The Sanjak of Novi Pazar in the Perception of the Croatian Muslim Nationalist Intelligentsia: The Case of Kasim Hadžić (1939 – 1945)

Abstract

The figure of Kasim Hadžić is significant because of the intertwining of religious and secular dimensions. Having attended the Higher Islamic Sharia Theological School, Hadžić published significant discussions covering topics from the fields of history, politics and religion. In the period of the Second World War, Hadžić used the positions entrusted to him to advance the political and national positions of the Muslims in Sanjak. Hadžić's political inclinations and aspirations did not come to fruition due to the collapse of the Independent State of Croatia. On the other hand, Italian policy during the Independent State of Croatia period also prevented the return of the Sanjak of Novi Pazar to the historical space. Due to the closeness of Hadžić with the El–Hidaje association and the Hakija Hadžić fraction and to their efforts to implement a revision of the Constitution of the Islamic Religious Community, the military and political breakdown of the Independent State of Croatia made further discussion on this topic impossible. In the end, it remains to conclude that Hadžić's efforts, as well as the efforts of other Muslims regarding the annexation of the Sanjak of Novi Pazar to the Independent State of Croatia were unsuccessful. At the end of Second World War the Sanjak of Novi Pazar remained out of desired territorial area.