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{{Short description|none}} <!-- "none" is preferred when the title is sufficiently descriptive; see ] -->
]
{{Islam in Europe by country}}
The penetration of the Ottoman Empire to Europe was stopped on Croatian soil, which could be in this sense regarded as a historical gate of European civilization. Since 1519 Croatia has been known as Antemurale Christianitatis in Western Europe. The name was given by Pope Leo X.
{{Islam by country}}
]]]
], completed in 2013]]
] is a predominantly ] country, with ] being a minority faith. It is followed by 1.3% of the country's population according to the 2021 census.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite web|url=https://www.croatiaweek.com/share-of-croats-in-croatia-increases-as-census-results-published/|accessdate=2022-09-25|title=Share of Croats in Croatia increases as census results published |date=22 September 2022 }}</ref> Islam was first introduced to Croatia by the ] during the ] that lasted from the 15th to 16th century. During this period some parts of the ] were occupied which resulted in some ] converting to Islam, some after being taken ], some through the ] system. Nonetheless, Croats strongly fought against the Turks during these few centuries which resulted in the fact that the westernmost border of the Ottoman Empire in ] became entrenched on the Croatian soil. In 1519, Croatia was called the '']'' by ].


The ] (''Mešihat Islamske Zajednice u Hrvatskoj'') is the main organization of Muslims in Croatia that is officially recognized by the state.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/2003_12_196_3110.html | language = hr | publisher = ] | work = Narodne novine - Službeni list Republike Hrvatske NN196/03 | title =Ugovor između Vlade Republike Hrvatske i Islamske zajednice u Hrvatskoj o pitanjima od zajedničkog interesa | date = December 15, 2003 | access-date = February 16, 2010}}</ref> The President of the Islamic Community is Aziz ] Hasanović.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://balkans.aljazeera.net/vijesti/islam-u-hrvatskoj-model-za-cijelu-evropu |title=Islam u Hrvatskoj - model za cijelu Evropu &#124; Al Jazeera Balkans |language=bs |publisher=Balkans.aljazeera.net |access-date=2015-08-27}}</ref> As of 2011, 62,977 Muslims live in Croatia. Most of them declare themselves as ] (31,479) while others declare themselves as: ] (9,647), ] (9,594), ] (5,039), ] (343), ] (217), ] (159), ] (16) and other (2,420).<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web|url=http://www.dzs.hr/Hrv/censuses/census2011/results/htm/H01_01_12/H01_01_12.html |title=Državni zavod za statistiku Republike Hrvatske |publisher=Dzs.hr |access-date=2015-08-27}}</ref>
The Croats endured the greatest burden of this four century long war against the Turks. The most tragic fact in this war was that many islamized Croats had to fight against the Catholic Croats. It is interesting to note that the city of Zagreb and nearby Sisak despite many attempts were never occupied by the Turks, though they came as far as Vienna in 1683. Budapest for instance was in the hands of the Turks for 160 years.


