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Bosnia-Herzegovina: Information on the situation of Bosnian Muslim refugees returning or returned to Bosnia following the conflict, particularly in the Bihac canton; on Muslim refugees being killed or harassed by fellow Muslims for non-participation in the Bosnian war effort through service in the Bosnian armed forces; and on whether a Bosnian Muslim who had fulfilled his military service in the Yugoslav army prior to the conflict and resided outside Bosnia during the war would be exposed to retaliation from Muslims in Bihac for not having joined the Bosnian army during the conflict

Information on whether a Bosnian Muslim who had fulfilled his military service in the Yugoslav army prior to the conflict and resided outside Bosnia during the war would be exposed to retaliation from Muslims in Bihac for not having joined the Bosnian army during the conflict could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

However, a 21 November 1997 United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) press release states that the "Open Cities" project launched in 1997 by the UNHCR provides international assistance to "towns where the authorities are committed to ensure the safe return and decent treatment of minorities." Bihac is one of the cities which has received this status (ibid.).

Furthermore, a 8 January 1998 HINA report quotes a UNHCR spokesman as stating that supporters of dissident Muslim leader Fikret Abdic who fled to Croatia during the conflict were returning to Bosnia-Herzegovina "undisturbed and with the full co-operation of the cantonal authorities in Bihac." The same report states that over 16,000 Abdic supporters had returned to their homes since the end of the conflict.

The attached 13 June 1997 article from The Washington Post provides information on the situation of opposing Muslim factions in Bihac at that time.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request., Immigration and Refugee Board, Ottawa.

References

HINA [Zagreb, in English]. 8 January 1998. "Bosnia-Herzegovina: UNHCR Reports Abdic Supporters Returning Freely to Bihac." (FBIS-EEU-98-008 11 Jan. 1998/WNC)

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Ottawa. 21 November 1997. "Ogata Urges Bosnia to Allow Minority Returns." (Press Release)

Attachment

The Washington Post. 13 June 1997. Jonathan C. Randal. "In Bosnia, an Ethnic Exception: It's Muslim vs. Muslim in Bihac; Rivalry Pits 'Loyalists' Against Supporters of Ex-Militia Leader." (NEXIS)

Additional Sources Consulted

Resource Centre Amnesty International files: Bosnia.

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) databases (REFWORLD)

World Refugee Survey 1997.

     Two oral sources could not provide the requested information within the due research deadlines.

Topics: Muslim, Military service,