Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ZAGREB284
2006-03-02 15:59:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Zagreb
Cable title:  

Declaration of European Muslims Well-Received in Croatia

Tags:  PHUM PTER PREL HR 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0031
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHVB #0284/01 0611559
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 021559Z MAR 06
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5775
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS ZAGREB 000284 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR EUR/SCE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PTER PREL HR
SUBJECT: Declaration of European Muslims Well-Received in Croatia

Sensitive But Unclassified. Please Handle Accordingly.

UNCLAS ZAGREB 000284

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR EUR/SCE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PTER PREL HR
SUBJECT: Declaration of European Muslims Well-Received in Croatia

Sensitive But Unclassified. Please Handle Accordingly.


1. (SBU) Summary and Comment. On 24 February, Bosnian and
Herzegovinian Grand Mufti Mustafa Ceric presented in Zagreb a
Declaration of European Muslims. Hosted by the Zagreb Islamic
Community, the presentation received widespread public attention as a
message of tolerance, peace, and moderation. Ceric, author of the
Declaration, told the large crowd that he wrote the Declaration for
several reasons: to send a message to Muslims to abide by the "social
contract" in European society which includes religious tolerance and
cooperation; to institutionalize Islam in Europe so that it is not
dependent on foreign sources and support; and to further the dialogue
between the "East and the West" to build trust, which is at its lowes
levels. Ceric also said he was inspired by the 2005 U.S. Senate
resolution condemning the events at Srebrenica. Press highlighted th
presence of the Ambassador, as did Ceric in his comments, and noted
that the U.S. provides a welcoming environment for Muslims.


2. (SBU) The Declaration was presented in Zagreb at the request of
Croatian Mufti Sevko Omerbasic, who sees Croatia as a model for Europ
in that Islam is officially recognized and on an equal footing with
other religions, the community is fully integrated yet retains its
identity, and issues are resolved systematically. By hosting the
presentation of the Declaration and continuing to make public
statements of moderation, Omerbasic effectively demonstrated his desi
to be a proactive force on this issue. Ceric emphasized the
receptiveness not only of Croatia, but its media and its president, w
met with Ceric before the presentation. On 23 February, Post hosted
U.S. Muslim speaker Stephen Schwartz, who supported Ceric's view that
Muslims in the region should assert their moderation and tolerance; a
he also made a call for leadership: Schwartz asserted that the legacy
of Balkan Muslims is one of a strong identity along with moderation a
non-violence. As such, he believes that Croatia shares a unique
responsibility to lead a dialogue between the Muslim world and
"Christian Europe". His message was extensively reported in the loca
media, as was the Declaration, likely in response to the protests

elsewhere over cartoons, which were reprinted in one Croatian weekly.
In stark contrast to other areas, both events emphasized the tolerant
integrated, and moderate nature of the Muslim community in Croatia.
End Summary and Comment.

Ceric Presents Declaration in Croatia


3. (U) Speaking to a gathering including representatives from 28
diplomatic missions, all religious communities and GOC officials, Cer
explained why he wrote the Declaration. "We want to send a message t
Europe that we do not want Jihad, but a social contract," he said. "
want Islam to be recognized as a European religion, as it is in
Croatia. The Declaration sends a message to Muslims to be a good
citizens of Europe and to abide by its social norms." It also calls
for European acceptance of Islam, of which he remains skeptical. Cer
presented his Declaration for the first time last July in London and
later to the European Islamic Forum. Ceric was then invited by
Omerbasic to present the Declaration in Zagreb, where the Grand Mufti
once served as Imam and still considers himself a part of this
community. Ceric plans to present the document in Washington, D.C. i
April. During his speech, Ceric singled out the U.S. as a welcoming
environment for Muslims.


