INTERPLAY OF TWO CULTURES THE BIGGEST VALUE OF NOVI PAZAR

Novi Pazar, June 5-9, 2006

06/16/2006

The 26th in the series of “Schools of Democracy”

The project “Building up Democracy and Good Governance in Multiethnic Communities,” realized thanks to the support of the European Commission – Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights

This year Novi Pazar students were again highly motivated to attend yet another school of democracy. The classes, organized in the Youth Center, daily assembled some 25 students of local gymnasium, technical engineering and medical schools, as well as of the Gazi Isa-Beg Medressa (the Islamic secondary school). Unlike last year when only boy students of Medressa had applied for courses, this was for the first time that a school of democracy had girl students of this Islamic secondary school. Though in their letters to school principals the organizers invited five students from each school to join the course, the number of those who applied was by far bigger, which only testified of the interest in such educational outreaches for the young. According to trainees, young people in Novi Pazar had almost no opportunity to learn about subject matters that were not included in curricula and discuss them openly. That’s why they were captured by all topics, they said. The entire five-day course was marked by lively and thought-provoking debates.

On the first day, MA in human rights and professor of acting at the Novi Pazar International University, Aida Kozar, broached the topics titled “Young and Cultural Rights” and “Cultural Interlocking in Multiethnic Communities.” Through various illustrative examples and workshop approach, she managed to explain the notion of cultural rights and the significance of having them respected. According to Ms. Kozar, the fact that a concert of the “Balkanika” ethno-ensemble had been prevented just a day before in Novi Pazar was a flagrant case of violation of cultural rights. The trainees agreed that the interplay of two cultures was the biggest value of the town and the region.

Next day, Professor Bisera Spasovic spoke about religion and religious instruction. That was for the first time that the trainees had the opportunity to speak their mind about introduction of religious training in secondary and elementary schools. Their views differed. However, the majority took that history of religions should have been introduced instead of religious instruction, which would make it possible for all, regardless of their religious affiliations, to attend same classes and learn about all religions. The trainees also underlined that religious matters should not be taught to elementary school students given that children were prone to accepting everything they were told “for granted.”

On the third day, lawyer Mehmed Hot spoke about the newly adopted law on churches and elaborated the relevant procedure. According to trainees, the very law should have been titled “the law on religions,” rather than the law on churches and religious communities. Commenting the law’s preamble providing that everyone has the right to choose whether or not to be a believer and the freedom to convert, the students of Medressa underlined that, according to Islamic teaching, a man was not allowed to change his religion. The keynote speaker advised the trainees never to pose three questions that could turn every conversation into a rather embarrassing experience – here he referred to the questions related to one’s religion, partisan affiliation and salary. “The question about one’s religious beliefs is the most delicate of all,” he said. Girl students of Medressa wondered whether the regulation about new ID would allow photos of “women with their heads covered,” which used to be forbidden. The trainees also showered the keynote speakers with questions about the difference between a church and a religious community, laws on religions in developed countries, etc. “Why is Islam usually connected with terrorism all over the world, the more so since it is common knowledge that Islam is the most tolerant religion of all?” they wanted to know. “Young people in Novi Pazar hunger for knowledge. This is why they should be instructed at specialized courses, rather than by party representatives, who usually interpret social developments in dilettantish ways. And this is why such school of democracy is that important for this region,” said lawyer Mehmed Hot.

Next day Milica Markovic of the governmental office for association with the EU elaborated the European Union, its bodies and functioning. She also spoke about Serbia’s endeavor to join the EU and the feasibility study. The trainees were unanimous that joining the EU would be to everyone’s advantage. Here they primarily referred to customs union, free movement and educational system. “How developed a democracy should be for a country to join the EU, and are there some moral and religious standards in the EU?” they wondered.

On the last day, Professor Iljaz Osmanlic tackled new theories of democracy. “There can be no democracy when a majority has a final say and a minority is neglected,” concluded the trainees. A girl student wanted to know whether there was a thing like “the highest level” of democracy, while her schoolmate asked how democracy could be “given to someone since it was about something immaterial.” The trainees themselves came to conclusion that democracy necessitated a change in people’s perceptions. “There is hardly any democracy in our schools, since most professors would not engage in any democratic dialogue whatsoever,” many said.

“Young people in Novi Pazar know little about democracy but are very eager to learn. Democratic values and rules should be explained to them. And they should be made aware of the gap between real life and norms,” said Professor Osmanlic commenting this school of democracy.

Local media regularly covered the course. Reporters for the “Universe” Student Radio and the “100 Plus” radio attended classes and conducted interviews with the trainees and keynote speakers.

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