Yugoslav Muslim Organization
Encyclopedia
Yugoslav Muslim Organization was a Bosnian Muslim political party
in the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. It was founded in Sarajevo
on February 16, 1919 and was led by Mehmed Spaho
. In election campaigns the JMO did mobilize on religious slogans rather than Bosnian nationality, calling failure of Muslims to vote for the party as a sin. The party had considerable influence in Islamic religious institutions, and JMO came to dominate the political life in Bosnia
. The party appealed to Muslims throughout Yugoslavia, urging them not to migrate to Turkey
.
In 1921 JMO aligned itself with the governing Serbian parties. The support of JMO was important to pass the new constitution. This alliance became short-lived though. In 1922 a new Muslim party, Yugoslav Muslim People's Organization (JMNO), was formed and overtook the role as the Muslim ally of the Serbian parties. JMNO did however fail to attract any major section of the JMO vote-bank. In 1923 the party founded the cultural organization Narodna Uzdanica.
JMO entered into a short-lived alliance with the Slovenian People's Party
and the Croatian Republican Peasant Party. After the alliance the broke down in 1925, JMO found itself politically isolated and came under attack from Serbian paramilitaries. At one time the paramilitaries attempted to kill Spaho.
In 1927 the party suffered some setback in the election. After the election JMO joined a Serbian-led government. At this time the profile of JMO shifted, as it began to stress that it was a Bosnian party, rather than Muslim or Yugoslav.
JMO was banned by Alexander I, along with other ethnic parties.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. It was founded in Sarajevo
Sarajevo
Sarajevo |Bosnia]], surrounded by the Dinaric Alps and situated along the Miljacka River in the heart of Southeastern Europe and the Balkans....
on February 16, 1919 and was led by Mehmed Spaho
Mehmed Spaho
Mehmed Spaho was a prominent and influential Bosniak political figure. He was the leader of the Yugoslav Muslim Organization....
. In election campaigns the JMO did mobilize on religious slogans rather than Bosnian nationality, calling failure of Muslims to vote for the party as a sin. The party had considerable influence in Islamic religious institutions, and JMO came to dominate the political life in Bosnia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
. The party appealed to Muslims throughout Yugoslavia, urging them not to migrate to Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
.
In 1921 JMO aligned itself with the governing Serbian parties. The support of JMO was important to pass the new constitution. This alliance became short-lived though. In 1922 a new Muslim party, Yugoslav Muslim People's Organization (JMNO), was formed and overtook the role as the Muslim ally of the Serbian parties. JMNO did however fail to attract any major section of the JMO vote-bank. In 1923 the party founded the cultural organization Narodna Uzdanica.
JMO entered into a short-lived alliance with the Slovenian People's Party
Slovene People's Party (historical)
The Slovene People's Party was a Slovenian political party in the 19th and 20th centuries, active in the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy and in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. Between 1907 and 1941, it was the largest and arguably the most influential political party in the Slovene Lands...
and the Croatian Republican Peasant Party. After the alliance the broke down in 1925, JMO found itself politically isolated and came under attack from Serbian paramilitaries. At one time the paramilitaries attempted to kill Spaho.
In 1927 the party suffered some setback in the election. After the election JMO joined a Serbian-led government. At this time the profile of JMO shifted, as it began to stress that it was a Bosnian party, rather than Muslim or Yugoslav.
JMO was banned by Alexander I, along with other ethnic parties.
Election results
Elections results in Yugoslavia, 1920-1927| Year | % | Seats |
|---|---|---|
| 1920 | 6.9 | 24 |
| 1923 | 5.2 | 18 |
| 1925 | 5.4 | 15 |
| 1927 | 2.5 | 18 |