How did the former chief intelligence officer and security official of the El Mujahideen Detachment become the grey eminence in the non-governmental organization “Path of Knowledge,” whose activities in Bosnia and Herzegovina are funded by the Turkish Foundation for Human Rights, Freedoms, and Humanitarian Aid?
On the question of why the West has tolerated and occasionally highly regarded the leaders of Turkey, even when they, like Pasha Ataturk, conspicuously appended titles from the Ottoman Empire to their names, the answer should not be sought in the progressive reforms of Turkish rulers, but rather in Russia. From the West’s perspective, the state of Turkey is as good as it is successful in preventing Russia’s access to the Mediterranean and the return of the mythical Byzantium to the Bosporus. Simultaneously, it should be desirably distant from the West to the extent that it culturally, religiously, ethnogenetically, and anthropologically persists as a classic state in Asia.
And Turkey does not hide its ambitions to strongly shape political conditions in the Balkans and the Middle East, and often, in the Caucasus. When it comes to the Balkans, specifically Bosnia and Herzegovina, Turkey has several “entries” and instruments for action. The first is the religious, terrorist organization Muslim Brotherhood. The second instrument, important in a military-intelligence sense, through which Turkey has infiltrated its intelligence service – MIT into Bosnia and Herzegovina, is the battalion in Zenica involved in the “Althea” operation and the EUFOR unit. The third are the organizations Red Crescent, IHH, and TIKA, responsible for special operations but also for humanitarian activities.
FOUNDATION AS A RECRUITMENT CENTER
The Turkish Foundation for Human Rights, Freedoms, and Humanitarian Aid IHH (Insan Hak ve Hurriyetleri – Insani Yardim Vakfi) has been operating in Bosnia and Herzegovina for over eighteen years, despite evidence and witnesses that it was founded in 1992 by radical Islamists from Turkey to send mujahideen to Bosnia against the then regime’s decision and to arm them.
Iranian researcher and expert on Palestinian issues Jazdan Karimi has also warned that the IHH advocates “cohabitation of radical Sunni ideologies with the ideology of Iranian Ayatollah Khomeini.” IHH in Bosnia and Herzegovina does not have the status of an official organization, but its “illegality” does not imply limited freedom of action. The fact that the German government recently banned its operations, that Israel did the same back in 2008, and that the USA discovered this organization’s connections with Al Qaeda and Hamas, did not intrigue prosecutors and police in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Since 1996, IHH has been on the blacklists of US and Israeli intelligence services, CIA, and Mossad, as an associate of “Al-Qaeda.” The fact that the directors of IHH in Sarajevo were members of the El Mujahideen unit, namely Hakan Celik (El Mujahideen Detachment – managed by Afro-Asian mujahideen), Hakan Bokoglu (“Seventh Muslim Brigade” – composed of “domestic mujahideen”) and Osman Atalay (“Seventh Muslim Brigade” – composed of “domestic mujahideen”) reveals the true nature of this organization.
Today, IHH has its headquarters in Sarajevo and offices in Tuzla, Celic, Zivinice, Gracanica, Teocak, Banovici, Srebrenik, and Kalesija. The addresses of the branches are not available to the general public and are mostly borrowed from “legal entities registered under another name.” The truth is as follows: in Bosnia and Herzegovina, an organization under this name has not yet been registered, so an investigation into IHH’s connections with terrorists in Bosnia and Herzegovina has never been initiated.
SIGNIFICANT GUEST LIST
Turkey’s first ambitions to strongly influence political processes and relations in the Balkans are linked to the establishment of the “Yunus Emre” Institute in Sarajevo. The Turkish Cultural Center and the “Yunus Emre” Course Center, the first of its kind opened abroad and operating under the “Yunus Emre” Institute, were inaugurated on October 17, 2009, by the chairman of the Institute’s Board of Directors, Minister of Foreign Affairs Prof. Dr. Ahmet Davutoglu and a member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Haris Silajdžić. Many dignitaries from Turkey and Bosnia and Herzegovina attended the ceremony.
Officially, the Yunus Emre Institute aims to promote Turkey, the Turkish language, art, and cultural heritage. It also intends to present information and documents related to Turkish culture for the benefit of the world and to provide services to those who want to learn the Turkish language. The Institute made its first step in Sarajevo. The Turkish government finances and implements these programs through the IHH foundation. Six months after the opening of the cultural center, on April 5, 2010, the IHH (Foundation for Human Rights, Freedoms, and Humanitarian Aid) founded and opened the “Istanbul Center for Culture and Education” in Sarajevo. The center was personally visited by Emine Erdoğan, the wife of the Turkish Prime Minister, who announced the realization of many (educational, instructional, and religious) programs under the auspices of the Turkish government as part of IHH’s activities. The official opening of this Center attracted enormous public attention, with the host being Suad Ef. Berbić, the chief advisor to the head of the Old Town Municipality, followed by Nedžad Koldžo, head of the Novo Sarajevo Municipality, Osman Atalay and Emin Şirin, members of the IHH Board of Directors, Mukadder Tanok Kirbaş (IHH coordinator for Bosnia and Herzegovina), Mostar Mayor Admir Pozderović, and Nezim Halilović Muderis (imam of the King Fahd Mosque in Sarajevo).
