Prof. Dr. Mehmet Can from the IUS Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences held a conference „The Roots of Tolerance in Bosnia“ on January 14th 2010. The conference was organized in the IUS Conference Hall beginning at 15.00.
The Conference was divided into four parts, starting with „Tolerance tradition in the times of Bosnian Church“, then continuing with „Tolerance tradition brought by dervishes“ and „Tolerance supported by Ottomans“, and ending with „Tolerance by Bosnian Muslims“.
Prof. Dr. Can opened „Tolerance tradition in the times of Bosnian Church“ with the explanation of the Bosnian Church and its hierarchy, as well as description and meaning of „stecak“ – medieval tombstones that lie scattered all over Bosnia and Herzegovina. As an example of tolerance of Bosnian Church, Prof. Dr. Can gave the situation when expelled heretics from Split and Trogir found their refuge in Bosnia.
In „Tolerance brought by dervishes“ Prof. Dr. Can narrated about the Ajvatovica, the largest Islamic traditional, religious and cultural event in Europe and Ajvaz-dedo. He then continued with mentioning people who brought Anatolian tolerant culture to Bosnia, such as Sari Saltuk, Hasan Kaimi Baba, Shayh Ahmed Nureddin and Hasan Kafiye, as well as architects of Bosnian tolerant culture Hoca Ahmed Yesevi, Mevlana, Hajji Bektashi, etc.
The conference progressed then with the „Tolerance supported by Ottomans“ and more contemporary topic of “Tolerance of Bosnian Muslims” that covered the events of late 20th century in Bosnia.
Sarajevo, January 14th 2010
