss1212ss
    La Elah Ela Allah Muhammad Rasul Allah
  • @kontramase8363
    when you talk about bosnian muslims, to do that fair and plassent to Allah, you need to stand up and say mashallah.
  • @NS-mz8gq
    And Berkeley centre is a Serbian connection and are not doing this to help Bosnia and Hercegovina
  • @Bosniak803
    "Sabetayan Connection" :face-red-droopy-eyes:
  • @ssk9702
    BOSNIA SANDZAK ALBANIA KOSOVO ISLAM ROULS TEKBIR ALLAHUEKBER ☝️😎
  • @mryugo7829
    where was the islam before the ottomen occupation xD
  • @Lui34779
    Now bonsia is back to the 1500s, would be better if it almost eradicated islam
  • @alessiabain7654
    Salafism doesn't belong to Saudi Arabia as you report.Stop the hate on Saudi Arabia ,they have contributed alot to the rebuilding of Bosnia post genocide.Be grateful.