Croatian President Ivo Josipovic on Sunday visited Muslim believers in the seaport of Rijeka to extend his best wishes to the Islamic community on the occasion of Eid al-Adha, that is Kurban Bajram, wishing them to celebrate this holiday in joy and faith together with their families.
After the main religious service held in the Islamic centre, the construction of which is in progress, Josipovic said he was glad to be able to join Muslims in their celebration of this great holiday.
"Friendship and understanding are in the spirit of your faith and in the spirit of our society," he said extending the traditional greeting "Bajram serif mubarak olsun".
After the religious ceremony, Josipovic, accompanied by local Muslim dignitaries and Rijeka Mayor Vojko Obersnel, toured the Islamic centre, the construction of which is to be finished next spring. The investor has so far paid HRK 36.5 million to the construction company "GP Krk" for work and another 11 million kuna are to be paid soon.
The local Islamic community needs some more funds to secure for this entire project.
On Sunday morning, Muslims in Zagreb gathered for the celebration of this holiday in the mosque, with Croatian Grand Mufti Sevko Omerbasic and Zagreb Imam Aziz Alili leading the ceremony.
In his sermon, Imam Azizi condemned the 28 October attack against the U.S. Embassy in Sarajevo.
He said that Islamic faithful were concerned by violence, terror and crimes committed in the name of faith.
Speaking about the importance of Kurban or sacrifice, the dignitary said that the loyalty, love and piousness to God were shown by doing good acts.
He also welcomed the progress in the ongoing construction of the Islamic centre in Rijeka.
