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The FERHADIJA
MOSQUE |
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One of 16
Mosques, destroyed in 1993,in Banja Luka is being
reconstructed as a sign of Muslim/Christian collaboration.
The Ferhadija was designed by Sinan, the greatest of all
Sinan architects. The Mosque was the heart of Banja Luka for
Muslims, but also for the Orthodox and Catholics.
The Soul of Europe has been the initiator, catalyst and
fundraiser for this project since 2000. It is anticipated
that work on the first phase - the documenting of the stones
which were removed to the city refuse dump - will begin in
the autumn.
The Project leader is Professor Tina Wik, appointed by the
Dayton agreement to advise on the restoration of Islamic
buildings destroyed in the war.
The Soul of Europe is now fundraising for a programme of
cultural and educational activities to take place in Banja
Luka so that the Mosque as it is rebuilt - as it was - will
be welcomed by the people.
The Soul of Europe is establishing a network of Ferhadija
Associations across Europe as a sign of collaboration and
cooperation. The first has already been established at Evry
in France. |
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OMARSKA |
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In May 2005
Mittal Steel commissioned the Soul of Europe to solve a
problem at the New Lubijya Mine at Omarska. The municipality
of Prijedor was a laboratory of ethnic cleansing in 1992.
During that time most of the Bosniaks (Muslims), and Croats
(Catholics) were removed from Prijedor.
Between 3000 and 4000 people died in the course of 3 months.
Many were sent to 3 concentration camps in the area.
One of the camps was a steel mine near a village called Omarska. The mine was acquired by Mittal Steel in August
2004. The Bosniak and Croat survivors want a memorial to
those who were killed there - but the mine management did
not want to antagonise the Serbs.
The Soul of Europe has been asked to mediate in this dispute
- and after several months of meetings, the different
parties are beginning to meet together, and it is
anticipated that broad agreement will be reached at a
Conference to be held near Sarajevo in November 2005. |
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IF YOU WOULD
LIKE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT EITHER THE FERHADIJA PROJECT OR
THE OMARSKA PROJECT, please contact
Donald Reeves |
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The Ferhadija Trust is a
company limited by guarantee. Registered no. 509744, and a
registered charity no. 1104416.
All material contained on
this site is Copyright © 1999-2005 Revd Donald Reeves.
Any comments, questions etc. about this site can be directed
to the webmaster/designer (Pc Mot ). |
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