The first modern ] in Croatia was built in ] in 1969.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jutarnji.hr/hrvatska-postaje-srediste-najmodernijih-dzamija-u-europi/1315343/ |title=Hrvatska postaje središte najmodernijih džamija u Europi |publisher=Jutarnji.hr |date=2015-03-18 |access-date=2015-08-27 |archive-date=2015-03-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150319185603/http://www.jutarnji.hr/hrvatska-postaje-srediste-najmodernijih-dzamija-u-europi/1315343/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Today there are 4 mosques<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.index.hr/vijesti/clanak/otvorena-cetvrta-dzamija-u-hrvatskoj/1043114.aspx|title=Otvorena četvrta džamija u Hrvatskoj}}</ref> and 2 Islamic centers in Croatia (in ]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://islamska-zajednica.hr/o-nama/medzlisi/medzlis-zagreb |title=Islamska zajednica u Hrvatskoj – Medžlis Zagreb |publisher=Islamska-zajednica.hr |access-date=2015-08-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180713171328/http://islamska-zajednica.hr/o-nama/medzlisi/medzlis-zagreb |archive-date=2018-07-13 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and ]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jutarnji.hr/u-rijeci-otvorena-najljepsa-dzamija-u-europi-na-svecanost-doslo-20-000-ljudi/1100773/ |title=U RIJECI OTVORENA NAJLJEPŠA DŽAMIJA U EUROPI Na svečanost došlo 20.000 ljudi |publisher=Jutarnji.hr |date=2013-05-04 |access-date=2015-08-27 |archive-date=2013-05-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130507112340/http://www.jutarnji.hr/u-rijeci-otvorena-najljepsa-dzamija-u-europi-na-svecanost-doslo-20-000-ljudi/1100773/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>). Historically, during the Ottoman rule, there was a significantly larger number of mosques in Croatia. At one point there were 250 of them, but as of 2014 only 3 structures remained standing.<ref name="Radio Sarajevo">{{cite web|url=https://radiosarajevo.ba/vijesti/regija/stare-dzamije-u-hrvatskoj-nekad-ih-je-bilo-250-do-danas-sacuvane-samo-tri/136978|title=Stare džamije u Hrvatskoj: Nekad ih je bilo 250, do danas sačuvane samo tri |publisher=] |format= |last= |first= |date=4 January 2014 |accessdate=9 April 2020}}</ref> The largest and most representative one of them, Ibrahim Pasha's Mosque, is located in eastern Croatian town of ] but is today used as the ] Church of All Saints.<ref name="Radio Sarajevo"/> Another mosque in eastern Croatia, which today does not exist, was located in ].<ref name="Radio Sarajevo"/> It was the ] Mosque constructed after 1526 at the site of modern-day ].<ref name="Radio Sarajevo"/> Most of the Ottoman structures in the region were systematically destroyed after the ].<ref name="Radio Sarajevo"/>
==Croatian Muslims==
Historical names of many officials in the Ottoman Empire reveal their origin (Hirwat = Hrvat or Horvat, which is a Croatian name for Croat): Mahmut-pasha Hirwat (= Hrvat), Rustem-pasha Hrvat, Pijali-pasha Hrvat, Sijavus-pasha Hrvat etc. In the 16th century a traveler and writer Marco A. Pigaffetta wrote that almost everybody on the Turkish court in Constantinople knows the Croatian language, and especially soldiers. Marco Pigafetta in his "Itinerario'' published in London in 1585 states: "In Istanbul it is customary to speak Croatian, a language which is understood by almost all official Turks, especially military men."


Highest rate of Muslims live in Gunja municipality (34,7 % population), followed by ] (20,62 %), ] (17,88 %), ] (15,58 %), ] (14,02 %), ] (10,68 %), ] (7,96 %), ] (7,47 %), ] (7,27 %) and ] (6,72 %). As of 2011, there are totally 56 municipalities in Croatia in which no Muslims live, biggest of them being ] with 3,992 inhabitants.<ref>{{Cite web|title=DRŽAVNI ZAVOD ZA STATISTIKU - REPUBLIKA HRVATSKA|url=https://www.dzs.hr/|access-date=2021-02-25|website=www.dzs.hr}}</ref>
This can also be confirmed by the 1553 visit of Antun Vrančić, Roman cardinal, and Franjo Zay, a diplomat, to Istanbul as envoys of the Croat - Hungarian king to discuss a peace treaty with the Turks. During the initial ceremonial greetings they had with Rustem-pasha Hrvat (= Croat) the conversation led in Turkish with an official interpreter was suddenly interrupted. Rustem - pasha Hrvat asked in Croatian if Zay and Vrančić spoke Croatian language. The interpreter was then dismissed and they proceeded in the Croatian language during the entire process of negotiations.


==Statistics== == History ==
=== Ottoman times ===
2001 census population: 4,437,460
{{see also|Ottoman Monuments of Ilok}}
muslims: 1.3% (57,687)
].]]
The ]. Numerous ] converted to ], some after being taken ], some through the ] system. The westernmost border of Ottoman Empire in ] became entrenched on Croatian soil. In 1519, Croatia was called the '']'' by ].


