BIK distanced from activity held at a mosque in Pristina against New Year's celebration

Children's photos, during their involvement in the event on December 31st, have been published in posting this mosque. The post drew numerous reactions on social networks some of them supported the developed activity, and others criticized it.

From the BIK Women's Department say this activity was not planned in co-ordination with BIK. The department's addiction is also teacher Geneta Feyzum Allah-Feyziu, who teaches the basic teaching of Islamic faith with children in the mosque “Mati 11”.

BIK department leader Vajide Podvorica-Bunjaku says the event, which has sparked debate in public, has not been deliberate nor planned by the department it heads.

It's random, by the teacher himself. We, as a department, don't accept that. It was like random, present activity, and not planned”, says Podvorica-Bunjaku.

But the imam of the mosque “Mati 117x1> in Pristina, Fadil Musliu, says the 31 December activity is developed within the women's sector, which operates within the mosque.

Musliu points out that the activity was carried out according to the teacher's plan, which, as he says, “is in co-ordination with the Women's Department, operating within the BIK”.

She, in co-ordination with the Women's Department and in co-ordination with her colleagues, because the Islamic Community has dozens of [educational] support that conduct their activities in Kosovo's mosques has preceded her. But, it's become a little big on media”, Musliu points out.

He adds that he has later seen the work of students and says that they do not contain the instigation of hatred and intolerance.

There is neither humiliation, nor humiliation of anyone. It is only explained that, as Muslims, we have two religious holidays: the Fiter Bajram Festival and the Festival of Kurban Bajrami. In fact, even the New Year does not represent a religious holiday of any religion”, Musliu points out.

He adds that Muslim believers are not against those who celebrate New Year's Eve, but we are not even one to impose it on us as mandatory”.

The Podvorica-Bunjak -- leader of the Women's Department in the Islamic Community of Kosovo -- says the activity that teacher Fejzullahu Fejziu has conducted is outside the department plan she runs.

This is not a department plan. The other teachers, our views, have not done something like that, for example, as she has done. We regret that such a thing has happened, in this form, because everyone, as humans, as civil society, should enjoy the holiday”, said Podvorica Bulnjak.

Regarding the activity held with children at the “Mati-1x1> mosque, the Council of the Islamic Community of Pristina reacted on December 31st.

The chairman of this Council, Hetem Soopyan, deems the 31 December activity at the “Mati 117x1> mosque under the control of the Council of the Islamic Community of Pristina. However, he believes the error has not been made deliberate and, as such, says it does not represent BIK's position at all.

I'm not thinking of not celebrating New Year's Eve, because, after all, our children, our people, family... we have no authority to stop and [to say] not to celebrate New Year's. That's what happened and I hope it won't happen in the future. It's a random mistake that happened, it's a concession made by competent people”, Soopyan points out.

He added that the imam of the mosque “Mati 1” would be invited to the institution in the Islamic Community to provide clarifications regarding activities in his mosque, but also for his public statements.

The imami will be interviewed. It will be called to the imam meeting, for things that happened, and we hope that in the future such things will not happen”, Soopian said, REL reports.