SARAJEVO
Habib Idrizovic was the double of Alija Izetbegovic during war years because of his strong resemblance to the first president of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
He told AA on Friday that he was never scared for being Alija Izetbegovic's political decoy and said that, "I was aware of the high risk of losing my life however, Bosnia needed Alija more than anything. If I died, I knew that my family would live under protection of Izetbegovic."
Habib Idrizovic (67) told AA correspondent how he had accepted being the double of Alija Izetbegovic and what they had gone through during war time. He said that before the siege of Bosnia and Herzegovina started, there were rumours about the alleged assassination attempts on Izetbegovic in December 1991 and that's when they came to find a political decoy for him.
During the war time, Idrizovic served as an officer in the Bosnian army. Because of he really looked alike Izetbegovic, he said that he did not think even for a second of rejecting the offer for being his double and did not doubt about risking his life. He stressed the decision he took as an 'acception of being the target all the time.'
He said that he knew Izetbegovic before the war years and the he explained to AA how the decision was shaped, "I was working as an engineer in Sarajevo. Bakir Izetbegovic, the son of Alija was there too. In December 17, 1991, commanders Sefer Halilovic, Karisik, Saronyic and Suleiman Vrany came to me. While we were talking about our troops, Karisik told me that I so looked like President Izetbegovic that I might be his twin brother."
When he accepted the offer, people around Idrizovic tried to warn him about it and asked, "Do you know what that means?" he said. He said that he was aware of all the risks he was taking but he knew how much Bosnia needed Alija Izetbegovic. He stated that he was sure his family were going to be fine if he lost his life.
After taking that decision I started watching Alija and tried to impersonate him. Idrizovic said that he was entering the building from the back door, getting in the car from the front door and touring the city while Izetbegovic was working in the presidential building. He stated that during the political meetings he was never there as Izetbegovic's double.
Idrizovic said," I am proud and happy for serving Izetbegovic. He was a brave, wise and self-respected leader. When he was young, he was jailed because of fighting for Bosnian rights."
He said that the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina, especially Bosnians in particular were never scared of defending and protecting themselves.
(Reporting by Faruk Vele)
