Turks in Bosnia and Herzegovina
| Total population | |
|---|---|
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(267 (1991 census)[1] 50,000 (academic estimates)[2][3]) | |
| Languages | |
| Turkish and Bosnian | |
| Religion | |
| Sunni Islam |
| Part of a series of articles on |
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The Turks in Bosnia and Herzegovina, also known as Bosnian Turks, are ethnic Turks who form the oldest ethnic minority in Bosnia and Herzegovina.[4] The Turkish community began to settle in the region in the 15th century under Ottoman rule, however many Turks emigrated to Turkey when Bosnia and Herzegovina came under Austro-Hungarian rule.[4]
History
Due to the Ottoman colonisation process, a significant Turkish community arrived in the region when the Ottoman Empire conquered the Bosnian kingdom in 1463. The Turkish community grew steadily throughout the Ottoman rule of Bosnia; however, after the Ottomans were defeated in the Balkan Wars (1912–13), the majority of Turks, along with other Muslims living in the region, left their homes and migrated to Turkey as "Muhacirs" (refugees).
Culture
In 2003 the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina adopted the Law on the Protection of Rights of Members of National Minorities. According to the Law, the Turkish minority's cultural, religious, educational, social, economic, and political freedoms are protected by the State.[5]
Language
The Turkish language is officially recognized as a minority language of Bosnia and Herzegovina in accordance with the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, under Article 2, paragraph 2, of the 2010 ratification.[6]
Religion
The Turkish minority practice the Sunni branch of Islam but tend to be highly secular.[7]
Community
Turkish community in Bosnia is well provided, due to historical strong bond between both countries.
Demographics
According to the 1991 population census there was 267 Turks living in Bosnia and Herzegovina;[1] however, current estimates suggest that the Turkish minority actually numbers 50,000.[2][3][8]
Notable people
- Alija Izetbegović - The first president of Bosnia and Herzegovina. His grandmother was a Turk from Üsküdar (formerly Scutari).[9]
- Bakir Izetbegović - politician
- Aldin Mustafić - a member of the Turkish minority in Bosnia and Herzegovina - wrote a book on Bosnian language in Arabic script entitled "The Epochs of Arabic phonetic thoughts and Arebica", as part of the influence of Turkish culture in the region - i.e. in Bosnia and Herzegovina.[10]
See also
- Turkish minorities in the former Ottoman Empire
- History of Bosnia and Herzegovina (1463–1878)
- Islam in Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Muhacir
References
- 1 2 Federal Office of Statistics. "Population grouped according to ethnicity, by censuses 1961-1991". Retrieved 2011-10-16.
- 1 2 Cole, Jeffrey (2011), Ethnic Groups of Europe: An Encyclopedia, ABC-CLIO, p. 368, ISBN 1-59884-302-8
- 1 2 Minahan, James (1998), Miniature Empires: A Historical Dictionary of the Newly Independent States, Greenwood Publishing Group, p. 45, ISBN 0313306109
- 1 2 Council of Europe. "European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages: Bosnia and HerzegovinaLANGUAGES" (PDF). Retrieved 2011-10-16.
- ↑ OSCE. "National Minorities in BiH". Retrieved 2013-12-29.
- ↑ Council of Europe. "List of declarations made with respect to treaty No. 148". Retrieved 2013-12-21.
- ↑ Minahan, James (1998), Miniature Empires: A Historical Dictionary of the Newly Independent States, Greenwood Publishing Group, p. 46, ISBN 0313306109
- ↑ Ethnologue. "Languages of Bosnia and Herzegovina". Retrieved 03-06-2010. Check date values in:
|access-date=(help) - ↑ Carmichael, Cathie (2015), A Concise History of Bosnia, Greenwood Publishing Group, p. 178, ISBN 1316395294
- ↑ http://www.bastinaobjave.com/otvoreni-defter-202/aldin-mustafic/1562-predgovor-knjige-epohe-fonetske-misli-kod-arapa
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