Freedom fighter Alija Izetbegovic dies

Category: Europe, Life & Society Values: Freedom Views: 24743
24743

Alija Izetbegovic, hero of Bosnian Muslim resistance during the siege of Sarajevo who led his country to independence from the genocidal campaign of Yugoslavia, died in Sarajevo on Sunday, October 19, 2003 at the age of 78.  Mr. Izetbegovic died from heart disease and complications from injuries he suffered after falling at home in Sarajevo five weeks ago.

Alija Izetbegovic was born in 1925 in northwest Bosnia - a corner of Europe with a predominately Muslim population but a regime that censured the practice of Islam. As a founding member of the Mladi Muslimani (Young Muslims) at the Sarajevo Gymnasium and then as a law student at Sarajevo University, Izetbegovic took up the rights of Muslims to practice their faith. He became fluent in foreign languages (German, French and English) in order to understand more about the history and struggle of Muslims throughout the world.

In 1945, the communist dictatorship of Josip Tito abolished all non-communist groups and arrested their leaders. Izetbegovic spent ten years in prison, when he was released he practiced commercial law, but found an outlet for his activism through writing. He was arrested again in 1983 for allegedly seeking to revive the Mladi Muslimani and, after a farcical trial, sentenced to 14 years imprisonment. During this time his manuscript, Islam Between East and West, was smuggled out of prison. Written in the most trying of conditions, it nevertheless told of the need to reactivate intellectual confidence amongst Muslims.

With the collapse of the federal system in Yugoslavia in 1990, Izetbegovic was released subsequently to find himself and his people caught in the implosion of a genocidal war. As leader of the Democratic Action Party, Alija Izetbegovic was elected President of Bosnia-Herzegovina, heading a three-member presidency until his resignation in October 2000. Throughout his life, in word and in deed, Alija Izetbegovic has demonstrated outstanding courage and remarkable compassion to secure the rights of Muslims to lead meaningful and peaceful lives.

Mr. Izetbegovic showed unblinking courage during the 1992-1995 Bosnian war, running affairs of state from sandbagged offices in a capital under siege, surviving kidnapping and countless artillery barrages.

To the end he remained a giant figure on the country's political stage. For most Bosnian Muslims and a few ethnic Serbs and Croats who support Bosnian independence, his death will be an occasion for mourning.

Mr. Izetbegovic founded the Party of Democratic Action (SDA) in 1990 as a vehicle for views he honed as a dissident intellectual under Yugoslav communist rule. His SDA became a powerhouse during the war, when it became known internationally as the leading party of Bosnian "Muslim nationalists". Mr. Izetbegovic defied the epithet, accepting the term "Islamist" but calling the "nationalist" label inappropriate.

"Pan-Islamism always came from the very heart of the Muslim peoples; nationalism was always imported stuff," he wrote in a 1973 book on Islamic politics.

His party's power declined after Nato troops occupied Bosnia in 1996 and the international community installed an office overseeing affairs of state. Yet in general elections last year, bolstered by rare public appearances by Mr. Izetbegovic, the SDA scored surprise victories, reclaiming a seat in Bosnia's tripartite presidency.

But the former president's politics turned bitter toward the end of his life, as he saw only part of his plans for Bosnia realized.

He was disappointed during the Dayton peace talks at the war's end, when international mediators forced him to negotiate on equal footing with Mr. Milosevic and Mr. Tudjman, whose military forces he viewed as Bosnia's invaders.

Under Dayton's terms, the country of 4m people remains divided along ethnic lines, with two administrative zones: one largely controlled by Muslims and ethnic Croats, the other dominated by ethnic Serbs. Partition was the price of peace. Mr. Izetbegovic called it "a bitter but useful pill".

Alija Izetbegovic will be best known as the President who single-mindedly struggled for a just end to the conflict which ravaged his country. In the face of betrayal by Europe, which had lapsed on its fifty year old promise of 'never again' as concentration camps once more sprang up in its midst, he tirelessly campaigned for justice at home and abroad. He was a man who sought to live his life by the highest of principles. As a prisoner of conscience in the 1980s he once wrote, 'When I lose the reasons to live, I shall die.'

It was his principles, for which he resigned his position as President in 2000, announcing that the international community was pushing things forward in a manner with which he could not live.

Alija Izetbegovic was one of those rare individuals who managed to both inspire and lead a whole nation in its pursuit of freedom, winning the admiration of people the world over. He leaves behind a legacy spanning two centuries, which includes his esteemed career as a lawyer, activist, politician, freedom fighter and scholar.


