Bosniak Author Challenges Raif Dizdarević's Legacy

The author questions the widespread praise for Raif, a communist politician. The author argues that Raif's legacy extends beyond his political roles. Raif, along with his comrade Vlado Šegrt, allegedly remained silent about the brutal massacre of around 700 Bosniak women, children, and elderly people at the Čavkarica pit during World War II. Hadžera Ćatović-Bijedić, the sole survivor, was reportedly threatened by Vlado Šegrt after the war to keep silent about the atrocity.

Journalist Ahmet Kurt described Dizdarević as a "communist functionary" and a "B-team" Bosniak cadre. Kurt claimed that Serbian circles promoted Raif to weaken leaders like Mikulić and Pozderac, making him a key player who allowed Belgrade to dominate Yugoslavia.

Recalling a meeting with Raif in 1993, the author, a captain in the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, noted Raif's apparent lack of concern about the ongoing war, even as young soldiers fought and died. The author states he cannot offer spiritual remembrance to Raif due to his convictions.

The author also reflects on his own past as a young communist. He then highlights the bravery of Mubera Mujagić, a Serbian-Croatian language professor in Sarajevo. In the early 1980s, she wrote to the Belgrade magazine NIN, requesting the removal of verses from Petar Petrović Njegoš and Ivan Mažuranić's works that she felt insulted Muslims. Mubera specifically cited Njegoš's "Gorski vijenac," which contained derogatory lines. She argued that such texts could foster animosity in children. As a result, the Yugoslav regime left Mubera jobless. She was also condemned by some Bosniak intellectuals, including, implicitly, Raif. The author warns that Mubera's fears of future dangers, including genocide, were confirmed in the 1990s. The article ends with a strong call for Bosniaks to maintain their dignity, faith, and integrity, urging them not to compromise their values for personal gain. It emphasizes that true patriotism comes from the heart.