ASSOCIATIONS AND NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS MOTIVATED BY ISLAM

Abstract

UDK 061.234:28(497.6 Sarajevo)¨1990/2010¨

This article deals with an issue of non-governmental organisations and associations motivated by Islamic teachings (IMNGOs and A) that are established in the period between the year 1990 and 2010 in Sarajevo Canton. Here we present the concrete data gathered in the field study that shows practical application and functioning of religious organisations and civil society. The aim of this article is to point out the existence and the activities of a number of nongovernmental organisations motivated by Islamic teachings.The main part of the article will consist of concrete research of IMNGOs and A-s, presenting and the classification of their activities. Methods of the research are direct interviews in the form of questionnaires and content analysis. Since the article here deals with religious organisations we also shortly elaborate the forms of cooperation of these organisations with the Islamic Community of BiH as the traditional religious institutions that organises religious life of Bosniaks and is responsible for interpreting and practicing Islamic faith in these territories for over a century. The research showed the existent types of organisations, their activities and whether these represent complementary activity to the mission of the Islamic Community or they are dealing with the issues that are Communities’ primary activity. In this sense the article represents a contribution in the attempt to place an issue of religious organisations that act within the non-governmental sector, within the context of developing religious, social and cultural initiatives of Muslims of BiH in the last 20 years, as well as it points out the efforts of the Islamic Community to open up for a new form of institutional and constructive cooperation with these organisations that is expressed in recently issued Platform about the cooperation of the Islamic Community with the organisations with Islamic prefix. Key words: non–governmental organisations and associations motivated with Islamic teachings – IMNGOs and As, educational and humanitarian activities of organisations, Islamic Community, Platform about the cooperation of the Islamic Community with the organisations with Islamic prefix.