Former Islamic Leader Criticized for Proposing New Orthodox Church in Bosnia
The Interreligious Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina condemned former Islamic leader Mustafa Cerić’s call for a “Bosnian Orthodox Church” as irresponsible and harmful to interfaith relations.
SARAJEVO — The Interreligious Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina has condemned remarks by Mustafa Cerić, former head of the Islamic Community, regarding the creation of a so-called “Bosnian Orthodox Church,” calling them “malicious and irresponsible,” according to news agency Vijesti.
In a statement, the Council criticized Cerić for publicly proposing ways to regulate churches and religious communities, emphasizing that his views do not reflect any official position of the Council or its member faiths. It warned that such statements, made through social media and online platforms, risk deepening mistrust and harming interreligious relations in the country.
The Council noted that Cerić himself helped establish the Interreligious Council in 1997, making his comments particularly troubling. It called on all social actors to distance themselves from private, controversial statements and reaffirmed its commitment to fostering mutual respect, trust, and cooperation among the Islamic Community, Serbian Orthodox Church, Catholic Church, and Jewish Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Previously, the UOJ reported that a Montenegrin Monastery was under police siege.
