Mufti Omerbasic, born on 9 June 1945 in Ustikolina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, attended higher education in Benghazi, Libya where he earned a degree in the Arab language and Islamic studies.

He moved to Zagreb in 1975 and since then he led the Islamic community in the city and later in the Republic of Croatia until his retirement in 2012.

The Islamic Community said the dignitary will also be remembered for his contribution to Croatia's international recognition when the country declared its independence.

Mufti Sevko efendi Omerbasic was in 2012 decorated by President Ivo Josipović with Croatia's Order of Ante Starcevic, for his contribution to the building of the contemporary Croatian state, the promotion of religious liberties, tolerance and human rights, as well as for his engagement in inter-religious and inter-cultural cooperation in Croatia and in the world.