The Institute for the Protection of Monuments was approached by the Rijaset of the Islamic Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina with a request to issue an expert opinion for the ongoing maintenance works on the Gazi Husrev-beg Hanikah in Sarajevo.

The architectural ensemble, the Gazi Husrev-beg Madrasah with the site and remains of the Hanikah in Sarajevo, was declared a national monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina by the decision of the Commission for the Preservation of National Monuments of Bosnia and Herzegovina, adopted at the session held from 4 to 11 September 2006. The national monument is subject to the protection measures established by the Law on the Implementation of Decisions of the Commission for the Protection of National Monuments, established in accordance with Annex 8 of the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

According to the submitted documentation, the works in question relate to the adaptation of the space for a museum exhibition, while preserving the original shape and elements of the Hanikah. The intervention would include the removal of existing interior doors, installation of vinyl flooring, installation of side showcases, lighting distribution and refreshing the colour of the walls.

Based on the inspection of the facility on 13. 2. 2026, the following was concluded:

− the interior doors that are planned to be removed are not original, it is planned to install veneered chipboard masks in place of the doors with the possibility of complete removal without consequences for the facility,

− the floor intervention refers to the installation of vinyl flooring on the existing floor but without gluing or damaging the existing floor,

− the installation of side showcases as an exhibition space is planned along the walls, as free-standing elements,

− the distribution of lighting fixtures is planned within the showcases in order to avoid interventions in the existing wall structures,

− the painting of the walls implies painting in accordance with the existing coloristic character of the space without changing the wall texture.

It was concluded that the planned works do not have a negative impact on the national monument and are in line with protection measures and general standars od protecting cultural-historic heritage.