Serbian Islamic Community Unity Proposals Spark Debate

Mufti of Sandžak, Dr. Mevlud ef. Dudić issued a proclamation of 19 points that seeks to end the long‑standing split within Serbia's Islamic community. The document frames the call for unity as a surrender to a single, traditional Islamic organization headquartered in Novi Pazar and linked to the Reisu‑l‑Uleme in Sarajevo, rejecting any parallel structures. Notably, the sixth point claims that Serbia never had a legitimate right to the Reisu‑l‑Uleme institution and urges the nullification of decisions made since 2007.

In response, the Islamic Community of Serbia (IZS), led by Reisu‑l‑Uleme Senad ef. Halitović, released a platform outlining basic principles for creating a unified Islamic body in the Republic of Serbia. The platform stresses equal participation of all Muslims, adherence to Sharia and justice, organizational autonomy, and a legally binding foundational agreement to resolve institutional, legal, and financial matters. While both documents aim at consolidating the Muslim institutions, Dudić’s proposal is viewed as demanding unconditional acceptance of a pre‑draft model, whereas Halitović’s platform emphasizes joint negotiation and mutual responsibility.