The historical names of many officials in the Ottoman Empire reveal their origin (Hirvat = Hrvat or Horvat, which is a Croatian name for Croat): ] (Rustem Pasha Hrvat - Opuković), ] (Pijali Pasha Hrvat), Memipaša Hrvat, Tahvilpaša Kulenović Hrvat etc.
The Croatian South Slavic Muslim community, per census 2001, is divided between around 20,000 people who still declare themselves as Muslims by nationality, around 20,000 who declare themselves as Bosniaks, and around 10,000 who declare themselves Croats of Islamic faith.
There was some considerable confusion over the terms "Croat" and "Serb" in these times, and "Croat" in some of these cases could mean anyone from the wider South Slavic area.<ref name="Théoharis Stavrides">{{cite book | last=Stavrides | first=Théoharis | title=The Sultan of vezirs: the life and times of the Ottoman Grand Vezir Mahmud Pasha Angelovic (1453–1474) | publisher=Brill | year=2001 | isbn = 978-90-04-12106-5 | pages = 73–74}}</ref>


In 1553, ], Roman cardinal, and Franjo Zay, a diplomat, visited Istanbul as envoys of the ] to discuss a peace treaty with the ]. During the initial ceremonial greetings they had with ] Hrvat (a Croat) the conversation led in Turkish with an official interpreter was suddenly interrupted. Rustem Pasha Hrvat asked in Croatian if Zay and Vrančić spoke ]. The interpreter was then dismissed and they proceeded in Croatian during the entire process of negotiations.
Population of other muslim minorities in Croatia (from the 2001 census):
* Turks: 300 (0.01%)


In 1585, traveler and writer ], in his ''Itinerario'' published in ], states: ''In ] it is customary to speak ], a language which is understood by almost all official Turks, especially military men.'' Crucially though, the ''lingua franca'' at the time among Slavic elites in the Ottoman Empire was still ]. For Italians traveling through to Istanbul, the language of the Slavic Croats was often the only exposure they had to any of the Slavic languages; indeed, Bulgarian and Macedonian dialects were far more common in Istanbul than Croatian.{{Citation needed|date=August 2010}}
Population of other minorities in Croatia who have a sizable amount of muslims (2001 census):
* Roma: 9,463 (0.21%)
* Albanians: 15,082 (0.34%)


===Since the nineteenth century===
==Muslims in Croatia==
{{bar box
As regards the status of Muslim-Bosniak minority, the situation is the following. On the territory of the present Republic of Croatia, Muslim believers are for the first time registered during 1931 census: 1,239 of them were in Zagreb, their overall number in Croatia being only about 4 thousand. The next censuses registered Muslim believers as follows:
|float=right
|title=Muslim population in Croatia (1931-2021)
|titlebar=#DDD
|left1=Year
|right2=No.
|width=250px
|bars=
{{bar pixel|1931|green|4|,000}}
{{bar pixel|1948|red|1|,077}}
{{bar pixel|1953|green|16|,185}}
{{bar pixel|1961|red|3|,113}}
{{bar pixel|1971|green|18|,487}}
{{bar pixel|1981|green|23|,740}}
{{bar pixel|1991|green|43|,486}}
{{bar pixel|2001|green|56|,777}}
{{bar pixel|2011|green|62|,977}}
{{bar pixel|2021|green|50|,981}}
|caption=
}}


] was completed in 1987.]]
1,077 persons in 1948,
16,185 persons in 1953,
only 3,113 persons in 1961.
After 1971, when SFRY (former Yugoslavia) recognized the Muslim nationality to Muslim believers, the census showed the following:


Within the territory of the present Republic of Croatia, Muslim believers were registered for the first time during the 1931 census: 1,239 of them were in Zagreb and their overall number in Croatia being only about 4000.
18,487 persons in 1971,
23,740 persons in 1981,
43,486 persons in 1991.


During the ] the mufti of Zagreb was ]. After the war he was tried and eventually publicly hanged by the ] in 1945 because of his collaboration with the fascist regime of the Croatian ] era dictator ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hrcak.srce.hr/file/24040 |title=Religious communities in Croatia from 1945 to 1991 |publisher=Hrcak.srce.hr |access-date=2015-08-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|url=http://bib.irb.hr/prikazi-rad?rad=44475 |title=Croatian scientific bibliography - Browsing paper |journal=Marulić. Hrvatska Književna Revija, Časopis Za Književnost I Kulturu |publisher=Bib.irb.hr |date=2010-05-14 |volume=29 |issue=2 |page=233 |access-date=2015-08-27|last1=Geiger |first1=Vladimir }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hdlu.hr/mestrovicev-paviljon/povijest-zgrade/ |title=Povijest zgrade &#124; HDLU – Hrvatsko društvo likovnih umjetnika |publisher=Hdlu.hr |date=2015-01-09 |access-date=2015-08-27}}</ref>
On the bases of the censuses from 1931 to 1961 it is clear that a certain number of Muslim believers declared themselves as Croats or Yugoslavs. Their number augmented during immigration from Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In the following censuses in the ], registered Muslim believers numbered as follows:
* 1,077 persons in 1948
* 16,185 persons in 1953
* 3,113 persons in 1961
* 18,487 persons in 1971
* 23,740 persons in 1981
* 43,486 persons in 1991

