Croat Muslims
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| (9,647 (est.)) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 Croatia 9,647 (2011) Bosnia and Herzegovina - |
|
| Languages | |
| Croatian | |
| Religion | |
| Predominantly Sunni islam | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Other Croats, other Slavic Muslims |
Croat Muslims (Croatian: Hrvatski muslimani) are Muslims of Croat ethnic origin. They consist primarily of the descendants of the Ottoman-era Croats.
Croats are a South Slavic people. According to the published data from the 2011 Croatian census, 9,647 Muslims in Croatia declared themselves as ethnic Croats. The Islamic Community of Croatia is officially recognized by the state. After World War II thousands of Croats (even those with the Islamic faith) who supported the Ustaše fled as political refugees to countries such as Canada, Australia, Germany, South America and Islamic countries. The descendants of those Muslim Croats established their Croatian Islamic Centre in Australia in 36 Studley St. Maidstone, Victoria and the Croatian Mosque in Toronto, headed by Mr. Kerim Reis.
The Turkish Ottoman Empire conquered part of Croatia from the 15th to the 19th century and left a deep civilization imprint. Numerous Croats converted to Islam, some after being taken prisoners of war, some through the devşirme system. The westernmost border of Ottoman Empire in Europe became entrenched on Croatian soil. In 1519, Croatia was called the Antemurale Christianitatis by Pope Leo X.
The fall of Bosnia to the Ottomans in 1463 resulted in increasing pressure on Croatian borders and continual losses of the territory, little by little moving the border line to the west. Permanent warfare during the Hundred Years' Croatian–Ottoman War (1493-1593) drastically reduced Croatian population in affected southeastern regions. Until the end of the 16th century the whole area of Turkish Croatia was occupied by the mighty sultanate. The remaining Croats were converted to Islam and recruited as Devşirme (blood tax). A part of the Croatian population managed to flee though, settling down in the northwestern regions of the country or abroad, in the neighbouring Hungary or Austria.
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Wikipedia