BiH: Sebija Izetbegović's title of Master of Science was deleted

Sebija Izetbegović, general director of the University Clinical Center in Sarajevo (KCUS), had her entry in the Master's Register canceled.

With that, she officially lost the title of Master of Science, which makes her doctorate title and the title of professor at the Faculty of Medicine in Sarajevo questionable.

"I signed the decision on March 9. It was sent to the appointed, Faculty of Medicine in Sarajevo, the competent Ministry (for science, higher education and youth of Sarajevo Canton), the Senate of the University of Sarajevo and the Official Gazette in accordance with the decision of the Senate,'' said Rifat Škrijelj, rector of the University of Sarajevo, for Radio Free Europe.

On March 6, the Senate of the University of Sarajevo revoked Izetbegović's title of Master of Medical Sciences. The decision was made by 30 votes "for", five were "against" and six "abstained", and the session was attended by 41 out of a total of 48 members of the Senate.

The rector was tasked with the decision of the Senate to issue a decision deleting Izetbegović from the Master's Register.

"It is disputed that the Master's degree was not submitted to the University and does not exist. Today, one of the vice-deans of the Faculty of Medicine and a representative in the Senate stated that Izetbegović never actually had a diploma in her hands. In order to apply for a professorship, you have to submit diplomas," Rector Škrijelj said after the session on March 6.

The decision on deletion was sent to Sebija Izetbegović, the Faculty of Medicine in Sarajevo, the competent Ministry, the Senate and will be sent to the Official Gazette through the official services in accordance with the Senate's decision.

This decision is final and enters into force on the date of adoption.

Sebija Izetbegović is a deputy in the Sarajevo Canton Assembly (one of the ten cantons in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina) and the wife of Bakir Izetbegović, the president of the leading Bosniak Party of Democratic Action.

Sebija Izetbegović previously announced that she would file criminal charges for abuse of position and abuse of authority, for discrimination, as well as for telling untruths in an attempt to discredit her as a regular professor at the University of Sarajevo.

An appeal to the University of Sarajevo against the decision of the Senate, which deleted her master's degree, is not possible, but proceedings can be initiated before the court within 30 days.

According to the decision of the Senate, Izetbegović can continue to work as a doctor, because her specialization in gynecology was not cancelled, but not as a professor at the Faculty of Medicine.

Public statements that questioned the credibility of Sebija Izetbegović's academic titles began in May 2021.

The Sarajevo Canton Prosecutor's Office then launched an investigation into the Izetbegović diploma. Documentation was requested from the Croatian authorities, as Izetbegović stated that she also spent part of her specialization in Zagreb.

The Croatian Ministry of Science and Education announced earlier that Sebija Izetbegović did enroll in postgraduate studies in Zagreb, but that the ministry does not have data on the exams she passed.

On July 2, 2021, the Administration for Inspection Affairs of the Canton of Sarajevo determined that the Master's title of Izetbegović requires additional checks.

On March 2, 2023, the Sarajevo police submitted the index of Sebija Izetbegović to the Sarajevo Canton Prosecutor's Office. The index was submitted by order of the Sarajevo Municipal Court.