Grand opening of mosque for Bosnians in western Washington

Photo by Mahir Dizdar

By Chris Roberts, Shoreline City Council Member

On Saturday, March 12, the Islamic Community of Bosniaks in Washington celebrated the grand opening of their mosque and community center in Shoreline's Ballinger neighborhood. 

Photo by Mahir Dizdar

Over 400 people from Shoreline and from across the globe attended the celebration.

Imam Abdulah Polovina led the proceedings, which included speeches from a variety of Muslim leaders from the region. 

Photo by Mahir Dizdar

Also on hand in celebration of the mosque were Representative Jay Inslee, Senator Maralyn Chase, Shoreline Councilmember Chris Roberts, and Eldin Kajevic, the Consul General of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Representative Inslee discussed the fact that America was founded on the principles of religious tolerance.

Shoreline Council Member Chris Roberts

Photo by Mahir Dizdar

Many of the speakers reflected upon the genocide that occurred in Bosnia in the early 1990s that led to the emigration of Bosnians to Western Washington. 

In 2001, the community formed the Islamic Community of Bosniaks in Washington, a non-profit organization designed to preserve their Bosnian identity. In 2005, the Community purchased the property in the Ballinger neighborhood for the building of the mosque and community center which is open to people of all faiths. Today, the president of the Community is Muhamed Saracevic.

Photo by Mahir Dizdar

“The Bosnian-American community in Washington State was established in the early 1990s as refugees and genocide survivors arrived in the state from Bosnia-Herzegovina and today it has grown to include several thousand members.

"It is a young and energetic community that has found its footing in Washington State and the opening of our first mosque and cultural center in our new homeland is of great symbolic importance to us because it represents our community’s acceptance and future presence in the state,” wrote Denis Kurdija on the Facebook event posting.