Bosnia's main university suspends classes during Muslim prayers

A Bosnian university adopted a plan to halt activities during religious ceremonies throughout the week, including the Muslim Friday prayers, in a move described as clear 'Islamisation' by critics.

MENA

1 min read

The New Arab & agencies

30 December, 2016

The university has adopted a plan to halt activities during prayers [File photo: Getty]

Bosnia's main university will not hold classes during Muslim Friday prayers, prompting criticism from some that it represents a step towards the "Islamisation" of academia.

The University of Sarajevo this week adopted a plan to halt activities for about an-hour-and-a-half each Friday to accommodate the congregational Muslim prayers.

Although the university has also decided not to hold classes during the hours of Catholic and Orthodox worship on Saturdays and Sundays, Milorad Dodic, president of the Bosnian Serb entity Republika Srpska condemned the move, saying "this is increasingly like an Islamic state".

Dodic said Sarajevo authorities had also banned alcohol on New Year's Eve.

The sale of alcohol is also prohibited by the internal regulations of two newly built shopping centres in the city owned by Gulf investors.

Three left-wing and liberal political parties including the Social Democratic Party (SDP) also denounced the move amid concerns over radicalisation among a minority of Bosnian Muslims.

The university, however, said the decision was taken with the aim of respecting "human rights and denominational freedoms".

Around half the population of 3.5 million is Muslim, according to 2013 Census figures published in 2016.