In the 1960s, the Bosnians Muslims community advocated for the recognition of the ] as a nationality in ]. The ] allowed for the official recognition of the Muslims as a nationality, therefore allowing more individuals to declare their alignment with a compromise categorization of ] (''Muslimani''), in this case separated from a religious basis (''muslimani'' without capital letter). For example, ], a communist federal prime-minister was a declared "Muslim" and an atheist. The spike in the number of self-declared "Muslims" during socialist Yugoslavia times should thus be understood as persons having a family Muslim cultural background (similar to the concept of ]s), rather than practicing believers in Islam.
Based on the figures recorded during the 1931 to 1961 census, it may also be concluded that a certain number of Muslim believers declared themselves as ] or ].

After the ], an additional increase can be attributed to the influx of Bosnian Muslims that took place during and after the ].

The ] identified a total of 56,777 adherents of Islam, or 1.3% of the total population of Croatia.<ref name="census2001-r">{{cite web|url=http://www.dzs.hr/Hrv/censuses/Census2001/Popis/H01_02_04/H01_02_04.html |title=SAS Output |publisher=Dzs.hr |access-date=2015-08-27}}</ref>

==Statistics==

{{Islam in Europe by country}}
{{Islam by country}}
The published data from the ] included a ] of ethnicity and religion which showed that a total of 50,981 Muslims (1.32% of the total population) was divided between the following ethnic groups:<ref>{{Croatian Census 2021 | E | access-date=8 April 2023}}</ref>
* 21,119 ] (41.43%)
* 10,841 ] (21.26%)
* 7,421 ] (14.56%)
* 3,436 ] (6.74%)
* 3,287 ] (6.45%)
* 4,877 Others, undeclared or unknown (9.57%)

=== By county ===
Highest number of people following Islam live in ] (18,044), however highest rate of Muslims is in ], where 9,965 people (4,79 % of county's population) have faith in Islam. Lowest number of people following Islam is in ], where are only 200 Muslims, making 0,15 % of the county's population.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!County
!Number of
Muslims
!Percent
!Municipalities with most Muslims
|-
|]
|18,044
|2.28%
|Peščenica-Žitnjak, Sesvete, Novi Zagreb - zapad, Trešnjevka - sjever, Stenjevec
|-
|]
|10,667
|3.60%
|Rijeka, Viškovo, Crikvenica, Čavle, Kastav, Mali Lošinj, Bakar, Krk, Jelenje, Omišalj
|-
|]
|9,965
|4.79%
|Pula, Labin, Vodnjan, Poreč, Umag, Raša, Rovinj, Buzet, Kršan, Sveta Nedelja
|-
|]
|4,140
|2.40%
|Sisak, Petrinja, Novska, Topusko, Kutina, Hrvatska Kostajnica, Sunja, Glina
|-
|]
|2,961
|0.93%
|Velika Gorica, Zaprešić, Samobor, Sveta Nedelja, Rugvica, Brdovec, Dugo Selo
|-
|]
|2,927
|2.39%
|Dubrovnik, Župa dubrovačka, Ploče, Orebić, Konavle, Metković, Korčula
|-
|]
|2,619
|1.46%
|Gunja, Drenovci, Vinkovci, Županja, Vukovar, Vrbanja, Tovarnik, Bošnjaci
|-
|]
|2,282
|0.5%
|Split, Kaštela, Trogir, Makarska, Solin, Omiš, Hvar, Jelsa, Gradac, Supetar, Okrug
|-
|]
|2,163
|1.68%
|Vojnić, Karlovac, Cetingrad, Ogulin, Draganić, Slunj, Rakovica, Duga Resa, Krnjak
|-
|]
|1,625
|0.53%
|Osijek, Beli Manastir, Đakovo, Donji Miholjac, Našice, Darda, Čepin, Magadenovac
|-
|]
|1,535
|0.97%
|Slavonski Brod, Nova Gradiška, Bukovlje, Sibinj, Oriovac, Stara Gradiška
|-
|]
|1,207
|0.97%
|Zadar, Vir, Pag, Nin, Biograd na Moru, Obrovac, Pakoštane, Tkon, Preko, Benkovac
|-
|]
|458
|0.42%
|Šibenik, Vodice, Knin, Skradin, Tisno, Bilice, Drniš
|-
|]
|411
|0.81%
|Gospić, Novalja, Plitvička Jezera, Senj, Udbina, Otočac, Karlobag, Perušić
|-
|]
|349
|0.20%
|Varaždin, Lepoglava, Novi Marof, Gornji Kneginec
|-
|]
|335
|0.28%
|Bjelovar, Daruvar, Grubišno Polje, Garešnica, Čazma, Veliki Grđevac, Berek
|-
|]
|295
|0.35%
|Virovitica, Orahovica, Pitomača, Slatina, Suhopolje, Čačinci, Čađavica, Gradina
|-
|]
|280
|0.24%
|Koprivnica, Križevci, Đurđevac, Virje, Drnje, Sveti Ivan Žabno, Kloštar Podravski
|-
|]
|266
|0.34%
|Požega, Pakrac, Pleternica, Lipik, Kutjevo, Kaptol, Čaglin
|-
|]
|248
|0.22%
|Čakovec, Belica, Nedelišće, Prelog, Mursko Središće
|-
|]
|200
|0.15%
|Zabok, Bedekovčina, Donja Stubica, Oroslavje, Krapina, Pregrada, Stubičke Toplice
|}


