Monday 27 June 2016

Salafi Organizations in Bosnia and Herzegovina Have Found New Sources of Financing

(June 27, 2016) - Bosnia and Herzegovina's Intelligence suspect that Salafi organizations active in Bosnia and Herzegovina have found new sources of financing their activities.

There are informations that such organizations in Sarajevo and beyond are not prepared to give up their intense ideological and propaganda activity.

According to a confidential dossier seen by Nezavisne Novine, the headquarters of one of the most active such organization is in Ramiz Salcin Street in Sarajevo.

As noted, the organization has been in existence since 2013, but had not been known to be very active. However, it has all changed in the mean time.

"This organization brings together exclusively female members. Some of the best known Salafi preachers have of late delivered lectures there," the detailed dossier says.

As the informations further states, at the end of August last year this Salafi organization arranged a trip for its members to Mt. Bjelasnica, more specifically to a mountain lodge in Javor Valley which has become a frequent venue for Salafi gatherings.

"The participants are bussed free to the venue and the organization also provides free child care during the courses," informations reveals.

It is stated in the documents in conclusion that the Salafi movement in Bosnia and Herzegovina continues to operate and that as regards global developments, it publicly disowns ISIL, while at the same time it operates outside the jurisdiction of the Islamic Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina as it develops its own structures.

"The activation of the previously passive groups, as well as the activities such as free transportation, child care, trips and the like, point to the possibility that there they have new sources of funding to support these activities," it is stated in the dossier.

According to police findings, in addition to Sarajevo, these Salafi organizations carry out increasingly intense propaganda activities in other major urban centers in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including Zenica, Tuzla and Mostar.

It is further stated that the Salafis have two leaders both of whom are believed to be associated with persons and organizations deemed to be of interest in terms of security, but who have themselves been suspected of the activities also deemed interesting in terms of security.

"For instance, this refers to the participation in organizing and encouraging recruits for Syria and other war zones," the informations reveal.

Police therefore recommend further monitoring and scrutiny of the activities of Salafi organizations and their leading authorities.

Bosnia Herzegovinan newspaper Nezavisne Novine has previously published many details about a Wahhabi stronghold bigger than the notorious Gornja Maoca near Srebrenik is taking root in the vicinity of Cazin.

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