Institute Publishes New Book: Traces of Destruction: Destroyed and Damaged Mosques in Bosanska Krajina (1992–1995) and Their Reconstruction

The University of Sarajevo – Institute for Research of Crimes against Humanity and International Law has published the book Traces of Destruction: Destroyed and Damaged Mosques in Bosanska Krajina (1992–1995) and Their Reconstruction, authored by Professor Mujo Begić, PhD, and Davor Midžić.

The publication is the result of many years of systematic, empirically grounded research into the destruction and damage inflicted on mosques and other Islamic Community properties in the Bosanska Krajina region during the aggression against the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina from 1992 to the end of 1995, as well as the process of their post-war reconstruction.

The authors based their research on archival sources, fieldwork, witness testimonies, relevant scholarly literature, expert forensic reports, and extensive visual documentation. The first part of the book presents Bosanska Krajina as a historical and geographical region while examining the destruction of religious buildings within the broader context of crimes against humanity. It also provides a wider overview of the destruction and damage inflicted on mosques and other Islamic Community properties throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina during the 1992–1995 war.

The central and most extensive section of the book is dedicated to the detailed documentation of mosques that were destroyed, damaged, and subsequently reconstructed following the war in the areas administered by the Islamic Community councils (majlis) of Banja Luka, Bihać, Bosanska Dubica, Bosanska Gradiška, Bosanska Kostajnica, Bosanska Krupa, Bosanski Novi, Bosanski Petrovac, Cazin, Ključ, Kotor Varoš, Kozarac, Mrkonjić Grad, Prijedor, Prnjavor, Sanski Most, and Velika Kladuša.

The research findings reveal that of the 248 mosques standing in Bosanska Krajina in 1992, a total of 208—representing 83.7 percent—were either completely destroyed or damaged to varying degrees.

In municipalities that came under the temporary occupation of the army of the self-proclaimed Republika Srpska, nearly all mosques, masjids, and numerous other waqf properties were destroyed. Mosques located in areas under the control of the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina were subjected to artillery and tank attacks by Serb forces, as well as by units of the self-proclaimed Autonomous Province of Western Bosnia. The authors conclude that the destruction of mosques did not consist of isolated or individual acts but formed part of a broader strategy pursued by Serb military and police forces to accelerate the expulsion of Bosniaks from occupied territories. One of the book's most significant features is its extensive collection of photographs documenting both the destroyed and subsequently reconstructed mosques and other Islamic Community buildings.

The third part of the book examines the fate of imams and students of the Gazi Husrev-beg Madrasa who were killed during the war, as well as imams and other religious officials who were unlawfully detained, subjected to physical and psychological abuse, and exposed to other forms of violence. According to the research findings, 19 imams and students of the Gazi Husrev-beg Madrasa were killed in the Bosanska Krajina region.

A large number of imams were imprisoned in the Omarska, Keraterm, Trnopolje, and Manjača concentration camps, as well as in other unlawful detention facilities established by the Serb authorities. Some imams were also detained in camps controlled by the forces of Fikret Abdić.

The book also documents the post-war reconstruction of Islamic Community properties. During the reconstruction and rebuilding of mosques in the Bosnia and Herzegovina entity of Republika Srpska, authorities in certain municipalities employed various methods to obstruct, delay, or complicate reconstruction efforts. The rebuilding process was further hindered by administrative obstacles, changes in the designated use of waqf land, delays in issuing the necessary permits, and opposition to reconstructing mosques on their original sites.

Despite these obstacles, the destroyed mosques were rebuilt primarily through the perseverance, dedication, and financial support of returnees, believers, imams, muftis, and other representatives of the Islamic Community.

The book's editor, Muamer Džananović, PhD, together with reviewers Professor Amir Duranović, PhD, and Jasmin Medić, PhD, emphasize that the publication represents the outcome of years of systematic, empirically grounded, and methodologically rigorous research. In their assessment, the book's particular value lies in its use of a broad range of sources, including archival records, field research, witness testimonies, scholarly literature, expert forensic reports, and extensive photographic documentation. This comprehensive approach enabled the authors to present the full scale and patterns of the destruction of mosques and other Islamic Community properties, as well as the institutional, military, police, and political context in which this destruction occurred. The reviewers also highlight that the authors contextualize these events through historical, demographic, and socio-political overviews of each area examined before presenting the history of individual religious buildings, the circumstances surrounding their destruction or damage, and their post-war reconstruction. The study also incorporates testimonies from imams, muftis, Islamic Community representatives, direct witnesses to the destruction, and expert studies prepared for judicial proceedings. The extensive photographic documentation of destroyed and later reconstructed buildings is identified as one of the publication's most valuable features.

Professor Mujo Begić, PhD, teaches at the Islamic Pedagogical Faculty and the Faculty of Education of the University of Bihać and serves as Head of the Bihać Regional Office of the Missing Persons Institute of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Davor Midžić is a curator at the Una-Sana Canton Museum.