Geography:
Sanjak, or Sandzak, is a distinct region located in the centre of the Balkan Peninsula in present day Serbia and Montenegro. Serbia controls six municipalities of Sanjak while Montenegro runs five. Once part of the Ottoman Empire, it covers a geographically diverse area stretching 8,687 square kilometers. It borders Bosnia and Herzegovina in the northwest, Kosova in the southeast and Albania to the south. The capital of Sandzak is Novi Prazar.

People:
Population
The total population of Sanjak is approximately 400.000, with the Muslim population, primarily Bosniacs, comprising 51% and the Serbs and Montenegrins the remaining 49%. Sandzak has the largest Bosniak population outside of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Language
The people of Sanjak speak Serbo-Croatian, in various forms and dialects. It is spoken in Serbia and Montenegro, Croatia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Bosniaks speak a Bosnian language, which is closely related. Both are Indo-European languages with approximately 16-21 million speakers. Serbo-Croatian is written in both the Latin and Cyrillic alphabets.

Culture and Religion
The inhabitants of Sanjak are largely southern Slavs. Despite a common background, the population stems from various groups categorized along nationalistic lines within the broader south Slav group, such as Serbs, Montenegrins, Croats, Bosniaks and a small number of Albanian and Roma.
The majority of the population in Sanjak is Sunni Muslim, with the remainder largely following some form of Christianity, either Roman Catholic or Eastern Orthodox.

Economy
The primary means of income in Sanjak are largely in the agriculture, cattle breeding and wood industry. There are various natural resources, such as coal, iron, lead, zinc and marble which are mined. Although once an important and flourishing trade route during the Roman era, Sanjak is one of the most underdeveloped regions of the Former Yugoslavia. The region was largely excluded from economic innovation and development that was only further hindered during communist and post-communist era.

The hopes of liberalization following the collapse of communism throughout the region were soon devastated by nationalism and war. The political instability of the 1990’s has had a tremendous impact on economic development throughout the Former Yugoslavia, leading to uncertainty and insecurity. Jobs are scarce, unemployment is relatively high, and many resort to small holdings for their economic livelihood.

Competition from other Republics of the former Yugoslavia and big economic giants to the east has also put a strain on the already burdened Sanjak economy. There have also been recent issues with regards to drugs and human trafficking through the province, as experienced in many other parts of Eastern Europe.

History
From the 6th-7th century AD, south Slavic people first began to migrate and settle on the Balkan Peninsula. The first Slavic states, Bosnia and Duklja, were created around 1000 AD on the territory of Illyricum where later Serbia and Croatia were created.
Throughout the Middle Ages, Bosnia, Duklja, Serbia and Croatia were ruled by Byzantium, Hungary and Bulgaria

Until the First Balkan War that began in 1912, Sanjak was an administrative district in the Bosnian Province of the Ottoman Empire. Under Ottoman rule, the province enjoyed political and territorial independence until 1878 when the Austrian Army occupied it.

Following the war, Sanjak was liberated by the Serbian and Montenegrin troops, only to be re-occupied by the Austro-Hungarians from 1915-1918. During this time, thousands of Muslims were displaced or expelled from their homes and many immigrated to Turkey seeking refuge. In 1918, Sanjak was absorbed into the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, following the unity of Serbia and Montenegro, and remained part of the state until 1941.

During WWII, Sanjak was under the control of Italy and later Germany in 1943. During this time, an anti-fascist council was established and proclaimed, once again, Sanjak as an independent region. However, following the war in 1945, the Communist regime would not grant the wishes for Sanjak autonomy, and the province was divided between Serbia and Montenegro.

At this time, the Constitution for Federal People’s Republic of Yugoslavia (later know as the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia) openly acknowledged Serb and Croat nationalities as legitimate, but did not recognize Muslims. Discrimination and persecution have been recurring issues for the areas Muslims, and has lead to much of the ethnic and religious tension following the death of the Yugoslav nation’s leader, Tito, and the fall of communism.

In 1991, the Muslim National Council of Sanjak (MNCS) was formed with the goals of obtaining special status for Sanjak, preserving national identity and safeguarding the individual and collective rights of the Muslim populations and others who reside in the territory. In that same year, a Memorandum on Special Status of Sanjak was created and that fall, a referendum was held to gauge the Sanjak population’s desire for autonomy. An overwhelming majority (98% of the voters, representing 69% of the total number of registered voters), voted in support of autonomy for the province as well as selecting the republic of Yugoslavia with which to join, following its break up. The referendum, however, was not even considered and their fight for greater autonomy continues.
From 1991-2001, the Yugoslav wars ravaged the Balkans, displacing and killing hundreds of thousands of people. As a result, ethnic and religious tension, political discrimination and violence between Serbs and Muslims continue to this day. From 1993-1994, Serbs police forces conducted raids on Muslim homes and families, causing many to flee to neighboring countries or Turkey. There have also been attacks against Mosques and other religious centers, although the number has been decreasing in recent years after the removal of Slobodan Milosevic from power.

Along with religious discrimination, inhabitants of Sanjak have also suffered political repression. Although they are allowed to vote, many of the parties, particularly those with Bosniac or Muslim affiliation, are not recognized by the state and can therefore not compete free and fairly in elections. The media, despite the growth of private sector influence, has also suffered from censorship and various other obstacles toward openness and a democratic nature.

Provocations, graffiti and vandalism, abductions, and killings continue to occur throughout Sanjak and many fear it may be the next center of conflict. Serb media has attempted to portray the province as a hotbed of Wahabism and Islamic fundamentalism, further adding to ethnic and religious strain. These assertions are untrue characterizations of Sanjak Muslim pride in their cultural and religious identity and simply propaganda used to create fear.

Organizations:
The MNCS became a member of UNPO in 1993 and since then has been fighting for a resolution to the conflict and uncertainty plaguing the predominantly Muslim region following the egregious Yugoslav wars.

Statistics:
Area: 8687 km2
Population: 400.000 of which 51% are Bosniak Muslims
Language: Serbo-Croatian
Religion: Sunni Muslim