Tension over land in Serbia's Novi Pazar eases

06/09/2010

BELGRADE, Serbia -- The situation in the southwest town of Novi Pazar, where Muslims are a majority, has eased after violent incidents at the weekend. Several people were injured on Saturday (September 4th) in clashes with riot police during a protest staged by members of the Islamic Community in Serbia against alleged confiscation of a land parcel in the town. The community, led by Muamer Zukorlic, opposes the decision to build a preschool facility on the disputed plot, supposedly received as an endowment. They argue that its confiscation represents a "culmination of violence, discrimination and disrespect for basic Muslim rights". After the incident, Zukorlic said he expects to talk with authorities in Belgrade about the problems facing Bosniaks in Serbia. He ruled out the possibility of further talks with Novi Pazar authorities. The mayor of Novi Pazar, Meho Mahmutovic, however, insisted that the issue should be resolved at the local, not state, level. (RTS, B92, Beta, Tanjug, AP - 05/09/10)