THE SHARIA LAW JUDICIARY SCHOOL – A SHORT REVIEW

Abstract

UDK 37.014.521:[28:348(497.6 Sarajevo)”1887/1937”

With the arrival to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Austro- Hungarians encountered a Muslim population which was not present in its other provinces. The ordinary Courts of Law introduced by Austro-Hungarian government, were neither equipped nor competent to deal with issues of interaction of Muslims and non-Muslims, especially in the issues regarding the family law, inheritance and waqf law. The need for establishing an institution that will primarily form and then also employ a qualified staff capable of dealing with these issues was evident. Seven years passed from the time when this idea was born to its actual implementation. The solution was found in establishing The Sharia Law Judiciary School in Sarajevo, where local qualified judges for the Sharia Courts would be educated under the eyes of the new government. By the decision of the National Government for Bosnia and Herzegovina of May, 14th 1887, the Statute about establishment of a school for Sharia judges in Sarajevo was brought. The aim of this article is to take an insight into the flow of the functioning of The Sharia Law Judiciary School in Sarajevo during the fifty years of its existence. This aim we intend to achieve through a research and a comparison of: all the changes that were made in its Teaching Plan and Programme, all the subjects that were taught, the quality and the origin of the teaching staff in this school and the vocation gained by its graduates.