==Islam today== ==Islam today==
Croatia's capital ] has one of the biggest ] in ] since 1987. During the existence of the ] it had none because ], as well as most parts of Croatia, was not occupied by the ] during the ].
]
Croatia's capital Zagreb has one of the biggest and most beautiful newly built mosques in Europe, although in Turkish time it had none (Zagreb was never occupied by the Turks). For instance in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, there had been several hundred mosques from the Turkish time, out of which only one survived.


The mufti of zagreb is Imam Sevko Omerbasic the leader of the Muslim community of croatia. The ] imam ], was the long-time leader of the ] community of ] and the ] of ].


A new mosque in ] was opened in May 2013.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://daily.tportal.hr/259528/Islamic-Centre-in-Rijeka-inaugurated.html | title=Islamic Centre in Rijeka inaugurated | work=tportal.hr | date=4 May 2013 | access-date=11 May 2013 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130702053555/http://daily.tportal.hr/259528/Islamic-Centre-in-Rijeka-inaugurated.html | archive-date=2 July 2013 }}</ref> The Muslim community is also planning to build a mosque in ] and ].{{Citation needed|date=August 2015}} A mosque in ] is also being considered.{{Citation needed|date=August 2015}}
Muslims are currently trying to build a mosque in rijeka, they want to construct the mosque in a style that suits the mediteranean so it blends in with the city/town. They also wished to build a Mosque in Dubrovnik on top of the mountain that is behind the old town, the council however rejected this but suggested if they build it behind the mountain, which they rejected.
The Muslim community are also going to build a Mosque in osijek.


==See also== ==See also==
* ]
*]
*] * ]
* ]
*]
*] * ]
*] * ]
*] * ]
*] * ]
*
*]
*]


==External links== ==References==
{{Reflist}}
*http://www.hr/darko/etf/et02.html
*http://www.islamska-zajednica.hr/
*http://www.zg-medresa.hr/


==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*
*
*
* , ], 12 October 2018


{{Islam in Europe}}
]
]


]
{{Europe in topic|Islam in}}
]
]
]
]

Latest revision as of 19:09, 25 December 2024

Islam in Europe
by percentage of country population
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  1–2%
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Islam by country
World percentage of Muslims by country
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Interior of the Gunja Mosque
Rijeka Mosque, completed in 2013

Croatia is a predominantly Christian country, with Islam being a minority faith. It is followed by 1.3% of the country's population according to the 2021 census. Islam was first introduced to Croatia by the Ottoman Empire during the Croatian–Ottoman Wars that lasted from the 15th to 16th century. During this period some parts of the Croatian Kingdom were occupied which resulted in some Croats converting to Islam, some after being taken prisoners of war, some through the devşirme system. Nonetheless, Croats strongly fought against the Turks during these few centuries which resulted in the fact that the westernmost border of the Ottoman Empire in Europe became entrenched on the Croatian soil. In 1519, Croatia was called the Antemurale Christianitatis by Pope Leo X.

