A multimedia exhibition on the rich heritage of Bosnia and Herzegovina Muslims opened in Zagreb on Monday, with Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic saying it showcases cultural and ethnic diversity, a coexistence that "has taught us tolerance and mutual respect."

The exhibition concept was created by curator Aida Abadzic Hodzic, with sponsorship from the Grand Mufti of the Islamic Community in BiH, Husein Kavazovic, and Plenkovic himself.

The prime minister noted that the exhibition, with its thematic explorations and historical context, provides an opportunity to reflect on the role of faith in various aspects of individual and collective life.

Staged at the French Pavilion of the Student Centre, the exhibition also presents the influence of this heritage in shaping the community's identity and its relationships with neighbours of differing worldviews. It highlights the fact that the peoples of BiH have lived for centuries in a multi-national, multi-lingual, multi-cultural, and multi-confessional space.

This kind of coexistence, Plenkovic said, “motivated us to affirm our own cultural and national distinctiveness. And to be able to do that, it’s essential that we better understand one another, which is especially important for younger generations who, in this fast-paced world of communication and information, sometimes lack the time for foundations.”

I am pleased that, on the basis of faith and its openness to dialogue, understanding, and the solidarity of multicultural society, we have built good, high-quality relations with the entire Islamic community which are beneficial to Croatian society, especially in the context of large migratory trends currently confronting Europe and the modern world, Plenkovic said.

He expressed confidence that citizens will seize this opportunity to gain a better understanding of Islamic culture and spirituality in BiH, which is “without any doubt, the closest, most important, partner, neighbour, and friendly country to Croatia.”

Foreign Minister Gordan Grlic Radman and Culture and Media Minister Nina Obuljen Korzinek also attended the opening.
Kavazovic: Multimedia presentation of Islam’s rich legacy in Europe

Kavazovic remarked that the exhibition provides a multimedia presentation of Islam’s rich heritage and centuries-old presence in the cultural, scientific, educational, artistic, architectural, and public life of BiH.

“The exhibition is an attempt to offer, for the first time, our own view of the history and contemporary presence of Islam in Europe, to highlight the unique experience Bosnia has had with Islam, as well as the European perception of Islam that, over the past centuries, has not changed much,” he said.

Aziz Hasanovic, the Mufti of the Islamic Community in Croatia, said this exhibition sends a clear message that diversity is a strength, not a drawback, for any society. “Cultural bridges are civilised tools for building civilised, open, multicultural societies, full of understanding, mutual respect, and trust. We are happy that Croatia exemplifies this.”

Deputy Mayor Luka Korlaet expressed his satisfaction that the exhibition was opened in the Student Centre, a place known for encounters and intercultural exchange.

He recalled that the City of Zagreb and the Islamic Community in Croatia have a longstanding collaboration, soon to be realised in the form of a new Islamic cultural centre they are working on together.

The exhibition premiered in Sarajevo last year and resulted from a research partnership between numerous institutions in Croatia and BiH. It follows a two-year research project initiated by the Riyasat of the Islamic Community in BiH, involving over 100 prominent experts.
The exhibition is open until 15 November.