The Mosque in Slovenia

MOSQUE IN LOG UNDER MANGART

We have very few details about this mosque, but the majority of experts agree that it was built in November 1916. Sarajevan’s Slovenian, Valerije Tvrz wrote about it in the book ‘Bosnia and Soca’.

When in 1915, at the Western border of Austro-Hungarian imperia the Soska front was formed, the first Austrian reinforcement got there, and among them Muslim soldiers from Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In those times, the name Bosniac was valid for all soldiers from Bosnia and Herzegovina, although among them Muslim prevailed. Near Bovac and the village Log under Mangart, Bosniacs came in April 1916. They were the members of the regiment BH4 that had the seat in Mostar. They were Herzegovinians and there were many Catholics among them. In a short span of time, it was shown, what kind of soldiers they were. With their courage and lucidity in the battle front to front, they caused fear among Italians.

The regiment had positions at Rombon, while in the village Log under Mangart, the white mosque was built. We have a few details about the mosque, itself, but the majority of experts agrees that it was built in November 1916. When in 2003, I wrote my first book ‘Islam and Muslims in Slovenia’ I only had one photograph of the mosque in Log under Mangart. Today I have seven of them.

The soldiers from BH4 were Herzegovinian, what reflected on the architecture of the mosque. In fact, the mosque gives the impression as if it were built in Herzegovina, and it can be particularly noticed on the minaret which is low and square, what is specific for many mosques in Eastern Herzegovina. However, the mosque was made of wood and painted white. (Ahmed Pasic, PhD)

Its size is not known, but based on photographs’ views, we can guess that it was not large, ranging around 8x10 meters.

The rest of the article you can read in the magazine.