Bosniaks living in Italy have officially formed the Islamic Community of Bosniaks in Italy Sunday evening, with the aim of facilitating and improving the organisation of Bosniaks in this country, who have been living there for over a quarter of a century.

“The founding ceremony the Islamic Community of Bosniaks (IZIB) took place in Biella, Italy today (Sunday), and Nermin Fazlagic of the Verona Jamaat (congregation) was elected President. The representatives of Biella, Verona and Terme Angolo jamaats have united and formed a single community and adopted a Statute before the Notary which unequivocally states that the IZBI is an integral part of the Islamic Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina with Reus ul Ulema in Sarajevo as its leader,” Osman Kozlic, the Islamic Community's Bosniak mufti for Europe said.

The Bosniak minority in Italy managed to preserve its tradition and the Bosnian language through various associations and the formation of the IZIB will greatly help them in this.

According to Nermin Fazlagic, IZIB's formation is the most significant event in the lives of Bosniaks in Italy.

“Having a branch of the most famous and influential Islamic institution in Europe is an answer to the need that has always been present among our fellow citizens in this country, and especially in recent years when topics related to Islam are very topical,” he said

The fact that the Bosniak presence in Italy does not only benefit Bosniaks is evidenced by the fact that Europe and Italy need the Bosniak experience of Islam, Fazlagic concluded.