THE RESOLUTION OF THE BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA MUSLIM LEADERS PUBLISHED IN SARAJEVO ON OCTOBER 12, 1941, BY WHICH THEY DISTANCE THEMSELVES FROM THE POLICY OF THE USTASHA STATE, BECAUSE IT LEADS TO THE DOWNFALL OF CROATIAN MUSLIMS.[1]
Translation from Croatian of the Resolution composed on 12./X. 1941 in Sarajevo by the most prominent representatives of Bosnia-Herzegovina Muslims[2]
Having in mind the difficult situation in which Muslim Croats find themselves in Bosnia and Herzegovina today, as well as taking into account the conditions that are deteriorating every day, as members of the honorable Islamic religion but also as individuals, below signed Muslims, we feel obliged to, at the proposal of the Main Board of “El-Hidaye”, the organization Ilmijje (Mohammedan clergy), state the following facts and demand that the misery and misfortune in which they find themselves be alleviated.
1. / The position of the Muslims in Bosnia and Herzegovina today is extremely difficult. It is no exaggeration to claim that Muslims in these areas have not experienced more difficult times throughout history. Due to the action of irresponsible elements, as well as due to the insurrectionary activities of the Serbs, only Muslims are killed in the vast majority, because in these areas helpless Muslims live mixed mostly with Greek-Eastern[3] elements, while the insurgents are recklessly attacking those who are the most accessible to them.
As a result of the riots, peaceful citizens and innocent people suffer, tens of thousands of human lives are lost, and all property is destroyed. Villages are being torched, residents are being forced to flee, that is, to be relocated and are deprived of all means to accumulate in larger cities. Thousands of orphaned children who have lost their parents beg for help and wander around for protection.
Noting these facts, we emphasize that these are not any victims that patriots forced to suffer for their homeland, given that this is just general chaos that is spreading and leading to the downfall of Croatian Muslims in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Despite pleas from all sides to put an end to this situation and despite many consoling statements from the responsible factors, there is no improvement, but only worsening of the situation every day, and those territories that have not been directly affected so far are endangered by some special misfortune.
The worst thing, however, is that actions have been taken by certain authorities, and they still are, which are provoking a sharp reaction of the insurgents, and in this way the annoyed and unprotected population is innocently exposed to even more misfortune. All this shakes every belief in security and gives grounds for the fact that based on factual events, as well as partly due to the propaganda of irresponsible elements in the broad ignorant layer, one comes to the belief that this is a system implemented in a planned manner.
2. / Many Catholics consciously shift the responsibility for all the evil deeds that have been committed lately to the Muslims, and they present all the events as a mutual conflict between the Muslims and the Greek-Eastern elements. The same opinion is shared by parts of the Greek-Eastern population regarding the responsibility of Muslims. When things are properly known, however, it is seen that Muslims are innocent and therefore most vigorously reject these accusations.
The fact that people with Muslim names are among the perpetrators of various crimes cannot have as a consequence that the blame and responsibility falls on the Muslims.
Muslims have already distanced themselves from these crimes that were committed, and in the Resolution of August 14, of this year, they have adopted at the annual general assembly of “El-Hidaye”, the organization of Ilmijje, the following point was adopted:
“4. / With a pain in our heart and with deep compassion, we remember all those Muslim victims who fell innocently in the riots that are happening in some places these days. We condemn all those individual Muslims who have committed any kind of incident or any kind of violence on their own. We conclude that such deeds could have been committed only by irresponsible elements and rude people, from whose criminal acts we and all Muslims, distance ourselves. We demand from all Muslims that in the spirit of the sublime teaching of their Islamic faith and in the interest of the state, they strictly stay away from all misdeeds. We ask the state authorities to establish legal security in all territories as soon as possible and not to allow anything to be done arbitrarily so that innocent people should not suffer.”
We hereby conclude that crimes on the Muslim side could have been committed only by the mob and criminal individuals that exist in every community. However, we note the fact that even they did not do anything on their own initiative until they were given weapons, uniforms, powers and often orders.
Therefore, in no single case are the Muslims guilty of these crimes, nor are they the instigators of them.
We further state that for the sake of shifting responsibility for the misdeeds committed against the Muslims, both the fez and Muslim names have been abused. Namely, the fez, which was introduced as a piece of uniform for all Bosnian soldiers, was also worn by non-Muslims, who have committed various crimes and who, in order to deceive their victims, addressed each other with Muslim names.
