Ex-Wahhabi says Bosnia under threat of Islamic radicals
BBC Monitoring Europe (Political) - August 22, 2006, Tuesday

Text of interview with Jasmin Merdan, former Islamic radical - Wahhabi, founder of non-governmental organization Centre for the Prevention of Terrorism, by Sara Babic: "Bosnia under threat of Wahhabis", published by Croatian newspaper Nacional on 15 August - subheading as published.

Volunteers from Islamic countries - who brought along, in addition to unusual war skills, a different interpretation of Islam - started arriving in Bosnia-Hercegovina at the beginning of the war, in 1992. Many of the Islamic warriors, known in the world as the mujahidin, brought along a radical, intrusive, exclusive, the so-called Wahhabi interpretation of Islam, which is why they were called the Wahhabis. After the war in Bosnia-Hercegovina, many of them were granted Bosnia-Hercegovina citizenship in recognition of their participation in the defence and in the El Mujahid unit, married Bosnian women in that country, raised families, and went on living in the region rejecting the "Bosnian" way of living, rejecting the Bosnian Islamic culture and tradition. Many acts of violence committed in the streets of Bosnia-Hercegovina towns have been registered since 1995. Young men and women who were kissing in the street were beaten in Zenica, as well as several dozen girls sunbathing in their bathing suits on the banks of the Bosna River. Moreover, girls in Brcko, Zenica, and Sarajevo were attacked for being "half naked and shameless," as they were wearing mini skirts while walking around the town. There is speculation that the Wahhabis established a Shari'ah police in the major towns of Bosnia-Hercegovina whose members are touring the favourite hangouts for young people at night, chasing young couples away.

Furthermore, the Wahhabis in Bosnia-Hercegovina - the very mention of whom makes the blood of citizens in Bosnia-Hercegovina run cold - have committed many counts of murder in the name of religion after the war, the best known of which is the killing of the Andjelic family in Konjic. Muamer Topalovic (age 25), a Bosniak from Konjic, came into the Andjelic family residence - a home of a Croat returnee in the village of Kostajnica - on Christmas Eve in 2002 and killed three members of that family. During the investigation after the arrest, Topalovic admitted that he had committed the murders for religious reasons. He killed the members of the Andjelic family when they were getting ready to attend the Christmas Eve Mass.

Jasmin Merdan is another former member of the radical Wahhabi movement who, until several years ago, was prepared to "put explosives around his belt and crash into any enemy target" "in the name of god." He is now Professor Merdan - born in Sarajevo and graduated from the Sarajevo Liberal Arts College in 1980 majoring in the Arab language and literature - and holds the title of hafiz [a title given to those who memorized the Koran by heart]. He recently published a book entitled "Wahhabism-Salafism - ideological background and historical roots" he wrote together with Adnan Mesanovic in which the authors settle a score with the Wahhabi movement and the consequences of that movement in Bosnia-Hercegovina. Up until several years ago, when they were high-school students with deeply ingrained religious beliefs, Merdan and Mesanovic were members of the Wahhabi movement in Bosnia-Hercegovina. They claim that education and science have changed their lives, so they decided to abandon the radical teachings of Islam. They are the founders of the first non-governmental organization for the prevention of terrorism in Bosnia-Hercegovina called "ZAPRET." Merdan speaks openly about his experience and the threat of radical interpretation and practicing of religion in an interview for Nacional.

Strength of Wahhabis underestimated

[Nacional] How did you become a member of the Wahhabi movement?

[Merdan] Those people exploited the enthusiasm of young men and their desire to return to Islam. They assert themselves as the representatives of traditional Islam and the only real followers of the Practice of Mohammed. They do not let anyone treat them as a sect, group, movement, or even as a legitimate legal course, nor to be called the Wahhabis. They believe they are the only ones on the right path. Brain washing to that effect is possible given two important prerequisites: the passiveness of those who are supposed to talk about Islam and preserve it in its original form - like the Islamic community, for example - and ensuring that the connection of young people and children with Islam be based on enthusiasm and the desire to do something big. [sentence as published] No previous knowledge is required. In other words, the issue at stake here is lack of education. A lack of a correct alternative to ideological demagogues, who are often ignorant themselves, coupled with a strong financial support, gives the Wahhabis a free reign and a good chance to succeed among young people.

[Nacional] How did you manage to get out?

[Merdan] We primarily needed knowledge, knowledge of Islam and personal experience, as well as courage, to "get out."

[Nacional] Are there a growing number of the Wahhabis in Bosnia-Hercegovina?

