THE ISLAMIC COMMUNITY IN SFRY (SOCIALIST FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA) AND A SMALLPOX PANDEMIC OF 1972

Abstract

UDK 28-78(497.1)“1972“
         616.912-036.22(497.1)“1972“

Smallpox pandemic outbreak happened in SFRY (Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia) Yugoslavia in March 1972 and it spread throughout SAP (Socialist Autonomous Province) Kosovo, and Social Republics of Serbia and Montenegro. Thanks to a timely reaction of health institutions and government, the pandemic was controlled and exterminated within a little more than two months. Since the state authorities identified haji Ibrahim Hoti as the source of the outbreak and the fact that he allegedly got infected on his way back from the pilgrimage, the Islamic Community of SFR Yugoslavia was placed in a difficult position. The author here discusses the attempts of the Islamic community to defy the accusations against Islam and the Islamic values which followed the spread of this information about the source of the pandemic outbreak. The author also relates about the contribution of the Islamic Community in preventing the further spreading of the infection as well as the impact of this pandemic upon religious life of Muslims in SFRY Yugoslavia in the year 1972.