FBiH HOSTS NUMEROUS GROUPS FUNCTIONING ON MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD IDEOLOGY

BANJA LUKA, DECEMBER 8 /SRNA/ – In parts of BiH controlled by Bosniak political structures and the SDA's para-intelligence apparatus, a system has been developed and a large number of organizations formed on the ideology of the "Muslim Brotherhood," modeled after the wartime "Patriotic League" and "Green Berets," Glas Srpske reports, citing sources close to intelligence circles.

According to these sources, aside from the youth wings of the "Green Berets" and "Patriotic League," a significant number of informal groups, agencies, and clubs operate in the Federation of BiH /FBiH/ under the umbrella of the SDA's para-intelligence structure, often with support from parts of the Islamic Community, promoting the ideology of the "Muslim Brotherhood," an extremist organization banned in many countries. Intelligence findings suggest that these agencies, groups, and clubs provide special moral-religious instruction based on the Quran, as well as paramilitary training, frequently organized through the activities of individual airsoft clubs and hunting associations—used as a form of military preparation in the event of a conflict in BiH. Sources told Glas that one of the goals of the SDA and these groups in the coming period is to regain lost control over the Intelligence-Security Agency /OBA/ of BiH so these activities can continue unhindered. They note that these activities have become increasingly bold, as seen recently in Bugojno, where an airsoft "competition" featuring wartime symbols was held. Glas notes that this incident revived attention to the 2023 European Commission report "Violent Extremism and Sports in the Western Balkans," which clearly points to an existing problem and a real threat posed by radical Islamists in FBiH. According to the sources, special attention should be paid to the informal group Panteri, led by Ahmed Dž, as well as the Tuzla-based security agency Flek, headed by Salko Z, a follower of Wahhabism and a member of the SDA Main Board. "Among the potentially dangerous groups monitored by intelligence services is the Practical Shooting Club Velež from Mostar, run by SDA official Džafer A. According to findings, he organized Wahhabi training sessions at the Livač Barracks near Mostar, with minors and foreign nationals among the participants," Glas Srpske reports. Also mentioned is the Sarajevo association Gazije, officially registered as a martial arts club, but behind which stands Tarik K, closely linked to wartime Army of BiH General Fikret Prevljak, Golden Lily recipient Muhamed Šabanović, and former OBA Director Osman Mehmedagić Osmica. The organization includes an airsoft club Gazije from Ilijaš. The list also includes the Askeri from Sarajevo, a group under the direct influence of Naser Orić, which frequently organizes paramilitary gatherings for children and youth. These activities have drawn the interest of several foreign intelligence services, including EUFOR components. The text further lists several airsoft clubs in FBiH connected to the Askeri and Orić, or affiliated with the Wahhabi community in Ošve near Maglaj and Nusret Imamović, one of the world’s most wanted Islamic terrorists, as well as clubs supported by SDA official Šemsudin Mehmedović. According to current intelligence assessments, airsoft clubs close to the Askeri and Orić promote the ideology of the Muslim Brotherhood, while clubs under the patronage of the Green Birds act as covert followers of Nusret Imamović, the former leader of the Wahhabi movement in BiH. Both groups share loyalty to a “Muslim BiH” while promoting a specific model of moral-political indoctrination and self-sacrifice. A source told Glas that a particularly troubling fact is that clubs close to the Askeri and Orić enjoy informal protection from FBiH Interior Minister Ramo Isak, as well as the involvement of minors, primary and secondary school children, who are included through the FBiH Scout Association in outdoor camping activities, which in themselves would not be problematic if they were not accompanied by religious-moral instruction. Security expert Dragomir Keserović stated that for decades various informal religious communities, organizations, and clubs have been ignored, even though they clearly represent a potential threat. "Bosniak elites have never hidden their desire for a unitary state, their BiH, and their readiness to fight for it again. Those messages are growing louder, and these paramilitary structures are becoming stronger and more widespread. What concerns me most are the statements of certain Bosniak officials claiming they will eventually achieve their goals," Keserović said.