The Islamic Community of Croatia (Mešihat Islamske Zajednice u Hrvatskoj) is the main organization of Muslims in Croatia that is officially recognized by the state. The President of the Islamic Community is Aziz Effendi Hasanović. As of 2011, 62,977 Muslims live in Croatia. Most of them declare themselves as Bosniaks (31,479) while others declare themselves as: Croats (9,647), Albanians (9,594), Roma (5,039), Turks (343), Macedonians (217), Montenegrins (159), Ahmadies (16) and other (2,420).

The first modern mosque in Croatia was built in Gunja in 1969. Today there are 4 mosques and 2 Islamic centers in Croatia (in Zagreb and Rijeka). Historically, during the Ottoman rule, there was a significantly larger number of mosques in Croatia. At one point there were 250 of them, but as of 2014 only 3 structures remained standing. The largest and most representative one of them, Ibrahim Pasha's Mosque, is located in eastern Croatian town of Đakovo but is today used as the Roman Catholic Church of All Saints. Another mosque in eastern Croatia, which today does not exist, was located in Osijek. It was the Kasım Pasha Mosque constructed after 1526 at the site of modern-day Church of Saint Michael. Most of the Ottoman structures in the region were systematically destroyed after the Treaty of Karlowitz.

Highest rate of Muslims live in Gunja municipality (34,7 % population), followed by Cetingrad (20,62 %), Raša (17,88 %), Vojnić (15,58 %), Vodnjan (14,02 %), Labin (10,68 %), Kršan (7,96 %), Sveta Nedelja (7,47 %), Drenovci (7,27 %) and Čavle (6,72 %). As of 2011, there are totally 56 municipalities in Croatia in which no Muslims live, biggest of them being Bednja with 3,992 inhabitants.

History

Ottoman times

See also: Ottoman Monuments of Ilok
Church of the All Saints (former Ottoman era mosque) in Đakovo.

The Turkish Ottoman Empire conquered part of Croatia from the 15th to the 19th century. Numerous Croats converted to Islam, some after being taken prisoners of war, some through the devşirme system. The westernmost border of Ottoman Empire in Europe became entrenched on Croatian soil. In 1519, Croatia was called the Antemurale Christianitatis by Pope Leo X.

The historical names of many officials in the Ottoman Empire reveal their origin (Hirvat = Hrvat or Horvat, which is a Croatian name for Croat): Rüstem Pasha (Rustem Pasha Hrvat - Opuković), Piyale Pasha (Pijali Pasha Hrvat), Memipaša Hrvat, Tahvilpaša Kulenović Hrvat etc. There was some considerable confusion over the terms "Croat" and "Serb" in these times, and "Croat" in some of these cases could mean anyone from the wider South Slavic area.

In 1553, Antun Vrančić, Roman cardinal, and Franjo Zay, a diplomat, visited Istanbul as envoys of the Croatian-Hungarian king to discuss a peace treaty with the Ottoman Empire. During the initial ceremonial greetings they had with Rüstem Pasha Hrvat (a Croat) the conversation led in Turkish with an official interpreter was suddenly interrupted. Rustem Pasha Hrvat asked in Croatian if Zay and Vrančić spoke Croatian. The interpreter was then dismissed and they proceeded in Croatian during the entire process of negotiations.

In 1585, traveler and writer Marco A. Pigaffetta, in his Itinerario published in London, states: In Constantinople it is customary to speak Croatian, a language which is understood by almost all official Turks, especially military men. Crucially though, the lingua franca at the time among Slavic elites in the Ottoman Empire was still Old Church Slavonic. For Italians traveling through to Istanbul, the language of the Slavic Croats was often the only exposure they had to any of the Slavic languages; indeed, Bulgarian and Macedonian dialects were far more common in Istanbul than Croatian.

Since the nineteenth century

Muslim population in Croatia (1931-2021)
Year No.
1931   4,000
1948   1,077
1953   16,185
1961   3,113
1971   18,487
1981   23,740
1991   43,486
2001   56,777
2011   62,977
2021   50,981
Zagreb Mosque was completed in 1987.

Within the territory of the present Republic of Croatia, Muslim believers were registered for the first time during the 1931 census: 1,239 of them were in Zagreb and their overall number in Croatia being only about 4000.

During the Second World War the mufti of Zagreb was Ismet Muftić. After the war he was tried and eventually publicly hanged by the Partisans in 1945 because of his collaboration with the fascist regime of the Croatian World War II era dictator Ante Pavelić.

