Bin-Laden Song Shocks Macedonian Religious Community

The song, which recently appeared on video hosting website Youtube, represented Bin Laden as the spiritual leader of the Islam.
 
Sources from IVZ told Macedonian Makfax agancy: “We had no information about this song.

"We are almost certain that this song was written by Wahabbi groups, which spread messages opposing the Islamic religion.”

They said they suspected followers of radical Islam groups like Wahabbi may use this song to promote their messages in mosques across Macedonia.

The IVZ said the messages in the song are not in line with the teachings of the moderate Islam that is traditional for the Balkan Muslims.

Songs praising Bin-Laden have also been written in the Bosnian language.

The IVZ is in a spat with one of its breakaway Imams, Ramadan Ramadani, who it accuses of spreading radical messages in several mosques in the capital Skopje that he holds under his control.

The Imam has denied allegations that he is close to the Wahabbi movement and has accused the IVZ leadership of corruption, which they have denied.

The song appeared during the fasting of the holy month of Ramadan.

The Islamic community in Macedonia is the second-largest after the Orthodox Christians.

The majority of ethnic Albanians in the country, who make up a quarter of the population, are followers of Islam.