Himzo Selimović

Himzo Selimović
Head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs
In office
2010–2014
Prime Minister Suad Zeljković
Personal details
Born 23 March 1961
Foča, SR Bosnia and Herzegovina, Yugoslavia
Nationality Bosniak
Religion Sunni Islam

Himzo Selimović (born 23 March 1961) served as the Head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, or Director of the Directorate for Coordination of Police Bodies, until 2014 when he resigned as a result of countrywide anti-government riots in Bosnia and Herzegovina.[1][2]

Selimović originally became a police officer in the early 1980s in Foča, and later in Goražde, Fojnica and the Sarajevo suburb Ilijaš. Between 2002 and 2010 he served as the Police Commissioner of the Ministry of the Sarajevo Canton.[3] Selimović was elected the Head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs on 9 March 2010.[4][5]

2014 Bosnian unrest and resignation

Selimović submitted his resignation as the Head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (a.k.a. Ministry of Security) on 9 February 2014 during the riots and protests throughout his country.[6][7][8][9][10] Unlike other politicians and leaders who left post during the countrywide unrest, Selimović was not forced to resign by protesters; telling reports during a press conference in Sarajevo that the reason behind his resignation was due to his inability to guarantee security for the politicians of Bosnia and Herzegovina during the riots.[11][12][13] He said during the news conference that Ministry of Interior did everything it could in cooperation with the police to prevent riots in Sarajevo, but failed. Multiple government buildings were set ablaze between 6–7 February, including the 130-year-old Bosnian Presidency Palace.

After two days of peaceful protests, the demonstrations turned into riots and Selimović said he would withdraw his candidacy for re-election as the Head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. "When the members of the Bosnian Presidency asked if I could guarantee security, I told them that in these conditions with the constant tension, that can not be guaranteed," Selimović was quoted as saying.[14] Not long after withdrawing his candidacy, he also filed resignation paperwork, saying he would officially resign when his position had been filled by someone else.[15] Selimović was the Head of the Ministry of Security during the 2013 JMBG protest in Sarajevo.[16]

References

  1. ↑ "Ravnatelj". DKPT. 15 February 2012. Retrieved 13 February 2014.
  2. ↑ "Sarajevo: Svi uhapšeni na slobodi". b92. 9 February 2014. Retrieved 13 February 2014.
  3. ↑ "Komesar MUP-a Kantona Sarajevo Himzo Selimović posjetio polaznike Policijske akademije FMUP-a". FMUP. 2 July 2009. Retrieved 13 February 2014.
  4. ↑ "Himzo Selimović na čelu bh. policijskih tijela". Klix. 9 March 2010. Retrieved 13 February 2014.
  5. ↑ "VIJEĆE MINISTARA: Selimović direktor Direkcije za koordinaciju policijskih tijela". Depo. 9 March 2010. Retrieved 13 February 2014.
  6. ↑ "Himzo Selimović podnio ostavku". Dnevni avaz. 9 February 2014. Retrieved 13 February 2014.
  7. ↑ "Sarajevska policija oslobodila sve privedene prosvjednike". T Portal. 9 February 2014. Retrieved 13 February 2014.
  8. ↑ "Čelnik Direkcije za koordinaciju policijskih tijela BiH podnio ostavku". See Biz. 9 February 2014. Retrieved 13 February 2014.
  9. ↑ "Svi privedeni pušteni, tvrde da ih je policija tukla". Večernji list. 9 February 2014. Retrieved 13 February 2014.
  10. ↑ "Selimović podnio ostavku". Novo vrijeme. 9 February 2014. Retrieved 13 February 2014.
  11. ↑ "HIMZO SELIMOVIĆ DAO OSTAVKU: "Nisam mogao garantirati sigurnost članovima Predsjedništva BiH!"". Slobodna Bosna. 9 February 2014. Retrieved 13 February 2014.
  12. ↑ "Himzo Selimović podnosi ostavku!". Nezavisne novine. 9 February 2014. Retrieved 13 February 2014.
  13. ↑ "Anti-government protests in Bosnia and Herzegovina subside, but risk of escalation ahead of elections". Janes. 9 February 2014. Retrieved 13 February 2014.
  14. ↑ "Čelnik Direkcije za koordinaciju policijskih tijela BiH podnio ostavku". Radio Sarajevo. 9 February 2014. Retrieved 13 February 2014.
  15. ↑ "Selimović podnosi ostavku". Glas Srpske. 9 February 2014. Retrieved 13 February 2014.
  16. ↑ "Himzo Selimović: Nadamo se da će prevladati razum, da ne bude većih posljedica". 24 sata. 7 June 2013. Retrieved 13 February 2014.