The Muslims did not have any evil intentions towards anyone, which is best evidenced by the fact that the Muslims, who were Yugoslav soldiers, surrendered their weapons after the end of the war.
Even in their past in the Turkish era, when they were the only masters, Muslims tolerated all religions without exception and never persecuted anybody. That is why even today, Muslims must not be labeled as instigators of all riots and crimes, nor as intolerant of the Greek-Eastern element, as it is deliberately subverted from many sides.
3. / In these difficult times, the intolerance of some Catholics towards Islam also comes to light. This is reflected in the way of writing, in private conversations and public speeches, as well as in the unequal treatment of the Catholic and Islamic religions. All this becomes obvious no matter how many statements were made from the highest places about the equality of both religions. We are ready to support these statements with concrete examples.
After establishing this factual situation, we ask all responsible political leaders and all Muslim religious and political representatives to address the following in all competent services:
1./ to introduce real security of life, honor, property and religion for all citizens in the state, without any exception,
2./ that the innocent population really gets strong military protection,
3./ to further prohibit the taking of any action, which by its nature could provoke uprisings and bloodshed among the people,
4./ that all perpetrators, whatever violence or criminal offense they have committed, regardless of the religion to which they belong, be brought to justice and punished according to the law, as well as those who ordered or facilitated such evildoing,
5./ that laws are enforced only by regular authorities and the regular army,
6./ to prevent any religious intolerance and to punish most severely those who, in this respect, make any demonstrable incident,
7./ to provide sufficient material assistance to those who were neither guilty nor obliged to suffer in these riots as soon as possible.
Sarajevo, October 12, 1941
1. Hadži Mehmed Hadžic, Chairman of El-Hidaye
2. Muhamed Pašić, Headmaster of the Sharia Gymnasium
3. Mustafa Varešanović, imam in the Jamiat of the city of Sarajevo and President of the Association of Imams in the Jamiat
4. Hafiz Hasib Fazlić, President of the Union of Muslims
5. Ahmed Burek, Headmaster of the Gazi Husrevbeg Madrasa
6. Dr. Shaćir Sikirić, Rector of the Islamic Theological Sharia School
7. Tajib Saračević, Headmaster of the lower district madrasa
8. Mesihović Šaćir, retired member of the Ulema Majlis
9. Mahmud Bahtijarević, retired member of the Ulema Majlis
10. Ibrahim Čadordžić, President of the Mohammedan District Board in Sarajevo and President of the Association of Sharia Judges
11. Dr. Kasim Muftić, Chairman of Vakif
12. Dr. Kasim Turković, member of the former Vakif-Maarif Assembly
13. Edhem Mulabdić, President of “Narodna uzdanica”[4]
14. Mehmed Ali Čermović
15. Hafiz Muhamed Pandža, member of the Ulema Majlis
16. Hafiz Ibrahim Ridžanović, member of the Ulema Majlis
17. Haji Alija Aganović, member of the Ulema Majlis
18. Abdulah Dervišević, müderris (high school teacher) and President of the district committee of “El-Hidaje” in Sarajevo
19. Ešref Berberović, President of the Muslim Association “Trezvenost”[5]
20. Edhem Čejvanija, President of “Hujret”
21. Salim Džino, member of the board of “Merhamet”[6]
22. Hadži Mustafa Merhemić, president of the association of former landowners
23. Kasim Dobrača, member of the Main Board of “El-Hidaje”
24. Hafiz Ramiz Jusufović, Secretary of the Association of Muslim Imams
25. Mehmed Mujezinović, Secretary of the Main Board of El-Hidaje
