REPORT: THE DEVELOPMENT OF ISLAMIC TERRORISM IN BOSNIA-HERZIGOVINA
International Conference on Terrorist Threats in South-East Europe - May 8, 2005

Report by: Dragomir Andan

Dragomir Andan is based in Banja Luka. He formerly served as the Istocno (East) Sarajevo Public Security Centre head, and was promoted to chief of the Republika Srpska police on March 17, 2005. In late 2004 he raised the hackles of Sarajevo Muslims when his office seized 5,000 pages of Muslim records detailing the killing of more than 1,000 Sarajevo Serbs during the war. The following report was delivered by chief Andan to the International Conference on Terrorist Threats in South-East Europe, held in Belgrade, on 27-28 April 2005.

The idea of pan-Islamism (ie: the creation of single Islamic territory) represents the driving force for a great number of radical Islamic organizations, which use terrorism as a legitimate mean for realizing their goals.

Considering the level of organization and recent terrorist attacks, the following terrorist groups come into focus: al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya form Egypt, Groupe Islamique Armee (GIA: Armed Islamic Group) from Algeria, al-Jihad from Egypt, and al-Qaida from Afghanistan. These organizations operate in various streams. Namely, one part of their activities is directed towards destruction of the existing secular governments in certain Muslim countries and towards creation of countries on the principle of strict shari'a law.

Thus, al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya organized several attacks on Egyptian officials (the 1981 attack on Pres. Anwar as-Sadat; the 1995 unsuccessful attack on Hosni Mubarak) with the aim of forcefully removing a secular government and instituting an Islamic Republic of Iranian type.

As well, these organizations actively support Muslims who fight for Islamist interests throughout the world, giving them not only ideological support but also help in weapons and training. Mutual cooperation of various terrorist groups is also evident. Thus, in 1999, there was a meeting of the leaders of terrorist organizations in Karachi, Pakistan, where these leaders talked about merging terrorist groups of Islamic fundamentalists into one front for the realization of their fundamental objective: the creation of independent Islamic countries, especially in the area of the Caucasus.

The most recent example of creating a united Islamic front was the movement of al-Qaida led by Osama Bin Laden. The September 11, 2001, attacks on New York and Washington, and the events which followed, focused the attention of leading forces and their State Security on the issue of Islamic terrorism. International public was then informed that Bosnia and Herzegovina was on the list of countries that offered shelter to terrorists.

Knowing that Islamic radical movement in Bosnia & Herzegovina (B-H) has its historical background, we shall here mention the basic details of its development.

1.  First steps in the Development of Radical Movement in B-H

The first mention of the Islamic radical movement in B-H was recorded in 1939 when the "Young Muslims" association was formed, which, after 70 years of existence has represented itself as one of the authentic interpreters of religious and national character of the Bosniaks. The first generation of "Young Muslims" closely cooperated with German and Ustase authorities during World War II, thus creating an ideological platform for the Muslim military formations at that time: "Muslim Militia" and "SS Hanzar Division". From this first generation, in spite of postwar persecutions and killings, the following people remained active: Alija Izetgebovic, Omer Behmen, Teurik Velagic and Nedzib Sacirbegovic [whose son, Muhamed Sacirbegovic, became B-H Foreign Minister, and more widely-known as Muhamed Sacirbey]. It is indicative that a significant number of politicians and representative of Bosniak people ensued from this organization.

The second generation of young Muslims ensued from a reactivated association at the end of 1970s, including Izetbegovic's "Islamic Declaration". The most prominent members are a father and a son, Halid and Hasan Cengic, brothers Dzemaludin and Nedzad Latic, Huso (later callimself Hussein) Zivalj, Edhem Bicakcic, Muhamed Jakic, Ismet Serdarevic, Meliha Salihbegovic, Amila Omersoftic, and others. Ideological wing of the SDA party (Party of Democratic Action [Stranka Demokratske Akcije ]) formed before the first multiparty elections in B-H in 1990, has the abovementioned people for its members. They also formed an organization which gathers and creates their offspring: "Muslim Youth Alliance" (MOS).

