RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION IN THE FOCA DISTRICT, BOSNIA-HERCEGOVINA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A001100530004-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 15, 2009
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: May 12, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/12/15: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA001100530004-7
CENTRAL INT-EL-LI.G.ENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
SUBJECT
This Document contains information affecting the Na-
tional Defense of the United states, within the mean-
ing of Title 18, sections 793 and 794, of the U.S. Code, as
amended. Its transmission or revelation of its contents
to or receipt by an unauthorized person is prohibited
by law. The reproduction of this form 10 prohibited.
CONFIDENTIAL/COT OL - U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY
SECURITY INFORMATION
Yugoslavia
Religious Persecution in the
Poba-District, BosniE Eercegovina
REPORT
DATE DISTR.
25X1
12'.1983 5'
NO. OF PAGES 2
REQUIREMENT NO. RD
REFERENCES
THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE) .
1. The Catholic church in Foca was destroyed in April 1946.
Moslem
2. Sixteen of the eighteen mosques in Foca have either been destroyed or turned
into warehouses and stables.
ortbagaz
Most of the priests in the Foca district have bbenaarrestsd and sent to prison
camps,
25X1
4. The Orthodox church JUL Ustikolina, Poca district, has been turned into a
warehouse for cement. The church in the village of Miljevina, Poca district,
has been turned into a cattle stable..
25 YEAR
RE-REVIEW
CONFIDENTIAL/ CONTROL - U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/12/15: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA001100530004-7
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/12/15: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA001100530004-7
CONPIDBNTTAL/CONTROL - U. S. OFFICIALS ONLY
5. On 12 July 1950, approximately 4,000 persons from the Boca district gathered
around the Holy Trinity Orthodox church in Ustikolins for observance of Holy
Trinity religious services. The church had already been converted into a ware-
house and there was no priest to perform the services. On the morning of the
feast day, A Militia unit of 30 men arrived and ordered the people to disperse.
When no one" left, the Militia men fired. Into the air. The people continued to
pray and the Militia men began trying to disperse them by using the butts of
their rifles. During the fighting that followed, several Militia men were
wounded and the Militia was forced to leave. The group remained at the church
until 1800 hours, when they returned to their homes. A few days later, on
orders from the 13DB office in Fora, the Militia arrested about 25 farmers from
the Poca district. These men were-still in prison in October 1952.
6. On 14 October 19520 may persons went to the Orthodox church in Boca for
religious services. There was no priest present, but the people prayed inside
and outside the church. Rajko G4agovic, head of the tIDB office in Poca, went
to the church, made some anti-religious remarks, and ordered the people to
leave. When they did not obey, he tried, to disperse them with the help of a
group of TJDD employees who had accompanied him. No was unsuccessful, however,
and finally summoned a Mt1itis unit of 160 men who succeeded in dispersing the
DE TZAL/ CONTROL . V.S. OFFI07ALS ONLY
091M
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/12/15: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA001100530004-7