Bosnian Muslims celebrate opening of their remodeled Salt Lake City mosque

Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune
Nermina Odobasic, left, on Saturday serves a young girl who asked for a piece from the top of the cake shaped as a replica of the renovated Maryam Mosque at 425 N. 700 East. The day featured tours, music, authentic Bosnian food in celebration of the completion of the extensive remodeling of the mosque by the Islamic Society of Bosniaks in Utah.

Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune
A woman smiles as she talks with friends who are serving traditional Bosnian food Saturday at the grand opening celebration of the Maryam Mosque at 425 N. 700 East. The day featured tours, music, authentic Bosnian food in celebration of the completion of the extensive remodeling of the mosque by the Islamic Society of Bosniaks in Utah.

Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune
Two young women, members of a choir that sang at the grand opening celebration of the Maryam Mosque, joke with each other Saturday as they wait in line for food. The day featured tours, music, authentic Bosnian food in celebration of the completion of the extensive remodeling of the mosque by the Islamic Society of Bosniaks in Utah.

Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune
Mersiaj Kadic, left, and Selma Kisija pose for a portrait in front of the renovated Maryam Mosque Saturday during the celebration of its grand opening at 425 N. 700 East. The day featured tours, music, authentic Bosnian food in celebration of the completion of the extensive remodeling of the mosque by the Islamic Society of Bosniaks in Utah.

Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune
Semna Mehmebovic smiles as she goes through the food line Saturday during the grand opening celebration of the Maryam Mosque at 425 N. 700 East. The day featured tours, music, authentic Bosnian food in celebration of the completion of the extensive remodeling of the mosque by the Islamic Society of Bosniaks in Utah.

Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune
Dvemila Music, left, serves two young boys a piece of the cake that's a replica of the renovated Maryam Mosque at 425 N. 700 East. The Saturday event featured tours, music, authentic Bosnian food in celebration of the completion of the extensive remodeling of the mosque by the Islamic Society of Bosniaks in Utah.

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Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune Nermina Odobasic, left, on Saturday serves a young girl who asked for a piece from the top of the cake shaped as a replica of the renovated Maryam Mosque at 425 N. 700 East. The day featured tours, music, authentic Bosnian food in celebration of the completion of the extensive remodeling of the mosque by the Islamic Society of Bosniaks in Utah. Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune A woman smiles as she talks with friends who are serving traditional Bosnian food Saturday at the grand opening celebration of the Maryam Mosque at 425 N. 700 East. The day featured tours, music, authentic Bosnian food in celebration of the completion of the extensive remodeling of the mosque by the Islamic Society of Bosniaks in Utah. Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune Two young women, members of a choir that sang at the grand opening celebration of the Maryam Mosque, joke with each other Saturday as they wait in line for food. The day featured tours, music, authentic Bosnian food in celebration of the completion of the extensive remodeling of the mosque by the Islamic Society of Bosniaks in Utah. Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune Mersiaj Kadic, left, and Selma Kisija pose for a portrait in front of the renovated Maryam Mosque Saturday during the celebration of its grand opening at 425 N. 700 East. The day featured tours, music, authentic Bosnian food in celebration of the completion of the extensive remodeling of the mosque by the Islamic Society of Bosniaks in Utah. Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune Semna Mehmebovic smiles as she goes through the food line Saturday during the grand opening celebration of the Maryam Mosque at 425 N. 700 East. The day featured tours, music, authentic Bosnian food in celebration of the completion of the extensive remodeling of the mosque by the Islamic Society of Bosniaks in Utah. Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune Dvemila Music, left, serves two young boys a piece of the cake that's a replica of the renovated Maryam Mosque at 425 N. 700 East. The Saturday event featured tours, music, authentic Bosnian food in celebration of the completion of the extensive remodeling of the mosque by the Islamic Society of Bosniaks in Utah.

The Salt Lake Tribune

· May 20, 2017 5:03 pm

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

More than 7,000 Bosnian refugees, their relatives and friends — who mostly are Muslims — call the Beehive State home after seeking shelter first in Europe and then the United States.

On Saturday, Utah's Islamic Society of Bosniaks (as they call themselves) held a grand opening for its Maryam Mosque, named after the Virgin Mary, whom Muslims revere almost as much as Christians.

The free event featured tours, music and authentic Bosnian foods while providing an opportunity for neighbors and other community members to see the worship space.

"As a part of greater American society, we try to present our religion of Islam and our national Bosnian heritage the best way we can," Amir Salihovic, the mosque's imam, said in a news release.

The Muslim followers bought the former Baptist church, located at 425 N. 700 West, and remodeled into their own mosque — complete with a minaret tower, domes, an iron fence, a large covered patio and prayer rugs.

Peggy Fletcher Stack