US officials expressed support to Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Islamic Community in Bosnia in combating violent extremism and religious exclusivity.

The Grand Mufti of the Islamic Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina Husein Kavazovic leads the Islamic Community’s delegation on a working visit to the US where he met with William B. Berkley, Director of the European Affairs Office at the National Security Council. Berkley was interested in Kavazovic’s opinion on the influence of foreign factors on radicalisation in Bosnia and the phenomenon of violent extremism among youth.He was especially interested in the Islamic Community’s experience in prevention and combating radicalisation and extremism.

The two also discussed the possible US’ support to programs and projects aimed at strengthening the capacities of the Islamic Community and other Bosnia's institutions in combatting ideologies promoting violence and exclusivity.

Kavazovic spoke of the ever-present extreme, nationalist groups in Bosnia and the region which have the support of some states that play a destructive role in the region. Some of those groups were already sanctioned by the US and other international factors, but they are still allowed to act and exist in Bosnia, for some reason.

Speaking of the challenges faced by the Islamic Community in Bosnia, Kavazovic said that there are those who promote intolerance and an exclusive interpretation of Islam among the Bosnian Muslims, who have often disrespected the traditional institutions and models of interpretation of Islam that have existed in the Balkans for centuries. He stressed that intolerance and extremism are not in the nature of Bosnian Muslims.

Kavazovic added that the US’ presence in Bosnia is of extreme importance for its security and progress in the Euro-Atlantic integration process.

He pointed out that the Islamic Community has an excellent cooperation with the US Embassy in Bosnia, praising the work of the US Ambassador to Bosnia Maureen Cormack in her support to Bosnia and its peoples and citizens.

Barkley said that he understood Kavazovic's message and stressed that Bosnia is an American investment which will be protected.

A day earlier, Kavazovic held several important meetings at the State Department. During the meeting with the Acting Deputy Coordinator for Regional and Multilateral Affairs Raffi Gregorian, Kavazovic presented the Islamic Community’s plans and actions aimed at stabilisation and preservation of peace and stability of the society. Gregorian offered help and support to the Islamic Community.

During a meeting at the Religion and Global Affairs Office, Kavazovic spoke of the state of human rights, religious freedoms and other rights in Bosnia. He said that the Islamic community contributes to building a democratic, civic and secular state where all individual and collective rights and religious freedoms are respected