In a report released on its website, "Bosnia's Dangerous Tango: Islam and Nationalism", the ICG says the Islamic community in Bosnia, notably when it was led by Mustafa Ceric, "has taken a leading role in channelling popular anger, filling a vacuum left by Bosniak political parties."
"Political Islam is a novelty in Bosnia, and its rise is seen as threatening to secular parties and non-Muslims," the ICG says, warning about the activity of the Salafi order, whose appearance raises "fears of terrorism."
Mevlid Jasarevic, who attacked the US Embassy in Sarajevo in 2011, declared himself a Salafi. This incident is also mentioned in the report.
The ICG says the state and the Islamic community should work to integrate Salafi groups further into society.
"Real instability and violence are more likely to come from clashing nationalisms. The Islamic community's best contribution would be to help craft a vision for Bosnia that Croats and Serbs can share."
The report says Ceric strongly politicised the Islamic community in Bosnia, making contentious statements about it as "a nation-state for the Bosniaks," and notes that the election of Husein Kavazovic as the new grand mufti "offers an opportunity to restructure and depoliticise" the Islamic community.
"But the political Islam that Ceric promoted, based on the affirmation of a strong Bosniak identity, will be hard to let go as long as many Bosniaks feel that their state's integrity is being challenged."