2. Arrival of mujahedin in B-H and their influence on further expansion of radical Islamic ideas

At the beginning of 1990s, when the SDA won the elections in B-H, and when the war broke out, the radical wing of SDA (Alija Izetbegovic, Omer Behman, Hasan Cengic, Haris Silajdzic) immediately initiated wholehearted political, diplomatic, and other activities necessary for political control over all B-H communities. There actions were directed towards Islamic countries, from which they sought and usually received, not only political support, but also financing, weapons, and personnel: volunteer units, ready to take part in armed conflicts.

With the intention of avoiding a negative reaction from the International community, and having in mind the resolution of the Security Council of UN on the weapons embargo to the ex-Yugoslavia republics, they decided, having already created strong foundations in Islamic countries, to form numerous and diverse quasi-humanitarian alliances, organizations and institutions in western and eastern countries, and with field offices in the near vicinity in the Republic of Croatia and B-H. These organizations became logistics centers, not only for secret diplomatic activities, but also for operational support and planning terrorist activities.

Among them, especially indicative, securitywise, were those sponsored by the governments of Iran, Sudan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and those whose leaders were earlier marked as associates and links of extreme terrorist groups. In this regard, we can talk about Agency for the support of Muslims of the third World, International Associations for support of Muslims in B-H, World Islamic Liberation Movement, Iranian Red Crescent, and others. These organizations use coordinated activities of Bosniak [Bosnian Muslim] leadership and Islamic countries governments for illegal procurement and transport of arms, for intake of extremists from Islamic countries and their illegal smuggling into B-H. These allegations can be confirmed by the assessment of the Western security services, which said that in the period from 1994 to 1996, 14,000 tons of weapons were smuggled from Iran into B-H, via Croatia. The value of these shipments was estimated to be more than $200-million.

Considering international acceptance of the work of humanitarian organizations, their status and the possibility for free communication and transit through areas stricken by war operations, the Bosniak leadership, with the help of "brothers by faith", defined these quasi-humanitarian organizations as main points for their intake and illegal entrance into B-H. The main route of their movement was paved and it went through Split and Zagreb, via the then-territory of Herzeg-Bosnia to B-H. Along with this process, their intake was arranged at certain locations and they were further deployed to military units of the B-H Army.

It is difficult to estimate the exact number of volunteers from Islamic countries (Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Turkey, Algeria, Egypt, Sudan, Syria, Bahrain, Catarrh) who entered B-H, but certain estimates say that during the most intense fights in 1995 there were at least 4,400 of them. Through operational and other work many pieces of information and data about the activities of this group in the war and postwar period were gathered. A total of 1,740 persons were identified and the Republica Srpska Ministry of Interior (RS MOI) has this list. In mujahedin units of the B-H Army, there were 200 Bosniaks, and their status and activities are currently being determined.

We fear that they could be engaged in terrorist groups, in the form of undercover and low profile activities of so-called "White al-Qaida ". The RS MOI has a thick file of evidence material, numerous pieces of information, video records and other evidential material, which can be made available to interested institutions.

Despite the fact that the Bosniak leadership continuously denied any connections with alleged Islamic extremist groups, all the evidence highlighted their strong ties and solidarity. Certain SDA leaders made direct agreements with Iranian diplomats about the arrival of Islamic volunteer units into B-H Federation. These arrangements have been publicly confirmed by the appointment of Alija Izetbegovic and Halid Cengic (father of Hasan Cengic), Chief logistics officer of the Republic of B-H Army, as honorary commanders of 7th Muslim brigade of the Republic of B-H Army (reorganized and transformed into 7th Knight mechanized brigade of the B-H Federation Army). Among other commanders of this unit were Gen. Enver Hadzihasanovic and Col. Amir Kubura, both of whom were indicted by the Hague Tribunal for war crimes.

3. The role of the Bosniak authorities in enabling mujahedin to stay in Bosnia and Herzegovina following the signing of Dayton Peace Agreement

Signing of the Dayton Peace Agreement in 1995, and the explicit demand from the international community that volunteers from the Islamic countries must leave the territory of B-H, was welcomed by the Bosnian authorities (political, military, police and religious structures) with a prepared plan.