26. Hafiz Ibrahim Redzic, retired Sharia judge
27. Faik Musakadić, President of the Muslim Society “Bratstvo”[7]
28. Muhamed Hazim Tulić, professor[8]
29. Ahmed Tuzlić, substitute teacher
30. Salim Ćatić, professor, secretary of “Narodna uzdanica”
31. Hamad Kapadžić, professor
32. Hafiz Ibrahim Trebinjac, substitute teacher
33. Mustafa Drljević, professor
34. Ćazim Nožić, professor
35. Mahmud Barjaktarević, professor
36. Nedim Filipović, substitute teacher
37. Derviš M. Korkut, curator of the National Museum
38. Ahmed Kaumović, professor
39. Besim Korkut, professor
40. Dr. Behaudin Salihagić, court judge
41. Bekir Omersoftić, Deputy State Prosecutor
42. Osman Sokolović, retired Secretary of the Chamber of Commerce
43. Džemaludin Hafiz Hadžijahić, imam and khatib at the Emperor’s Mosque[9]
44. Mujezinović Hafiz Mustafa, teacher in the women’s madrasa
45. Abdulah Fočak, principal of the maktab (primary religious school)[10]
46. Dr. Vejsil Bičakčić, chief physician in the sick fund and representative of the association “El-Kamer”
47. Fejzulah Hadžibajrić, Member of the Main Board of El-Hidaje
48. Hussein Djozo, member of the main board of Al-Hidaje
49. Muhamed Fočak, Member of the Main Board of El-Hidaje
50. Hafiz Akif Handžić, imam at the state hospital
51. Hafiz Ibrahim Prohić, principal of the maktab (primary religious school)
52. Muhamed Traljić, student[11]
53. Halid Čaušević, student
54. Kemal Čaušević, student
55. Hazim Čabanović, publicist
56. М. Sejid Prašo, student
57. Hasan Barjaktarević, student
58. Soka Ahmed, religious teacher
59. Bukvić Kasim, student
60. Asim Hadžišabanović, industrialist
61. Mulić Abdulah, teacher
62. Husein Kadić, landowner
63. Mehmed Šahinagić, landowner
64. Eng. Asim Šeremet, retired senior agricultural advisor
65. Ahmed Mešinović, merchant
66. Edhem Fočo, merchant
67. Asim Aslanagić, merchant
68. Sulejman Gorušanović, merchant
69. Sulejman Muhasilović, merchant
70. Mehmed Kučukalić, merchant
71. Uzeir Hadžihasanović, merchant
72. Hamdija Zulukarpašić, merchant
73. Jusuf Čengić, merchant
74. Salih Foča, merchant
75. Mustafa Ričakčić, merchant
76. Šerif Vranić, merchant
77. Derviš Artić, industrialist
78. Mustafa Softić
79. Hamdija Mujičić
80. Kasim Skopljak
81. Hafiz Omer Mušić, teacher
82. Salem Muharemagić, teacher
83. Haji Hasan Nezirhodžić, merchant
84. Hamdija Delić, merchant
85. Muhamed Kamura, merchant
86. Ismet Njemčević, merchant
87. Ahmed Tabaković, merchant
88. Fejzulah Hadži Šabanović, industrialist
89. Edhem Bičakčić, former director of the city savings bank
90. Muhamed Nanić, industrialist
91. Edhem Đulizarević, artisan
92. Ismet Sulejmanović, artisan
93. Hamdija Đukić, merchant
94. Ahmed Tufo, merchant
95. Skaka Abdulah, artisan
96. Hasan Zulfikarpasić, merchant
97. Dr. Asim Musakadić, physician
98. Hasan O. Užičanin, artisan
99. Dr. Husein Mašić, judge
100. Nasih Repovac, judge
101. Dr. Muhamed Kulenović, president of the judicial panel
102. Osman Sikirić, delegate to the Banovina Council in Sarajevo[12]
103. Muhamedbeg Fidahić, Councilor of the High Court in Sarajevo
104. Osman Ferta, Sharia judge
105. Munir Tarabar, trainee at the Sharia Court
106. Hafiz Sulejman Kulenović, Sharia judge
107. Osman Omerhadžić, Sharia judge
108. Ahmed Selimović, Sharia judge
No. 10
ABWEHR’S NOTE, SENT TO THE CHIEF OF THE WEHRMACHT SUPREME COMMAND AND ABWEHR CHIEF ON SEPTEMBER 30, 1941, ABOUT THE USTASHA MASS KILLING OF SERBS OF ALL AGES IN THE VICINITY OF SARAJEVO, AS THE ONLY CAUSE OF THE UPRISING FOR WHICH GERMAN SOLDIERS WOULD SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES.[13]
Foreign Office/Abwehr[14]
Department of Foreign Affairs Nr. 9927/41 conf.[idential] I c Berlin,
30 September 1941
Note!
