Serbian terrorism expert warns of Wahhabi presence in Bosnia, Kosovo

Serbian terrorism expert warns of Wahhabi presence in Bosnia, Kosovo
BBC Monitoring Europe (Political) - July 18, 2005, Monday

Text of report by Dragana Bokan entitled "Islamic state in the Balkans" published by the Serbian newspaper Borba on 11 July

"Wahhabism is a reformist movement. Its goal is to return to orthodox Islam and purge the faith of the so-called novelties and of everything that has infiltrated the faith through custom. They are thus fighting against everything that throughout history has enriched the Islamic culture and tradition," Radoslav Gacinovic, an expert in national security and the fight against international terrorism, said at the start of his interview for Borba. He added:

"Wahhabis believe that every Muslim should look like Muhammad and his Ashabs [contemporaries]. Their appearance, customs and behaviour make them easy to recognize. They grow long beards, their hair is short, and they usually wear ankle-length trousers. They do not talk or socialize much and do not communicate with neighbours who are not their followers."

Gacinovic, when asked to what degree Wahhabism was present in this region, said that the Arab office of "Taleban-Internationalism" [as published - presumably erroneous transcription of Taybah International], officially a humanitarian organization, took the credit for the settlement of these dangerous warriors in the territory of former Yugoslavia.

"For example, Bosnia-Hercegovina in the period between 1989 and 2002 saw the arrival of tens of thousands of foreigners who came from Arab countries. According to official data, around 30,000 did not officially leave Bosnia-Hercegovina and nobody knows where they are. It is assumed that among them is a large number of Wahhabis who through the SDA [Party for Democratic Action] were granted B-H citizenship and settled in Bosnia-Hercegovina. If, however, we add to this number the mujahidin who fought with the Muslim army and received top decorations, citizenship and permanent residence, then their message to the United States and the European Union is clear: they are here and are afraid of no one. Their presence in Bosnia-Hercegovina will strengthen the Islamic influence in Europe and blunt the international fight against terrorism," Gacinovic said.

He added that the mujahidin, together with the Wahhabis, in Bosnia-Hercegovina organized training camps in the village of Bocija [presumably erroneous transcription of Bocinja] on Mt Ozren. This mountain from a strategic point of view is very important because it is on the border between the [Bosnian] Serb Republic and the Muslim-Croat federation [Bosnia-Hercegovina Federation].

Eighty mujahidin families, with around 600 members, stayed in this village until 2001. Camps for the training of "world warriors" are also located in Mitrovici village near Zavidovici, in Fojnica near Sarajevo, and in the vicinity of Zenica. The village of Gradacak of late has become a major Wahhabi stronghold.

It may be stated with certainty that Wahhabis are present in Bosnia-Hercegovina and that they are enjoying the support of the Bosnian Salafis [Islamic purists ]. This was confirmed by the statement three years ago by Senad Agic, the chief imam of the Islamic Community in the United States. Agic warned that one in a hundred Muslims in Bosnia-Hercegovina was a member of the Wahhabi movement and a follower of Wahhabi teachings. Considering that they are spreading quite aggressively, their number in Bosnia-Hercegovina at present is much bigger. Imam Agic in his statement warned Muslims in the world with the following words:

"If we do nothing, Wahhabis are going to cost us our lives."

"Even the Muslim religious dignitaries in Bosnia-Hercegovina have called for the rejection of the Wahhabist teaching, while the Muslim state institutions in Bosnia have continued to tolerate the Wahhabi movement in Bosnia-Hercegovina. High Representative in Bosnia-Hercegovina Paddy Ashdown, in spite of all the information about the real presence of 'holy warriors' in Bosnia-Hercegovina, claims that there is no Islamic terrorism in Bosnia, thus obfuscating the actual situation on the ground. This is slowing down the active international fight against terrorism," Gacinovic said.

According to Gacinovic, the Wahhabis' strategic goal is to expand and infiltrate the region with a Muslim population.

"We thus reasonably suspect that a certain number of Wahhabis are present in the Raska area and KiM [Kosovo-Metohija]. It is difficult to determine their number. Just the knowledge that they are there, however, is a serious warning and concern. They are recruiting young people who are dissatisfied and unemployed. Their target group in most cases is religiously semi-literate persons. Most of the recruits get support and financial aid from the Wahhabis. From the security aspect, we absolutely must not neglect and lose sight of this.

"Their activities must be under constant control of the SCG [Serbia-Montenegro ] security system. In my opinion, the goal of the Wahhabi movement is to create in phases an independent Islamic state in the Balkans.

"In the first phase, they will try to create a Wahhabi mass movement in Serbia, with most of the Muslim population in their movement. In the second phase, they will do their best to arm themselves and will be in continuous contact with Hizbullah International, the Islamic intelligence agency, which at any given moment will be able to provide them with any kind of help from the Muslims of the world.

"In the meantime they will become politically involved. They are already looking for a political leader who should be loyal to them and be an authority among the Muslim population. They will try to win elections and gain power; this would enable them to seek from many aspects the establishment of a Sandzak republic, while drawing on the experience of the terrorist OVK [Kosovo Liberation Army] in KiM. In the third phase, they will do everything to get the international community involved in a possible conflict; this, according to their plan, would be a transitional period pending Raska's secession from Serbia and the creation of a great Islamic state in the Balkans, stretching from Macedonia to Cazin in Bosnia-Hercegovina," Radoslav Gacinovic said at the end of his interview for Borba.

SOURCE: Borba, Belgrade, in Serbian 11 Jul 05 p 2