  Category: Europe, Life & Society  Values: Freedom
Views: 24743

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Older Comments:
KHALIF FROM USA said:
may Allah forgive Alija Izetbegovic
and give his blessings Alija Izetbegovic and his family

Alija Izetbegovic history is both touching and
sad
2006-12-04

E.K FROM BOSNIA/USA said:
He was the best man ever, God bless his soul
2006-11-30

MOHAMOUD JIDAAL FROM UNITED KINGDOM said:
I am very sad to hear the death of Alija Izetbegovic, was one of the few honest politician i ever known in the media and International relation arena. He would be remembered his bravery, Honest and how he worked day and night for the betterment of his people in a difficult situations.he never been weakman nor coward as many other politicians around world
May allah reward him in the paradise
2003-11-14

HASNA FROM KOSOVA, BOSNIA, MONTENGERO, NY, NY said:
Subhanallah, He was one of the only men who stood up for Islam in the Balkans.
Inshallah Brat Alija Bog dragi da ti Dadne Jannat.
He was Islam in the Balkans.. With Allah's (swt)will he brought us back to the path of islam, even before the wars. And more so during and after the jihad in the balkans..INshallah God save him, and Shield him with his throne.
Selam Alaykum to All Ramadan Mubarak!
2003-10-28

TUZLAK ADNAN FROM BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA said:
Sellam Allejkum.....
Ja sam gradanin Sarajeva....
Veoma sam tuzan zbog smrti gospodina ALIJE IZETBEGOVICA.....
On je bio najveci vodja(vjerski i vojnicki) Bosanskoga naroda u cijeloj historiji Bosne i Hercegovine....
Nemam rijeci kojima bih opisao tugu i zalost zbog smrti velikog covjeka kakav je bio ALIJA....
On je bio izuzetan covjek, vjernik, filozof, intelektualac.....
Zelim da mu zahvalim za sve sto je ucinio za mene i moj narod, jer ja sam imao ime i prezime, a ALIJA mi je izborio IDENTITET.....
Neka mu dragi ALLAH dz.s. podari lijepi dzenet...
Uvijek ce zivjeti u srcima svih Bosanaca......
2003-10-24

HUSNAIN MEHDI FROM USA said:
Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raajioon. Our Ummah is in need to people who revive the heart, kindle the spirit and spark action among the ranks of Muslims. A heavy burden lies on the next generation. May Allah ease the path of those who will carry the torch of Islam next.
2003-10-23

JAMAL FROM KOREA said:
Innalillahi wa inna ilaihi roji'un.
alija Izetbegovic is my hero. I read his book when I was study in college and I was impressed by it. I never forget his face on TV during the bosnian war ,how frustrated and angry he was toward the injustice the bosnian muslim suffered in the hand of the serbs and international communities who didn't care very much for his people.
I felt really sad he is gone now. I hope he continue to inspire new generations of young muslims for years to come in bosnia and elsewhere.

2003-10-22

SYAMSUL RIZAL FROM MALAYSIA said:
al-fatihah

i have always been a great admirer his courage and vision. pray that he would be placed in God's favour among the martyrs.

amen
2003-10-22

H.A. FROM GUJRAT, INDIA said:
H.A. IS SHOCKED that H.A. never heard of Alija Izetbegovic before. MUSLIMS NEED TO DO A BETTER OF JOB OF publishing the heroism of other Muslims WHO HAVE BACKBONES like MR. Izetbegovic, so that other Muslims can learn and follow their footsteps.

2003-10-22

YAHYA BERGUM FROM USA said:
Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raji'un. Thank you, Allah - thank you.
2003-10-22

BRO MOMIN FROM UK said:
May Allah be merciful to Br. Izetbegovic and grant him peace in the gardens of Jahannah,

Amin.
2003-10-22

MAT FROM MALAYSIA said:
A truly remarkable story of a freedom fighter.May the peace be with him.
2003-10-21

SAMY FROM USA said:
This was a leader that other leaders in Muslim countries should emulate - (I wish and I pray) a selfless man that stood up and defeated oppression.

Alija may your legacy be an inspiration for all people fighting for justice. In my sorrow may I find your wisdom and courage to stand up for freedom of mind and body for all people.
2003-10-21

KEMAL FROM U.S.A. said:
Br. Alija stood in the face of the world and spoke aloud of the injustices against Muslims everywhere, not only Bosnia. This is a sad day on earth, but a jouyous one for heavan, (Allah s.w.t. knows best).

Everyone please do a du'a for a wonderful Muslim who passed away yesterday... a man that fought for (and gave his life) Islam... in the face of Munafiks.

Read his biography.

Es-Selam-u-aleikum Br., Pres., H. Alija Izetbegovic
2003-10-21

DAVID ROSENBERG FROM USA said:
May he be granted the highest place in the heavens and from his memory may arise people like him. May we all see and meet him in heavens in our lives hereafter when we can salute him in respect for his selfless work for the betterment of his own people and the world at large.
2003-10-21