DESTRUCTION OF VAKF PROPERTY IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA THROUGH CENTURIES

Abstract

Vakf is a kind of general goods and is categorized as lasting valuables. A property that is made a vakf becomes, thus, a property of Allah that is given to the people for their use. Vakf properties in Bosnia and Herzegovina have been systematically destroyed and robbed for almost thirteen decades. The struggle to retrieve the vakf property in our country started with the Appeal to Kallay sent by Muslims of the country in the year 1900, they persisted with the attempt through the Movement for the vakf and mearif authonomy, and the struggle of reisu-lulema Causevic against so called Agricultural Reform during the time of the Kigdom of SHS (Serbs, Croats and Slovenians). During the period of Socialist Yugoslavia Islamic Community institution continued the struggle for this cause trying to preserve at least a part of the vakf property at the time. The robbery of vakf property in the previous regime was committed under a guise of expropriation by the expropriator. The most notable attempt to take vakf property was done in a form of nationalization of vakf property. The attempts to destroy this institution has still not ceased. Today it has taken a form of various pressures employed upon the religious communities by the OHR, and the attempt of the High Representative to bring a Law of Restitution that would in the end mean the total end of vakf institution. The Law of trade with vakf flats is the latest attempt of OHR in this direction.