In the following censuses in the People's Republic of Croatia, registered Muslim believers numbered as follows:

  • 1,077 persons in 1948
  • 16,185 persons in 1953
  • 3,113 persons in 1961
  • 18,487 persons in 1971
  • 23,740 persons in 1981
  • 43,486 persons in 1991

In the 1960s, the Bosnians Muslims community advocated for the recognition of the Muslims as a nationality in SFR Yugoslavia. The 1974 Yugoslav Constitution allowed for the official recognition of the Muslims as a nationality, therefore allowing more individuals to declare their alignment with a compromise categorization of ethnic Muslims (Muslimani), in this case separated from a religious basis (muslimani without capital letter). For example, Džemal Bijedić, a communist federal prime-minister was a declared "Muslim" and an atheist. The spike in the number of self-declared "Muslims" during socialist Yugoslavia times should thus be understood as persons having a family Muslim cultural background (similar to the concept of cultural Christians), rather than practicing believers in Islam. Based on the figures recorded during the 1931 to 1961 census, it may also be concluded that a certain number of Muslim believers declared themselves as Croats or Yugoslavs.

After the dissolution of Yugoslavia, an additional increase can be attributed to the influx of Bosnian Muslims that took place during and after the 1992-1996 Bosnian conflict.

The 2001 Croatian census identified a total of 56,777 adherents of Islam, or 1.3% of the total population of Croatia.

Statistics

Islam in Europe
by percentage of country population
  95–100%
  90–95%
  50–55%
  30–35%
  10–20%
  5–10%
  4–5%
  2–4%
  1–2%
  < 1%
Islam by country
World percentage of Muslims by country
Africa
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Islam portal

The published data from the 2021 Croatian census included a crosstab of ethnicity and religion which showed that a total of 50,981 Muslims (1.32% of the total population) was divided between the following ethnic groups:

By county

Highest number of people following Islam live in Zagreb (18,044), however highest rate of Muslims is in Istria County, where 9,965 people (4,79 % of county's population) have faith in Islam. Lowest number of people following Islam is in Krapina-Zagorje County, where are only 200 Muslims, making 0,15 % of the county's population.

County Number of

Muslims

Percent Municipalities with most Muslims
City of Zagreb 18,044 2.28% Peščenica-Žitnjak, Sesvete, Novi Zagreb - zapad, Trešnjevka - sjever, Stenjevec
Primorje-Gorski Kotar 10,667 3.60% Rijeka, Viškovo, Crikvenica, Čavle, Kastav, Mali Lošinj, Bakar, Krk, Jelenje, Omišalj
Istria 9,965 4.79% Pula, Labin, Vodnjan, Poreč, Umag, Raša, Rovinj, Buzet, Kršan, Sveta Nedelja
Sisak-Moslavina 4,140 2.40% Sisak, Petrinja, Novska, Topusko, Kutina, Hrvatska Kostajnica, Sunja, Glina
Zagreb 2,961 0.93% Velika Gorica, Zaprešić, Samobor, Sveta Nedelja, Rugvica, Brdovec, Dugo Selo
Dubrovnik-Neretva 2,927 2.39% Dubrovnik, Župa dubrovačka, Ploče, Orebić, Konavle, Metković, Korčula
Vukovar-Syrmia 2,619 1.46% Gunja, Drenovci, Vinkovci, Županja, Vukovar, Vrbanja, Tovarnik, Bošnjaci
Split-Dalmatia 2,282 0.5% Split, Kaštela, Trogir, Makarska, Solin, Omiš, Hvar, Jelsa, Gradac, Supetar, Okrug
Karlovac 2,163 1.68% Vojnić, Karlovac, Cetingrad, Ogulin, Draganić, Slunj, Rakovica, Duga Resa, Krnjak
Osijek-Baranja 1,625 0.53% Osijek, Beli Manastir, Đakovo, Donji Miholjac, Našice, Darda, Čepin, Magadenovac
Brod-Posavina 1,535 0.97% Slavonski Brod, Nova Gradiška, Bukovlje, Sibinj, Oriovac, Stara Gradiška
Zadar 1,207 0.97% Zadar, Vir, Pag, Nin, Biograd na Moru, Obrovac, Pakoštane, Tkon, Preko, Benkovac
Šibenik-Knin 458 0.42% Šibenik, Vodice, Knin, Skradin, Tisno, Bilice, Drniš
Lika-Senj 411 0.81% Gospić, Novalja, Plitvička Jezera, Senj, Udbina, Otočac, Karlobag, Perušić
Varaždin 349 0.20% Varaždin, Lepoglava, Novi Marof, Gornji Kneginec
Bjelovar-Bilogora 335 0.28% Bjelovar, Daruvar, Grubišno Polje, Garešnica, Čazma, Veliki Grđevac, Berek
Virovitica-Podravina 295 0.35% Virovitica, Orahovica, Pitomača, Slatina, Suhopolje, Čačinci, Čađavica, Gradina
Koprivnica-Križevci 280 0.24% Koprivnica, Križevci, Đurđevac, Virje, Drnje, Sveti Ivan Žabno, Kloštar Podravski
Požega-Slavonia 266 0.34% Požega, Pakrac, Pleternica, Lipik, Kutjevo, Kaptol, Čaglin
Međimurje 248 0.22% Čakovec, Belica, Nedelišće, Prelog, Mursko Središće
Krapina-Zagorje 200 0.15% Zabok, Bedekovčina, Donja Stubica, Oroslavje, Krapina, Pregrada, Stubičke Toplice

