The Role and of Women in the Islamic Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Abstract

Under its constitution, the official Islamic Community in Bosnia and Herzegov-ina (henceforth the ICBiH) is autonomous in determining its activities and man-aging its property. It is guaranteed this right, as are the other religious communi-ties and churches in Bosnia and Herzegovina, under the 2004 Law on Freedom of Religion and the Legal Status of the Churches and Religious Communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Under its constitution the ICBiH’s goal is to encourage all its members to live in accordance with Islamic norms, which it pursues by promot-ing good and discouraging evil. It is concerned with the Islamic upbringing and education of its members and committed to preserving Islamic marital, familial, and social values through an equal commitment by men and women. Under Article 1 of the current Constitution of the Islamic Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina (henceforth the constitution), the ICBiH is the sole and unique com-munity of Muslims in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Sanjak, Croatia, Slovenia, and Serbia, and of Muslim Bosniaks outside their respective homelands and oth-er Muslims who accept it as their own. The constitution cites four basic princi-ples for the organisation of the Muslim community, its institutions, organs, and activities, namely: the Qur’an, practice/the sunnah of Muhammed, a.s., Bosniak Islamic tradition, and the requirements of the time.