His Royal Highness Crown Prince Alexander attended the funeral of the Honourable Reis-l-ulema of the Islamic Community of Serbia Hamdija Jusufspahic held in Bayrakli mosque, after which he was buried in front of the Sheikh Mustafa’s tomb in Belgrade.
Hamdija Jusufspahic was buried at the Bayrakli Mosque. The ceremony was attended by the representatives of religious communities in Serbia, diplomatic corps and numerous citizens. Beside His Royal Highness, the funeral was attended by HE Mr. Tomislav Nikolic, the President of the Republic of Serbia, HE Mr. Aleksandar Antic, the Minister of Transport in the Government of Serbia, His Grace Bishop Arsenije of Toplica, Vicar Bishop of Serbian Patriarch, Mr. Mile Radovic, Director of the Office for Cooperation with Churches and Religious Communities, Mr. Sinisa Mali, the Mayor of Belgrade, Mr. Isak Asiel, Chief Rabbi of the Jewish community in Serbia, representatives of the Army of Serbia and numerous representatives of cultural and public life of Belgrade and Serbia, as well as by many members of the Islamic community in Serbia.
Crown Prince Alexander expressed his condolences over the death of the Honourable Mufti of Serbia Hadzi Hamdija Jusufspahic to his son the Mufti of Serbia and Imam of Belgrade Muhamed Jusufspahic, his family members and all the members of Islamic community in Serbia:
“Mufti Hadzi Hamdija Jusufspahic was an extraordinary religious leader, a true leader of Islamic community in Serbia and a great friend of the Royal Family. I shall always remember him as a true gentleman, always devoted to building tolerance and cooperation between all religions”, Crown Prince Alexander wrote in the book of mourning in front of the Belgrade’s Bayrakli Mosque.
Mufti Hadzi Hamdija Jusufspahic served as the imam and mufti of Belgrade since 1967. He was elected as Mufti of the Islamic Community of Serbia in Nis in 1994, and after the unification of the Islamic Community of Serbia in 2006, he became the first Reis-ul-ulema of the Islamic Community of Serbia. He retired in 2008, after which the Supreme Council of the Islamic Community of Serbia made the decision to appoint him for life, honourary supreme leader, Reis-ul-ulema of the Islamic Community of Serbia.