Islam today

Croatia's capital Zagreb has one of the biggest mosques in Europe since 1987. During the existence of the Ottoman Empire it had none because Zagreb, as well as most parts of Croatia, was not occupied by the Ottomans during the Hundred Years' Croatian–Ottoman War.

The Bosniak imam Ševko Omerbašić, was the long-time leader of the Muslim community of Croatia and the Mufti of Zagreb.

A new mosque in Rijeka was opened in May 2013. The Muslim community is also planning to build a mosque in Osijek and Sisak. A mosque in Karlovac is also being considered.

See also

References

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  2. "Share of Croats in Croatia increases as census results published". 22 September 2022. Retrieved 2022-09-25.
  3. "Ugovor između Vlade Republike Hrvatske i Islamske zajednice u Hrvatskoj o pitanjima od zajedničkog interesa". Narodne novine - Službeni list Republike Hrvatske NN196/03 (in Croatian). Narodne novine. December 15, 2003. Retrieved February 16, 2010.
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  7. "Otvorena četvrta džamija u Hrvatskoj".
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  9. "U RIJECI OTVORENA NAJLJEPŠA DŽAMIJA U EUROPI Na svečanost došlo 20.000 ljudi". Jutarnji.hr. 2013-05-04. Archived from the original on 2013-05-07. Retrieved 2015-08-27.
  10. ^ "Stare džamije u Hrvatskoj: Nekad ih je bilo 250, do danas sačuvane samo tri". Radio Sarajevo. 4 January 2014. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  11. "DRŽAVNI ZAVOD ZA STATISTIKU - REPUBLIKA HRVATSKA". www.dzs.hr. Retrieved 2021-02-25.
  12. Stavrides, Théoharis (2001). The Sultan of vezirs: the life and times of the Ottoman Grand Vezir Mahmud Pasha Angelovic (1453–1474). Brill. pp. 73–74. ISBN 978-90-04-12106-5.
  13. "Religious communities in Croatia from 1945 to 1991". Hrcak.srce.hr. Retrieved 2015-08-27.
  14. Geiger, Vladimir (2010-05-14). "Croatian scientific bibliography - Browsing paper". Marulić. Hrvatska Književna Revija, Časopis Za Književnost I Kulturu. 29 (2). Bib.irb.hr: 233. Retrieved 2015-08-27.
  15. "Povijest zgrade | HDLU – Hrvatsko društvo likovnih umjetnika". Hdlu.hr. 2015-01-09. Retrieved 2015-08-27.
  16. "SAS Output". Dzs.hr. Retrieved 2015-08-27.
  17. "Muslim Population Growth in Europe Pew Research Center". 2024-07-10. Archived from the original on 2024-07-10.
  18. "Population by Ethnicity/Citizenship/Mother tongue/Religion" (xlsx). Census of Population, Households and Dwellings in 2021. Zagreb: Croatian Bureau of Statistics. 2022. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  19. "Islamic Centre in Rijeka inaugurated". tportal.hr. 4 May 2013. Archived from the original on 2 July 2013. Retrieved 11 May 2013.

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