Representative of European Rabbis to N1: Sarajevo is a wonderful city, but the authorities have let us down

The decision to call off the conference came after a Sarajevo-based hotel annulled a group reservation that had been secured by the organisers. According to the ECR, the cancellation occurred without any direct communication from Bosnian government institutions. The organisation linked the hotel’s decision to negative public reaction and media reports, as well as to statements from local officials opposing the event.

The ECR stated that Sarajevo was initially chosen due to its cultural and historical relevance, and because the city had never previously hosted a gathering of the organisation in its 70 years of existence. The selection was reportedly suggested by the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Christian Schmidt, and formalised by an invitation from the then-mayor of Sarajevo, Benjamina Karic.

After the decision to hold the conference in Sarajevo was finalised, preparations began in early May, when an ECR delegation visited the city. During that visit, they held meetings with municipal leaders, representatives of the Jewish Community, and leaders of religious organisations, but no interactions occurred with national authorities or institutions at the state level.

As plans progressed, a hotel that had previously confirmed bookings for the event notified the organisers that the reservation was cancelled. The reason provided in the hotel’s message was that the cancellation had been requested by the national security service. This development followed public criticism, particularly from Adnan Delic, the Federation (FBiH) Minister of Labour and Social Policy, who objected to Sarajevo being associated with any event perceived to support narratives justifying genocide.

The ECR expressed disappointment over the entire process, highlighting the lack of dialogue from state representatives. Organisers emphasised that no one from the Council of Ministers or any other part of the national government reached out to them, even after the cancellation had taken place.

The group clarified that the event’s agenda was intended to be strictly religious. Despite media claims that the conference would discuss political matters—such as support for the State of Israel or the Jewish people during the ongoing Gaza conflict—the ECR and the Jewish Community in Sarajevo reiterated that the meeting’s focus was to remain within the bounds of religious discourse.

Established in 1956 and based in Munich, the European Conference of Rabbis serves Orthodox Jewish leaders across Europe. Its publicly stated goals include support for democracy, European unity, human rights, and stability in the Middle East.

Following the hotel’s decision, the Chief Rabbi of the organisation issued a statement in which he called for a suspension of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s efforts to integrate into the European Union. The organisation interpreted the incident as evidence of institutional unreliability and a failure to protect religious dialogue.

The ECR also stated that although Sarajevo is known as a city of religious and cultural diversity, they were left with the impression that local and national officials did not support this initiative. According to their account, individuals had indicated that an official government representative would reach out to them, but no such contact has materialised.

The controversy surrounding the event began shortly after it was announced, when Minister Delic publicly condemned the idea of Sarajevo being a platform for any event that could be seen as legitimising genocide. This statement was widely circulated in the media and is believed to have contributed to the growing resistance to the conference.

Although the event has been cancelled, the ECR has not disclosed whether an alternative location will be selected. The incident will likely be discussed at the next internal session of the organisation. For now, the outcome has illustrated how sensitive political climates and public sentiment can override even longstanding plans for religious conferences.