4. (U) The text confirms the non-violent nature of Islam and a desire
to implement a program for non-violence to remove the stigma that tie
Muslims to global terrorism. The Declaration sends a call to Muslims
to promote peace and inter-religious tolerance. It presents Islam as
universal rather than tribal or ethnic. Muslims, it says, generally
lack a global outlook but carry the stigma of global terrorism. The
text refutes collective guilt and recognizes individual
responsibility. Europe is depicted as a continent of many faiths wit
Muslims wanting to be a part of its social, political, and cultural
development. While expressing the commitment to the rule of law,
tolerance and democratic values, the first chapter also speaks about
expectations of political participation, economic development and
development of Islamic schools adapted to challenges of European
society. Among the expectations is the recognition of Muslim law in
matters covered by family law and a relaxed migration policy. It cal
for recognition of sheriat weddings, allowing headscarves in public,
recognition of Islamic holidays and preparation of meals in public
institutions in line with their faith. The second chapter stresses
that European Muslims should be more concerned with their
responsibilities towards society. It lists several imperatives to
European Muslims: to read and acquire knowledge, to work hard, to
adhere to the common law of family life, to be more proactive in
pursuing success and securing their rights and to be oriented towards
the future. The third chapter establishes Islam as a universal faith
and seeks to develop global awareness that Muslims now lack,
starting with a common calendar. Post can send the text of the 24-pa
document via email if requested.

Croatian Mufti Sends Message of Moderation


5. (U) In recent weeks, Mufti Omerbasic has continued to express his
message of tolerance and moderation. Following the protests in BiH
against publishing the controversial cartoons, he publicly spoke out
against the reaction. "We Muslims in Croatia, the same as our fellow
Muslims across the world, raise our voice of protest against those wh
are offending our highest values such as our emissary Muhammad, but w
have to be rational as the learning of Kur'an advises." On numerous
occasions, Omerbasic has said that he sees Croatia as a model for
Europe in that Islam is officially recognized and on an equal footing
with other religions. Croatia is one of four European countries that
have officially recognized Islam as a religion, and the country will
soon celebrate the 90th anniversary of that acknowledgment. He has s
that the Croatian Muslim community, which is indigenous, is fully
integrated yet retains a distinct identity, and that issues are
resolved systematically with the wider community. Speaking at the
Declaration presentation, Omerbasic said that Muslims in Europe need
focus on integration into European society rather than to isolate and
segregate themselves. The lack of understanding of Islam in Europe
further isolates those communities and makes them vulnerable to a mor
radical Islam. Omerbasic said that the Declaration sends a warning t
the European and Muslim public about the difficult position of Muslim
in Europe and the problems with the Islamic terrorism, referring
particularly to the bombings in Madrid and London. Legal recognition
and support of Islam throughout Europe would help Muslims fight again
terrorism more proactively and distance themselves from the influence
of the Middle East, he believes.

Visit of U.S. Muslim Speaker Stephen Schwartz


6. (U) Post has previously scheduled a 23 February visit of U.S. auth
and speaker Stephen Schwartz to publicly discuss Islam in the Balkans
and Europe. Schwartz, Executive Director of the Center for Islamic
Pluralism in Washington D.C., converted to Islam in BiH and has close
ties with the Islamic community both there and in Zagreb. The visit
received widespread media interest, particularly in light of recent
protests in BiH over the cartoons. (Note: As a Croatian weekly had
reprinted the cartoons, the protest included the burning of the
Croatian flag in Sarajevo. End note.) At a forum organized jointly
between the Embassy and the GOC's Human Rights Center, Schwartz said
that Croatia and Bosnia have a unique opportunity and responsibility
shape the future of Islam in Europe. Schwartz noted that Croatia and
its moderate Muslim community can act as a moderator between "Christi
Europe" and the Muslim community, as it has good relations with both.
Croatia could initiate a dialogue across borders and prevent the lack
of understanding that has been problematic in the recent past. Musli
have proven their moderate character in the Balkans, he added, and th
Croatian Muslim community is therefore in a unique position. Schwart
believes that Bosnian Muslims enjoy high prestige and unique
credibility around the Muslim world because of their experience durin
the 90s. The community underwent enormous difficulties and did not
resort to terrorism, he said. The Assistant Minister of Foreign
Affairs, the Secretary of the GOC's Commission for Relations with
Religious Communities, representatives of various NGOs as well as
representatives of the Islamic community and Bosniak minority and
attended the forum and participated in the discussion.
FRANK