That explicit demand, conditioned by the continuation of a military training program by US contractor MPRI, resulted in the gathering-up of some foreign Islamic volunteers and their rapid return to their own countries, and this process was accompanied by media pomp. But some of them, independently or in groups, went to new wars in Chechnya, Kosovo, and [FYR of] Macedonia. However, a lot of them remain in the B-H Federation, training the Islamic extremists and Bosnian Muslims (camps in Fojnica, nearby Tesanj, Zenica, Maglaj, Konjic, Jablanica, Cazin).

The training operations were, and are still, organized illegally, in strict conspiracy, but presented as sport competitions and retreats for Islamic learning. However, their real aim is military training, using weapons, explosive and mines. Many of the participants in these facilities infiltrated into B-H after the war and into such newly-formed Muslim youth organizations like young "Active Islamic Youth", and "Muslim Youth Alliance", based on the principles of military units tradition of the B-H Army.

Organizing and coordinating the action by one part of B-H authority, Islamic extremists were permitted to stay illegally on the basis of legal and illegal actions. Their names were additionally entered in a register and in this way they were given B-H Federation documents (identity cards, passports). In this way, the Bosnian [Muslim] authorities permanently prevented their extradition to the domicile countries or to the other countries that asked for their extradition for taking part in terrorist activities. The "trace removal" methods include marriage with Bosniak girls as well as acceptance of their Bosniak wives' maiden names (eg: Jordanian Amroi's surname is now Osmancevic; Algerian Azedin's became Omerovic; Lebanese Aref's became Mestrovac; and Egyptian El Husein became Eslam Durmo). At the present they are residents of the places on the [Bosnian Muslim-Croat] entity's lines towards Republic of Srpska (in Maoca, Srebrenik, District Brcko, Perna, Bosanska Krupa, Zavidovici, Maglaj, Tesanj, and Sarajevo). The settlement of these Islamist extremists, after well-known influences of International Community, was done in an organized manner, and the individuals, according to some information, were provided with accommodation and care by the Ministry for Displaced Persons in B-H Federation.

The Bosniak authorities, at a time, due to the influence of the International Community and possible consequences, especially after the demand for revealing terrorism activities, had undertaken urgent measures to remove traces in the diplomatic-consular bodies, Ministry of the Interior and in some other institutions, which indicates a connection between particular Bosniak diplomats in Vienna and leaders of the SDA in activities of issuing passports to the B-H citizens from Islamic countries. Those documents and findings as evidence, confirm that those mentioned activities were undertaken in concordance with the high authority.

4. The Presence of International Islamic Terrorist Organizations in  B-H

The presence of a great number of the mujahedin on the territory of B-H Federation even after signing of Dayton agreement, contributed to the increase of violence, robberies, murders and terrorist actions in this entity. According to the legal reports of the Ministry of the Interior of the B-H Federation in 1997, 170 serious criminal offences were committed, of which even 56 murders. Issued so called red warrants by the INTERPOL, and according to the individuals confirmed that in the category "new Bosniaks" there are members of well-known terrorist organizations, such as Egyptian (al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya , Groupe Islamique Armee (GIA: Armed Islamic Group) from Algeria, Palestinian HAMAS, even al-Qaida . This was confirmed by the court processes after the arrest of terrorists accused for terrorist actions in Rijeka in 1995 (car bomb explosion in front of the police station), in West Mostar in 1997 (car bomb setting), so called "Rubes groups" (existing on the territory of France, Italy, Belgium and Great Britain).

In 1995, the Minister of the Interior of Egypt accused the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood organization of training terrorists in B-H, and later the Egyptian Government requested from the Bosniak authorities in Sarajevo the extradition of 75 Egyptian terrorists, sentenced for activities against the Government and for terrorism in Egypt. The arrest of members of the so called "Algerian group" in B-H drew attention of international and national public as well as their transport to the US Base to Guantanamo, which happened as a result of the familiar events in New York.

