Opijaca Tekke in Mostar reopens after 125 years

The ribbon-cutting ceremony was attended by Deputy Grand Mufti Dr. Enes Ljevakovic, Mufti of Mostar Salem Dedovic, Director of the Waqf Directorate Hafiz Senaid Zajimovic, and the General Director of the General Directorate of Waqfs of the Republic of Turkey, Sinan Aksu.

A significant example of Ottoman architecture in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Opijaca Tekke, originally built in the late 14th and early 15th centuries, has been restored to its former glory. For centuries, nestled in Sehovina, it served as a spiritual and cultural hub of Mostar.

The restoration project, valued at approximately 4 million Bosnian marks (around € 2,051,282), was a collaborative effort between the Waqf Directorate of the Islamic Community in BiH, the Muftiate of Mostar, the Majlis of the Islamic Community of Mostar, and the General Directorate of Waqfs of the Republic of Turkey.

The 350-square-meter tekke features a unique wooden dome and an authentic stone roof. The renovation included the kitchen (mutvak), hallway, semahana (prayer and zikr hall), turbe (tomb), mihrab (niche indicating the direction of prayer), mahfil (gallery), and male and female ablution areas. Local "Gradnja" company used Jablanica stone and high-quality materials to maintain authenticity. Graves within and around the tekke have been preserved, and future plans include a šadrvan (fountain) and additional outdoor water features.

Initial conservation work began in 2005, with full restoration groundwork starting in 2019 and construction in 2023. The tekke served its religious function for 125 years until 1878, when it was heavily damaged during the Austro-Hungarian entry into Mostar, after which its restoration was forbidden.

Historically, the tekke witnessed pivotal moments in the city's history and provided a defensive role. Its reopening signifies the revival of a symbol of Mostar's spirituality and identity, representing a key point of Bosnian-Muslim cultural heritage.

Dr. Senaid Zajimovic stated, "We can be proud to be part of the generation that is returning a landmark of our history – a testament to our existence and rich cultural heritage." The tekke is first mentioned in the vakufnama (endowment deed) of Ibrahim-aga Saric and was managed by the Opijaca family for generations.