Izetbegovic’s “Islamic Declaration” Discussed at Mladic Trial
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Dmicic was the secretary general of the Bosnian presidency before the breakout of war in the spring of 1992. Testifying before the Hague Tribunal, Dmicic described “Islamic Declaration” as a “program for the Islamisation of Muslim people,” which aimed to achieve domination in an independent Bosnia. Published in 1979, “Islamic Declaration” lays out Izetbegovic’s views on Islam, modernization and the state, particularly as it applies to the Bosnian context.
Dmicic said Izetbegovic’s political views as described in “Islamic Declaration” were embodied in a statement he gave before the war “about sacrificing peace for the creation of a sovereign, independent and autonomous Bosnia.”
“The spirit of the “Islamic Declaration” is in the creation of an autonomous, sovereign and independent Bosnia…outside of the Yugoslav federation, either whole or incomplete,” Dmicic said.
However, Dmicic said Izetbegovic didn’t openly demonstrate that he wanted war. He said Izetbegovic made steps towards peacekeeping before negotiations between the constituent republics on the survival of Yugoslavia failed.
Mladic’s defense attorney, Branko Lukic, extensively quoted “Islamic Declaration.” Lukic asked Dmicic if Izetbegovic was open to non-Islamic ideas.
“The essence is that Bosnia should be organized as a society where the interests of Islam would be protected,” Dmicic said.
Asked how Serbs saw the book, Dmicic said that they had trepidations regarding the content and message of “Islamic Declaration,” particularly with regards to the coexistence and participation of non-Islamic citizens in the state.
Hague prosecutors did not have any questions for Dmicic. Presiding judge Alphons Orie criticized defense attorneys for asking Dmicic to analyze “Islamic Declaration” as if he were an expert witness.
Defense attorney Lukic said the trial chamber wanted to prevent “Islamic Declaration” from being presented as evidence since the beginning of the trial.
Judge Orie strongly denied such allegations, and called upon the defense to admit into evidence those parts of the book they found important, in the prescribed manner.
The trial continues tomorrow.
Mladic, the former commander of the Bosnian Serb army, has been charged with the persecution of Bosniaks and Croats, which reached the scale of genocide in several municipalities. He is also on trial for terrorising the population of Sarajevo, genocide in Srebrenica and taking UN peacekeepers hostage.
