ROCK CONCERT BAN SEEN AS SIGN OF GROWING RADICAL ISLAMISM IN BOSNIA - DAILY
BBC Monitoring International Reports - February 23, 2005

Text of report by Alenko Zornija "Islamic radicals in Bosnia-Hercegovina banned concert because 'rock and beer offend Muslims'" published by Croatian newspaper Vjesnik on 22 February

Sarajevo - The town of Visoko near Sarajevo is rocked by a scandal after municipality chief Munib Alibegovic banned a concert by a rock group, Skroz, that was scheduled for 19 February, professing that the concert and consumption of alcohol at a Heineken party, planned along with the concert, would offend the religious feelings of Muslims in the town on the Islamic holiday of Ashurah!

The liberal public is shocked by this move, viewed by some as a sign that radical right-wing Islamic policy was growing stronger, which was utterly inappropriate for Bosnia-Hercegovina.

A statement released by Alibegovic's office said there was an oversight when the permit for the concert was issued as the date of the concert coincided with the religious holiday. It was, therefore, recommended that the concert be banned as it was "learnt that the concert implied the Heineken party, the holding of which could lead to disruption of public peace and order".

An incensed Liberal Democratic Party responded first, saying the affront to national and religious feelings of Bosniak Muslims was only an excuse, claiming the ban was a "violation of human rights and freedoms".

It is interesting to note that the ban was issued after a statement by the Young Muslims civic association. "We feel an obligation to respond to the plans for the Heineken party. As Muslims, we strongly condemn any gathering at which alcohol is served, which Islamic rules explicitly forbid. We are particularly embittered by the fact that such a 'party' is being organized on the night of the Ashurah. We deem such an act utterly unacceptable, even offensive," the statement said.

It is interesting that members of a radical Islamic movement, the so-called Wahabis, were removing posters announcing the concert even before it was banned.

Source: Vjesnik, Zagreb in Croatian 22 Feb 05 p 28

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