Urgent Work Needed for Propagation of Shiism in Serbia

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - Alexandra Dragovic took part in an interview hours before receiving his World Book of the Year Award of the Islamic Republic of Iran. During the dialogue he said there are not many Shia Muslims in his country and he had the chance of learning about Shia Islam in the three years that he spent in Iran's Qom seminary. Dragovic speaks Persian fluently and the following is the English translation of his words.

-Why did you choose Nahjolbalagheh for translation into Serbian?
I work as the chief editor of the publication center of Iran's cultural office in Belgrade. We have a boss in the office, Mr. Farid Eftekhari, Iran's cultural attaché in Serbia. He was obsessed with the translation and publication of great Shia works into Serbian and proposed that I do so. So we planned to translate a number of Shia works into the language. We began with Sahifeh Sadjadiyeh and now Nahjolbalagheh. I am now working on the Serbian translation of the holy Quran.

-What are your future projects?
Well there are so many works to translate into Serbian. We are negotiating with various Islamic centers in Iran like Mula Sadra Foundation to sponsor the translations. So far a number of projects have been ratified for future. One of the features of my work is that previously the same book was translated into Bosnian and now it has been turned into Serbian. I converted into Muslim about 20 years ago and spent three years in Iran's Qom seminary.
 
-How has your work been received since its publication?
There are not many Shia Muslims in Serbia. The book has just been published and we have unveiled it in a ceremony at the Belgrade International Book Fair which is the biggest book fair in Europe after the Frankfurt International Book Fair and is being held for some 55 years. We also have facilities to send the book for those who are interested in it.
We also publish parts of the book in an Islamic and mystical journal published by Iran's cultural office in Belgrade.

-I understand that you communicate primarily with Shia Islamic foundations. Have you tried to reach out for the public in Belgrade?
Not really. The book is put for sale in a book shop at the office. However we have conducted talks with some major publishers who will most probably release the book in the Serbian book market.
 
-How many Shia Muslims live in Belgrade?

There are no Shia Muslims living in Belgrade. However some live in other cities of Serbia, Maybe two or three people in every city, on the whole there maybe 20 such Muslims in Serbia. Sunni Muslims are many in Serbia.

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