Bosnia and Herzegovina commemorates first president Izetbegovic on 23rd anniversary of his passing

SARAJEVO, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA - OCT. 19, 2026: A commemoration ceremony was held at Kovaci Martyrs' Cemetery in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, on Monday, Oct. 19.

The ceremony marked the 23rd anniversary of the passing of Alija Izetbegovic, the first president of independent Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Izetbegovic, a politician, writer, and lawyer, who came to international prominence during the country's bitter 1992-1995 war, is commemorated every year on the anniversary of his passing.

Often dubbed the "Wise King," Izetbegovic is one of the most important Muslim thinkers of the last century.

The first president of Bosnia and Herzegovina managed to gain independence for his country on March 1, 1992, months after Slovenia and Croatia broke off from the former Yugoslavia.

He died in Sarajevo on Oct. 19, 2003, due to natural causes, having served as the president of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1992-1996, and as chairman of the Bosnian presidency until October 2000.