The Dubai International Quran Award Committee has named Alija Izetbegovic, the former president of the Bosnia and Hercegovina Republic, as Islamic personality of the year 2001, the Emirates’ official news agency (WAM) reported.
Ibrahim Bumelha, Dubai's attorney general, said that the 67-year-old former president was chosen from among many prominent Islamic scholars. He has been honored for his distinguished contributions in the service of Islam in the strategic region of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
He led Muslims in that region to independence and freedom.
Izetbegovic, 67, will be awarded Dh1 million ($272,480) by Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum who blessed the result, according to the official.
Bumelha, who is also the chairman of the award's organizing committee, said the closing ceremony for the award would be held on the 20th of Ramadan (Dec. 5), at the Za'abeel Grand Mosque, during which winners of the 2001 Quran memorization contest will also be honored, the agency said.
This year's winner became the first president of Bosnia Herzegovian in 1990 after a brutal war waged against his country by the Serbian government of Yugoslavia.
Izetbegovic has won a number of awards in recognition of his services to Islam, democracy and his people, said WAM.
Izetbegovic, a noted writer on Islamic issues, founded the Democratic Labor Party in 1989 after the collapse of communism in his country - Albawaba.com
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
