Officials and religious leaders sent their best wishes to Muslims ahead of Sunday’s Eid-ul-Fitr - a holiday locally called Bayram - that concludes the holy month of Ramadan.

The Croat member of Bosnia’s presidency, Zeljko Komsic, started his wishes with good health for all those who celebrate it, hopefully with their families.  

Deputy speaker of the lower house of Bosnia’s parliament, Denis Zvizdic, urged people to respect each other and “turn toward building mutual trust and solidarity.”  

The Speaker of the institution and leader of the main Bosnian Croat party in the country, Dragan Covic, said he wished believers to “spend this Bajram too in an atmosphere of peace, love and tolerance.”  

The President of Bosnia’s Serb-majority semi-autonomous entity of Republika Srpska (RS), Zeljka Cvijanovic, wished Muslims to spend the holiday in health, happiness and wellbeing.  

“Let this great holiday be an incentive for mutual respect, understanding and respect for diversity, and let it bring peace, joy and harmony to every home,” she said.  

RS parliament speaker Nedeljko Cubrilovic said he hopes the Ramadan fasting will strengthen the faith of Muslims and their love for others.  

The leader of Bosnia’s main Bosniak Party for Democratic Action (SDA), Bakir Izetbegovic, said that over the past month, Muslims throughout the world have been strengthening their faith and have been cleaning their souls by depriving themselves of food and water, by helping those in need and contemplating their thoughts and actions.  

“May the Ramadan spirit of consistency, self-discipline, patience, empathy and understanding stay in our hearts throughout the year,” Izetbegovic said.