Bosniaks in the Republic of Macedonia – ethnic community in the Republic of Macedonia, which constitutes an Islamized Slavic population from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia (Sandzak and Novi Pazar). As a separate ethnic (Muslims) are recognized in the period of FNRJ (after 1961). On the territory of the Republic of Macedonia after World War II, 1,100 Muslim families settled. They formed three ethnic Bosniak oases in Skopje, Veles and Prilep. In Skopje settled in 11 settlements (412 Bosniak families), in Prilep in 9 (251), and in Veles in 5 settlements (442 Bosniak families). Most Bosniaks live in Skopje (7,500), Veles (2,406), Studenicani (Batinci – 1,660). The Bosniak population in the Republic of Macedonia is gradually growing. In 1948 In the Republic of Macedonia there were 1,560 Bosniaks (or 0.1%), in 1961 – 3,002 (0.2%), in 1981 – 39,513 (2.1%), in 2002 – 17,018 Bosniaks (or 0.84%) of the overall population . After recognizing Muslims in Bosnia and Herzegovina as a nation, in Macedonia some of the Macedonian population with Muslim religion in the 1981 census. They declared themselves as Muslims. The Bosniak village population in the Republic of Macedonia nurtures and transmits its Bosniak ethnic language and religious traditions. The Bosniak urban population is quickly integrated into Macedonian society and becomes a bilingual population. For expressing their ethnic identity, instead of Muslims, they accepted the ethnic Bosnjak. They also use the same nomination for the language they speak. Instead of Croatian or Serbian, Bosniaks use the notion of Bosnian. Of the total of 17,018 Bosniaks in the Republic of Macedonia, almost 8,560 defined the Bosnian language as their mother tongue. This language is present on state electronic media (radio and television), in the press (youth c. “Liljan”), and have their own holiday (September 28 – Day of Bosniaks). The ethnonym Bosniak is also represented in the Constitution of the Republic of Macedonia. They actively participate in the political life of the Republic of Macedonia organized in three political parties: a party of democratic action (SDA), Bosniak Democratic Party (GDP) and the Democratic League of Bosniaks (DLB). Lit.: J. Trifunovski, Bosniaks U Macedonia, “Geographic Review”, Sarayevo, 1961; Statistical Office of SR Macedonia. Census of the population, households and apartments, 1981, Skopje, 1984; Statistical Office of R. Macedonia. Census of the population since 1994, Skopje, 1997; Statistical Office of R. Macedonia. Census of the population, household and apartments in the Republic of Macedonia. Macedonia, Skopje, 2004; Dr. Stoyan Acisovski, ethnic changes in Macedonia (1913-1995), Skopje, 2000; Dr. Stojan Acisovski – PhD Irena attitudes-Remedy, minorities in the Balkans (ⅹⅹ century), Skopje, 2004. St. KIS.
Original article in Macedonian language Cyrillic alphabet
Кириличен напис БОШЊАЦИТЕ ВО РЕПУБЛИКА МАКЕДОНИЈА