[Merdan] After the war in Bosnia-Hercegovina, authority and leadership have been transferred from the Arabs to the local people and the number of the Wahhabis is growing slowly but surely. We intend to put together more precise statistic information through the work of our centre. Unfortunately, the Wahhabis are very active, they have a good financial support, extremely strong publishing, and a strong sales network in Bosnia-Hercegovina and abroad. On the other hand, the Islamic community underestimates the Wahhabis and their strength.

[Nacional] You once stated that not every Wahhabi is a terrorist but that every terrorist is a Wahhabi.

[Merdan] It is true that every Wahhabi is not a terrorist, because some of them are upstanding citizens and pose no threat to the society.

[Nacional] Have you had problems since you started consistently settling a score with the Wahhabi movement? Do you fear for your safety?

[Merdan] We have had problems and that is not unexpected but that will not hinder us from what we are doing. I lost my job right away, we received many threats that we should be "dealt with summarily." I was even threatened in front of the Beg Mosque in Sarajevo that my "neck would be broken." But we do not intend to give up.

[Nacional] To what extent are terrorists connected in a network and are there terrorists in Croatia and neighbouring countries?

[Merdan] If there are terrorists in New York, London, Konjic, Sarajevo, if they are even prepared to blow up the Muslims in Mecca and Riyadh, I do not think there is a place in the world that is immune to their existence any longer. Numbers are of no importance to terrorists. Terrorism is about individuals. We do not have to have a reported group of terrorists to realize that the situation is alarming.

[Nacional] Who granted citizenship to the Wahhabis and allowed them to remain in Bosnia-Hercegovina?

[Merdan] It does not say in the passport that a person is a Wahhabi. They mostly came from the Arab countries, some of their own accord, but mostly through various "humanitarian" organizations. But we have paid a heavy price for that assistance.

[Nacional] What are the consequences of the radical Islamic movement in Bosnia-Hercegovina?

[Merdan] Radical Islam should not present something negative. If, for example, the goal of nuns, by definition, is to radically follow the teachings of Jesus Christ, why should there be no radical followers of the Mohammed? Extreme radicalism and exclusiveness could be characterized as a problem. The statements of some of our politicians that there is no terrorism in Bosnia-Hercegovina are dilettantish. It would probably take an airplane crashing into the Unitic towers in Sarajevo for them to realize that the situation is serious and change their opinion. Let us recall the young man who killed innocent people two years ago on Christmas Eve or a recent case of a Wahhabi slaughtering his own mother in Sarajevo. Furthermore, the Court of Bosnia-Hercegovina has issued an indictment against three persons for preparing a bomb attack. We are deluding ourselves into believing there is no terrorism in this country.

[Nacional] Was it the foreign citizens who came to Bosnia-Hercegovina during the war who brought radical Islam?

[Merdan] Yes, the "real Islam" came to this country during the war. Everything that we had until that time was characterized as wrong and warped. And now we see our educators and our saviours in action.

Islamic Community has failed

[Nacional] Can Wahhabism be eradicated from Bosnia-Hercegovina?

[Merdan] That would be difficult though not impossible. I do not think any beliefs should be imposed on anyone or that a person's beliefs should be disputed as long as those beliefs pose no threat to the society. The escalation of extreme radicalism must not be allowed. Wahhabism must be under control and I am not referring to the work of the police here.

[Nacional] How can the spread of radical ideas in Bosnia-Hercegovina be prevented?

[Merdan] By education and synchronized activity of the people who deal with this issue. It is necessary to activate the public much more widely and lobby with the relevant bodies and organizations that, on the whole, still do not understand this phenomenon. Educated youth is far more difficult to get indoctrinated and manipulated.

[Nacional] To what extent have young men from Bosnia-Hercegovina accepted Wahhabism?

[Merdan] It is a fact that Wahhabism is practically the only movement that keeps open doors to all those who want to go back and get fully devoted to Islam, as well as to coordinate their lives with the regulations of Islam. Some leaders of the Islamic community admitted to me that they were deeply aware of their responsibility and that they were not doing their job properly.

[Nacional] Does Wahhabism pose a realistic threat to the society?

[Merdan] Definitely. It s dangerous to a narrow circle of the Muslims, since it presents an attack on their beliefs and traditional Islam. The other danger is the one that concerns the whole society. Terrorism, which is widely discussed world wide, is just a reflection of the single-opinion system and imposed superiority. Wahhabism poses a constant potential threat to all. The Muslims should be in the forefront of the prevention of this problem. Their voice should be heard more loudly.

[Nacional] Is Wahhabism a basis for terrorism?