Also present were Air Bosna Manager Okan Uluocak, Salih Kansua, head of Turkish Airlines’ Sarajevo office, Nevzat Yeşiller from TIKA, cultural attaché Hasan Hüseyin Öztürk, artists Zeyd Soto and Eldin Huseinbegović, professor (former Mufti of Zenica) Halil Mehtić, Mustafa Hasani, Kenan Glazba, Amina Šiljak, and many other notable guests.
A glance at the guest list reveals that the activities and work of IHH are inseparable from Erdoğan’s government and Erbakan’s ideas – Islamist Turkey and the Muslim Brotherhood. Two figures to be marked are Mukadder Tanok Kirbaş and Yasser Mohamed Sabbagh, who coordinate IHH’s work in Istanbul with the non-governmental sector and authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina at various levels.
GREETINGS FROM GUANTANAMO
According to the IHH website, this foundation pays for imams in mosques in Čajniče, Foča, Rogatica, Rudo, Višegrad, and Žepa. Additionally, the foundation is currently implementing aid programs in Sarajevo, Srebrenica, Goražde, Ilijaš, Zenica, and Visoko. Special emphasis has been placed on organizing an alleged humanitarian convoy for Gaza. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, IHH organized the collection of monetary aid for “occupied Gaza” through the following links:
http://ambient-palestine.blogspot.com/2009/01/akcije-za-gazu-i-palestinuizrael.html
http://gazafreedommarch.org/cms/en/flotilla.aspx
http://www.vivapalestina.org/vp5/intro.html
The campaign was initiated by coordinator Zemira Gorinjac (UG “Solidarnost” Bihać) together with several associations (Association of Antifascists and Fighters of the NOR, UG “Vatan – Homeland” – Bos. Krupa, Youth Cultural Center “Atis” Sanski Most, and the Islamic Community Majlis of Sanski Most, UG “Women of Una,” Islamic Community Majlis of Bihać, Islamic Pedagogical Faculty of Bihać). The campaign was supported by ŽEO “Iskre,” RTV USK and RTV Cazin, RTV – Bihać, JP “Komrad” Bihać, JU “Cultural Center” Bihać and Cazin, the A SDA Party, Bihać Chamber of Commerce, as well as imams of several communities and the humanitarian association “Hajj Fund of Austria.”
The action could have been commendable if it weren’t for a few problematic facts. First, the media sponsor of the so-called “Campaign for the Unblocking of Gaza” was the internet portal www.IslamBosna.ba Second, on the ship was Nađa Dizdarević, the wife of terrorist Omar Boudele Hadž, who, as a member of the “Algerian Group” in Bosnia and Herzegovina, was a prisoner of Guantanamo for five years.
Key figures actively operating in IHH in Bosnia and Herzegovina are Hakan Čelik, Hakan Bocoglu, and Osman Atalaj.
