THE BOSNIAK DIASPORA OFFICE

Full title: Ured za bošnjačku dijasporu (The Bosniak Disapora Office)

Office Headquarters: 12a Semira Frašte Street, 71 000 Sarajevo

Tel/Fax no.: +387/33-760-945, +387/33-760-946,

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Director of the office: Mirsad ef. Mahmutović

Activities:

One of the primary tasks of the Office is to coordinate and monitor the activities of all Bosniak jamaats in the diaspora, except the jamaats in the countries of former Yugoslavia. Today, the Bosniak Diaspora Office maintains connections with over 200 Bosniak jamaats across Australia, North America and Europe.

Furthermore, the Office also organizes visits of representatives of the B&H Islamic Community to the countries of the diaspora, as well as visits of the sejjir vaizes (guest lecturer) and teravih-imams to the jamaats of the diaspora during Ramadhan, and organizes seminars for imams both in the diaspora and in Bosnia and Herzegovina, among other things.

The office launches and coordinates regular fundraising activities for the restoration of mosques in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as aid programs for those returning to their homes, and studentships for primary, secondary and university students.

How we were established:

The aggression on Bosnia and Herzegovina from 1992 to 1995 left many in Bosnia and Herzegovina without a home. Many of these people were compelled to leave their country and set off into the world with only a few of their belongings, and very often with nowhere to go and no funds for basic necessities.

For these reasons, the Islamic Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina felt responsible to help its people, and therefore launched several projects with the aim of preventing the disappearance of the refugees, their assimilation and all the other threats that the diaspora faces.  The first to recognize the significance of such projects was the reis-ul-ulama of the B&H Islamic Community Dr Mustafa-effendi Cerić Ph.D.

Upon his recommendation, the Assembly of the Islamic Community, at a session held in Zenica on 23 December 1995, adopted a decision to form an Office for the Bosniak Diaspora, based in Sarajevo. The Office was established in Mid-March of 1996, with Mirsad Mahmutović as its Director and Muhamed Halilović as its Secretary. Since then, maintaining links with the diaspora has become that Islamic Community's permanent concern and duty.

OFFICE FOR HAJJ AND UMRA

Title: Ured za hadž i umru (Office for Hajj and Umra)

Main Office: 2 Reisa Džemaludina Čauševića Street, 71000 Sarajevo

Tel: 033/668-651; Fax: 033/210-042

e-mail: uredhadz@bih>.net.ba, or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Our activities: Organizing individual and group umra pilgrimages, as well as group hajj pilgrimages.

About the Office:

The Office for Hajj was established in 1998. At the time, the Office was part of the Office of Bosniak Diaspora, and was coordinated by Mirsad-effendi Mahmutović.

The Hajj Committee was formed in 2002, with Nezim-effendi Halilivić as Chairman. Its members at the time of its establishment were: Nusret-effendi Abdibegović, Muhamed- effendi Salkić, Sulejman-effendi Čeliković, Besim-effendi Čanić, Mirsad-effendi Mahmutović, Ferid-effendi Dautović and Munir-effendi Makić.

In the years that followed, the members and makeup of the Committee were changed, Nezim-effendi Halilović was President once again on 2004, Besim-effendi Čanić chaired the Committee in 2004, and, since 2005, the Hajj Commission has been chaired by the Mufti of Travnik, Nusret-effendi Abdibegović.

The members of the Committee for Hajj, appointed in 2006, are, alongside Nusret-effendi Abdibegović, hafiz Ismet-effendi Spahić, Muhamed-effendi Salkić, Mirsad-effendi Mahmutović, Ibrahim-effendi Hadžić and Halil-effendi Mehanović.

OFFICE FOR RELATIONS WITH THE MUSLIM WORLD

Full title: Ured za odnose sa islamskim svijetom (Office For Relations With The Muslim World)

Main Office:  2 Isa bega Ishakovića Street, 71000 Sarajevo

Tel/Fax: 447 950

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Director of the Office: Ibrahim Ahmetagić

Office Coordinartor: Subhi Vesim Tedefi

The Office maintains contacts with educational, cultural, religious and other civil institution in the Muslim world.

ZAKAT OFFICE

Manager: Elnur Salihović

Address: Zelenih beretki 17, 71 000 Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina;

Tel./fax: 00387 33 533 000 (lokal 218);

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Web: www.rijaset.ba

Office tasks

The tasks of this office include systematic promotion of observing the zakaat duties, improvement of the existing system of payment, developing new forms and methods of collecting the zakat as well as finding new strategies for realizing these and assisting imams majlises and other services that are involved in collecting the zakat.

OFFICE FOR INTERRELIGIOUS RELATIONS

Manager: Ifet ef.Mustafić

Address: Isa-bega Ishakovića 2, 71 000 Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina;

Tel./fax: 00387 33 441 573, 00387 33 239 404

E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Web: www.rijaset.ba

Office tasks

Amongst the duties of the Office for interreligious relations are: observing the activities of non Muslim religious organizations in Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as in the world, the interrelations amongst these, there relation towards the Islamic Community of Bosnia and Herzegovina and towards Islam and Muslims in general. The office establishes and updates the data base of non-Muslim religious communities and organizations in the country and abroad, primarily those organizations with which the cabinet of Reisu-l-ulama has established.