Zagreb - Parliament Speaker Josip Leko on Tuesday received for talks the head of the Islamic community in Croatia, Aziz Hasanović, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the recognition of Islam as an official religion in Croatia.
The decision to recognise Islam was made by the Croatian parliament on 27 April 1916. Hasanović informed Leko of a number of events the Muslim community planned to organise next year to mark the anniversary. Hasanović suggested that the Sabor hold a special session on 27 April 2016 and that a commemoration under its auspices be held at the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb.
Leko supported the proposal, underlining that a decision on the matter should be made by the Parliament Presidency. He noted that the anniversary was an important event for the Croatian society and that it was of special importance for Europe as well.
Hasanović recalled that Croatia was the second European country to recognise Islam, after Austria did it in 1912. He expressed satisfaction with the status of the Muslim community in Croatia, adding that he recommended the Croatian model as an example of how to regulate the status of Muslim communities around the world. A meeting of European Muslim religious leaders and the Third World Halal Forum are among the events to be held next year in Zagreb, to mark the 100th anniversary of Islam as an official religion in Croatia, Hasanović said. (Hina)