| To be handed over to Mr. Chief of O. K. W.67 5 attachments 9 photographs | Subject Title: Behavior of the Ustashas Source: Report of K.O.68 Zagreb Nr. 1770/41 of 18 September According to the report of the Sarajevo City Command69, on September 7, members of the Ustashas near Raljevo imprisoned 80 to 100 Serbs, men, women and children in two houses, set the houses on fire, and the Serbs were burned alive. |
| Hand over to Mr. Head of Foreign Office/ Abwehr (also for Z. L.) Signed Bikner For accuracy:70 | Several other Serbs were separated and executed on the same occasion. Nine photographs are attached as confirmation. Lieutenant General Laxa71, as the Special Plenipotentiary of the Supreme Commander, confirms this event in the attached report. He issued an order for the perpetrators to be arrested and executed by shooting. In a report for the 718th Infantry Division72, the commander of the 738th Infantry Regiment points out that such violence incites the population to revolt; and in the end, the German soldier will again have to be responsible for the consequences. Also K.O. Zagreb is of the opinion that Ustasha killings and torchings are the only cause of the uprising in Bosnia and Herzegovina. |
Yugoslavia (D)[21]
[1] АВ, Ф. 562, 3.1.1.2, 4-8, translation from Croatian.
[2] See: Muslimanske rezolucije, in: B. Petranović, M. Zečević, Jugoslovenski federalizam. Ideje i stvarnost. Tematska zbirka dokumenata, Vol. One, 1914-1943, Beograd: Prosveta, 1987, 697-713; H. Matković, „Bosansko-hercegovački muslimani u programu ustaške emigracije i NDH”, Časopis za suvremenu povijest, 3, 2006, 1034; D. Sušić, Parergon, 13-14, 37, 41.
[3] By a ministerial order of July 18, 1941, the name Orthodox faith was abolished in the Independent State of Croatia and the name Greek-Eastern religion was introduced.; M. Koljanin, „Preveravanje Srba u Nezavisnoj Državi Hrvatskoj”, in: Pokatoličavanje Srba u Nezavisnoj Državi Hrvatskoj, Zbornik radova, Zagreb: Srpsko narodno vijeće, 2019, 24.
[4] The name means ’National Mainstay’. – Subeditor’s note.
[5] The name means ’Sobriety’. – Subeditor’s note.
[6] The name means ’mercy’ or ’compassion’. – Subeditor’s note.
[7] The name means ’brotherhood’. – Subeditor’s note.
[8] In the former Yugoslavia, the occupation profesor mostly applied on university graduates working as teachers, mostly in secondary schools. – Subeditor’s note.
[9] Careva džamija in Sarajevo. – Subeditor’s note.
[10] In Bosnia-Herzegovina, the word reads mekteb. – Subeditor’s note.
[11] The term student pertains to those who attend the institutions of higher education; the words for pupils/students of primary and secondary school are učenik and đak. – Subeditor’s note.
[12] From 1929 to 1941, the Kingdom of Yugoslavia was administratively divided into nine provinces (banovine), all named after large rivers. Sarajevo was the capital of the Drina Banovina. – Subeditor’s note.
[13] AВ, Ф. 562, 3.1.1.2 (the document is not numbered, it is in the dossier placed after sheet 591).
[14] Central institution of the German military intelligence service (Foreign/Office, Amt Ausland/Abwehr). Abwehr was part of the High Command of the Army (Oberkommando des Heeres, abbreviated: OKH) and was subordinate to its Intelligence (I c) Department.
[15] High Command of the German Armed Forces, Wehrmacht (Oberkommando der Wehrmacht, abbreviated OKW).
[16] K.O. abbreviated from Kriegsorganisation (war organization), Abwehr institutions in neutral countries or German allies. K.O. Zagreb (later: Abwehrstelle, abbreviated: Ast.) was the central institution of Abwehr in the Independent State of Croatia.
[17] German Military Command in the city of Sarajevo (Stadtkommandantur).
[18] Followed by the marks of the various departments and institutions of Abwehr and the Wehrmacht to which the document was addressed.
[19] General Vladimir Laxa, at that time was the commander of the Bosnian and Adriatic divisional area of the NDH ground forces; Tko je tko u NDH, 231-232 (M. Pojić and M. Rupić).
[20] Units of the 718th Infantry Division under the command of Lieutenant-Colone General Johann Fortner were mostly stationed in eastern Bosnia, but its headquarters were in Banja Luka. The division was subordinated to the Higher Command 65, with its headquarters in the occupied Serbia.
[21] Handwritten note.