VASIĆ: DANGER OF RELIGIOUS FUNDAMENTALISM SYSTEMATICALLY UNDERESTIMATED

ISTOČNO SARAJEVO, OCTOBER 8 /SRNA/ - Sociologist Vladimir Vasić told SRNA that the threat of extremism and religious fundamentalism in BiH is being systematically underestimated, warning that the presence of Mujahideen and other foreign fighters during the last war was not without consequences, as many of them had direct ties to terrorist networks.

Vasić pointed out that the influence of ideological documents, such as Alija Izetbegović's Islamic Declaration, which contains open elements of political Islamism, is still visible in the public space, which calls into question the sincerity of the commitment to democratic values.

He said that extremism and religious fundamentalism are a chronic disease that has not been treated in these regions since the 1990s.

"Although this phenomenon is not new, it is alarming that within society itself these phenomena are rarely spoken about openly, and even less often any concrete measures are taken. The greatest threat comes from groups that, under the auspices of religion, spread intolerance, promote isolation and incite hatred towards anyone who does not fit into their exclusive ideological matrix," said Vasić.

He pointed out that what is additionally worrying is the fact that part of the religious and intellectual elite not only does not condemn these phenomena, but directly or indirectly supports them.

INCREASING RADICALIZATION OF YOUNG PEOPLE

Vasić also expressed concern about the increasing radicalization of young people.

"It is not surprising, but what should certainly worry us is the increasingly frequent radicalization of young people within religiously fanatical communities that use them as cannon fodder to spread views based on intolerance, exclusion, and ideological fanaticism. Radicalization of young people is no longer an exception, but an increasingly common phenomenon," believes Vasić.

He pointed out that young people, hungry for identity, purpose, and security, become easy prey for fanatical communities that indoctrinate, train and use them as if in an ideological war against everything different.

"The state is silent. Politics is calculating. Institutions are pretending not to see. People are leaving," said Vasić.

MANY MUJAHIDEEN ARE IN DIRECT CONNECTION WITH TERRORIST NETWORKS

He believes that during the war in the 1990s, the presence of the Mujahideen, as well as other foreign fighters in BiH, was neither accidental nor without consequences.

"While the entire world calls such phenomena terrorism and terrorists, it is different in BiH. Calling them `freedom fighters` represents a dangerous revision of history. The truth is that many of them had direct ties to terrorist networks and that their actions left deep consequences for security and interethnic relations in BiH," Vasić stated.

The systematic avoidance of condemnation of these structures, says Vasić, represents not only a moral but also a security collapse in BiH.

According to him, society in BiH is deeply divided, but this must not be an excuse for tolerating radicalism.

"Anyone who closes their eyes to the indoctrination of young people, to the financing networks of extremist groups, or to hate speech - directly contributes to the collapse of peace and stability and the disintegration of society," said Vasić, warning that extremism has no religion or nation, but only the faces of individuals and groups who abuse religion for their own purposes.

He believes that radicalization does not arise in faith, but in its perversion.

Radicalization within religion, says Vasić, most often occurs among individuals who do not fundamentally understand or practice the core values of their faith, but would like to teach others how to live.

He pointed out that radicalization is a product of spiritual emptiness, frustration, poverty, but also permanent political manipulation.

"In this process, young people become easy prey - ideal material for cannon fodder in a war that has nothing in common with justice, truth or God. Extremism exists in BiH. Radical individuals are not part of the dark past but of the dismal present. They are loud. Dangerous. They abuse faith. They threaten others and those who are different. Whoever does not see this or does not want to see it is not naïve, but an accomplice," said Vasić.