[Merdan] Terrorism cannot be ascribed to any particular religion; it has no insignia and no symbols. We can only provisionally characterize it as Muslim because it originates from the people who call themselves Muslims. There are various forms and types of terrorism and it often has political connotations and motives. However, instilling fear and innocent victims is a common denominator of every terrorism. I therefore never allow the use of term "Islamic" terrorism. I could say that Wahhabism is actually an ideological platform for terrorism because the issue at stake here is not a war between the Muslims and non-Muslims or a conflict of civilizations. This is a conflict between extremists on one hand and the Muslims and non-Muslims on the other.

[Nacional] You founded the first non-governmental organization Centre for the Prevention of Terrorism (ZAPRET). How did you get that idea?

[Merdan] That was a logical sequence of events and the best way for me to use my knowledge and experience to make a contribution in the interest of the entire society.

[Nacional] What does ZAPRET do exactly and how will it be financed?

[Merdan] The centre was registered with the Bosnia-Hercegovina Justice Ministry as an association of citizens. Our most important goal is to activate the public, alert in the media, educate, lobby with the relevant bodies and organizations. All that requires financial resources, which has always been our weak point because we have so far only used our private resources. Our goal is to inform the local institutions and alarm the public about this problem. Some foreign institutions would eagerly accept the chance to lend assistance to such a project and initiative, but we believe it is important that the local institutions recognize that. We are targeting the local institutions because they must realize how serious this situation is, so that we do not have the same experience as our chief imam in the United States, Senad effendi Agic, who was warning about those groups and the threat they are posing for a long time but nobody paid any heed to his warnings until 11 September!

[Nacional] Are the authorities in Bosnia-Hercegovina aware of the danger of potential terrorist threats?

[Merdan] Not by a long shot. They only think about terrorism as much as they are forced to by external pressure. This is not about car thieves or marijuana dealers. This is a completely new phenomenon that the world has never encountered before. How to deal with a man who decided to die and who made himself into a time bomb? That person still does not have a police record and may have been an upstanding citizen. I therefore ask the following question: who has the right to consider Bosnia-Hercegovina immune to this kind of global threat? If any country has the prerequisites for this kind of activity it is Bosnia-Hercegovina.

"Silence means approval"

[Nacional] Do the citizens of Bosnia-Hercegovina have any reason to fear for their safety?

[Merdan] I would say that it is better to be safe than sorry. Consequently, lend assistance to our initiative because our organization is the only non-governmental organization dealing with the problem of terrorism. Citizens definitely have a reason to do everything in their power to preserve and protect their safety.

[Nacional] To what extent does Wahhabism influence the forming of a negative opinion of Islam in the world?

[Merdan] There are not many nuances as far as people in the West are concerned, especially if acts of terrorism are committed on our behalf, in the name of Islam and the Muslims, and we keep silent. However, therein lies a great responsibility of the Muslims because the image of Islam and the Muslims in the world has been tainted. There are malicious media, of course, politics is definitely involved, but all that should not serve as an excuse. Silence means approval and the Muslims are silent. As if this has nothing to do with them. We do not have to go beyond the borders of Bosnia-Hercegovina to see that. The last image from Bosnia-Hercegovina that went all over the world were the rallies in protest of the Mohammed cartoons. There were images of torching the flags of Croatia, Denmark. The pictures of the bearded leaders of those protests were also published all around the world and people saw that. Have any Muslims protested that and rallied against that to say and prove that this is not what we are. No. And we still wonder why they would not issue us visas for the countries of the European Union and the world.

[Box] Usamah Bin-Ladin is Wahhabi

Wahhabism is a kind of traditional teaching in Islam founded in late 17th century. Muhammad Abd al Wahab, the so-called reformer of Islam, originally from Saudi Arabia, is its spiritual source. The followers of the Wahhabi teachings are called mujahidin or Unitarians. Wahhabism today is the most widely spread in the underdeveloped parts of Asia and less in Europe. The followers of Wahhabism are believed to have supported the terrorist attacks in the United States and Europe with their ideological beliefs. Usamah Bin-Ladin, the leader of the Al-Qa'idah terrorist network, is a follower of the Wahhabi teachings of Islam.

[Box] Education - only way to fight it

[Nacional] You wrote the book Wahhabism-Selefism together with Adnan Mesanovic, who also left the Wahhabi movement. What message did you intend to send and how has the book been received?

[Merdan] This is actually the only right way to fight against that ideology. The Muslims, especially the potential Wahhabi sympathizers, must be presented arguments to realize what Wahhabism really is and what are the teachings of traditional Islam. We want to single out the organizations and individuals who deserve credit for its development.

Source: Nacional, Zagreb, in Croatian 15 Aug 06 pp 24-26

Copyright 2006 British Broadcasting Corporation
Posted for Fair Use only.