Network of Fake NGOs Built by IHH in Bosnia and Herzegovina
The following non-governmental organizations constitute the network of fake NGOs built by IHH in Bosnia and Herzegovina:
- Association for Culture, Education, and Sports (AKOS) Zenica
This organization promotes the radical idea of Islamization and invites members of other religions to Islam. It is believed that Muhammad Seifudin Ciftci financially and spiritually backs this organization. The organization is represented by President Dr. Ahmed Adilović, with Zuhdija Adilović, Dean of the Islamic Faculty in Zenica – Islamic Pedagogical Academy, and Professor Harun Macić in the administration. - “OAZA” – Association of Citizens
Founded by a decision of the Ministry of Justice and Administration of the Tuzla Canton No: 06/1-05-21192/10 on September 30, 2010, and registered in the Register of Citizens’ Associations of Tuzla Canton, in book II, under serial number 345, on September 30, 2010: Association for the Promotion of Positive Values “OAZA.” The association is headquartered in Tuzla, Borić No. 1. The association is represented by Arif Oruč, President of the Association; Jasmin Omazić, President of the Assembly, Almir Mujanović, Chairman of the Board of Directors, and Davut Suljagić, Vice President of the Assembly. - Association “Path of Knowledge” Zenica
This association is mainly managed by the President of the Association, Mr. Hfz. Dževad Hrvačić, Safvet Halilović (a member of the World Union of Islamic Scholars, as he presents himself), and Syrian Sherif Hakmi. The actual head of this organization is Aiman Awad (Abu Abdurahman), a Syrian with BiH citizenship – former Chief Intelligence and Security Officer of the El Mujahideen Detachment and the actual and formal head of UG “Ensarije.” The formal president of the Association is Mr. Hfz. Dževad Hrvačić. The headquarters is in Zenica. - “HEART OF CAZIN”
President Šerif Kaljiković, Vice President Adisa Muhamedagić. This organization, thanks to strong financial support from the Turkish IHH foundation, participates in many important humanitarian projects in the Una-Sana Canton (help for orphaned children, aid for the hospital in Bihać that burned down in a fire, social and Eid packages, etc.). This type of humanitarian activity is carried out through the “Art Foundation” – Center Duga. - “SERVICE FOR CREATIVE SOLUTIONS” Tuzla
Known to the international and professional public under the name “INTERAKTIV,” a structure that collaborates with parts of Al Qaeda. Today it operates as a limited liability company, with a completely unknown business framework. Therefore, it is no longer an NGO, although it is often presented as such to the public. - SOLIDARITY – Bihać
Publicly advocates for aid to Islamic countries in conflicts and prominently highlights its partnership with the IHH foundation. The association is represented by Zemira Gorinjac. - “International Forum Solidarity” EMAUS
Mohammed Yaser Sabbagh, Mukadira Tanović, Damir Šišić, Mirza Efendić, and Alma Efendić. - Association “Svitanje” Sarajevo
UG Svitanje is represented by Ensar Mulaosmanović, Dr. Admir Mulaosmanović, and Mr. Sedad Bešlija. - Association “Izvor Selsebil” Živinice
This is a non-governmental, non-partisan, and non-profit organization founded in 1998 in Živinice. The association was originally established as a humanitarian organization to help poor families and orphans during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The organization is led by Senad and Fatima Klopić, Almir Duvnjak, Esed Sumeija Ivojević, Alija Bukvić, and Fahrudin Dukić. - Humanitarian Organization “Dirhem”
This organization serves as a platform for the activities of many non-governmental organizations in the Una-Sana Canton. The financial resources it receives from IHH and other foundations backed by Islamists are used to finance the following related and partner organizations:- Association “Život” – Bihać
- Women’s Educational Organization “Iskre” – Bihać
- Association “Vatan-Domovina” – Bosanska Krupa
- Association “Solidarity” – Bihać
- Association “Aktiv” – Bužim
- H.O. “Sadaka” – Bužim
- OKC “Atis” Sanski Most
The primary role of these organizations is to mediate between large capital and socially vulnerable groups in Bosnia and Herzegovina, especially in the Una-Sana Canton area, and to exploit, mobilize, and send them to battlefields: Syria and Afghanistan. Although IHH does not have official foundation branches, its representatives are present in Tuzla, Čelić, Živinice, Gračanica, Teočak, Banovići, Srebrenik, and Kalesija.
There are also many other non-governmental organizations towards which IHH directs its actions, but one of the most significant in terms of financial support and public activity is the Turkish Agency for Cooperation and Coordination (TIKA). According to Daily Sabah, TIKA has helped Bosnia and Herzegovina develop after the war, assisted families in becoming self-sufficient, and contributed to improving various public services in this Balkan state.
TIKA is still involved in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s education system from kindergarten to university and continues to share its expertise. Although Turkey is publicly portrayed as a partner to Serbia and its focus on Bosnia and Herzegovina is downplayed, the truth is that Turkey has invested hundreds of millions of euros in Bosnia and Herzegovina, not as classic “investments” but in the form of support.
Numerous cultural, historical, and religious buildings were constructed by the Turks. In addition, several factories and schools were built, and the list of humanitarian actions is extensive. In the last twenty years, Turkey, through TIKA, has completed around 1000 projects worth approximately 500 million euros. During this time, the Turkish “Red Crescent” has invested about 10 million euros in financing humanitarian actions.
At first glance, it seems like a noble act, but how can nobility be linked to radical Islamism and jihadism, which are the cornerstones of these organizations? From the perspective of the people in Bosnia, it is impossible, but from Turkey’s standpoint, the answer is simple—every territorial claim is preceded by investments. Investment-driven subjugation will ensure Bosnia’s compliance, and Turkey’s demands in the turbulent historical times to come will be neither small nor insignificant.
Author: Dževad Galijašević
