13.03.2014.

Place of worship for followers of Islamic faith opens

At "Banjica" barracks, in the premises of 126th Air Surveillance, Early Warning and Guidance Brigade today, Adem Zilkic, Reis-ul-Ulema of the Islamic Community of Serbia, opened a place of worship for believers of the Islamic faith.

The event was attended by Nebojsa Rodic, Minister of Defence in the caretaker government, General Ljubisa Dikovic, Chief of the Serbian Armed Forces General Staff, members of the Collegium of the General Staff, Bratislav Petkovic, Director of the Office for Cooperation with churches and religious communities and representatives of the Serbian Armed Forces and the Army of Algeria.

Welcoming the participants, Zilkic, the mufti of the Islamic Community, said that the opening of the place of worship is an important event both for the Serbian Armed Forces and the Islamic community.

- This is a confirmation of the democratic path of Serbia and restoring of justice after seven decades. The facilities that we are opening today will be of great help to the members of the Serbian Armed Forces, members of the Islamic community, because the faith has the solution for the anxiety of spirit, and man is a free being, Mufti Zilkic said sending the words of gratitude to the Ministry of Defence because the space is equipped according to the Islamic customs and completely suitable for the function.

Major General Slađan Djordjevic, Head of Department for Human Resources, said that the Serbian Armed Forces, in accordance with the Regulation and the Agreement, continues with the development of the chaplains service in the Serbian Armed Forces which creates preconditions for the realization of the constitutionally guaranteed right to freedom of religion of all members of the Serbian Armed Forces.

- We just want to have that by opening a military mosque in the Serbian Armed Forces, so that all citizens of the Republic of Serbia, followers of the Islamic faith, who serve in the defence of the homeland, could feel as an integral part of the defence system and the Serbian Armed Forces.

General Djordjevic said that he hoped for the military imam and believers praying in this place to find peace and build themselves in order to build the operational capabilities of the SAF and improve their moral and spiritual virtues.

The Serbian Armed Forces Chief of General Staff presented the Reis-ul-Ulema of the Islamic Community of Serbia, the Serbian Army plaque, and Mufti Zilkic returned with acknowledgments to Minister Rodic, General Dikovic, Major General Sladjan Djordjevic, Brigadier General Dusko Zarkovic, Colonel Stevica Karapandzin and Colonel Petar Boskovic and Lieutenant Colonel Mikan Vasiljevic.

Worship for the members of the Serbian Armed Forces of the Islamic religion have already been served in Novi Pazar barracks.