This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/6547287.stm
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Bosnia tackles 'foreign fighters' | Bosnia tackles 'foreign fighters' |
(30 minutes later) | |
Bosnia-Hercegovina has stripped almost 400 people of citizenship as part of an investigation into foreign fighters who settled in the country after the war. | Bosnia-Hercegovina has stripped almost 400 people of citizenship as part of an investigation into foreign fighters who settled in the country after the war. |
Bosnian media sees the investigation as a part of a drive against terrorism requested by the US. | Bosnian media sees the investigation as a part of a drive against terrorism requested by the US. |
Bosnia's government says those involved came from Turkey, Egypt, Syria, Algeria, Tunisia, Sudan and Russia. | Bosnia's government says those involved came from Turkey, Egypt, Syria, Algeria, Tunisia, Sudan and Russia. |
Hundreds of foreign volunteers came to Bosnia during the war of the early 1990s to assist government forces. | Hundreds of foreign volunteers came to Bosnia during the war of the early 1990s to assist government forces. |
Many of these were Muslims who had fought in Afghanistan and saw the war in Bosnia as an attack on Islam that carried the tacit approval of the international community. | Many of these were Muslims who had fought in Afghanistan and saw the war in Bosnia as an attack on Islam that carried the tacit approval of the international community. |
When the fighting ended, many stayed, married Bosnian women and settled down, often following a more devout form of Islam than was traditional in the Balkans. | When the fighting ended, many stayed, married Bosnian women and settled down, often following a more devout form of Islam than was traditional in the Balkans. |
This form of Islam has since spread, and with it tensions with both local Muslim communities and non-Muslims. | This form of Islam has since spread, and with it tensions with both local Muslim communities and non-Muslims. |
Other countries, notably the US, have also warned that this group could provide fertile ground for Islamic terrorism. | Other countries, notably the US, have also warned that this group could provide fertile ground for Islamic terrorism. |
The response of the Bosnian government has been to examine how the fighters came to be granted Bosnian citizenship after the war ended in 1995. | The response of the Bosnian government has been to examine how the fighters came to be granted Bosnian citizenship after the war ended in 1995. |
The justice minister, Barisa Colak, announced that citizenship was now being withdrawn in 367 cases where it had been illegally awarded. | The justice minister, Barisa Colak, announced that citizenship was now being withdrawn in 367 cases where it had been illegally awarded. |
In response, a former commander in the Bosnian army, Serif Patkovic, said the decision was political and would split men from wives and children. | In response, a former commander in the Bosnian army, Serif Patkovic, said the decision was political and would split men from wives and children. |
Previous version
1
Next version