The end of the Ramadan fasting ahead of one of the two biggest Muslim holidays, Ramadan Bayram, brought together in Zagreb on Thursday the highest political officials of Croatia, members of the diplomatic corps, and leaders of the local Muslim and other religious communities.

The head of the Islamic Community in Croatia, Aziz Hasanovic, said he was pleased the Muslim holiday had brought together political, diplomatic, cultural, and religious dignitaries, which was evidence of the acceptance of Muslims in Croatia. “This is an encouraging picture for all, as not many countries, both in the East and the West, can send such a picture.”

Speakers who attended the event extended their best wishes on Ramadan Bayram and said they were pleased with the peaceful co-existence of Muslims and other ethnic and religious groups in Croatia, saying Croatia could serve as an example to Europe in that regard.

The concept of living together is the greatest value in Croatia as it confirms the country’s multiculturalism and multi-confessionalism, Hasanovic said, adding that he had proposals for Croatia’s presidency of the European Union and that he hoped to be able to present them to the state leaders.

He said religions could motivate people to do good and, unfortunately, the opposite as well. The Islamic Community in Croatia is determined to do good and calls on everyone to work on synergy, and to respect universal values.

Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said he was pleased with Muslims’ contribution to the building of Croatian society. He said the government had an agreement with the Islamic Community under which Croatia financially supported the religious needs of Muslims in the country.

He mentioned the construction of Islamic centres in the towns of Sisak and Umag as examples of this, and added the mosque in Rijeka would be part of the future European capital of culture. An Islamic complex including a mosque opened in the northern Adriatic port city of Rijeka in 2013, and the city was later selected to serve as the European Capital of Culture in 2020.

Plenkovic added that over 1,100 Muslims were killed in Croatia’s 1991-95 war as members of the Croatian army, and that Croatia is the only European Union member state in which Bayram is a holiday.

Speeches were also made by President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic and Deputy Parliament Speaker Zeljko Reiner, highlighting the long and harmonious co-existence of Muslims in Croatia.

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