Izetbegović, Alija (1925–2003)

Bosnia-Herzegovinan politician, president 1990–96 and member of the rotating three-person collective presidency 1996–2000. A lifelong opponent of communism, he founded the Stranka Demokratski Akcije (SDA; Party of Democratic Action) in 1990, ousting the communists in the multiparty elections that year. He represented the Bosnian Muslims on the rotating presidency agreed under the Dayton peace accord until his retirement in 2000.

Adopting a moderate stance during the civil war in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Izetbegović sought an honourable peace for his country in the face of ambitious demands from Serb and Croat political leaders, and signed the Dayton peace accord in November 1995.

Born in Bosarski Šamac, Bosnia, Izetbegović was educated at Sarajevo University. A devout Muslim and former legal adviser, he was imprisoned for ‘pan-Islamic activity’ 1946–48 and again 1983–88 for disseminating ‘Islamic propaganda’.