The publishing of the book The Jewel of Medina, just before Ramadan, represents the cruelest insults of Muslims in Serbia. If many states refused to publish the book for the respect toward followers of Islamic religion, we question why Serbia did that.
What is encouraging is the fact that publisher has shown regret and immediately tried to correct the damage, we accept and appreciate it.
Nevertheless, this problem brought on the scene many others which are even bigger and more serious than publishing of the book. Reaction of Serbian society toward is the best identifier of a real state of tolerance, cohabitation and mutual understanding.
It is not comprehendible that Non-governmental organizations/*/, which fight and raise their voice against spreading of hate and intolerance, support attacks on Islam and Islamic community, what directly causes conflicts, hostility and hatred.
Non-governmental organization should fight and raise their voice against spreading of Islamphobia, on the contrary, with their attitudes contribute in spreading of Islamphobia.
It was expected that Non-governmental organizations support attitudes of Mesihat of Islamic community to accept apologies and reconciliation and endeavor to solve problem on democratic way, with dialog, to prevent crises and further escalation.
Is it the answer that someone bothers the fact that there were no demonstrations or violent protests as it was a case in similar situation worldwide.
Islamic community, with its attitude, has shown affection toward democracy and tolerance and at same time affection toward preserving of faith and reputation.
When Islamic community reacted, on pertinent and civilized way, against the cruelest attacks on the most sacred values, so called experts for Islam, sociologists, religionists, nongovernmental organizations, so called fighters for freedom of media, etc, came on the scene.
Instead to condemn insults on Islam and Muslims, they are organizing pursuit on Islamic community.
Artificial creation, which recreantly tried to snatch Islamic community, headed by Zilkic, accompanied to that pursuit. With their attitude, defending the so called freedom of speech, they have shown that nothing is sacred for them, neither faith nor anything else. They were against banning of book and etc. Their statements remind on reactions of proved Islam-haters, so called “experts”.
Islamic community has done its religious obligation. It stood in a defense of its sanctities and honor of its great scholars and called people to calm down emotions. Islamic community stressed its affection to preserving of peace, cohabitation and tolerance.
Association of ulema the most severe condemns attempt of defiance of Islam and life and work of Islamic prophet Mohamed (may God be upon him).
We do expect that NGOs will stop with spreading anti-Islamic and that they will not advocate publishing of readings which harshly insults our beliefs and religion.
Association of ulema gives its total support to the officials of Islamic community in preserving of faith, tradition and religion and at the same time severely condemns spreading of impatience and hatred.
/*/ Serbian NGOs from Belgrade: Humanitarian Law Center, Women in Black, Center for Cultural Decontamination, Civic Initiatives, Lawyers’ Committee for Human Rights – YUCOM, Belgrade Centre for Human Rights, Coalition for Tolerance Against Hate Crime and Youth Initiative for Human Rights – YIHR.