ZAGREB, 24 Sept 2021 - The Grand Mufti of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Husein Kavazović, on Friday expressed his satisfaction during talks with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, with the status of the Islamic community in Croatia.

Plenković met with Kavazović in Government House where they exchanged opinions on the status and activities of the Islamic community in Croatia and on the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a government press release said.

The Muslim dignitary said he was extremely satisfied with the quality of the status of the Islamic community in Croatia, which, he said, enjoys the most extensive rights in Europe and is very well integrated in Croatia.

He underscored that for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia is a country with the greatest importance, advocating the best possible cooperation and for Croatia to continue supporting Bosnia and Herzegovina on its Euro-Atlantic journey.

Plenković stressed the importance of finding satisfactory solutions regarding Bosnia and Herzegovina's election law to ensure democratic rights and legitimate and just political representation for BiH Croats in state institutions and at all levels of government in the spirit of the Dayton-Paris Accords, which, he said, was key to its stability and progress.

He reiterated Croatia's full support to BiH's European integration and readiness to deepen bilateral cooperation with full respect for the equality of the country's three constituent peoples and its sovereignty.

It was stated that strengthening the dialogue between Bosniaks and Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina and deepening their cooperation and building partnership are of the upmost importance for Bosnia and Herzegovina's betterment, the press release said.

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September 10, 2021 - The head of Croatia’s Halal Industries Center, together with the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran, has agreed to increase the cooperation between the two countries in boosting the halal industry including food, medical, and tourism in the country. 

Halal tourism in Croatia has increased significantly over the years with an observed 40% growth in the number of visitors coming from the Middle East, Persian Gulf, and North Africa this year. Due to this, Croatia continues to strive in keeping up with the international halal standards. 

According to Islamic Republic News Agency, Ambassador Parviz Esmaili and Aldine Dogonić reached an agreement last Wednesday to co-sponsor the 2nd Iran-Croatia Halal Industry to be conducted in Tehran this year. Further details on the upcoming 2021 Zagreb Halal Industry Seminar were also discussed which included the introduction of Iranian firms and their possible collaboration with Croatia's Halal Industries Center.

As specified by Croatian National Tourist Board, the growth of Islamic tourists in Croatia proves the importance and relevance of improving halal tourism in the country. According to them, Islamic visitors should be able to enjoy their stay as much as possible without neglecting their religious beliefs, practices, and commitments. Halal tourism does not only include halal food and preparation but also requires Halal-certified hotels to provide Quran, prayer rugs, and minibars that do not contain any alcoholic beverages. 

The Halal Industries Center of Croatia has reported over 200 Croatian companies including food and medicine production, as well as tourism, which have products that are in compliance with the international halal standards. Currently, there are 21 hotels and 7 tourist agencies throughout Croatia which are halal certified and the number of applications for certification is predicted to continuously increase for the next 5 years as Croatia attempts to be the new halal-friendly destination. 

For more on halal, visit Croatia's Center for Halal Qualification Certification.

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ZAGREB, 20 July, 2021 - Prime Minister Andrej Plenković on Tuesday congratulated the head of the Islamic Community in Croatia, Mufti Aziz Hasanović, and all Islamic believers on Kurban Bayram, wishing that the Bayram days be filled with peace, health and joy.

Plenković also wished that "this time of sacrifice give you inspiration and strength to overcome the challenges and tests ahead."

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ZAGREB, 13 May, 2021 - President Zoran Milanović and Prime Minister Andrej Plenković on Thursday issued separate messages offering their best wishes to Muslims on the occasion of the holiday of Ramadan Bayram.

Wishing all the best to the head of the Islamic Community in Croatia, Mufti Aziz Hasanović and the Muslim community, PM Plenković wished them an abundance of peace, hope and family unity.

Stressing the traditionally good relations between the government and the Islamic Community, Plenković expressed confidence that "our continual dialogue, mutual respect and understanding will contribute to an even better cooperation to the benefit of our society and community."

In his message to Muslims, President Milanović said that he wished the great holiday of sacrifice and self-restraint to serve as an encouragement in the promotion of mutual understanding, dialogue and tolerance to the benefit of Croatia.

"My sincere congratulations to fellow citizens of Muslim faith on the occasion of Ramadan Bayram. May this great holiday of sacrifice and self-restraint bring you peaceful and joyous moments of piety and family unity and serve as encouragement in the promotion of mutual understanding, dialogue and tolerance to the benefit of our homeland," Milanović said in his message.

Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković, too, today offered his best wishes to Muslims on the occasion of Ramadan Bayram.

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A brand new building is set to be built down in Dubrovnik as a mosque for the religious needs of almost 1,500 people who identify as Muslims (according to the 2011 census) will be constructed.

As Al Jazeera Balkans writes on the 16th of April, 2019, the Islamic centre which will be located in the Gruž area of the City of Dubrovnik should become a reality in just two years, according to a report from Dubrovacki dnevnik.

As soon as all of the required documentation is dealt with and settled, the construction of the mosque, complete with a minaret, is likely to begin, which is not expected to last for a particularly long time. For now, building permits are being waited on.

The future mosque's location will be at a space on the site of former GP Dubrovnik in Gruž, the project foresees the construction of a mosque complete with a minaret, which will be built in Mediterranean or Moroccan style.

"The project will go its way, it will not take long until we get the construction permit, so we're currently preparing the paperwork, and everything will be ready for construction in two years. We have to emphasise the fact that we in the Islamic community have great cooperation with the city authorities which have been coming to meet with us,'' said the Islamic Community's president, Fehim Vukotić.

The construction of an Islamic center is a long-term desire of Dubrovnik's resident Muslim population, of whom in Dubrovnik, at least according to the census of 2011, there are 1,499. That number has likely risen since then.

By building an Islamic center and a mosque with a minaret, there will finally be a place dedicated to numerous social content and events for the southern Dalmatian city's local Muslim community, as well as prayer rooms.

Make sure to follow our dedicated lifestyle page for much more. If it's just Dubrovnik and the extreme south of Dalmatia you're interested in, give Total Dubrovnik a follow. Need ideas for what to do when visiting the Pearl of the Adriatic, check out Dubrovnik in a Page.