Turks in Bosnia and Herzegovina


The Turks in Bosnia and Herzegovina, also known as Bosnian Turks, are ethnic Turks who form the oldest ethnic minority in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Turkish community began to settle in the region in the 15th century under Ottoman rule, however many Turks emigrated to Turkey when Bosnia and Herzegovina came under Austro-Hungarian rule.

History

When the Ottoman Empire conquered the Bosnian kingdom in 1463, a significant Turkish community arrived in the region. The Turkish community grew steadily throughout the Ottoman rule of Bosnia; however, after the Ottomans were defeated in the Balkan Wars, the majority of Turks, along with other Muslims living in the region, left their homes and migrated to Turkey as "Muhacirs".

Culture

In 2003 the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina adopted the Law on the Protection of Rights of Members of National Minorities. According to the Law, the Turkish minority's cultural, religious, educational, social, economic, and political freedoms are protected by the State.

Language

The Turkish language is officially recognized as a minority language of Bosnia and Herzegovina in accordance with the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, under Article 2, paragraph 2, of the 2010 ratification.
According to the 2013 census, 1,233 people, 887 of whom lived in the Sarajevo Canton, declared Turkish as their mother tongue whereas 1,108, 970 of whom lived in the Sarajevo Canton, declared themselves as ethnic Turks.

Religion

The Turkish minority practice the Sunni branch of Islam but tend to be highly secular.

Community

Turkish community in Bosnia is well provided, due to historical strong bond between both countries.

Demographics

According to the 1991 population census 267 Turks were living in Bosnia and Herzegovina, while the 2013 Bosnian census gave a number of 51,108, almost all in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. More than eighty percent of all Turks in Bosnia and Herzegovina live in the capital Sarajevo.

Notable people