Nedzad Grabus Elected Grand Mufti of Bosnia’s Islamic Community
Nedzad Grabus has been elected the 14th Reis-ul-ulema, or Grand Mufti, of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Islamic Community. He received 230 votes and will serve a seven-year term until 2033, succeeding Husein Kavazovic and taking office on November 15. Grabus has advocated for a stronger autonomous community, modernized religious education, stable funding for returnee congregations and a larger role for women.
Nedzad Grabus, born in 1968 near Travnik, holds a doctorate from Sarajevo’s Faculty of Islamic Sciences. He led Slovenia’s Islamic Community as Mufti of Ljubljana from 2006 to 2021, overseeing the Muslim Cultural Centre there, and has served as Sarajevo’s Mufti since 2021. He becomes the 14th Reis-ul-ulema and will serve until 2033.
The secret ballot at Sarajevo’s Gazi Husrev-bey Library gave him 230 votes from a 398-member body; 200 were required. His platform included a formal state agreement, updated religious instruction, stable support for returnee congregations, and expanded women’s roles. The Community serves Muslims in Bosnia, Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, and the diaspora.
Grabus’s leadership may affect Bosnian Muslims and communities across Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, and the diaspora. His stated priorities—religious education, funding for returnee congregations, and women’s participation—could shape local religious life and institutional ties. A formal agreement with the state, if pursued, may influence how the Islamic Community relates to public authorities. Observers may watch whether his tenure strengthens internal cohesion and interreligious dialogue.