The village of Šćipe, in the north of Herzegovina in the municipality of Prozor-Rama. 🇧🇦

Jummah in one of the oldest Mosques in Bosnia by "harisstory" 😊

Bosnian-Herzegovinian infantrymen enter the Ukranian (then Galician) town of Lemberg (today Lviv) after victory over the Russian forces, 1915. 😃

Tourism & Travel Updates from Bosnia and Herzegovina 🇧🇦✈️

Over 135,000 tourists visited the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina this October, marking a 12% increase compared to last year! 😃

Eurowings will start direct flights from Mostar to Düsseldorf and Stuttgart starting May 2024. 😃

My opinion on the war in Syria, since I’ve been asked a lot:

Generally, the Bosniaks within Bosnia and Herzegovina have had mixed views on the conflict in Syria. Some support the opposition, some support Assad, and some have gone to fight for the various factions that have existed there, with their number estimated to be around 330, possibly more. In general, whatever side the Bosniaks support, the norm is that they do so because they empathize with Syria and wish the best for it, each in their own way.

My stance is neutral and pessimistic because I recognize that whoever wins in Syria, it is certain that the country will emerge from this conflict as one that will not stand shoulder to shoulder with its neighbors, will have little influence in the Middle East, and will be economically dominated by the various powers on the continent.

😃 I think there is an agreement among BRICS, the Gulf states, and factions in the West not aligned with the neocons that Syria and the Middle East as a whole need stabilization, which means they want an end to the war in Syria.

😃 There was a BRICS initiative pushing for reconciliation between Erdogan and Assad, and negotiations were taking place, which is a step toward ending the war. What I think happened is that Assad tried to take a tough stance with the Turks at the negotiation table, and the Turks weren’t having it, which led to the offensive from Idlib.

😃 The offensive from Idlib by the opposition was most likely a Turkish idea. Now that Russia is tied up in Ukraine and Hezbollah is tied up in Southern Lebanon, they are launching an offensive aimed at putting pressure on Assad to agree to Turkish demands in the BRICS reconciliation initiative. Most likely, Assad will have to concede if his army fails in their planned counteroffensive, but we will see what happens.

😃 All of these militant factions in the Middle East, whether in Syria or not, regardless of one’s opinion of them, have targets on their backs because their destruction is required by BRICS and other powerful factions for their vision of stabilizing the Middle East. So, I would not be very comfortable if I were in the Syrian opposition.


Personal feelings about an observation:

There are these so-called alternative media ideologues on Telegram and other social media who support Assad but whom I find incredibly obnoxious and irritating to deal with. They think that because they can point out lies in The Guardian, CNN, or Fox, it somehow makes them smart. They are making money from these hour-long interviews with so-called political analysts, where they just peddle and repeat the same points, which could be stated in a couple of minutes. I wish nothing but the worst for them because they are making money off of tragedies.

The topic of Syria still remain banned in chat. 😀

Bosniaken of a Bosnian-Herzegovinian Infantry Regiment move through a town (possibly on the Isonzo front) with skis on their backs, December 1915.

Many members of the b-h Infantry Regiments were trained for winter warfare even prior to the war, with most of these training courses completed in the Alps. 😀

Al-Azhar to Strengthen Ties with Bosnia and Herzegovina 🇧🇦🇪🇬

Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Sheikh Ahmed El-Tayyeb in April has announced plans to establish an Arabic language center in Sarajevo to teach Muslim children the Quran and preserve their Islamic identity.

😃 Scholarships: Al-Azhar will provide unlimited opportunities for Bosnian students to study at its prestigious university.
😃 Imam Training: Bosnian imams will receive training at the Al-Azhar International Academy to address modern challenges.
😃 Regional Office: A Council of Muslim Elders office will open in Sarajevo to support Muslims in Bosnia and Europe.

🤯 Shockingly we have received a message from the square in front of the old tower in Aleppo:

"Greetings to all Bosniaks from the Bosniak Gazis (warriors) , who have defended Šam since time immemorial. The same is true today. Aleppo 2024."

(Šam historically refers to the region of Greater Syria, which includes modern-day Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and parts of Palestine.) 😃

Far up in the mountain heights 🐕‍🦺🇧🇦🏔
From: "ernizzi" on TikTok

Two Wehrmacht soldiers photographed in a propaganda snapshot talking to a Bosnian Muslim woman on the Old Bridge in Mostar, 1944. The scene isn’t captured accidentally: the woman is lifting her veil to talk to the 2 soldiers in front of the camera. 😃

(This isn't a political post, it's a historical one. If you act schizo in the comments you will be muted 🌲)

Advice to Indian Muslims:

What has been happening to Muslims in India is not new; similar events have occurred in other parts of the world, such as the Balkans. I believe Muslims in India should study the history of this region in Europe and learn from both the correct and incorrect decisions made by Muslims who lived under non-Muslim rule. It is an extensive topic, but I'll try to summarize the key points.

I see a lot of resemblance between the demented Hindutva ideology in India and Orthodox Christian religious nationalism, both of which have antagonism toward Muslims hardwired into their core identity. There is no compromise or negotiation with such ideologues, and trying to find common ground will not achieve the desired results; instead, it will be used against you.

Working through the so-called democratic system is not an option either. Whatever political opposition to the BJP exists is only interested in gaining Muslim votes, not in addressing the core issue. Indian Muslims need to understand that the only way to fight against this genocidal and demented system is to apply external pressure. They must set aside any biases they may have toward the wider Ummah and actively seek to establish real connections with other countries and human rights organizations for support.

One positive aspect of the situation in India is that the sheer number of Muslims makes ethnic cleansing and apartheid increasingly difficult to implement. While India is an important player within BRICS and might use that to its advantage, the fact is that fertility rates have been declining over the years, and whatever industrial capacities exist will be tied to demographic changes. The power India currently possesses is not long-term, much like the power of China. Time is on your side—make use of it.😃

BiH and China to Celebrate 30 Years of Diplomatic Relations 🇧🇦🤝🇨🇳

On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and China, both nations are set to deepen cooperation under the China-Central and Eastern European Cooperation Mechanism and the Belt and Road Initiative.

At the Sarajevo conference “Seizing Development Opportunities and Realizing Common Interests – A Review of China-BiH Relations in 2024 and Prospects”, Miao Dake, Chargé d’Affaires at the Chinese Embassy in BiH, emphasized the mutual benefits of enhanced collaboration, highlighting its potential to foster closer ties and global welfare.

The forum, organized by the Bosnian-Chinese Friendship Association in partnership with the Chinese Embassy, featured insights from various sectors. Attendees included Hu Zhaoming, General Director of the International Department of the Communist Party of China, who reiterated China’s commitment to global economic development through high-quality growth and strengthened partnerships.

Participants also shared experiences ranging from cultural exchanges like the “Chinese Bridge” competition to professional insights from the World Media Summit in Urumqi.

This milestone 10th “Coffee and Tea” forum underscores the growing friendship and cooperation between BiH and China, paving the way for broader engagement in the years ahead.

☃️ Sarajevo covered in snow ☃️