BOSNIA MOSLEMS MARK BAIRAM, RELIGIOUS HEAD CALLS FOR FORGIVENESS

SARAJEVO, March 27 (Hina) - Muslims throughout Bosnia-Herzegovina marked Kurban Bairam by prayers in mosques on early Saturday morning. The central religious service took place as usual in Begova Mosque in Sarajevo and was led by Reis Ul Ulema Mustafa Efendi Ceric. During his sermon, the highest-ranking Islamic dignitary in Bosnia stressed that this Bairam was a holiday of sacrifice and forgiveness. He recounted the story about Abraham who had to choose between sacrificing his own son or being disobedient to God. Ceric called on the faithful to understand the sacrifice as a remedy for selfishness and greed, and to care for the poor, elderly and weakly who need help. Wishing peace and good to the entire world, Reis Ceric warned that one should overcome an urge to revenge but fight against the evil and injustice by the force of the right to life, faith, freedom and dignity. A Bosniak member of Bosnia-Herzegovina's collective Presidency, Alija Izetbegovic, also sent a message to Muslims on this occasion saying that they should wish much courage to the Islamic faithful in Kosovo and Sandzak (an area in Yugoslavia) during their current hardship. (hina) ms