Sarajevo University Senate gave its consent for the annulment of the enrollment in doctoral studies for Sebija Izetbegovic, the general manager of Sarajevo University Clinical Centre, leaving her without the PhD title after she was deprived of her master's degree and the role of the fulltime professor at the Faculty of Medicine.

“Based on what we know so far, the Sarajevo University considers Sebija Izetbegovic to be a specialist physician. As far as the University is concerned, it has no other duty unless the court passes a different decision,” said rector Rifat Skrijelj.

Skrijelj executed the measure issued by the Sarajevo Canton Inspectorate with support of 30 members of the Senate, while six members abstained from the vote. Two Senate members objected the decision.

The Inspectorate issued the measure after looking into the relevant documents at the University of Sarajevo and the Faculty of Medicine.

“In accordance with the said law article, the higher education institution is obliged to annul and declare invalid the diploma, diploma supplement and certificate of the acquired title in the event that the holder of the diploma has not fulfilled all the exam obligations of the study in the manner and according to the procedure established by the regulations in the field of higher education, which were in force at the time of issuing the public document, under this law and the study programme of the higher education institution,” the inspectorate said, setting a 15-day deadline to execute the measure.

Previously, the Senate annulled Izetbegovic's master's degree obtained at the Sarajevo Faculty of Medicine. Explaining the decision, Skrijelj said that Izetbegovic failed to meet all obligations during the studies, in accordance with the procedures determined by the regulations from the higher education sector, which were in force at the time when she obtained the diploma.

Following that decision, Izetbegovic was deprived of the title of the fulltime professor at the University.

The legality of Izetbegovic's position at the helm of the Clinical Centre remains open. The Board of Directors has not met yet, and Lejla Brcic, the board member, requested that this very issue be included in the agenda of the next regular session.

The case sparked significant media attention, given Izetbegovic's background.

She is a spouse of Bakir Izetbegovic, the leader of the SDA party, which lost power at the state level following the October 2022 elections, after the decades-long rule.

Izetbegovic herself got involved in politics becoming a member of the Sarajevo Canton Assembly after the latest elections, as the SDA member. In 2018, it was speculated that she would run for the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, but the SDA then confirmed she would not be nominated for the post.

Izetbegovic strongly reacted to the Senate's decisions, accusing Skrijelj of harshly violating the procedures.

“Such thing is only possible when blinded by hatred and intolerance that Skrijelj is openly demonstrating towards both the SDA and to my personality,” she stressed, calling the entire process an “inquisitional procedure.”

She shifted the responsibility onto the competent institutions, asking how come it is possible to obtain the master's degree and academic rank, but that no one is held accountable for those allegedly illegal actions.

“It is logical to ask the question, how is it possible to illegally obtain a master's degree at the Faculty of Medicine and be elected to an academic position at the University, without anyone, neither at the Faculty of Medicine, nor at the University is held accountable for such alleged illegalities. With these actions, rector Skrijelj is not only harming me, but at the same time, permanently and irreversibly, he is ruining the reputation of the University of Sarajevo,” Izetbegovic said.

Currently, the Sarajevo Municipal Court is reviewing Izetbegovic's case based on her motion.