The latest case was Jusuf Amada's arrest at the border in Orasje as he was trying to enter the Republic of Croatia with his false Belgian passport. Jusuf was identified as Amad Muhamed Fathalma, Ahmada Jusif, Egyptian by origin, married to a B-H citizen, father of three children, connected to prohibited organization al-Islamiyya and for which reason he was on the INTERPOL list. Jusuf was deprived of B-H citizenship in 2001 and he is one of nine terrorists who have been on the list of the B-H authority since 2001. In March 2002, the Egyptian Government asked the B-H authorities for his extradition since he was accused of criminal action of joining the secret organizations, which endanger security of Egypt.

In the period after the civil war, B-H appears as one of the major transition countries used by Islamic terrorists for transportation to East and West Europe. However, information of a great number of strangers' entries to B-H in 2000 and 2001, in the first place from Eastern and Asian countries, and their permanent stay in the country, confirm the assumption that there is some kind of favor being shown from the B-H Muslim authorities in return for previous support from Islamic countries to B-H (financial support, military support, sending the soldiers to the battlefield in B-H).

Connection to this, there is information that there are in B-H about 150 citizens from Pakistan who came to B-H during 1999 and 2000 via Sarajevo airport. Invitation letters for obtaining visas were provided by Bosniaks from Sarajevo, Jablanica, Konjic, and among them were also involved members of Moslem Youth Alliance. Diplomatic certificate, verification, and issuing visas, were provided by Husein Zivalj, who was a high official of SDA at that time and Ambassador of B-H in the UN and one of the most responsible Bosniak diplomats in charge of issuing passports to the Islamic hirelings by intercession of the B-H Embassy in Vienna (at the time about 16000 passports were issued in Vienna). However, due to International Community pressure and intensifying the activities, particularly B-H State Border Service, the mentioned activities were significantly reduced.

Given all of this, it is obvious that there are a certain number of members of Islamic terrorist organizations on the territory of B-H Federation, but small number of identified members (repressive measures were undertaken against 38 of them) indicate the complexity and extraordinary organization of their activities.

In connection to the activities of members of radical Islamic organizations, it is indicated that they are supported by one part of Islamic community in B-H, particularly by the followers of the Wahabbist interpretation of Islam. Related to that, there is a statement of a high official from B-H who says: "The obedience to Allah is the most important thing; each Moslem who stays in the service of enemy, if attacks our brothers in Afghanistan, becomes our enemy." Special media attention was drawn to the one of them who, at the meeting "Unity of Moslems and mutual help", in September 2001 in The King Fahd mosque in Sarajevo, interceded in favor of the Muslim unification, and formation of common Islamic market and unified army.

5. The Activity of the Islamic Youth Organizations inB-H

After signing the Dayton Peace Agreement, and the mentioned displacement of mujahedin, many of them focused on the religious indoctrination of Bosniaks, mainly the youth, and through formation of associations. In this way there was a big expansion of movements and organizations with extremely Islamist sign among the youth in B-H. Most of these organizations declare themselves as associations of citizens whose aim is a religious education, and which cannot be openly seen as extremist Islamic organizations. However, the fact that the ideological teachers include many members of the most dangerous Islamic terrorist groups in the world, the assumption must be that those organizations could be activated quickly as bearers of Islamic terrorism in B-H and in Europe.

Related to this, leaders of these youth organizations, following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the US, began inciting their followers. One of them called all Muslims to pray for "souls of brothers" who died in attack on the US and to prepare themselves for the "fight against Christians". The other one also supported terrorists telling that the Active Islamic Youth and Bin Laden's al-Qaida were "fraternal organizations", and that "the main aims of the cells present on the Balkan are to spread propaganda and recruiting and training of the new members, funding and gathering operational information". In this sense, as the largest and best-organized organizations of this type can be selected:

Muslim Youth Alliance (MYA), formed in 1991 in Sarajevo as department of International organization of young Islamists;

Active Islamic Youth (AIY), registered in 1997 as citizen society, mostly consisting of young people;

Ex-members of el-Mujahid unit;

Muslim Brotherhood;

Furkan Sirat;

Young Muslims;

Jildiz;

Youth Circle;

Coordination Committee of Islamic Youth organization in B-H;

Bosniak youth net; and so on.

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