IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LAW PROHIBITING VEIL (ZAR AND FEREDJA) IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

RESEARCH NOTE

Abstract

This research deals with the measures taken by the Communist government in Bosnia and Herzegovina after WWII to eliminate traditional attire of Muslim women. Political agitation against zar (tur. izar) and feredja (tur. ferace) started in 1947 but it was not successful.Thus, the government decided to pass a Law prohibiting this attire. The Law was adopted by the Peoples Assembly of the Peoples Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina on 28 September 1950. The Law was due to be implemented by 4 November 1950. In order to show that the Law was a result of popular will, the regime started political action for the removal of veil before the implementation date. Different strategies were used: political agitation especially by the Muslim women who removed veil, some imams, political pressure on families and even not-serving veiled women in shops and public institutions. However, political action did not go smoothly. At the end, veil disappeared from the Bosnian streets before 4 November 1950. Minor incidents were reported regarding those who opposed the Law. However, due to inaccessibility of data a full account of the opposition to the Law can not be given.