Bosnia: Muslims attacked on the way to the Eid prayer

Three young men attacked Muslims who went to the Eid prayer early this morning in Zvornik, city on the eastern border of Bosnia with Serbia. The attackers forced the Muslims to say out 'God helps' - a phrase characteristic for Christians in the wider region, announced the Islamic community of Zvornik. Young men did not only attack them verbally but also physically attacked the president of the Islamic Committee of Zvornik hitting the fist in his face. Dardagan who was on his way to Eid prayer ended up in the hospital. "The attack on Muslims in Zvornik during their visit to the mosque for Eid prayer is attack on Bayram’s (Eid’s) joy of all Muslims and foundations of living together values in Bosnia and Herzegovina," the Islamic Community of Bosnia and Herzegovina condemed the attack in a statement. The statement expressed indignation that the attack was carried out when Muslims intended to perform Eid prayer. The statement expresses the concern over the attacks in Zvornik, a town on the eastern border of Bosnia with Serbia, whose location gives special weight and meaning to this act. "The Islamic Community requires that national authorities take all necessary steps in order to identify the attackers and punish them. We expect citizens, government and NGOs to strongly condemn the attack on the fundamental human right of performing religious rituals and the desecration of the greatness of Ramadan Eid," quotes the statement from the public relations office of Islamic Community of Bosnia and Herzegovina.