"The Islamic community of Bosnia-Herzegovina cannot accept such a unilateral act of proclamation of the Islamic community of Serbia or the election of Hamdija Jusufspahic if the leadership of the Islamic community in the Sandzak did not participate in it," the secretary-general of the riyaset of the Islamic community of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Muhamed Salkic, was quoted by Dnevni Avaz daily as saying.
The Islamic community in Serbia elected its leadership on Monday, thus declaring independence from the Islamic community based in Sarajevo.
Belgrade Mufti Jusufspahic was elected acting reis (leader) of the Serbian Islamic community until elections, to be held in line with its constitution.
The decision was promptly condemned by Sandzak Mufti Mevlud Dudic, who said that the meeting in Belgrade was illegal.
Also active in Serbia is the Islamic community of the Presevo Valley, which also seems not to have been consulted about the establishment of the new Islamic community of Serbia.
The Islamic community of Bosnia-Herzegovina has confirmed that the activities of the Islamic community of the Sandzak would remain within its jurisdiction.
Mufti Dudic announced for April 10 a convention of the Islamic community of Serbia to downplay Jusufspahic's influence and thwart his plan to "establish a parallel religious community".