Memorial to be built for Muslim defenders

[Slavic Enforcer]

Zagreb Mayor Milan Bandic and Mufti Sevko Omerbasic laid foundations for the building of a memorial outside the Zagreb Mosque in tribute to the fallen defenders of Muslim ethnicity. On the occasion the two officials recalled all Bosniaks who took Croatia’s side in 1991. There were almost 25,000 Bosniaks under arms, most of them citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Many of them still have not been granted Croatian citizenship, 1,100 were killed and as many were wounded, including 150 disabled.


http://vijesti.hrt.hr/ShowArticles.aspx?ArticleId=27395

I know there were many, but is 25 000 not a little bit exaggerated?

[kane123123/Eagle Eye/stumbler/iceman]

In one way its annoying, but in another way its great, because now people can't say "its only the Jews who put up memorials."

[Watzy]

http://vijesti.hrt.hr/ShowArticles.aspx?ArticleId=27395

I know there were many, but is 25 000 not a little bit exaggerated?

These people were armed and trained to fight IN BOSNIA and they fought FOR BOSNIA, not in Croatia and certainly not for Croatia, since they used Croatian weapons and training to fight not only the serbs, but Croats as well.

They fought for unitarian and Islamic Bosnia and they do not deserve a monument and especially not Croatian citizenship.

If someone should erect a monument to somebody, Bosniaks should erect it to Croatia and Croatian Catholics.

There were however patriotic people of muslim fate that fought for Croatia, but they did not considered them selves to be ethnic Muslims like this Mufti suggested. Such individuals are buried along with their Catholic comrades in the special part of Zagreb's cemetery for soldiers and individuals of merit.

[Slavic Enforcer]

I thought they want to tell us that 25 000 muslims fought in Croatian units in Croatia and Bosnia.

[Jebivjetar]

According to data from 2001. year in Croatia there is 20.000 people who are declared as "Bošnjaks", 19.000 people who are declared as "Muslims" (Muslim as nationality not only religion) and 10.000 people who are declared as "Croats of Islamic faith".

[Slavic Enforcer]

I heard there are 500 000 veterans of the homeland war, so I wouldn't wonder if all Bosniaks from Croatia count as veterans. :D

[Bartholomew Roberts]

According to data from 2001. year in Croatia there is 20.000 people who are declared as "Bošnjaks", 19.000 people who are declared as "Muslims" (Muslim as nationality not only religion) and 10.000 people who are declared as "Croats of Islamic faith".

Interesting - so 20 percent of muslim slavs in Croatia consider themselves 'Croatian' rather than 'muslim' or 'Bosniak'. I wonder how many 'bosniaks' were actually born in Croatia and how many really are from Bosnia.

[Zrinski]

Interesting - so 20 percent of muslim slavs in Croatia consider themselves 'Croatian' rather than 'muslim' or 'Bosniak'. I wonder how many 'bosniaks' were actually born in Croatia and how many really are from Bosnia.

Not many, in fact I'd say most of them never even seen Bosnia.

As for Croats of Islamic faith a couple of them comes in mind right away - Hidajet Biščević (State Secretary in Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration) and Mirza Džomba (one of the best handball players in the world).

It's interesting to note that even in Bosnia-Herzegovina there are some Muslims who also declare as Croats as well. Of course all these numbers are rather small, both in Croatia and in BiH.