Louisville House Transformed into Bosniak-American Islamic Center

September 3, 2006

Source: The Courier-Journal

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060903/NEWS01/609030596

On September 3, 2006 The Courier-Journal reported, "Since moving to Louisville seven years ago, Zenita Bekric has visited many of her friends' places of worship. But until yesterday, Bekric, a 20-year-old Bosnia native, was never able to repay the favor. When friends asked where she worships, she would reply, 'Well, there's this place and that place.' Now there is Kevser, a house converted into a mosque by the Bosniak-American Islamic Center. A one-story white vinyl-sided building with a small gray minaret, Kevser -- which celebrated its grand opening yesterday -- is somewhere that Bosnians and other Muslims can pray, be married and have 'a place to call their own,' Bekric said. Since its 2001 inception, the nonprofit Bosniak-American Islamic Center has devoted itself to keeping alive the Bosnian language, way of life and Islamic religion practiced by some, center president Semsudin Haseljic said. The center has an imam, Azam Efendira, but until yesterday it had no mosque to call its own. Kevser -- which means well of good -- began when the center bought a home in Buechel for $120,000 and then spent a year and $80,000 renovating it. 'It's been a long wait, but it's nice to have a place we can get together and let the kids play,' said Aldijana Hajric, 25. Hajric said the mosque will 'bring some tradition in.'"