Bosnia marks 23 years since the death of first president Alija Izetbegovic

Born on 8 August 1925 in Bosanski Samac to a distinguished family, Izetbegovic grew up in Sarajevo. In 1946, his membership in the "Young Muslims" organization led to a three-year prison sentence. After his release in 1949, he graduated from the Faculty of Law in Sarajevo. He worked as a construction manager and legal advisor from 1950 to 1982. Arrested again during the staged "Sarajevo Process" in 1983, he served six years of a 14-year sentence.

In 1990, Izetbegovic co-founded the Party of Democratic Action (SDA), which won the most votes in free elections and played a pivotal role in defending the nation. He served multiple terms as head of state before stepping down from the Presidency in October 2000.

A prolific author, his published works include Islam Between East and West, The Islamic Declaration, My Escape to Freedom, and his autobiography Memoirs. He received numerous accolades, including the King Faisal International Prize and the 1995 El Mundo Person of the Year award.

International leaders praised his legacy. Modern Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called his mission an expression of human dignity, while Croatian President Stjepan Mesic highlighted his statesmanlike role during wartime. US diplomat Richard Holbrooke famously stated that without Izetbegovic, Bosnia and Herzegovina would not exist today.

Izetbegovic consistently advocated for a unified state, remarking upon the 1995 Dayton Agreement: "This is not a just peace, but it is more just than the continuation of war."