This article was submitted by ISA BELLE, a Dutch student studying in Mostar, Herzegovina.
You cannot miss it when you are in or around Mostar: the huge cross (33 m tall) on the Hum Hill which dominates the city. You can see the cross from most spots in Mostar because it is illuminated even at night. It seems to stand there quietly and peacefully, but nothing could be less real.
This cross has been a topic of discussion ever since it was first erected in 2000. The cross is, of course, a religious symbol for the Catholic Croats in Mostar; it’s a part of their religion. According to Bishop of Mostar who spoke at the opening ceremonies and dedication for the cross, “its presence there is “to spread the fruit of peace to all sides of the world.”
The Muslims on the other side of the town, however, do not identify with it and are not happy about the cross being where it is. They see it as a symbol of hatred and intolerance and that it’s present worsens the division in the city. The Catholics counter-argue that the Muslims are no Muslims at all, but atheists. They also claim that the Old Bridge in Mostar–built by Ottoman Turks–is a Muslim symbol; therefore the Catholics should be allowed to have their own city symbol as well.
Furthermore, most of the war damage in Mostar was inflicted from Hum Hill, implicating that whoever controlled the hill virtually controlled the city. The powerful presence of the cross signals the Croats’ subtle claim of authority over the hill where many atrocities were committed. For outsiders, it’s hard to understand the deep feeling in this case, but I think everybody can predict the kinds of arguments arising from erecting a giant cross above Mostar, a city with a recent history of the ethnic war which physically divided the Catholics and the Muslims.
The argument goes even further than words. In 2006 a man was arrested for his alleged plot to blow up the cross. This shows how deep the feelings are on this cross. Fortunately, some people believe in more ‘peaceful’ ways to handle the situation. “Of course the cross is offensive to us, but we just say that the crescent moon and the star are higher still.” – The Guardian, 29 July 2004.
I support freedom of religion, but I think you should keep your religion to yourself and don’t bother others too much with it.
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3 thoughts on “Life in Bosnia: The Cross over Mostar”
emily trainorPosted on 9:58 am - Jul 12, 2011
thats really sad to see something like that i meen the war in yugoslawien was 92-95 and it should be stop hatting but no i am living currently in hamburg, germany but i lived in america too (half-half) but i always feelt i am a part of bosnian and when i come sometime back in my cotry and see that people who are not even bosnien and living exp. mostar and having there a cross i feel like puke thats sick how would people/serbien/croatiens feel if we would put a huge muslme chruch . thats not respect i have friend there are all kinds of religion and they are respecting my religion “islam” and i am proud to said that because i know we are not provokate ec. ( i cant say for everyone ,everyone is diffrent but yes i wish the cross i gone so everyone see themself the same ! ) bye the way nice blog like it ! 😉 sincerelly
xo xo
Mirna SugarPosted on 5:26 am - Sep 23, 2009
This is really a sad story and i am a Croatian. The Cross has different meanings for different people. I was brough up Catholic but never really cared for the symbolism of the Cross. I always felt it was wrong to display the cross everywhere, because the Cross i felt was always reminding us of suffering and of death, of guilt and pain INSTEAD…… of love and of the resurrection,and instead of the beautiful words by which one could live by which are “I AM THE LIGHT, I AM THE WAY…” I feel the Cross is always a reminder of a burden and dampening the beautiful human spirit. In this case, the Cross in the City of Mostar which was erected on the highest mountain after a brutal war in which many died… I don’t believe this Cross represents God’s Love.. man’s wrath… yes. The City of Mostar is still a divided city today. If the Cross on Hum Hill represents God and not man’s wrath and nationalism, and if the Catholic religion’s true essence is about the Light and the Love of God for all…. Then this beautiful divided city on the River Neretva needs to either remove the Cross from Hum Mountain or it needs to build a Mosque next to the Cross on top of the same mountain which would represent Forgivness, Unity, Love, and God.
Mujo and Haso, are people from Bosnia & Herzegovina famous for jokes:
They asked Mujo, who is a Bosnina Muslim a question:
“Mujo, what do you think about the huge Cross which the Croatian Catholics erected on top of Hum Hill in Mostar?”
Answer:
Mujo, thought for a minute then replied:
“Hmmm.. Well I think it is a big PLUS for Bosnia and Herzegovina.”
… IF RELIGION IS ABOUT GOD AND LOVE….. THEN IT DOES NOT DIVIDE IT UNITES. : o )
Global Voices Online » Bosnia & Herzegovina: The Mostar Cross ControversyPosted on 11:50 am - Aug 20, 2009
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