Wracked twice, Bosnia mosque rises from its ashes

SARAJEVO

An 80-year-old mosque in Bosnia and Herzegovina opened for worship for the third time on Monday.

The Bajramovic Mosque in southern Bileca town's Orahovica village was wracked twice during Word War II and the Bosnian War.

A crowd which included Ramiz Salkic, vice-president of the Republic of Srpska National Assembly, attended the opening ceremony.

In his address, Salkic called on the Bosnians to stay united.

Saying that a peace message has been sent with the opening of the mosque, Salkic called on all citizens of Bosnia Herzegovina to live together.

"The call to prayer after 26 years at this mosque, is a guarantee that it will be recited here till the day of judgement," he said.

Bajramovic Mosque was built in 1934 and was initially damaged during World War II. During the early 1960s, the mosque was restored and opened for worship. However, it was once more ruined by Serbian troops in 1992.

Due to the damage caused, the mosque was closed for worship for 26 years.

Reporting by Almir Terzic and Emre Bastug:Writing by Merve Aydogan