Bosniak in Spain

Introduction / History

Bosniaks are an ethnic group living in the southeastern part of Europe, mainly in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is proposed that their 'genetic roots' are reflective of numerous pre-historic components, especially signatures thought to be 'autochthonous' to the Dinaric region, where the historical Illyrians later appeared.
The earliest known inhabitants of the area now known as Bosnia and Herzegovina were the Illyrians, who spoke a language related to modern Albanian. The Romans conquered Illyria after a series of wars, and Latin-speaking settlers from all over the empire settled among the Illyrians.
In the Seventh Century, Slavs settled in Bosnia, Herzegovina and the surrounding lands. In 1463 the Turkish Ottoman Empire conquest at that time the independent Bosnian kingdom and it was the beginning of the influence of Islamic Civilization in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
After the Second World War, Bosnia and Herzegovina became one of the six republics of Socialistic Federative Republic of Yugoslavia. In Yugoslavia, unlike the preceding Austro-Hungarian Empire, Bosniaks were not allowed to declare themselves as Bosniaks. As a compromise, the Constitution of Yugoslavia was amended in 1968 to list Muslims by nationality recognizing a nation, but not the Bosniak name. The Yugoslav "Muslim by nationality" policy was considered by Bosniaks to be neglecting and opposing their Bosnian identity because the term tried to describe Bosniaks as a religious group not an ethnic one. When Bosnia declared independence from Yugoslavia, most people who used to declare as Muslims began to declare themselves as Bosniaks.
Most Bosniaks identify themselves with Bosnia and Herzegovina as their ethnic state and are part of such a common nation. There are around two million Bosniaks living in the Balkans today. The largest number of Bosniaks outside of Bosnia and Herzegovina is found in the Sandzak region of Montenegro and Serbia. A smaller number have migrated to places like Spain where they have no cultural affinity with the majority population. Within Spain, there are Bosniaks in Castellon, Barcelona and Girona.

What Are Their Lives Like?

For many Bosniaks before the second civil war, collective identities were traditional. These identities centered on religion and ethnicity. Traditional Bosniak culture is based on zavicaj, or the sense of community and cultural network. In this culture elders are of highest importance. Extended families live together, with grandparents helping take care of the children.
The traditional Bosniak way of life is still shaped by the homeland, although customs are changing among younger people. Traditional culture includes lively music known as "sevdalinke" and "ilagije." Bosniak folklore, dating back to beyond the 15th century, features dragons, fairies and figures skilled in battle. "Muštuluk," another folk tradition, involves giving a gift to those who bring good news. Though the younger generation of Bosniaks in Spain try to maintain their culture, they must also adjust to the ways of the host country. There is usually some conflict between immigrant groups and their children who were born in the new country.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Bosniaks have a low opinion of religion, so they seldom will listen to those who tell them about Jesus. Most of the Bosniaks in Australia are Sunni Muslim, but there is a Christian minority among them. There are conflicting reports about how many Christians there are.

What Are Their Needs?

The Bosniak people need the New Testament translated into their language. Since there is already a JESUS Film available for them to see, prayer and translation are key.

Prayer Points

Ask God to call missionaries to this area and for them to respond to this call.
Ask God to soften the hearts of those who are hearing the gospel.
Pray for encouragement of those going to serve and any believers among the Bosniaks.
Pray for the needs of the people to be met in accordance with the will of God.
Ask God for people's hearts to be moved by this people group and for prayer teams to begin praying for the Bosniak people.

Text Source:   Joshua Project