Mufti Mustafa Cerić (Bosnian pronunciation: [mustafaː tserit͡ ɕ],) is a Bosniak imam who served as the Grand Mufti of Bosnia and Herzegovina and currently president of the World Bosniak Congress. Cerić graduated from the Madrasah in Sarajevo and received a scholarship to al-azhar University in Cairo, egypt. He then returned to Yugoslavia, where he became an imam. in 1981, he accepted the position of imam at the islamic Cultural Center of Greater Chicago (iCC) in Northbrook, illinois and lived in the United States for several years. During his time in the United States, he learned english and earned a Ph.D. degree in islamic Studies at the University of Chicago. after his studies, he left the iCC and returned to Yugoslavia and became an imam again in a learning center in Zagreb in 1987. Cerić is a member of several local and international scientific organisations and societies, including the interreligious Council of Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Foundation of Srebrenica-Potočari Memorial and Cemetery, the Council of 100 Leaders of the World economic Forum, the european Council for Fatwas and research, religion for Peace, the executive Committee of the european Council of religious Leaders, the Board of Trustees of international islamic University islamabad, the Sharia’h Board of Bosnia Bank international, the Fiqh academy in Mecca, aal albayt Foundation for islamic Thought in Jordan, the World Council of religions for Peace, international Commission for Peace research chaired by Henry Kissinger, UNeSCO and the executive Council of World Forum of Ulama. He has delivered numerous lectures and led several workshops on interreligious and interfaith issues at local and international conferences. He is one of the signatories of a Common Word Between Us and You, an open letter by islamic scholars to Christian leaders, calling for peace and understanding. Cerić is also a member of the Committee of Conscience fighting against the Holocaust denial. at his public speeches as the one in 2010 organised by Foundation For ethnic Understanding he calls for common efforts on behalf of humanity and better understanding between the religious communities. Cerić, like most Bosniaks, believes in a fairly liberal interpretation of islam. He believes democracy and islam can coexist. He was the co-recipient of the 2003 UNeSCO Felix Houphouet-Boigny Peace Prize and recipient of the international Council of Christians and Jews annual Sternberg award “for exceptional contribution to interfaith understanding.” He also received the 2007 Theodor-Heuss-Stiftung award for his contribution to spreading and strengthening democracy.” in 2007, he was named the recipient of the Lifetime achievement award by the association of Muslim Social Scientists UK “in recognition of his distinguished contributions to better understanding between Faiths, outstanding scholarship, for promoting a climate of respect and peaceful co-existence, and a wider recognition of the place of faith in europe and the West.” He is also a 2008 recipient of eugen Biser Foundation award for his efforts in promoting understanding and peace between islamic and Christian thought. in 2008, Cerić accepted the invitation of Tony Blair to be on the advisory council of the Tony Blair Faith Foundation. in 2010, he received the King abdullah i Bin al-Hussein international award and in 2012 he received the Ducci. Publications: Bosnia’s Dangerous Tango: islam and Nationalism, 2015; The challenge of a single Muslim authority in europe, 2007; islam in europe. “Bosnian islam” as a Model?, 2007; Bosnian Muslims in Germany – everyday euro-islam, 2007; a Choice Between War and Peace; a Declaration of european Muslims, 2006; a Dialogue of the Cultures instead of the Clash of Civilisations, 2006; The West Does Not Want to Share its Values, 2004; roots of Synthetic Theology in islam, 2003… Cerić is fluent in Bosnian, english and arabic language, and cites a “passive knowledge” of Turkish, German and French language.